South Side (song)

For the Lloyd song, see Southside (Lloyd song). For the Lil' Keke song, see Southside (Lil' Keke song).

"South Side"
Single by Moby featuring Gwen Stefani
from the album Play
B-side	"Ain't Never Learned" "The Sun Never Stops Setting"
Released	November 7, 2000 (2000-11-07)
Format	CD
Genre	Alternative rock, alternative dance
Length	3:48 (album version) 3:49 (single version featuring Gwen Stefani)
Label	Mute, V2
Writer(s)	Moby
Producer	Moby
Moby singles chronology
"Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad? / Honey" (remix featuring Kelis) (2000) "South Side" (2000) "Find My Baby" (2002)
Gwen Stefani singles chronology "You're the Boss" (1998) "South Side" (2000) "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" (2001)

"South Side" (also sometimes spelled as "Southside") is the title of a song written and recorded by American electronica musician Moby. It was released in November 2000 as the eighth single from his 1999 studio album Play. It is one of his most successful singles, peaking at number 14 on the United States Billboard Hot 100.

Meaning

Moby has said that the song was inspired by his visits to Chicago and his love for its house music scene.

Music video

The music video was directed by Joseph Kahn and parodies hip hop and dance music videos. Scenes include Moby in garish fur coats and sunglasses, Moby and Gwen Stefani dancing in front of large neon signs of their names, and Moby "traveling" in a convertible with women and bottles of champagne, but the vehicle is not even actually being driven outside of the studio.

The video also parodies artful videos with scenes of Moby and Gwen Stefani in a bare room, wearing drab clothing and holding a potted sunflower, visually parodying the New York "brick and plant" type of set commonly overused in videos and film.

Other elements observed in the video include Moby expressing discomfort for the fake gold "grill" insert used over his teeth to make him look more "gangsta". Eventually, he grudgingly adjusts it and walks off the set. Gwen Stefani is shown in one scene in front of the neon sign with her name wielding three-inch fingernails. Later, she interrupts the filming (to Moby's feigned disgust) to answer and talk on her cell phone.

Instead of a band, in the background of the video, six "musicians" at translucent computer workstations are shown. The workstation users are visually boring and a poor substitute for the presence of an actual band. The workers act as if they are playing and adjusting the electronica music samples in real-time on their keyboards during the performance, with no apparent enthusiasm whatsoever for the actual music being created. At the end of the video it shows a pot of mayonnaise and burning clothes falling from a rack.

The music video won the 2001 MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video.

Re-recording

"South Side" appears as track five on Moby's 1999 album, Play. It was then re-recorded with Gwen Stefani of No Doubt. The Moby–Stefani version of "South Side" is available on the song's single and on the reissue of Play. The original album version, without Stefani, is the version featured on Go: The Very Best of Moby.

Track listing

Mute (UK)

1. "South Side (Featuring Gwen Stefani) (Single Version)" – 3:49
2. "South Side (Featuring Gwen Stefani) (Hybrid Dishing Pump Remix)" – 8:27
3. "South Side (Album Version)" – 3:48
4. "South Side (Peter Heller Park Lane Vocal)" – 8:48
5. "Aint Never Learned" – 3:47
6. "South Side (Hybrid Dishing Pump Instrumental)" – 7:54
7. "The Sun Never Stops Setting" – 4:19
8. "South Side T-Rock" – 3:25

V2 Records 1

1. "South Side (Featuring Gwen Stefani) (Single Version)" – 3:49
2. "South Side (Featuring Gwen Stefani) (Hybrid Dishing Pump Remix)" – 8:27
3. "South Side (Album Version)" – 3:48

V2 Records 2

1. "South Side (Featuring Gwen Stefani) (Edit)" – 3:25
2. "South Side (Album Version)" – 3:48

Chart positions

Chart (2001)	Peak position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)	3
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	14
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	16
U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	3