You Sexy Thing
"You Sexy Thing" | ||||
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![]() Artwork for 1987 vinyl single remix release | ||||
Single by Hot Chocolate | ||||
from the album Hot Chocolate | ||||
B-side | "Amazing Skin Song" | |||
Released | October 1975 | |||
Recorded | 1975 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Mickie Most | |||
Hot Chocolate singles chronology | ||||
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"You Sexy Thing" is a song recorded by the British group Hot Chocolate. It was written by Hot Chocolate's lead singer Errol Brown and bass guitarist Tony Wilson, and was produced by Mickie Most. The song was released in October 1975 and reached number two on the UK Singles Chart in November 1975, as well as number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 the following February. Billboard ranked it the number-twenty-two song for 1976. It went on to gain notability by being featured in films, such as The Full Monty (1997).
Overview
The song was originally a 1975 B-side. Not yet convinced that the song could be a hit, producer Most put it on the flip-side of the Hot Chocolate single "Blue Night". The song was later remixed by Most, who re-released it as an A-side some months later on his RAK label. The song was a hit and ultimately became the group's best-known song. In the UK the song was poised for the number-one spot, but was beaten to it by "Bohemian Rhapsody", when on 29 November 1975 the Queen single leapfrogged it from number nine.[3]
A 1987 remix by Ben Liebrand hit number 10.[4] The release of the compilation album The Very Best of Hot Chocolate, featuring the Liebrand remix, reached number one on the UK Albums Chart in February 1987. Ten years later, when it was featured in the film The Full Monty, it went to number six.[4] In one of the most memorable scenes in the film, the male lead Gaz (played by Robert Carlyle) performs a "striptease" to the music of "You Sexy Thing". Another US resurgence in 1999 can be credited to a Burger King television commercial in which the song played while the camera examined a Double Whopper. In addition, it is the only song to enter the UK top ten in the 1970s, '80s, and '90s.[5]
Structure
"You Sexy Thing" is written in the key of F major[6] and has a simple structure, with most of the song alternating between two major chords (F and B♭). It has a chorus-verse form. One of the song's most memorable aspects is its distinctive six note riff which is repeated intermittently throughout, played on a mildly overdriven electric guitar on a high treble setting and with noticeable vibrato. In addition to a traditional rock drum kit, the song uses hand drums, played in a style reminiscent of tabla. A number of violins accompany the rhythm section. Brown's vocals are sung in an energetic soul fashion, accentuated by the occasional primal, Joe Cocker-style scream. The 1987 remix added a pizzicato-style brass section to the track.
Media uses
"You Sexy Thing" has also been heard in other films including 1990s films Reservoir Dogs, Heavyweights, Boogie Nights, Sexo, pudor y lágrimas, Dogma, Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, and Bicentennial Man; 2000s films Dude, Where's My Car, Rat Race, About Schmidt, and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist; and 2010s film Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son.
The song was featured the Season 1 episode of That '70s Show called Thanksgiving.
The song was featured in the pilot episode of the series Malcolm in the Middle and in the original "Tales of the City".
Around the mid to late 2000s a censored version of the song featured in a Branston beans advert.
In 2010, the song was featured in promos for the series Hot in Cleveland on TV Land.[7]
The song is later heard over the closing credits and is also included in the 2013 play version of The Full Monty.
In a season 2 episode of the American version of The Office titled "The Dundies", the song is played as Ryan the Temp is presented with the "Hottest in the Office" award.
It was featured in the Brazilian soap opera O Tempo não Para (2018).
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
Certifications
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Cover versions
In 1997, two covers were released at almost the same time as the re-issue of the Hot Chocolate original. One cover was by English pop/dance act Clock, while the other version was by pop duo T-Shirt, featuring actress Chloé Treend and songwriter Miranda Cooper. Both were re-workings with the original music and lyrics but with new additional vocal segments.
Clock version
"U Sexy Thing" | ||||
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Single by Clock | ||||
from the album About Time 2 | ||||
Released | 1997 | |||
Genre | Eurodance | |||
Length | 3:39 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Clock singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"You Sexy Thing" on YouTube |
British pop/dance act Clock released a successful cover of "You Sexy Thing" as "U Sexy Thing" in 1997. It peaked at number eight in Ireland, number 11 in the United Kingdom and number 100 in Australia.
Charts
Chart (1997) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA Charts)[31] | 100 |
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[32] | 31 |
Ireland (IRMA)[33] | 8 |
Scotland (OCC)[34] | 12 |
UK Singles (OCC)[35] | 11 |
T-Shirt version
"You Sexy Thing" | |
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![]() | |
Single by T-Shirt | |
Released | 1997 |
Length | 3:59 |
Label | |
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Metro |
Music video | |
"You Sexy Thing" on YouTube |
Actress Chloé Treend and songwriter Miranda Cooper collaborated under the name T-Shirt to release another successful cover of "You Sexy Thing" in 1997. This version reached number 63 in the United Kingdom, number five in New Zealand, and number six in Australia, where it stayed on the chart for 32 weeks. In Australia and New Zealand, it earned platinum certifications.
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (1997–1998) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA)[36] | 6 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[37] | 10 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[38] | 5 |
Scotland (OCC)[39] | 69 |
UK Singles (OCC)[40] | 63 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1997) | Position |
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Australia (ARIA)[41] | 49 |
Chart (1998) | Position |
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Australia (ARIA)[42] | 30 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[43] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[44] | Platinum | 10,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ "RIP: Hot Chocolate singer Errol Brown, of 'You Sexy Thing' fame, dies aged 71". Vanyaland. 6 May 2015.
- ^ "Errol Brown, 71, Dies; Wrote and Sang Disco Hit 'You Sexy Thing'". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 75 – Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ a b "Hot Chocolate – Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 259/260. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ E, Brown; Chocolate, Hot (27 August 2012). "You Sexy Thing". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "The Official Hot in Cleveland Site starring Betty White, Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick : Hot in Cleveland". Tvland.com. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles: Every AMR Top 100 Single in 1976". Top100singles.blogspot.com.au. 11 November 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Hot Chocolate – You Sexy Thing". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ "RPM Top Singles". Library and Archives Canada. 31 January 1976. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
- ^ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved 23 August 2008)
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Hot Chocolate – You Sexy Thing". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Hot Chocolate – You Sexy Thing". charts.nz. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Hot Chocolate – You Sexy Thing". Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Hot Chocolate – You Sexy Thing". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ "Hot Chocolate: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Hot Chocolate – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 261.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 2/14/76". Tropicalglen.com. 14 February 1976. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 24 May 1987. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- ^ "Britain's best selling records of '75". Record Mirror. London: Billboard. 10 January 1976. p. 12. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ "Australian Chart Book". Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1976 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 8 December 1963. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1976/Top 100 Songs of 1976". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1987 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 31 December 1987. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ "British single certifications – Hot Chocolate – You Sexy Thing". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ^ "American single certifications – Hot Chocolate – You Sexy Thing". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- ^ "Music & Media: Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – U Sexy Thing". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "T-Shirt – You Sexy Thing". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "T-Shirt – You Sexy Thing" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "T-Shirt – You Sexy Thing". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1997". ARIA. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1998". ARIA. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – T Shirt – You Sexy Thing". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
External links
- "You Sexy Thing" at Allmusic website