Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?

"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?", also written "Da' Ya' Think I'm Sexy", is a song by British singer Rod Stewart from his ninth studio album, Blondes Have More Fun (1978). It was written by Stewart, Carmine Appice and Duane Hitchings,[4] though it incorporates the melody from the song "Taj Mahal" by Jorge Ben Jor and the string arrangement from the song "(If You Want My Love) Put Something Down On It" by Bobby Womack.[5]

"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)
Released10 November 1978 (UK)[1]
Genre
Length
  • 5:31 (album version)
  • 6:29 (12-inch version)
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Tom Dowd
Rod Stewart singles chronology
"Ole Ola (Mulher Brasileira)"
(1978)		 "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy"
(1978)		 "Ain't Love a Bitch"
(1979)
Music video
"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" on YouTube

The song was released as the first single from Blondes Have More Fun in November 1978. It spent one week atop the UK Singles Chart in December 1978 and four weeks atop the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1979. Billboard ranked it number four on its Top Singles of 1979 year-end chart.[6] It also topped the charts in Canada for four weeks and 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.[7] Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 301 in its 2004 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[8]

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."[9] 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.[10]

Further information: List of songs that have been the subject of plagiarism disputes

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.[11] 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.[5] 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 any song's arrangement as long as the core melody line is not copied.[5]

Reception

The song was criticised 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 number 301 in its 2004 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[8]

Cash Box said it has "a clipping bass line [by Phil Chen], steady kick drum and soaring synthesized strings" as well as "alternately gentle and dashing rhythm guitar work and a commanding sax solo."[12]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Belgium — 100,000[45]
Denmark — 10,000[46]
France (SNEP)[47] Gold 500,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[48] Gold 500,000^
United States (RIAA)[49] Platinum 2,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Revolting Cocks version
"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy"
Single by Revolting Cocks
from the album Linger Ficken' Good
Released6 September 1993 (1993-09-06)[50]
Length5:34
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Revolting Cocks
Revolting Cocks singles chronology
"Beers, Steers, and Queers"
(1990)		 "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy"
(1993)		 "Cocked and Loaded"
(2006)
Music video
"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy"

Industrial supergroup Revolting Cocks (featuring Richard 23 of Front 242, Luc van Acker, and Al Jourgensen of Ministry) recorded a version of Da Ya Think I'm Sexy for their album Linger Ficken' Good. The song was released as a single in September 1993 with the songs "Sergio Guitar" and "Wrong Sexy Mix" as B-sides. This version includes slightly altered lyrics (the lyric "Give me a dime so I can call my mother" is replaced with "Give me a buck so I can buy a rubber" and "He says, I'm sorry, but I'm out of milk and coffee." is replaced with "He says, I'm sorry, but I'm out of KY Jelly.")http://www.songlyrics.com/revolting-cocks/do-ya-think-i-m-sexy-lyrics/

N-Trance featuring Rod Stewart version
"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy"
Single by N-Trance featuring Rod Stewart
from the album Happy Hour
Released20 October 1997 (1997-10-20)[51]
GenreEurodance
Length3:59
LabelAll Around the World
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Curds, Whey
N-Trance singles chronology
"D.I.S.C.O."
(1997)		 "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy"
(1997)		 "Paradise City"
(1998)
Rod Stewart singles chronology
"When I Need You"
(1997)		 "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"
(1997)		 "Ooh La La"
(1998)
Music video
"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" on YouTube

In 1997, the song was remixed by English electronic dance music group N-Trance for their second album, Happy Hour (1998), 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. This version became a hit in late 1997, topping both the New Zealand Singles Chart for three weeks and the Czech Republic singles chart.[52] Additionally, the song peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart and earning a double-platinum sales certification in Australia, where it charted at number three.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as "another slice of flashback fever". He noted that "with its recognizable hook, booty-shakin' baseline, guest rap by Ricardo da Force, diva wailings by Kelly Llorenna, and Stewart himself, this updated remake could very well become the surprise radio hit of the summer. Of course, it could also become this month's novelty record."[53] British magazine Music Week rated N-Trance's version four out of five in their review.[54]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[83] 2× Platinum 140,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[84] Platinum 10,000*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[85] Gold  

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

2017 DNCE remix version
"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"
Single by Rod Stewart featuring DNCE
Released25 August 2017
Length3:50
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Rami
  • Nedler
  • Fogelmark
  • Kevin Savigar
  • Chris Sclafani
Rod Stewart singles chronology
"Please"
(2015)		 "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"
(2017)
DNCE singles chronology
"Kissing Strangers"
(2017)		 "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"
(2017)		 "Dance"
(2018)
Lyric video
"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" on YouTube

On August 25, 2017, Rod Stewart released a remix version, which features a guest appearance from American band DNCE. He sings along with Joe Jonas, the lead singer of the band.[86] The singer and the band performed the song together at 2017 MTV Video Music Awards two days later.[87][88]

Track listing
Digital download - 2017[86]
No.TitleLength
1."Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" (featuring DNCE)3:50

Charts

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 25 August 2017 Digital download Republic [86]

2021 Carmine Appice/Fernando Perdomo Project version
"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"
Song by Carmine Appice/Fernando Perdomo Project
from the album Energy Overload
Released24 September 2021
Recorded2021
Genre
Length5:05
LabelCleopatra Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

In 2021, Appice and Fernando Perdomo released an instrumental rock album, Energy Overload,[98] that includes what Eric Harabadian of Music Connection Magazine describes as a "harmonic and rhythmic renovation" of Do Ya Think I'm Sexy.[99]

Parodies
  • In 1979, Steve Dahl along with his band Teenage Radiation released a parody titled "Do You Think I'm Disco?"

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