Legal Tender (song)
Encyclopedia
"Legal Tender" is the first single released by The B-52's
from their 1983 album Whammy!
. The single was their third Billboard Hot 100
chart entry, at #81. The song also peaked at #9 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play
chart, along with album tracks "Whammy Kiss
" and "Song for a Future Generation
". The song was also an air-play and club hit in Brazil in 1984, and was performed during the band's set at the 1985 Rock in Rio
music festival. When the band toured Brazil in 2009, they didn't include the song in their set, causing fans to chant for the band to play it.
Musically, "Legal Tender" is an upbeat synthesizer-fuelled track with a drum machine and hand-clap rhythm. The lead vocals are shared by Kate Pierson
and Cindy Wilson
. The opening track on the band's third record, Whammy!
, it was a sign that the band had altered their sound quite significantly for this album. The band's heavy use of synthesizers on these tracks was indicative of a new wave trend at that time with The Human League
, Eurythmics
, Depeche Mode
, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
and many others also making use of modern synthesizer machines. "Legal Tender" was performed live in the set of the Whammy!
tour, with Keith Strickland
on synthesizer and with horn parts added.
Lyrically, "Legal Tender" is an adventure in the counterfeiting of American dollars. The lyrics describe outfitting a basement with "heavy equipment", and learning to print bills because of rising prices. A music video was made to accompany "Legal Tender" for promotion on television, featuring many different coloured and shaped wigs (which were habitually worn by Wilson and Pierson in the band's early years).
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
from their 1983 album Whammy!
Whammy!
Media response to Whammy! was mixed, but generally positive; most critics agreed that while the album was generally weaker in songwriting structure than The B-52's' first two albums The B-52's and Wild Planet, it was an overall improvement over their previous album Mesopotamia, which received poor...
. The single was their third 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...
chart entry, at #81. The song also peaked at #9 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart, along with album tracks "Whammy Kiss
Whammy Kiss
"Whammy Kiss" is the second single released by The B-52's from their 1983 album Whammy!.The song reached number nine on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart, along with the album tracks "Legal Tender" and "Song for a Future Generation."-Chart positions:...
" and "Song for a Future Generation
Song for a Future Generation
"Song for a Future Generation" is the third single taken from The B-52's 1983 album Whammy!. It peaked at #63 on the UK Singles Chart and also reached number nine on the U.S...
". The song was also an air-play and club hit in Brazil in 1984, and was performed during the band's set at the 1985 Rock in Rio
Rock in Rio
Rock in Rio is a series of music festivals held in three cities: Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Lisbon in Portugal and Madrid in Spain.Four incarnations of the festival were in Rio de Janeiro, in 1985, 1991, 2001 and 2011, four in Lisbon, in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010, and two in Madrid in 2008 and 2010....
music festival. When the band toured Brazil in 2009, they didn't include the song in their set, causing fans to chant for the band to play it.
Musically, "Legal Tender" is an upbeat synthesizer-fuelled track with a drum machine and hand-clap rhythm. The lead vocals are shared by Kate Pierson
Kate Pierson
Catherine Elizabeth "Kate" Pierson is an American vocalist and one of the lead singers and founding members of The B-52's. One of the multi-instrumentalists in the band, Pierson played guitar, bass and various keyboard instruments...
and Cindy Wilson
Cindy Wilson
Cynthia Leigh Wilson is a vocalist and a founding member of new wave rock band The B-52s.- Career :...
. The opening track on the band's third record, Whammy!
Whammy!
Media response to Whammy! was mixed, but generally positive; most critics agreed that while the album was generally weaker in songwriting structure than The B-52's' first two albums The B-52's and Wild Planet, it was an overall improvement over their previous album Mesopotamia, which received poor...
, it was a sign that the band had altered their sound quite significantly for this album. The band's heavy use of synthesizers on these tracks was indicative of a new wave trend at that time with The Human League
The Human League
The Human League are an English electronic New Wave band formed in Sheffield in 1977. They achieved popularity after a key change in line-up in the early 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success throughout the 1980s up to the present day.The only constant...
, Eurythmics
Eurythmics
Eurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A...
, Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are a synthpop group whose founding members are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, England...
and many others also making use of modern synthesizer machines. "Legal Tender" was performed live in the set of the Whammy!
Whammy!
Media response to Whammy! was mixed, but generally positive; most critics agreed that while the album was generally weaker in songwriting structure than The B-52's' first two albums The B-52's and Wild Planet, it was an overall improvement over their previous album Mesopotamia, which received poor...
tour, with Keith Strickland
Keith Strickland
Julian Keith Strickland is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, and one of the founding members of the The B-52s. Originally the band's drummer, Strickland switched to guitar after the death of guitarist Ricky Wilson in 1985...
on synthesizer and with horn parts added.
Lyrically, "Legal Tender" is an adventure in the counterfeiting of American dollars. The lyrics describe outfitting a basement with "heavy equipment", and learning to print bills because of rising prices. A music video was made to accompany "Legal Tender" for promotion on television, featuring many different coloured and shaped wigs (which were habitually worn by Wilson and Pierson in the band's early years).
Chart positions
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. 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... |
81 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
9 |