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I'm Too Sexy

"I'm Too Sexy" is a song by British pop band Right Said Fred, released in July 1991 by Tug Records as their debut single from their first album, Up (1992). The song was written by band members and brothers Fred Fairbrass and Richard Fairbrass with Rob Manzoli and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. Outside the United Kingdom, it topped the charts in seven countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the United States. James Lebon directed the music video for the song, featuring various clips of models walking on the catwalk. In 2023, Billboard magazine ranked "I'm Too Sexy" among the 500 best pop songs of all time.[4]

"I'm Too Sexy"
Single by Right Said Fred
from the album Up
Released15 July 1991
Genre
Length2:50
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)TommyD
Right Said Fred singles chronology
"I'm Too Sexy"
(1991) 		"Don't Talk Just Kiss"
(1991)
Right Said Fred singles chronology
"Where Do You Go to My Love?"
(2006) 		"I'm Too Sexy 2007"
(2007) 		"I'm a Celebrity"
(2008)
Music video
"I'm Too Sexy" on YouTube

Composition and recording

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The idea for the song came about when the Fairbrass brothers were running a gym in London where, according to Richard, there was "lots of narcissism and posing". One day, he took his shirt off and started singing "I'm too sexy for my shirt" in front of a mirror as a joke. The band originally recorded it as an indie rock song.[citation needed]

It was rejected by multiple record companies before they played it to radio plugger Guy Holmes. He was initially unimpressed after playing it on his car stereo, but his passengers latched onto the song's "I'm a model, you know what I mean" hook and Holmes asked the band if they could rework it as a dance track.

DJ TommyD, an acquaintance of Richard Fairbrass, programmed electronics around the original vocal, whilst guitarist Rob Manzoli added a riff borrowed from the Jimi Hendrix song "Third Stone from the Sun".[5]

Release

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The single was released on 15 July 1991.[6] It equalled the record for the most weeks at number two on the UK Singles Chart without ever topping the chart, staying at number two for six weeks in a row while held back by Bryan Adams' "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" (this equalled the previous record set by Father Abraham's 1978 hit "The Smurf Song").

In May 1992, the song was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award for Best Selling 'A' Side.[7] "I'm Too Sexy" was the act's first of several hits, particularly in the United Kingdom. They went on to have a number one single on the[UK Singles Chart with "Deeply Dippy" in April 1992.

Chart performance

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"I'm Too Sexy" was successful on the singles charts worldwide, becoming a hit on several continents. It made its way to the number-one position in Australia, Austria, Canada (The Record chart), Ireland, New Zealand and the US, where the single topped the Billboard Hot 100 as well as the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart. The song reached the next best chart position, as number two in Canada (the RPM Top Singles chart), Norway and the UK, where it peaked in its fourth week on the UK Singles Chart on August 11, 1991.[8] It debuted on the UK chart as number 37 and was held off the number one spot by Bryan Adams' "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You". "I'm Too Sexy" spent six weeks at the number two position, before dropping to 5, 7 and 9, and then leaving the UK Top 10 in October 1991. In the US, the song also peaked at number four on both the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and the Cash Box Top 100 as well as number 28 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Additionally, it was a top 10 hit also in Belgium (3), Ecuador (5), Greece (5) and Sweden (8).

"I'm Too Sexy" was certified gold in Australia (70,000), Austria (25,000), Canada (50,000), New Zealand (5,000) and the UK (470,000). In the US, the single received platinum status with a sale of 1 million units.

