Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?

"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy"
Single by Rod Stewart
from the album Blondes Have More Fun
B-side "Dirty Weekend" (UK)
"Scarred and Scared" (US)
Released 10 November 1978
Format 7-inch single, 12-inch single
Recorded 1978
Genre Disco, new wave
Length 5:31 (album version)
6:29 (12-inch version)
Label Warner Bros.
Writer(s) Rod Stewart, Carmine Appice, Duane Hitchings
Producer(s) Tom Dowd
Rod Stewart singles chronology
"I Was Only Joking"
(1978)		 "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"
(1978)		 "Ain't Love a Bitch"
(1979)
Music video
"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" on YouTube

"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" is a song by British singer Rod Stewart from his 1978 album Blondes Have More Fun. It was written by Stewart, Carmine Appice and Duane Hitchings,[1] though it incorporates elements of the melody from the song "Taj Mahal" by Jorge Ben Jor and the string arrangement from the song "Put Something Down On It" by Bobby Womack.[2]

The song featured on Stewart's album Blondes Have More Fun, and was released as a single in November 1978. It spent one week at the top of the British charts in December 1978 and four weeks at the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1979. Billboard ranked it number four on its Top Singles of 1979 year-end chart.[3] It also topped the charts in Australia for two weeks.

Royalties from the song were donated to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Stewart performed the song at the Music for UNICEF Concert at the United Nations General Assembly in January 1979.[4]

Rolling Stone ranked the song at #308 in its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[5]

Background and writing

Carmine Appice, who played drums on this song told Songfacts: "This was a story of a guy meeting a chick in a club. At that time, that was a cool saying. If you listen to the lyrics, 'She sits alone, waiting for suggestions, he's so nervous...' it's the feelings of what was going on in a dance club. The guy sees a chick he digs, she's nervous and he's nervous and she's alone and doesn't know what's going on, then they end up at his place having sex, and then she's gone."[6] In a 2007 interview, co-writer Duane Hitchings noted that "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" was

a spoof on guys from the 'cocaine lounge lizards' of the Saturday Night Fever days. We Rock and Roll guys thought we were dead meat when that movie and the Bee Gees came out. The Bee Gees were brilliant musicians and really nice people. No big egos. Rod, in his brilliance, decided to do a spoof on disco. VERY smart man. There is no such thing as a "dumb" super success in the music business.[7]

It has been noted that Stewart created parts of the song through musical plagiarism. A copyright infringement lawsuit by Brazilian musician Jorge Ben Jor claimed the chorus of the song had been derived from his song "Taj Mahal". The case was "settled amicably" according to Jorge Ben Jor, in Ben Jor's favor.[8] Stewart admitted in his 2012 autobiography to "unconscious plagiarism" of the Ben Jor song, which he had heard while attending the Rio Carnival in 1978.[2] He also admitted that he had consciously lifted the song's signature synthesizer riff from the string arrangement on Bobby Womack's "(If You Want My Love) Put Something Down On It". Stewart contends that it is legal to lift a line from an song's arrangement as long as the core melody line isn't copied.[2]

Reception

The song was criticized by many in the rock press as a betrayal of Stewart's blues-oriented rock roots, due to its disco-like arrangement, but Stewart and others were quick to point out that other widely respected artists, such as Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones, had also released disco-flavoured songs. However, the song has since experienced some retrospective acclaim as Rolling Stone placed the song at #308 in its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[5]

Charts and certifications

Chart positions

Chart (1978-79) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[10] 8
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[11] 3
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[12] 1
Canada Disco 30 (RPM)[13] 7
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[14] 1
Finland (Finnish Singles Chart)[15] 9
France (SNEP)[16] 2
Germany (Official German Charts)[17] 9
Ireland (IRMA)[18] 5
Italy (FIMI)[19] 3
Japan (Oricon)[20] 12
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] 2
Norway (VG-lista)[23] 2
Portugal Singles Chart[24] 1
Spain (AFYVE)[25] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[26] 11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 8
UK (Official Charts Company)[28] 1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[29] 1
U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles 5
U.S. Billboard National Disco Action Top 40 1
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 Singles 1

All-time charts

Chart Position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 911

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
France (SNEP)[31] Gold 519,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[32] Gold 500,000
United States (RIAA)[33] Platinum 2,000,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

|}

N-Trance featuring Rod Stewart version

"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy"
Single by N-Trance featuring Rod Stewart
from the album Happy Hour
Released 13 October 1997
Format CD single
Genre Eurodance
Length 3:59
Label Sony
Writer(s) Rod Stewart, Carmine Appice, Duane Hitchings
Producer(s) Curds, Whey
N-Trance featuring Rod Stewart singles chronology
"The Mind of the Machine"
(1997)		 "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"
(1997)		 "Paradise City"
(1998)

In 1997, the song was remixed by English techno-house group N-Trance for their second album Happy Hour and features lyrics from the Millie Jackson version (as performed by vocalist Kelly Llorenna). It was featured in the film A Night at the Roxbury the following year.

