In a remarkable testament to enduring musical legacy, Bob Marley and the Wailers’ classic track ‘Stir It Up’ has received double platinum certification in New Zealand for surpassing 60,000 equivalent sales and streaming units. The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand formally granted this recognition on February 12th, highlighting the song’s lasting appeal despite its unconventional chart history in the country.
Surprisingly, while Bob Marley enjoyed significant popularity in New Zealand during his lifetime—including a memorable 1979 performance—the original ‘Stir It Up’ never appeared on the nation’s official music charts. Instead, the song found commercial success through cover versions by other artists. Australian band The Black Sorrows reached #20 with their interpretation in 1993, while Diana King’s rendition, featured on the ‘Cool Runnings’ soundtrack, climbed to #24 in 1994.
The song’s journey began when Marley first recorded ‘Stir It Up’ in 1967 under the Trojan label. American singer Johnny Nash later popularized the track with his 1972 cover, which achieved substantial international success, reaching #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and charting impressively in Canada (#7), Ireland (#13), and the UK (#13).
Marley and the Wailers re-recorded the song for their groundbreaking 1973 album ‘Catch a Fire,’ cementing its status as a reggae anthem. Additional notable covers include Trinidadian-German Eurodance artist Haddaway’s 1993 version, which reached #7 on Canada’s Urban Dance chart, and The Black Sorrows’ interpretation that also charted in Australia (#58), Germany (#53), and Iceland (#9).