He's So Shy
Encyclopedia
"He's So Shy" is a the title of a song written by Tom Snow
and lyricist Cynthia Weil
which in 1980 became a top ten Pop hit for the Pointer Sisters.
classic "He's So Fine
" by the Chiffons
, "He's So Shy" was in fact conceived by its composers as a song for Leo Sayer
to record as "She's So Shy". The song was pitched to Richard Perry
who'd produced Sayer's biggest hits; Perry was no longer working with Sayer but saw the song's potential as a track for the Pointer Sisters, who'd inaugurated Perry's own label Planet Records with the 1978 #2 hit "Fire".
, "He's So Shy"'s fusion of classic girl group pop, new-wave styled dance music and R&B proved the right combination to effect a Top Ten comeback for the Pointer Sisters, the track reaching a Billboard Hot 100
peak of #3 (R&B
#10) that October. "He's So Shy" set the prototype of the trademark Pointer Sisters sound which would afford the group its career peak in 1983-84 with the Break Out
album.
episode broadcast 7 February 1981. The group's members portrayed members of the ship's housekeeping staff recruited by Isaac the bartender (Ted Lange
) to be his background singers (in his perception) on a performance of "I'm So Shy" which Isaac hopes will effect his discovery by a cruise guest who's a recording exec; instead it's the background singers who are discovered.
Tom Snow (songwriter)
Thomas Righter Snow is an American songwriter.He wrote songs for Joe Cocker with , Selena , Olivia Newton-John , Melissa Manchester , The Pointer Sisters , Barbra Streisand, Rita Coolidge Thomas Righter Snow is an American songwriter.He wrote songs for Joe Cocker ("Even a Fool Would Let Go", "Love...
and lyricist Cynthia Weil
Cynthia Weil
Cynthia Weil is a prominent American songwriter. She is famous for having written many songs together with her husband Barry Mann....
which in 1980 became a top ten Pop hit for the Pointer Sisters.
Background
Although the song's title recalls the girl groupGirl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
classic "He's So Fine
He's So Fine
"He's So Fine" is a recording by The Chiffons which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks in the spring of 1963. One of the most instantly recognizable Golden Oldies with its doo-lang doo-lang doo-lang background vocal, "He's So Fine" is also renowned as the plaintiff song in the now-infamous...
" by the Chiffons
The Chiffons
The Chiffons was an all girl group originating from the Bronx area of New York in 1960.-Biography:The Chiffons were one of the top girl groups of the early 1960s...
, "He's So Shy" was in fact conceived by its composers as a song for Leo Sayer
Leo Sayer
Leo Sayer is a British singer-songwriter, musician, and entertainer whose singing career has spanned four decades. Sayer became a naturalised Australian citizen in 2009. Sayer was a top singles and album act on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1970s...
to record as "She's So Shy". The song was pitched to Richard Perry
Richard Perry
Richard Perry is an American music producer. Perry began as a performer in his adolescence, but shifted gears after graduating college and rose through the late 1960s and early 1970s to become a highly successful and popular record producer with over a dozen gold records to his credit by 1982...
who'd produced Sayer's biggest hits; Perry was no longer working with Sayer but saw the song's potential as a track for the Pointer Sisters, who'd inaugurated Perry's own label Planet Records with the 1978 #2 hit "Fire".
Impact
Released in July 1980 as the lead single from the album Special ThingsSpecial Things
Special Things is the seventh studio album by the Pointer Sisters, released in 1980 on the Planet label.-History:The album marked their third venture with producer Richard Perry and featured a more stylized R&B/pop production, launching the group into its most successful period...
, "He's So Shy"'s fusion of classic girl group pop, new-wave styled dance music and R&B proved the right combination to effect a Top Ten comeback for the Pointer Sisters, the track reaching a Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
peak of #3 (R&B
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
#10) that October. "He's So Shy" set the prototype of the trademark Pointer Sisters sound which would afford the group its career peak in 1983-84 with the Break Out
Break Out (Pointer Sisters album)
Break Out is the tenth studio album by the American vocal group The Pointer Sisters, released on November 6, 1983 by Planet Records.-History:...
album.
Chart performance
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Kent Music Report Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... |
11 |
| Canadian RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... Top Singles |
14 |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
14 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
3 |
| US Billboard R&B Singles Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
10 |
| US Billboard Adult Contemporary | 13 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs | 26 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 3 |
The Love Boat
The Pointer Sisters performed "He's So Shy" on The Love BoatThe Love Boat
The Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...
episode broadcast 7 February 1981. The group's members portrayed members of the ship's housekeeping staff recruited by Isaac the bartender (Ted Lange
Ted Lange
Theodore William "Ted" Lange is an American actor, director, and screenwriter best known for his role as the bartender, Isaac Washington, in the 1970s TV series The Love Boat...
) to be his background singers (in his perception) on a performance of "I'm So Shy" which Isaac hopes will effect his discovery by a cruise guest who's a recording exec; instead it's the background singers who are discovered.
Credits
- Lead vocals by June PointerJune PointerJune Antoinette Pointer Whitmore was an American Pop/R&B singer and was a founding member/and lead vocalist of the vocal group The Pointer Sisters.-Early life and career:...
- Background vocals by June Pointer, Ruth PointerRuth PointerRuth Pointer is an American R&B singer, best known for being the eldest member of The Pointer Sisters.-Early life:Pointer was born in Oakland, California. She began her vocal training as a director of a junior choir in her father's church.-The Pointer Sisters:Joining her sisters in 1972, the...
and Anita PointerAnita PointerAnita Pointer is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter and a member of The Pointer Sisters.-Biography:... - Composed by Tom Snow and Cynthia WeilCynthia WeilCynthia Weil is a prominent American songwriter. She is famous for having written many songs together with her husband Barry Mann....
- Produced by Richard PerryRichard PerryRichard Perry is an American music producer. Perry began as a performer in his adolescence, but shifted gears after graduating college and rose through the late 1960s and early 1970s to become a highly successful and popular record producer with over a dozen gold records to his credit by 1982...