Funky Cold Medina
"Funky Cold Medina" | ||||
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Single by Tone Lōc | ||||
from the album Lōc-ed After Dark | ||||
Released | March 21, 1989 | |||
Recorded | 1988 | |||
Genre | Rap rock | |||
Length | 4:08 | |||
Label | Delicious Vinyl | |||
Songwriter(s) | Marvin Young, Matt Dike, Michael Ross | |||
Tone Lōc singles chronology | ||||
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"Funky Cold Medina" is a hip hop song written by Young MC, Matt Dike and Michael Ross,[1] and first performed by 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 #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 the following month where it went platinum, selling over one million copies. It peaked on the UK Singles Chart at #13 in May of that year.
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 Fuzzy navel; Flav allegedly later advised Tone Loc to use the catchphrase in a song.[2]
After the song became popular, several different cocktails were introduced bearing the name "Funky Cold Medina".[3]
Synopsis
The song tells the story of Tone Lōc's experiences with 'Funky Cold Medina', a potent aphrodisiac in liquid form. At the beginning of the song, Loc consults a fellow club-goer who appears to be having more success with women than Loc is. The unnamed stranger informs Loc that his success is the result of his use of 'Funky Cold Medina', a potion which makes anyone who drinks it irresistible to others (although this is later contradicted by lyrics that suggest that it makes those who drink it find others irresistible).[4]
Loc initially tests the formula on his dog who, upon drinking it, becomes uncharacteristically affectionate towards Loc and appears to attract the neighbourhood dogs to Loc's house. Loc then tries the formula on a potential love interest, who unexpectedly turns out to be a cross-dresser[5]. His next effort involves him appearing on a dating show and a meeting a woman who immediately wants to marry him, which scares Loc away. Ultimately Loc concludes the formula is too much trouble, and resolves to discontinue using it.[6]
Charts
Weekly charts
Charts (1989) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[7] | 8 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] | 13 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] | 20 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10] | 3 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[11] | 13 |
UK Singles (OCC)[12] | 13 |
US Billboard Hot 100[13] | 3 |
US Billboard Hot Black Singles[13] | 3 |
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[13] | 8 |
US Billboard Hot Rap Singles[13] | 7 |
West Germany (Official German Charts)[14] | 7 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1989) | Position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA Charts)[15] | 39 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[16] | 99 |
United States (Billboard)[17][18] | 65 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[15] | Gold | 35,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Track listings
US vinyl, 12", promo[19]
- 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
References
- ^ ASCAP Ace System.
- ^ [1].
- ^ Esther Iverem, "We Think It's Legal: Would You Like a Funky Cold Medina?", Newsday, July 8, 1989, part 2, p. 15.
- ^ https://genius.com/Tone-loc-funky-cold-medina-lyrics.
- ^ https://genius.com/Tone-loc-funky-cold-medina-lyrics.
- ^ https://genius.com/Tone-loc-funky-cold-medina-lyrics.
- ^ "Tone Loc – Funky Cold Medina". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "Tone Loc – Funky Cold Medina" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "Tone Loc – Funky Cold Medina" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Tone Loc – Funky Cold Medina". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "Tone Loc – Funky Cold Medina". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ a b c d "allmusic ((( Tone-Loc > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Tone Loc – Funky Cold Medina" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ a b Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "1989 The Year in Music: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 101 (51): Y-22. December 23, 1989.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1989".
- ^ https://www.discogs.com/Tone-Loc-Funky-Cold-Medina/master/76169