Shake Your Head
Encyclopedia
"Shake Your Head" is a song by the band Was (Not Was)
. It was originally released in 1983 on the album Born to Laugh at Tornadoes
.
The original version features legendary Black Sabbath
singer Ozzy Osbourne
on lead vocals. A pre-fame Madonna
had auditioned for the vocal but was not used on the final release.
In 1992, it was rerecorded and remixed by house music producer Steve "Silk" Hurley, and features actress Kim Basinger
alongside a re-recorded Ozzy Osbourne on vocals. Neither is credited on the single, but It appeared on the group's album, Hello Dad... I'm in Jail. Although the song did not chart in the US, it was the band's biggest commercial success across the Atlantic, reaching #4 in the UK charts.
There are actually two versions of the 1992 remake:
The 3:48 version starts with Ozzy Osbourne singing "You can't feed the hungry, you can't talk Shakespeare to a monkey..."
The 4:00 version starts with female vocals (presumably Kim Basinger) singing "You can't argue with death. You can't break a burly sailor's neck. You can't drink lava from plastic glasses..."
There is also a Steve 'Silk' Hurley remix (5:32 duration).
The song's lyrics deal with things that cannot be done (some are outlandish, some can be done, but have a high amount of difficulty). After Basinger and Osbourne detail these things, the chorus comes in with the title hook.
In 2003, C. C. Catch covered "Shake Your Head" and released as single, which peaked at #8 in Norway.
Was (Not Was)
-Studio albums:-Compilation albums:-Singles:-Contributions:* A Christmas Record - "Christmas Time In The Motor City"* That's The Way I Feel Now: A Tribute to Thelonious Monk - "Ba-Lue-Bolivar-Ba-Lues-Are"...
. It was originally released in 1983 on the album Born to Laugh at Tornadoes
Born to Laugh at Tornadoes
Born To Laugh At Tornadoes is a 1983 album by the progressive pop band Was . Rolling Stone declared it "conceptually, the best album of the year" shortly after its release...
.
The original version features legendary Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
singer Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
on lead vocals. A pre-fame Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
had auditioned for the vocal but was not used on the final release.
In 1992, it was rerecorded and remixed by house music producer Steve "Silk" Hurley, and features actress Kim Basinger
Kim Basinger
Kimila Ann "Kim" Basinger is an American actress and former fashion model.She is known for her portrayals of Domino Petachi, the Bond girl in Never Say Never Again , and Vicki Vale, the female lead in Batman . Basinger received a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture...
alongside a re-recorded Ozzy Osbourne on vocals. Neither is credited on the single, but It appeared on the group's album, Hello Dad... I'm in Jail. Although the song did not chart in the US, it was the band's biggest commercial success across the Atlantic, reaching #4 in the UK charts.
There are actually two versions of the 1992 remake:
The 3:48 version starts with Ozzy Osbourne singing "You can't feed the hungry, you can't talk Shakespeare to a monkey..."
The 4:00 version starts with female vocals (presumably Kim Basinger) singing "You can't argue with death. You can't break a burly sailor's neck. You can't drink lava from plastic glasses..."
There is also a Steve 'Silk' Hurley remix (5:32 duration).
The song's lyrics deal with things that cannot be done (some are outlandish, some can be done, but have a high amount of difficulty). After Basinger and Osbourne detail these things, the chorus comes in with the title hook.
In 2003, C. C. Catch covered "Shake Your Head" and released as single, which peaked at #8 in Norway.
Chart positions
| Chart (1992) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Australia ARIA Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
47 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
8 |
| U.K. Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
4 |