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The Glamorous Life

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This article is about the Sheila E. song. For other uses, see The Glamorous Life (disambiguation).
"The Glamorous Life"
Artwork for picture sleeve used for most editions
Single by Sheila E.
from the album The Glamorous Life
B-side"The Glamorous Life" (Part II)
ReleasedMay 2, 1984
RecordedDecember 27, 1983
StudioSunset Sound, Los Angeles
GenreFunk
Length9:00 (album)
3:41 (7" single)
6:33 (club edit)
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Prince
Producer(s)Sheila E., Prince (as The Starr ★ Company)
Sheila E. singles chronology
"The Glamorous Life"
(1984) 		"The Belle of St. Mark"
(1984)

"The Glamorous Life" is a song written by Prince, recorded by singer/percussionist Sheila E. and produced by both. The song has lyrics which reflect a cynicism for the decadence and materialism of the song's protagonist, referred to in the third person, who "wants to lead a glamorous life", although she is aware that "without love, it ain't much".

Song history

"The Glamorous Life" is the title track and closing song on Sheila E.'s debut solo album, and reached number 7 on the U.S. pop charts, as well as number 1 on the U.S. dance charts, and earned two Grammy Award nominations and three MTV Award nominations.

Sheila E.'s live performances of the song became memorable events, most notably for her percussion solo towards the end of the song. Depending on the occasion, she would either spin around several times while drumming without missing a beat during the rigorous solo, place one highly elevated foot on a snare while standing on the other leg mid-solo, or perform with glow-in-the-dark drumsticks. While the solo featured in the song helped to bolster Sheila E.'s fame, all subsequent versions of this song have no drum solo. She performed this song as part of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band during their 2001, 2003 and 2006 tours.

In 2019, the original Prince demo of the song was released on his posthumous album "Originals".

Track listing

7" vinyl

Side one

  1. "The Glamorous Life" – 3:41

Side two

  1. "The Glamorous Life Part II" – 3:12

12" vinyl

Side one

  1. "The Glamorous Life" (club edit) – 6:33

Side two

  1. "The Glamorous Life Part II" – 3:12

Charts

Melissa Tkautz version

"The Glamorous Life"
Single by Melissa Tkautz
from the album Lost & Found
ReleasedSeptember 18, 2005 (2005-09-18)
GenrePop, dance, house
Length3:20
LabelBig Records
Songwriter(s)Prince
Melissa Tkautz singles chronology
"Is It...?"
(1993) 		"The Glamorous Life"
(2005) 		"All I Want"
(2005)

"The Glamorous Life" was covered by Australian actress/singer Melissa Tkautz in 2005. The single was seen as a comeback for Tkautz who had enjoyed considerable success in the early 1990s both as an actress and singer. Tkautz had previously scored an Australian number one hit in 1991 with the song "Read My Lips", which spent two weeks at the top spot and won her an ARIA Award for Highest Selling Single in 1992. After a twelve-year hiatus from the music industry, Tkautz returned with her cover of Sheila E.'s 1984 hit "The Glamorous Life" and a new album Lost & Found. "The Glamorous Life" debuted and peaked at number thirty-one on the Australian Singles Chart in September 2005 and spent two weeks in the top fifty.

Track listing

CD single

  1. "The Glamorous Life" (radio edit) – 3:21
  2. "The Glamorous Life" (AC Radio Edit) – 3:34
  3. "The Glamorous Life" (Hotfuss Radio Edit) – 3:20
  4. "The Glamorous Life" (Luke Leal vs. Peachy Club Mix) – 8:23
  5. "The Glamorous Life" (JimmyZ vs. Bootyscratcherz 4Play Club Mix) – 6:27
  6. "The Glamorous Life" (Hotfuss Club Mix) – 6:21

Charts

Chart (2005) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[14] 31

T-Funk version

"The Glamorous Life"
Single by T-Funk featuring Inaya Day
Released2005
Length3:30
LabelMinistry of Sound Australia
Songwriter(s)Prince
T-Funk singles chronology
"I'm On My Way"
(2005) 		"The Glamorous Life"
(2005) 		"Be Together"
(2006)
Inaya Day singles chronology
"Nasty Girl"
(2004) 		"The Glamorous Life"
(2005) 		"Stand by Me"
(2006)

At almost the same time that Melissa Tkautz released her cover of the song, Australian dance music act T-Funk released their cover, which features vocals from American singer Inaya Day. This version reached number 31 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart four weeks after Tkautz's rendition did the same. Outside Australia, this cover peaked at number five in Hungary and number six on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Charts

Chart (2005–2006) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 31
Hungary (Dance Top 40)[16] 10
Hungary (Single Top 40)[17] 5
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[18] 6

Other cover versions

  • In 1995 dance/electronic artist Kairene recorded a cover of the song for Quality Records in Canada, the vinyl version was a sampler from the REMIX dance compilation issued on CD the same year.this version was produced by Canadian DJ/musicians Gene King and Carlos Clark.
  • The song was covered by Eden's Crush in their 2001 debut album Popstars.
  • New York indie rock band The Fever recorded a cover (and two remixes of the cover) as the B-side to their 2003 single "Ladyfingers".
  • In 2007 a cover version was recorded by Icelandic band Al'Margir.
  • In 2009, short lived group "Chauffeur", consisting of singer Sam Sparro, rapper Theophilus London, and producer Mark Ronson, released a cover of the song, officially approved by Prince, released exclusively to limited edition vinyl pressings only available with the purchase of Mark Ronson and Gucci's shoe collaboration.[19]
  • The song was covered by Corin Tucker on her 2010 tour.
  • The song was covered by R&B singer Rihanna during both her Last Girl on Earth Tour (2010–2011) and her Loud Tour (2011).
  • The song was covered by entertainer Jennifer Lopez for her Residency show in Las Vegas, All I Have, where she remixes it with her song "If You Had My Love". (2016)

References

  1. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  2. ^ "Sheila E. – The Glamorous Life" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  3. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9520." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  4. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 35, 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  5. ^ "Sheila E. – The Glamorous Life" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  6. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  7. ^ "Sheila E Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  8. ^ "Sheila E Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  9. ^ "Sheila E. Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  10. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1984" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  11. ^ "Top 100 Singles of 1984". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  12. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1984" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  13. ^ "Talent Almanac 1985: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 51. December 22, 1984. p. TA-19.
  14. ^ "Melissa Tkautz – The Glamorous Life". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  15. ^ "T-Funk feat. Inaya Day – The Glamorous Life". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  16. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  17. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  18. ^ "Inaya Day Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  19. ^ "Chauffeur". samsparro.com. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
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