Released February 17, 1981 Recorded 1980–1981 Length 6:27 | Format 7" single12" single | |
Label SireWarner Bros.IslandPolyGram (outside US) | ||
"Wordy Rappinghood" is a song by American new wave band Tom Tom Club. The song was the lead single from the band's debut studio album, Tom Tom Club. It uses part of a traditional Moroccan children's song and game, "A Ram Sam Sam", made popular by the 1971 Rolf Harris recording. In the United States, the song topped the Billboard Disco Top 80 chart along with "Genius of Love".
Contents
Structure, instrumentation and production
The song opens with the sound of a typewriter and features jarring synthesizer chords and a distinctive drum break. The words of the fifth verse are spoken in French: "Mots pressés, mots sensés, mots qui disent la vérité, mots maudits, mots mentis, mots qui manquent le fruit d'esprit" which translate as: "hurried words, sensible words, words that tell the truth, cursed words, lying words, words that are missing the fruit of the mind."
Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz of Tom Tom Club had bought a house in Nassau, Bahamas, next door to Chris Blackwell, owner of Island Records, and it was Blackwell who arranged the recording in his Compass Point Studios. Frantz and Weymouth brought in Steven Stanley, a 21-year-old keyboard player who had been the sound engineer on Ian Dury's album Lord Upminster, and bass player, Monte Browne, a former member of T-Connection.
A. "Wordy Rappinghood" (Special 12" Version) – 6:39B. "Spooks" – 6:28A. "Wordy Rappinghood" – 3:50B. "Wordy Rappinghood" (You Don't Ever Stop) – 4:05A. "Wordy Rappinghood" (Remix) – 6:42B. "Elephant" – 5:11Chicks on Speed version
"Wordy Rappinghood" was covered by German electroclash group Chicks on Speed and released as the second single from their album 99 Cents in 2003. Their version featured guest vocals by other female musicians such as Miss Kittin, Kevin Blechdom, Le Tigre, Adult.'s Nicola Kuperus, and Tom Tom Club founding member Tina Weymouth.
This cover was sampled in the song "Really Rappin' Something" by The Kleptones from the album From Detroit to J.A. in 2005. In 2007, the Playgroup remix of Chicks on Speed's version appeared on the compilation album FabricLive.33 by Spank Rock.
Critical reception
Christopher Lloyd of Drowned in Sound described the song as an "ultra-catchy seven minute dancefloor killer".
- "Wordy Rappinghood" (Radio Edit) – 4:20
- "Wordy Rappinghood" (The Playgroup Remix) – 5:23
- "Wordy Rappinghood" (Dave Clarke's Non Techno Mix) – 3:37
- "Wordy Rappinghood" (The Playgroup Instrumental Mix) – 5:24
- "Wordy Rappinghood" (music video)
Uffie version
French-American electronic artist Uffie covered the song in 2011. The single, produced by labelmate DJ Mehdi, was released on April 18, 2011, through Ed Banger Records, Because Music and Elektra Records. Her version was used in Evian adverts in the UK.