# Around the World (La La La La La)

"Around the World (La La La La La)" is the debut single of German-based international Eurodance group ATC (an abbreviation of A Touch of Class). The song is a cover of the Russian hit "Pesenka" by Ruki Vverh! and uses the song's melody with additional English lyrics. Both songs feature the phrase "la la la la la" in a call and response format. Released in May 2000, the song is ATC's most successful single, reaching the top 20 in most countries where it was released.

## Background and release

"Around the World (La La La La La)" was released as ATC's debut single from their debut album, Planet Pop, on 22 May 2000 in Germany. It was produced and recorded by German producer Alex Christensen with its melody almost entirely based on "Pesenka". The single reached number one on the German Singles Chart for six weeks in 2000. It also reached number one in Austria, Poland, Romania, and Switzerland and the top 10 in Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
On 6 November 2000, the song was released in the United Kingdom but did not chart. In August 2002, it was re-released in a newly remixed version, peaking at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, "Around the World (La La La La La)" was serviced to radio stations on 16 January 2001 and peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

## Music video

The music video for "Around the World" was filmed in 1999, and part of it was filmed in a pedestrian tunnel near Internationales Congress Centrum Berlin in Berlin.
A yellow Melkus RS 1000 with a blue license plate containing the text "ATC" features in the video. It appears both as a miniature slot car and as original. It is seen drifting and dashing through the tunnel. In one scene, two girls are sitting on the hood while it is driving. In between shots of the car moving, the group members can be seen dancing in a small room on a small platform surrounded by water.

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Austria (IFPI Austria) | Gold | 25,000$^*$ |
| Belgium (BEA) | Gold | 25,000$^*$ |
| France (SNEP) | Silver | 125,000$^*$ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Platinum | 500,000$^^$ |
| Sweden (GLF) | Gold | 15,000$^^$ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) | Gold | 25,000$^^$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 200,000$^‡$ |
| $^*$ Sales figures based on certification alone. $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) |
| Germany | 22 May 2000 | CD | King SizeBMG |
| Finland | 10 July 2000 | CD | King SizeBMG |
| Sweden | 10 July 2000 | CD | King SizeBMG |
| United Kingdom | 6 November 2000 | CDcassette | RCABMG |
| United States | 16 January 2001 | Contemporary hitrhythmic contemporaryhot adult contemporary radio | Universal |
| United Kingdom (re-release) | 5 August 2002 | CDcassette | Liberty EMIBMG |

## R3hab version

In 2019, Dutch DJ R3hab released a cover version titled "All Around the World (La La La)". The band was credited on the release as A Touch of Class, though it features new vocals by an uncredited guest vocalist.

### Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Austria (IFPI Austria) | 2× Platinum | 60,000$^‡$ |
| Belgium (BEA) | Gold | 20,000$^‡$ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) | 3× Platinum | 120,000$^‡$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | 2× Platinum | 160,000$^‡$ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Platinum | 90,000$^‡$ |
| France (SNEP) | Platinum | 200,000$^‡$ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Platinum | 400,000$^‡$ |
| Italy (FIMI) | Platinum | 70,000$^‡$ |
| Mexico (AMPROFON) | Platinum | 60,000$^‡$ |
| Netherlands (NVPI) | Platinum | 80,000$^‡$ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Platinum | 30,000$^‡$ |
| Poland (ZPAV) | 2× Platinum | 100,000$^‡$ |
| Portugal (AFP) | Gold | 5,000$^‡$ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | Platinum | 60,000$^‡$ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) | Platinum | 20,000$^‡$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 200,000$^‡$ |
| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 500,000$^‡$ |
| Streaming |||
| Sweden (GLF) | 2× Platinum | 16,000,000$^†$ |
| $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. $^†$ Streaming-only figures based on certification alone. |||

## Samples

* In 2011, American rapper Kid Ink sampled "Around the World" for his single "Fast Lane".
* In 2020, American singer Ava Max interpolated "Around the World" for her single "My Head & My Heart", in which the members of A Touch of Class praised her for acknowledging their song.
* In 2021, American rapper Pitbull interpolated "Around the World" with Cuban DJ IAMCHINO for their single "Discoteca". They performed the song with DJ Deorro at the 2022 Premio Lo Nuestro awards.

## In popular culture

In 2007, the song was released with new lyrics as "Magic Melody" by German pop group beFour. "Sing La La La", an interpolation of the song, was released by Colombian/Italian singer Carolina Márquez featuring Flo Rida and Dale Saunders in 2013. A cover version of the song was used in a television commercial for General Electric in the United States in February 2002 during the 2002 Winter Olympics. In 2018, Alex Christensen, along with Melanie C and the Berlin Orchestra, made an orchestral version of the song which was included on Christensen's album titled Classical '90s Dance 2. American singer Ava Max interpolates the song in her 2020 single "My Head & My Heart". Pitbull sampled the song with IAMCHINO for their late-2021 single "Discoteca". They performed the song with DJ Deorro at the 2022 Premio Lo Nuestro awards.