Funky Cold Medina

"Funky Cold Medina" is a hip hop song written by Young MC, Matt Dike and Michael Ross,[1] and first performed by American rapper, actor and producer Tone Lōc. It was the second single from Lōc's debut album, Lōc-ed After Dark (1989). The single was released on March 18, 1989, and rose to number three on the Billboard Hot 100 the following month where it went platinum, selling over one million copies and becoming the second ever platinum-certified rap single (after "Wild Thing" from the same album being the first). It peaked on the UK Singles Chart at number 13 in May of that year.

"Funky Cold Medina"
Single by Tone Lōc
from the album Lōc-ed After Dark
ReleasedMarch 18, 1989
Recorded1988
Length4:08
LabelDelicious Vinyl
Songwriter(s)Marvin Young, Matt Dike, Michael Ross
Tone Lōc singles chronology
"Wild Thing"
(1989)		 "Funky Cold Medina"
(1989)		 "I Got It Goin' On"
(1990)

According to Flavor Flav, who is heard using the phrase "cold medina" a year earlier on It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, "cold medina" was one of his assertive affirmations throughout the 1980s and was adopted by labelmates Beastie Boys as a nickname for the cocktail known as a "fuzzy navel"; Flav allegedly later advised Tone Loc to use the catchphrase in a song.[2]

The song contains several samples. The drum break is from "Get Off Your Ass and Jam" by Funkadelic, and the main guitar riff is from "Hot Blooded" by Foreigner. Other samples are taken from "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones (when this song is mentioned in the lyrics), "Christine Sixteen" by Kiss, "All Right Now" by Free and "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" by Bachman–Turner Overdrive. The cowbell sample is from "Honky Tonk Women" by the Rolling Stones.[3]

After the song became popular, several different cocktails were introduced bearing the name "Funky Cold Medina".[4]

Synopsis

The song tells of Tone Lōc's experiences with "Funky Cold Medina", an aphrodisiac beverage. Lōc asks a fellow bar customer how is having such success with women. The stranger says it is due to Funky Cold Medina, which makes anyone who drinks it irresistible.

Lōc tests the formula on his dog, who becomes uncharacteristically affectionate towards Lōc and attracts the neighborhood dogs to Lōc's house. Lōc then tries it on potential love interest Sheena, but upon returning to Lōc's home Sheena turns out to be a man, whom he throws out. Next he appears on Love Connection and meets a woman who immediately wants to marry him. Lōc concludes the formula just brings trouble and resolves not to use it.[5]

Track listings
  • US vinyl, 12", promo[6]
A1. "Funky Cold Medina" [Vocal] – 4:11
A2. "Funky Cold Medina" [Funky Beats] – 2:46
B1. "Funky Cold Medina" [Instrumental] – 4:08
B2. "Funky Cold Medina" [Funky Acappella] – 1:18
  • US promo
  1. "Funky Cold Medina" [7" version] – 4:11

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[20] Gold 35,000^
United States (RIAA)[24] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References
  1. ASCAP Ace System.
  2. Ardell, Jena (2011-06-02). "Flavor Flav on Addiction, Coining the Title of a Tone Loc Song, and How a Crackhead Started His Clock Trend". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  3. "SongFacts - Funky Cold Medina by Tone-Lōc". songfacts.com. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  4. Esther Iverem, "We Think It's Legal: Would You Like a Funky Cold Medina?", Newsday, July 8, 1989, part 2, p. 15.
  5. "Tone Lōc – Funky Cold Medina". genius.com. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  6. "Tone Loc - Funky Cold Medina". Discogs. 1989.
  7. "Tone Loc – Funky Cold Medina". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  8. "Tone Loc – Funky Cold Medina" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  9. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 946." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  10. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Tone Loc". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 261. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  11. "Tone Loc – Funky Cold Medina" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  12. "Tone Loc – Funky Cold Medina". Top 40 Singles.
  13. "Tone Loc – Funky Cold Medina". Swiss Singles Chart.
  14. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  15. "Tone Loc Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  16. "Tone Loc Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  17. "Tone Loc Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  18. "Tone Loc Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  19. "Offiziellecharts.de – Tone Loc – Funky Cold Medina" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  20. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  21. "Top Singles - Volume 51, No. 8, December 23, 1989". RPM. December 23, 1999. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  22. "1989 The Year in Music: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 51. December 23, 1989. p. Y-22.
  23. "Billboard Top 100 – 1989".
  24. "American single certifications – Tone Lōc – Funky Cold Medina". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
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