To Be or Not to Be (The Hitler Rap)

"To Be or Not to Be" (also known as "The Hitler Rap") is a song recorded by Mel Brooks in 1983 for Island Records. The song appeared on the soundtrack album for the movie of the same name. It was derived from the burlesque show within the film but did not appear within it.[1] It also echoes Brooks' 1967 film The Producers, with the lines "Don't be stupid, be a smarty. Come and join the Nazi Party,"[2] taken from the song "Springtime for Hitler".

"To Be or Not to Be"
UK release artwork
Single by Mel Brooks
Released1983
GenreClassic hip-hop
Length7:43 (extended version)
4:35 (single version)
LabelIsland (UK 12IS 158)
Songwriter(s)Mel Brooks, Pete Wingfield
Producer(s)Pete Wingfield

In the accompanying music video, Mel Brooks is dressed like Adolf Hitler and raps about the key events in Hitler's life in Nazi Germany. The ending makes reference to Hitler's alleged escape to Argentina at the end of World War II.[2]

While having limited success in the United States, the song managed to chart high in Australia and the United Kingdom, peaking at number three in the former country and number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached number one in Norway and number two in Sweden.

Track listing
  1. "To Be or Not to Be (The Hitler Rap) (Part 1)" – 7:43
  2. "To Be or Not to Be (The Hitler Rap) (Part 2)" (Instrumental Mix) – 7:51

Charts
Chart (1983–1984) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] 3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 23
Germany (Official German Charts)[6] 11
Ireland (IRMA)[7] 8
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[8] 24
Norway (VG-lista)[9] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10] 2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[11] 15
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 12

References
  1. James Robert Parish (2008). It's Good to Be the King: The Seriously Funny Life of Mel Brooks. John Wiley & Sons. p. 245. ISBN 978-0470225264.
  2. Reid, Graham (January 21, 2011). "Mel Brooks: To Be Or Not To Be; The Hitler Rap (1984)". Elsewhere. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  3. "Mel Brooks – To Be Or Not To Be at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  4. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 Singles 1984". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  5. "Ultratop.be – Mel Brooks – To Be or Not to Be (The Hitler Rap)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  6. "Offiziellecharts.de – Mel Brooks – To Be or Not to Be (The Hitler Rap)". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  7. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – To Be or Not to Be". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  8. "Charts.nz – Mel Brooks – To Be or Not to Be (The Hitler Rap)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  9. "Norwegiancharts.com – Mel Brooks – To Be or Not to Be (The Hitler Rap)". VG-lista. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  10. "Swedishcharts.com – Mel Brooks – To Be or Not to Be (The Hitler Rap)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  11. "Swisscharts.com – Mel Brooks – To Be or Not to Be (The Hitler Rap)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
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