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==External Links==
*[http://newbeatsmedia.com/2010/08/26/i-put-a-spell-on-you/ A song’s journey through musical history]

Revision as of 14:33, 26 August 2010

For other uses, see I Put a Spell on You (disambiguation).
"I Put a Spell on You"
Song

"I Put a Spell on You" is a 1956 song written by Screamin' Jay Hawkins, whose recording was selected as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. It was also ranked #313 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Although Hawkins' version did not make any charts, several later cover versions have done so. Nina Simone's version reached # 23 in the US Billboard R&B chart in 1965; it also reached # 49 in the UK singles chart that year, and # 28 when it was reissued in 1969. The version by The Alan Price Set reached # 9 in the UK in 1966, and # 80 on the Billboard Hot 100. Creedence Clearwater Revival's version reached # 58 on the US Hot 100 in 1968. In the UK, Bryan Ferry's version reached # 18 in 1993, and the version by Sonique reached # 36 in 1998 and # 5 on reissue in 2000.[1][2][3] The song has been recorded by numerous other artists.

The original version

Hawkins had originally intended to record "I Put a Spell on You" as a refined love song, a blues ballad. He reported, however, that the producer "brought in ribs and chicken and got everybody drunk, and we came out with this weird version.[4] I don't even remember making the record. Before, I was just a normal blues singer. I was just Jay Hawkins. It all sort of just fell in place. I found out I could do more destroying a song and screaming it to death."

Some sources claim that "I Put a Spell on You" had been released earlier than 1956 in a more sedate form, but this has not been verified. The date of 1949 for an original release on the Grand label would appear unlikely, since it predates both the formation of the record label and the beginning of Hawkins' performing career.

"I Put a Spell on You" became a quick success, despite being banned by some stores and radio stations. A softer version, minus certain sounds deemed "cannibalistic", did not chart but brought Hawkins together with Alan Freed and his "Rock and Roll Review".

Up to this time, Hawkins had been a blues performer; emotional, but not wild. Freed suggested a gimmick to capitalize on the "demented" sound of "I Put a Spell on You": Hawkins wore a long cape, and appeared onstage by rising out of a coffin in the midst of smoke and fog.[4]

The act was a sensation, later bolstered by tusks worn in Hawkins' nose, on-stage snakes and fireworks, and a cigarette-smoking skull named "Henry". The theatrical act was one of the first shock rock performances, and was the progenitor of much that came later in rock and roll, including Dr. John, Alice Cooper, Eric Burdon, Screaming Lord Sutch, Warren Zevon, Arthur Brown, Black Sabbath, Ted Nugent, George Clinton, The Butthole Surfers, The Cramps, and Marilyn Manson -- among the many who vied for Hawkins' title as a rock and roll madman.

Shane MacGowan and Friends Cover

"I Put a Spell on You"
Song

Shane MacGowan, Nick Cave, Bobby Gillespie, Chrissie Hynde, Mick Jones and a guitar-wielding Johnny Depp joined forces to release their take on "I Put A Spell On You" in aid of Concern Worldwide's work in Haiti. Moved by the plight of the people of Haiti following the devastating 2010 earthquake, McGowan and his long term girlfriend Victoria Clarke quickly assembled a group of friends and set about recording a version of the song. Hawkins died ten years to the day before the earthquake hit Haiti. "I Put A Spell On You" was released on March 8, 2010, via download only. Shane MacGowan and friends line-up like this:[5][6]

Vocals:
Shane MacGowan
Nick Cave
Bobby Gillespie
Glen Matlock
Chrissie Hynde
Paloma Faith
Eliza Doolittle
Laura White
Guitar:
James Walbourne
Mick Jones
Johnny Depp
Bass:
Cait O'Riordan
Hammond organ/piano:
Carwyn Ellis
Drums:
Rob Walbourne
Fire Hydrant:
Mick Jones

Covers and samples

"I Put a Spell on You"
Song
"I Put a Spell on You"
Song

"I Put a Spell on You" has been covered dozens of times, perhaps most famously by Nina Simone on the 1965 album I Put A Spell On You, but also by performers such as

Most of the covers treat the song seriously; few attempt to duplicate Hawkins's bravura performance. Arthur Brown comes close.

In 1966, James Brown used an arrangement near identical to "I Put a Spell on You"'s for his hit, "It's a Man's Man's Man's World". In 1967, the arrangement was used once more for Frank Sinatra's "The World We Knew (Over and Over)".

Also, it has been sampled on tracks by The Notorious B.I.G. ("Kick In The Door"), The Beatnuts ("Se Acabo") and LL Cool J ("LL Cool J"). Producers Cookin' Soul reworked the sample used by The Notorious B.I.G, incorporating more elements of the original song and changing the tempo, and released a song featuring Styles P of The LOX.

In the media

In films, it has been performed (with different lyrics) by Bette Midler in Disney's Halloween movie, Hocus Pocus, of which this version has been used as exit music for the HalloWishes Halloween-themed fireworks show at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom theme park; while the original version has also been covered by Diamanda Galás, which was featured in Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers. Marilyn Manson's version was featured in David Lynch's Lost Highway as well as television ads for M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense. The Creedence Clearwater Revival version and the Nina Simone version were used in Rebecca Miller's The Ballad of Jack and Rose. It has been also played in an episode of The Simpsons ("I'm Spelling as Fast as I Can") and an episode of The PJ's. It was featured in the movie Stranger Than Paradise. Hawkins performed the song on film in A Rage in Harlem and the song was also used in the Supernatural episode, "Malleus Maleficarum".

The Hawkins version has even become a standard accompaniment for ice skaters, including Michelle Kwan, Alexei Urmanov and the team of Elizabeth Punsalan and Jerod Swallow.

The song has also figured in countless radio and television advertisements, such as those for Pringles, Levi's, McDonald's and Burger King. Radio personality Rush Limbaugh has used the song as one of a series of continuing spoofs, particularly about Mario Cuomo.

It has featured in the BBC's Holby City promotional advert (played by Marilyn Manson), and rock musician Danko Jones plays the track after every live show he performs with his band.

References

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. ISBN 0-89820-115-2.
  3. ^ Betts, Graham (2004). Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004 (1st ed.). London: Collins. ISBN 0-00-717931-6.
  4. ^ a b Chris Morris (Feb 26, 2000), Legendary Screamin' Jay Hawkins Dies At 70, Billboard
  5. ^ http://www.prefixmag.com/media/shane-macgowan-and-friends/i-put-a-spell-on-you-haiti-charity-song-video/37970/
  6. ^ http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/2010/03/watch_shane_macgowan_friends_i.html

Template:Laura White

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