== Background ==
== Background ==
In 1994, Paul was in the early stages of building a television career, becoming recognisable in New Zealand for her work as an [[infomercial]] presenter. In a magazine interview, Paul said she released the single to demonstrate she was more than “the intense over-the-top woman who sold things on television”.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ahwa |first=Dan |date=19 March 2024 |title=Autumn fashion special: National treasure Suzanne Paul takes us through a parade of fabulous clothes |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/viva/fashion/autumn-fashion-special-national-treasure-suzanne-paul-takes-us-through-a-parade-of-fabulous-clothes/NA2TXAO3MBD7FILM6DUGKMYHKM/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/1mBYe |archive-date=22 March 2024 |access-date=20 January 2026 |website=[[NZ Herald]]}}</ref>
In a magazine interview, Paul said she released the single to demonstrate she was more than “the intense over-the-top woman who sold things on television”.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ahwa |first=Dan |date=19 March 2024 |title=Autumn fashion special: National treasure Suzanne Paul takes us through a parade of fabulous clothes |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/viva/fashion/autumn-fashion-special-national-treasure-suzanne-paul-takes-us-through-a-parade-of-fabulous-clothes/NA2TXAO3MBD7FILM6DUGKMYHKM/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/1mBYe |archive-date=22 March 2024 |access-date=20 January 2026 |website=[[NZ Herald]]}}</ref> She claims the concept was inspired by a conversation between herself and a friend visiting from Britain, about a perceived lack of dancing in nightclub culture in New Zealand; the song is allegedly named after a British nightclub they both visited, and was intended as a [[Novelty song|comedy song]] to get people dancing.<ref name=”:2″>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Tom |date=9 January 2015 |title=Flashback: Suzanne Paul’s Monkey business on the dance floor |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/culture/64817419/flashback-suzanne-pauls-monkey-business-on-the-dance-floor |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/aqwTF |archive-date=20 January 2026 |access-date=20 January 2026 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]}}</ref>
Paul the concept was inspired by a conversation between herself and a friend visiting from Britain, about a perceived lack of dancing in nightclub culture in New Zealand song is allegedly named after a British nightclub they both visited, and was intended as a [[Novelty song|comedy song]] to get people dancing.<ref name=”:2″>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Tom |date=9 January 2015 |title=Flashback: Suzanne Paul’s Monkey business on the dance floor |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/culture/64817419/flashback-suzanne-pauls-monkey-business-on-the-dance-floor |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/aqwTF |archive-date=20 January 2026 |access-date=20 January 2026 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]}}</ref>
The “Blue Monkey” refers to a dance that was created for the song, with a more complicated version dubbed the “Funky Blue Monkey”, choreographed by dancer and actress Janine Burchett. In a promotional instructional video released by Prestige Marketing, Paul and Burchett demonstrate both versions of the dance.<ref>{{Cite AV media|title=Suzanne Paul teaches the Blue Monkey dance routine|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUfJMJ230Ys|date=12 December 2025|access-date=23 January 2026|via=YouTube|last=Dan News TV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260122121907/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUfJMJ230Ys|archive-date=22 January 2026|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Missing videos from 1994|url=https://5000ways.co.nz/1994/missing-videos-from-1994/|website=5000 Ways to Love You|access-date=23 January 2026|date=1 November 2011|last=Gallagher|first=Robyn|archive-url=https://archive.ph/QCmpR|archive-date=22 January 2026|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Composition and recording ==
“Blue Monkey” is a fusion of [[House music|house]], [[funk]] and [[Pop music|pop]], with a [[Four on the floor (music)|four-on-the-floor]] beat. In addition to the main vocal performances, it uses repeating vocal samples from Paul’s infomercials, including her “luminous spheres” catchphrase from the Natural Glow products she is closely associated with. There are also monkey noises playing in the background in multiple sections of the song.