Critical reception

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AllMusic editor Stephen Schnee described the song as a "humorous yet misunderstood swipe at self centered male bodybuilders and models."[9] J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun wrote, "With its prodding piano and insistently tuneful bass line, "I'm Too Sexy" is an insidiously catchy single - the sort that sticks in your memory whether you want it to or not. Fortunately, head Fred Richard Fairbrass handles the vocals with enough good humor that the single's annoyance factor remains relatively low.[10] David Taylor-Wilson from Bay Area Reporter called it "a campy send-up of the fashion world."[11] Larry Flick from Billboard commented, "Thoroughly fun and goofy ditty recently heated up international dance floors and radio airwaves. Fred cheekily boasts about his physical attributes over a festive pop/house groove, which should have no trouble duplicating its success here."[12] Andy Kastanas from The Charlotte Observer stated, "This midtempo "techno/house" beat has a catchy hook and unusual deep male vocals (a la Elmer Fudd on steroids) that'll put a meltdown on any ladies in the vicinity. You'll dance whether you like it or not and the lyrics are sure to give you some chucks when you sing along (and you WILL sing along)... "I'm too sexy for my car, too sexy for your party, too sexy for this song, too sexy it hurts" and on and on."[13]

British magazine Music Week deemed it an "eccentric"[14] and "amusingly muttered 121.7bpm pop rattler".[15] Clark and Devaney from Cashbox said, "Here is a fun, tongue-in-cheek dance tune that should get lots of club play." They concluded that the group "have put together a clever dance/club put-down of what could only be the whole fashion-model "poser" attitude that's so much in vogue."[16] David Quantick from New Musical Express stated, "'I'm Too Sexy' is a great record, not least because it's a piss-take of people who fancy themselves sung by people who fancy themselves."[17] A reviewer from People Magazine described it as a "dopey dance tune mocking fashion models and voguers—but it'll keep you moving."[18] Spin wrote, "This 12-inch, along with its video, is the most inescapable assault on mass consciousness since "Gypsy Woman". Prepare to be impaled on a throbbing slice of masculinity courtesy of three roughnecks who've already had Mick Jagger down on all fours (they were once his trainers). Lie back and enjoy it."[19]

Music video

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A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by James Lebon.[20][21][22] In a 2017 interview, Fred Fairbrass told that they had borrowed 1,500 pounds to make the single and then another 3,000-4,000 pounds to make the video for the song.[23] In the video, the group performs while humorously posing as models on a runway set,[24] surrounded by female photographers wearing bikinis. In between, there are clips of real models walking the catwalk at different fashion shows. James Muretich from Calgary Herald described the video as "campy".[25] In the clubs, many people would imitate the band's "catwalk" dance as seen on the video, which was released in January 1992.[26]

Impact and legacy

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NME ranked "I'm Too Sexy" number 15 in their list of "Singles of the Year" in December 1991.[27] In 1993, the song was awarded one of BMI's Pop Awards in the category for Most Performed College Radio Song of 1992.[28] In June 2007, it was voted No. 80 on VH1's list of "100 Greatest Songs of the '90s".[29] In April 2008, the song was rated No. 49 on "The 50 Worst Songs Ever! Watch, Listen and Cringe!" by Blender.[30] In April 2011, it was voted No. 2 on VH1's "40 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the '90s".[31] In 2017, BuzzFeed ranked it No. 90 in their list of "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s", adding, "Yes, this song is cheesy as hell, but it doesn't ever try to be anything other than what it is: a fun, catchy, campy dance song."[32] In 2019, Billboard listed the song at No. 210 in their ranking of "Billboard's Top Songs of the '90s".[33] Four years later, in October 2023, the magazine ranked it at No. 475 in their "Best Pop Songs of All Time" list.[4]

Track listing

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Charts

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Certifications and sales

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[66] Platinum 70,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[67] Gold 25,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[68] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[69] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[6] Gold 470,000[70]
United States (RIAA)[71] Platinum 1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Covers and adaptations