Chart positions

Chart (1997–98) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[34] 3
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[35] 9
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[36] 15
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[37] 10
Denmark (IFPI)[38] 7
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[39] 5
France (SNEP)[40] 33
Germany (Official German Charts)[41] 15
Ireland (IRMA)[18] 10
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[42] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[43] 13
Norway (VG-lista)[44] 10
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[45] 15
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[46] 21
UK (Official Charts Company)[47] 7

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[48] Platinum 0*

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ "Duane Hitchings – A Country Writer's Rock Roots". Yamaha All Access. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Stewart, Rod. Rod: The Autobiography (2012): 225-226
  3. ↑ "Top Singles of the Year" Billboard December 22, 1979: TIA-10
  4. ↑ (AP) "Frost Sets UNICEF Show" The Robesonian 30 November 1978: 1
  5. 1 2 "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  6. ↑ "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
  7. ↑ Urban "Wally" Wallstrom (23 March 2007), "Duane Hitchings, The Man Behind the Hits", RockUnited.com, retrieved 18 January 2013
  8. ↑ Interview with Ben Jor Expatica.com
  9. ↑ "Australia n°1 Hits - 70's". Worldcharts.co.uk. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  10. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Rod Stewart – Da' Ya' Think I'm Sexy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  11. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Rod Stewart – Da' Ya' Think I'm Sexy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  12. ↑ "Da ya think I'm sexy? in Canadian Adult Contemporary Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  13. ↑ "Da ya think I'm sexy? in Canadian Disco 30 Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  14. ↑ "Da ya think I'm sexy? in Canadian Top Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  15. ↑ Danyel Smith, ed. (1979). Billboard - Google Livres. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  16. ↑ Hung Medien. "Da ya think I'm sexy? in French Chart". Retrieved 5 June 2013. You have to use the index at the top of the page and search "Rod Stewart"
  17. ↑ "Musicline.de – Rod Stewart Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  18. 1 2 Search for Irish peaks
  19. ↑ "The best-selling singles of 1979 in Italy". HitParadeItalia (it). Retrieved 2 June 2013.
    13. Da ya think I'm sexy? - Rod Stewart [#3]
  20. ↑ Danyel Smith, ed. (1979). Billboard 31 march 1979. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  21. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Rod Stewart search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
  22. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Rod Stewart – Da' Ya' Think I'm Sexy". Top 40 Singles.
  23. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Rod Stewart – Da' Ya' Think I'm Sexy". VG-lista.
  24. ↑ Danyel Smith, ed. (1979). Billboard 6 october 1979. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  25. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  26. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Rod Stewart – Da' Ya' Think I'm Sexy". Singles Top 100.
  27. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Rod Stewart – Da' Ya' Think I'm Sexy". Swiss Singles Chart.
  28. ↑ "1978 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive - 2nd December 1978". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  29. ↑ "Rod Stewart awards on Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  30. ↑ "Best of All Time - Singles". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Les Singles en Or :" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  32. ↑ "British certifications – Rod Stewart – Da Ya Think I'm Sexy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 March 2012. Enter Da Ya Think I'm Sexy in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  33. ↑ "American certifications – Rod Stewart – Do Ya Think I'm Sexy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  34. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – N-Trance feat. Rod Stewart – Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  35. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – N-Trance feat. Rod Stewart – Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  36. ↑ "Ultratop.be – N-Trance feat. Rod Stewart – Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  37. ↑ "Ultratop.be – N-Trance feat. Rod Stewart – Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  38. ↑ Billboard: Hits of the World (20 December 1997)
  39. ↑ "N-Trance feat. Rod Stewart: Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  40. ↑ "Lescharts.com – N-Trance feat. Rod Stewart – Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" (in French). Les classement single.
  41. ↑ "Musicline.de – N-Trance feat. Rod Stewart Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  42. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – N-Trance feat. Rod Stewart – Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?". Top 40 Singles.
  43. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – N-Trance featuring Rod Stewart search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
  44. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – N-Trance feat. Rod Stewart – Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?". VG-lista.
  45. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – N-Trance feat. Rod Stewart – Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?". Singles Top 100.
  46. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – N-Trance feat. Rod Stewart – Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?". Swiss Singles Chart.
  47. ↑ "1997 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive - 1st November 1997". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  48. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Notorious B.I.G. – Mo Money, Mo Problems". Recorded Music NZ.
Preceded by
"Rat Trap" by The Boomtown Rats		 UK number-one single
2 December 1978 		Succeeded by
"Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord" by Boney M
Preceded by
"Le Freak" by Chic		 Billboard Hot 100 number-one single (Rod Stewart version)
10 February 1979 - 3 March 1979 		Succeeded by
"I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor
Preceded by
"Keep on Dancin'" / "Do It at the Disco" / "Let's Lovedance Tonight" by Gary's Gang		 Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single
24 February 1979 – 10 March 1979 		Succeeded by
"I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)" by Instant Funk
Preceded by
"Y.M.C.A." by Village People		 Australian Kent Music Report number-one single
29 January 1979 – 5 February 1979 		Succeeded by
"C'mon Aussie C'mon" by The Mojo Singers
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/21/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.