Bob Marley’s ‘Stir it Up’ hits double platinum in New Zealand
Although Bob Marley was popular in New Zealand, even performing there in 1979, Stir it Up, one of his signature hits, did not chart in that country.
As a matter of fact, the only known versions of Stir it Up that have made the charts in New Zealand, were covers by Australian band the Black Sorrows (their version reached #20 in 1993) and Diana King’s version (featured on the soundtrack to the movie Cool Runnings) rose to #24 in 1994.
On February 12, Stir it Up by Bob Marley and the Wailers, was certified double platinum for sales and streaming equivalent exceeding 60,000 units in New Zealand.
Marley first recorded Stir it Up in 1967 and it was released on the Trojan label. It was covered by American singer Johnny Nash in 1972 and featured on the album I Can See Clearly Now.
Nash’s version peaked at #48 in Australia, #7 in Canada, #13 in Ireland, #13 in the UK and #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973.
The Black Sorrows took their 1993 version of Stir it Up to #58 in Australia, #53 in Germany and #9 in Iceland.
Trinidadian-German Eurodance singer Haddaway best known for the hit What is Love, recorded a version of Stir it Up for his 1993 album, The Album, and it reached #7 on the Canada Urban Dance chart and #25 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Maxi Singles Sales chart.
Bob Marley and the Wailers re-recorded Stir it Up for their 1973 album, Catch a Fire.