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Boggioni, Tom (9 June 2014). "John Oliver asks Right Said Fred to annoy Syria's Assad with 'too awful' song". The Raw Story. Archived from the original on 4 July 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  2. ^ Smith, Troy L. (21 October 2020). "Every No. 1 song of the 1990s ranked from worst to best". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  3. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (2 August 2018). "Rewinding the Charts: In 1992, Right Said Fred Wasn't 'Too Sexy' for No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved 8 September 2023. In 1991, British brothers Fred and Richard Fairbrass and Rob Manzoli — who had dubbed themselves Right Said Fred — released their debut song, "I'm Too Sexy," a Eurodance number satirizing the narcissism of fashion culture.
  4. ^ a b "The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List". Billboard. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  5. ^ Simpson, Dave (4 April 2017). "How we made Right Said Fred's I'm Too Sexy". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  6. ^ a b "British single certifications – Right Said Fred – I'm Too Sexy". British Phonographic Industry.
  7. ^ "The Ivors 1992 > Best Selling 'A' Side". Theivors.com. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  8. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 75 11 August 1991 - 17 August 1991". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  9. ^ Schnee, Stephen. "Right Said Fred – Up". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  10. ^ Considine, J.D. (1992). "Right Said Fred – Up". The Baltimore Sun – via Star Tribune. (13 March 1992).
  11. ^ Taylor-Wilson, David (2 April 1992). "View from the Top". Bay Area Reporter. Vol. 22, no. 14. p. 26. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  12. ^ Flick, Larry (16 November 1991). "Single Reviews > New and Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. p. 81.
  13. ^ Kastanas, Andy (4 December 1991). "Sounds of Progress". The Charlotte Observer. p. 10.
  14. ^ "Export of the Year: Right Said Fred" (PDF). Music Week. 26 December 1992. p. 10. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  15. ^ "Dance" (PDF). Music Week. 3 August 1991. p. 8. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  16. ^ Clark, Randy; DeVaney, Bryan (21 December 1991). "Music Reviews > Singles" (PDF). Cashbox. Vol. LV, no. 19. p. 5. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  17. ^ Quantick, David (9 May 1992). "Long Play". New Musical Express. p. 75. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Prime Cuts". People. Vol. 37, no. 5. 10 February 1992. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  19. ^ The Entire Staff (February 1992). "Heavy Rotation". Spin. p. 18. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
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  21. ^ "Right Said Fred: I'm Too Sexy". Cines.com. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  22. ^ Mills, Simon (26 January 2009). "James Lebon". The Independent.
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  25. ^ Muretich, James (8 March 1992). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald.
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  29. ^ "The 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s". VH1. Archived from the original on 12 June 2013.
  30. ^ "The 50 Worst Songs Ever! Watch, Listen and Cringe!". Blender. Archived from the original on 26 December 2010.
  31. ^ "VH1's 40 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the '90s". Top One Hit Wonders. 8 May 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  32. ^ Stopera, Matt; Galindo, Brian (11 March 2017). "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  33. ^ "Greatest of All Time: Billboard's Top Songs of the '90s". Billboard. 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
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  38. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 2043." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
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  40. ^ "Discos más populares en Mexico". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). 24 May 1992. p. 56. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  41. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
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  54. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
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  65. ^ "Hot 100 Singles of the '90s". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. 25 December 1999. p. 20. ISSN 0006-2510.
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  67. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Right Said Fred – I'm Too Sexy" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  68. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Right Said Fred – I'm Too Sexy". Music Canada.
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  70. ^ Copsey, Rob (21 May 2021). "Official Top 40 best-selling songs of 1991". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  71. ^ "American single certifications – Right Said Fred – I_m Too Sexy". Recording Industry Association of America.
  72. ^ Balls, David (31 August 2009). "Sugababes: 'Get Sexy'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  73. ^ McAlpine, Fraser (25 August 2009). "Sugababes – 'Get Sexy'". The Chart Blog. BBC Online. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
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  75. ^ Montgomery, Daniel (7 September 2021). "Drake is 'Way 2 Sexy' for this music video as 'Certified Lover Boy' drops". Gold Derby. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  76. ^ "Drake: The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  77. ^ "Beyoncé teams up with I'm Too Sexy legends Right Said Fred on new album". Virgin Radio UK. 27 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.

Further reading

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