"Sex (I'm a ...)" is a song by American new wave band Berlin from their second studio album, Pleasure Victim (1982). The song was co-written by group members John Crawford, Terri Nunn, and David Diamond and sung as a duet by Crawford and Nunn. It has an electronic disco arrangement, inspired by Giorgio Moroder, and in particular Donna Summer's "I Feel Love".[2]
| "Sex (I'm a ...)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) U.S. Geffen edition | ||||
| Single by Berlin | ||||
| from the album Pleasure Victim | ||||
| B-side | "Tell Me Why" | |||
| Released | February 1983 | |||
| Recorded | 1982, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | Dance-pop[1] | |||
| Length | 3:30 | |||
| Label | Geffen | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Daniel R. Van Patten | |||
| Berlin singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Released as the album's second single in February 1983,[3] the single became a cult hit on American radio (and a massive hit in Canada, peaking at #4 on the RPM charts) and brought the group into the mainstream. Despite the significant attention, the song's racy lyrics resulted in its being banned from several radio stations. The single peaked at No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in late March and early April 1983.[4][5] The song was also the first single release from the band's new label, Geffen Records.
The music video, which received only limited play on MTV, features a cameo appearance by Nunn's mother Joy.[6]
Nunn later said the lyrics were inspired by her relationship with KROQ DJ Richard Blade, and her attempts to introduce elements of erotic roleplay into their sex life;[7] this was confirmed by Blade.[8]
Track listing
edit- "Sex (I'm a ...)" - 5:08
- "Tell Me Why" - 3:50
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Cover versions
edit- Canadian electroclash musician Peaches covered the song as a bonus track for her albums The Teaches of Peaches and Fatherfucker.[citation needed]
- Australian producer/DJ Mike Felks released a cover of the song in 2009, featuring Annemarie.[18]
- Lovage released a cover in 2001 on their album Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By[19]
References
edit- ^ Ruhlmann, William (January 1, 1997). "Berlin". In Bogdanov, Vladimir; Erlewine, Michael; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas; Unterberger, Richie; Woodstra, Chris (eds.). AllMusic Guide to Rock. San Francisco: Miller Freeman, Inc. pp. 77–78.
- ^ "The 100 Best Alternative Singles of the 1980S: 100 – 81". popmatters.com. 2021-04-05. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ^ "Berlin - Sex (I'm a ...) / Tell Me Why - Geffen - USA - 7-29747". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
- ^ "Music: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.com. 1983-03-26. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
- ^ "Music: Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.com. 1983-04-02. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
- ^ Berlin: Intimate DVD (2003). Quote -
Terri Nunn: "...made an appearance in Berlin's Sex video ...my mother, Joy." (see mv: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vczkEKWiwKg&t=3m24s) - ^ "'Sex'-y love story of Berlin's Terri Nunn and radio DJ Richard Blade to be made into biopic". yahoo.com. 2023-06-23. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ^ "Richard Blade's New Book Is a Trip Through KROQ's '80s Glory Days". LA Weekly. 2017-11-10. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6281." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
- ^ "Berlin – Sex (I'm a ...)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
- ^ "Berlin Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
- ^ "Berlin Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
- ^ "Berlin Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
- ^ "The Top Singles of 1983". RPM. Vol. 39, no. 17. December 24, 1983. p. 10. ISSN 0033-7064 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Talent Almanac 1984 – Top Dance/Disco Singles/Albums" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 95, no. 52. December 24, 1983. p. TA-26. ISSN 0006-2510 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Sex I'm A, Mike Felks featuring Annemarie". Retrieved 2015-11-13.
- ^ "365 Days of Mike Patton: "Sex (I'm a ...)," Lovage (2001)". 17 April 2020. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
