“Pass The Dutchie” by Musical Youth first released in September 17, 1982, has surpassed 200 million streams on Spotify. The song which was the No. 1 most streamed reggae song on Spotify helped to place the group at No. 4 on last year’s top list of reggae artists.
“Pass The Dutchie”, a cover of the Mighty Diamonds song “Pass The Kutchie” is their first song to reach the milestone after hitting the U.K. chart and getting two sync placements in the Netflix TV series “Stranger Things” and the group’s Drummer Fredrick Waite died at age 55.
In July, group member Dennis Seaton teamed up with singer Bushey born Emily B to release a reworked cover of “Pass the Dutchie.”
The Don Letts directed music video has surpassed 37 million views on YouTube. The video was partially recorded along the southern banks of the River Thames in London, near Lambeth Bridge in the UK. The visuals showcase the band in a performance setting, playing their instruments. Simultaneously, a school official seems to apprehend them, resulting in his accidental fall and a subsequent arm injury. The footage is interwoven with courtroom sequences (featuring Julian Firth), portraying the band facing trial. The culmination of the trial sees the jury declaring the band not guilty, prompting a celebratory scene within the courtroom.
Last year’s the song’s first modern year end chart appearance after it reached No. 1 in the UK and No.10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 when it was first released 40 years ago. SInce then it has held the No. 1 position in five other countries, and has sold more than five million copies worldwide including a Gold certification in the U.K. in 1982, Gold in the US for selling 500,000 units, swell as Platinum in New Zealand (30,000) and Canada (100,000).
Between 1982 and 83 “Pass the Dutchie” peaked at No. 1 in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, and Switzerland. Additionally, it reached No. 2 in Austria and West Germany and the No. 1 on the US Dance Club Songs chart.
It also hit number 18 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs chart.