== Music video ==
== Music video ==
The video depicts Paul arriving at a nightclub and doing “The Blue Monkey” dance with a crowd of dancers, inter-spliced with stylised shots of Paul presenting infomercials. The club shots were recorded at a gay nightclub named Staircase, located on [[Karangahape Road|K Road]].<ref name=”:9″>{{cite web |title=Blue Monkey |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/blue-monkey-1994 |access-date=28 September 2024 |website=NZ on Screen}}</ref><ref name=”:2″ /> The video was directed by Mark Tierney of the band [[Strawpeople]].<ref name=”:2″ />
The video depicts Paul arriving at a nightclub doing “The Blue Monkey” dance with a crowd of dancers, inter-spliced with stylised shots of Paul presenting infomercials. The club shots were recorded at a gay nightclub named Staircase, located on [[Karangahape Road|K Road]].<ref name=”:9″>{{cite web |title=Blue Monkey |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/blue-monkey-1994 |access-date=28 September 2024 |website=NZ on Screen}}</ref><ref name=”:2″ /> The video was directed by Mark Tierney of the band [[Strawpeople]].<ref name=”:2″ />
== Response and legacy ==
== Response and legacy ==
“Blue Monkey” received mixed responses. It was reportedly popular in the gay community and praised by fellow TV personalities, but was also criticised as a novelty production.<ref name=”:2″ /> In a retrospective piece, Elizabeth Beattie of [[Junkee]] ranked the single number 3 in a list of “10 Weirdest New Zealand TV Moments Of All Time”.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beattie |first=Elizabeth |date=12 April 2017 |title=The 10 Weirdest New Zealand TV Moments Of All Time |url=https://archive.junkee.com/new-zealand-tv-viral-weird/101693 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/BqFjj |archive-date=20 January 2026 |access-date=20 January 2026 |website=[[Junkee]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
“Blue Monkey” received mixed responses. It was reportedly popular in the gay community and praised by fellow TV personalities, but was also criticised as a novelty production.<ref name=”:2″ /> In a retrospective piece, Elizabeth Beattie of [[Junkee]] ranked the single number 3 in a list of “10 Weirdest New Zealand TV Moments Of All Time”.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beattie |first=Elizabeth |date=12 April 2017 |title=The 10 Weirdest New Zealand TV Moments Of All Time |url=https://archive.junkee.com/new-zealand-tv-viral-weird/101693 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/BqFjj |archive-date=20 January 2026 |access-date=20 January 2026 |website=[[Junkee]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2015, Paul said she was “ecstatic about the song” and believed it would have gone viral if it was made in the 2010s.<ref name=”:2″ /> However, in a 2024 interview, Paul said that she wished she never thought of the song and wanted to “forget all about” the track, claiming that she was frequently asked by members of the public if she wanted to “do The Blue Monkey”.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=7 September 2024 |title=‘I wish I’d never thought of it’: The Blue Monkey on Suzanne Paul’s back |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/pop-culture/07-09-2024/i-wish-id-never-thought-of-it-the-blue-monkey-on-suzanne-pauls-back |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/G5wMC |archive-date=20 January 2026 |access-date=20 January 2026 |website=[[The Spinoff]] |language=en}}</ref>
In 2015, Paul said she was “ecstatic about the song” and believed it would have gone viral if it was made in the 2010s.<ref name=”:2″ /> However, in a 2024 interview, Paul said that she wished she never thought of the song and wanted to “forget all about” the track, claiming that she was frequently asked by members of the public if she wanted to “do The Blue Monkey”.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=7 September 2024 |title=‘I wish I’d never thought of it’: The Blue Monkey on Suzanne Paul’s back |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/pop-culture/07-09-2024/i-wish-id-never-thought-of-it-the-blue-monkey-on-suzanne-pauls-back |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/G5wMC |archive-date=20 January 2026 |access-date=20 January 2026 |website=[[The Spinoff]] |language=en}}</ref>
1994 single by Suzanne Paul
“Blue Monkey” is a novelty dance song released by Suzanne Paul in 1994. It is the only original single to be released by Paul, and was distributed by Prestige Marketing in a compilation album, Blue Monkey Plus 70’s Dance Hits. The album also includes an extended dance mix version.[1]
In December 1994, the song entered the New Zealand single charts at 41, where it remained for one week.[2]
Background
In 1994, Paul was in the early stages of building a television career, becoming recognisable in New Zealand for her work as an infomercial presenter. In a magazine interview, Paul said she released the single to demonstrate she was more than “the intense over-the-top woman who sold things on television”.[3]
Paul stated that the concept was inspired by a conversation between herself and a friend visiting from Britain, about a perceived lack of dancing in nightclub culture in New Zealand. The song is allegedly named after a British nightclub they both visited, and was intended as a comedy song to get people dancing.[4]
The “Blue Monkey” refers to a dance that was created for the song, with a more complicated version dubbed the “Funky Blue Monkey”, choreographed by dancer and actress Janine Burchett. In a promotional instructional video released by Prestige Marketing, Paul and Burchett demonstrate both versions of the dance.[5][6]
Composition and recording
“Blue Monkey” was written by Paddy Free of Pitch Black, with lyrics jointly written by Suzanne Paul. It is primarily sung by Paul, but includes backing vocals by Boh Runga and Mark Hickstead, and saxophone by Walter Bianco of the band Herbs.[1] It was recorded at Auckland Audio, a studio in Ponsonby.
“Blue Monkey” is a fusion of house, funk and pop, with a four-on-the-floor beat. In addition to the main vocal performances, it uses repeating vocal samples from Paul’s infomercials, including her “luminous spheres” catchphrase from the Natural Glow products she is closely associated with. There are also monkey noises playing in the background in multiple sections of the song.
Music video
The music video for “Blue Monkey” depicts Paul arriving at a nightclub with a friend, then doing “The Blue Monkey” dance with a crowd of dancers, inter-spliced with stylised shots of Paul presenting infomercials to match the vocal samples in the song. The club shots were recorded at a gay nightclub named Staircase, located on K Road.[7][4] The video was directed by Mark Tierney of the band Strawpeople.[4]
Response and legacy
“Blue Monkey” received mixed responses. It was reportedly popular in the gay community and praised by fellow TV personalities, but was also criticised as a novelty production.[4] In a retrospective piece, Elizabeth Beattie of Junkee ranked the single number 3 in a list of “10 Weirdest New Zealand TV Moments Of All Time”.[8] In 2017 at CANZ conference at the University of Canterbury, Dr Scott Wilson of the Unitec Institute of Technology cited “Blue Monkey” as a notable example in his presentation about New Zealand one-hit-wonders and novelty songs.[9][10]
In 2015, Paul said she was “ecstatic about the song” and believed it would have gone viral if it was made in the 2010s.[4] However, in a 2024 interview, Paul said that she wished she never thought of the song and wanted to “forget all about” the track, claiming that she was frequently asked by members of the public if she wanted to “do The Blue Monkey”.[11]
Charts
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[2] | 41 |
