Wordy Rappinghood
Encyclopedia
"Wordy Rappinghood" is a song by the American band Tom Tom Club
. The song was the lead single from the band's debut studio album, Tom Tom Club
. It uses part of the 1971 Rolf Harris
song "A Ram Sam Sam
". In the United States, the song was released as a double a-side with "Genius of Love
" and topped the U.S. Billboard
Hot Dance Club Songs chart.
European 12" single
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 version appeared on the compilation album FabricLive.33 by Spank Rock
.
described the song as "ultra-catchy seven minute dancefloor killer."
covered the song in 2011. The single, produced by labelmate DJ Mehdi
, was released through Ed Banger Records
, Because Music
and Elektra Records
.
Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club is an American new wave band founded in 1981 by husband-and-wife team Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz, both also known for being bandmembers of Talking Heads.-Biography:...
. The song was the lead single from the band's debut studio album, Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club (album)
Tom Tom Club is Tom Tom Club's first album, released in 1981, containing the UK hit singles "Wordy Rappinghood," which reached No. 7 in June 1981; "Genius of Love," which reached No. 65 in October of the same year; and "Under the Boardwalk," which reached No. 22 in August 1982. When released in the...
. It uses part of the 1971 Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris, CBE, AM is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter, composer, painter and television personality.Born in Perth, Western Australia, Harris was a champion swimmer before studying art. He moved to England in 1952, where he started to appear on television programmes on which he drew the...
song "A Ram Sam Sam
A Ram Sam Sam
"A Ram Sam Sam" is a popular children's song and game which originated in Morocco.The song's lyrics are usually:- Pop culture usage :* Rolf Harris recorded the song in 1971....
". In the United States, the song was released as a double a-side with "Genius of Love
Genius of Love
"Genius of Love" is a 1981 song by Tom Tom Club from their eponymous debut album.-Song:"Genius of Love" was Tom Tom Club's second single. Although the album had not been released in North America, over a hundred thousand copies of the single sold as imports from Island Records's UK, at which point...
" and topped the U.S. Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Dance Club Songs chart.
Track listing
European 7" single- A1. "Wordy Rappinghood" – 3:50
- B1. "Wordy Rappnghood" (You Don't Ever Stop) – 4:05
European 12" single
- A1. "Wordy Rappinghood" (Remix) – 6:42
- B1. "Elephant" – 5:11
Charts
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 2 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... ) |
35 |
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) | 7 |
| US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... ) |
1 |
Chicks on Speed version
"Wordy Rappinghood" was covered by Chicks on SpeedChicks on Speed
Chicks on Speed is a multi-national musical ensemble, formed in Munich in 1997, when members Melissa Logan, Kiki Moorse and Alex Murray-Leslie met at the Academy of Fine Arts....
and released as the second single from their album 99 Cents
99 Cents
A video clip for "We Don't Play Guitars", directed by Deborah Schamoni, is included....
in 2003. Their version featured guest vocals by other female musicians such as Miss Kittin
Miss Kittin
Miss Kittin is an electronic music DJ, vocalist, and songwriter. Since rising to prominence in 1998 for her singles "1982" and "Frank Sinatra" with The Hacker, she has worked with other musicians such as Chicks on Speed, Felix da Housecat and Golden Boy...
, Kevin Blechdom
Kevin Blechdom
Kevin Blechdom, born Kristin Erickson, is an American experimental electronic musician/performance artist from San Francisco, California.-Life and career:...
, Le Tigre
Le Tigre
Le Tigre is an American electroclash band, formed by Kathleen Hanna and Johanna Fateman in 1998. It also featured Sadie Benning from 1998 until 2001, and JD Samson for the rest of the group's run...
, Adult.'s Nicola Kuperus
Nicola Kuperus
Nicola Kuperus is an American musician and photographer. She is a member of the band ADULT. with her husband Adam Lee Miller . ADULT. owns and manages Ersatz Audio, a record label based out of Detroit, Michigan...
, and Tom Tom Club founding member Tina Weymouth
Tina Weymouth
Martina Michèle "Tina" Weymouth is an American musician, best known as a founding member and bassist of the New Wave group Talking Heads and its side project Tom Tom Club .-Profile:Weymouth is of French heritage on her mother's side. Weymouth was a cheerleader in high school...
.
This cover was sampled in the song "Really Rappin' Something" by The Kleptones
The Kleptones
The Kleptones, aka Eric Kleptone, is a DJ from Brighton in the United Kingdom who produces internet-only mashup albums. Typically, he mixes rock/R&B instrumentals with rap and hip-hop vocals in a style that is "fun...and often surprising." His name is a parody of the famous guitarist, Eric...
from the album From Detroit to J.A.
From Detroit to J.A.
From Detroit to J.A. is The Kleptones' third album, which blends R&B instrumentals with Pop, Rap, and R&B vocals.The mashups were initially created for The Rinse radio show...
in 2005. In 2007, the Playgroup remix of Chicks on Speed version appeared on the compilation album FabricLive.33 by Spank Rock
Spank Rock
Spank Rock is an American hip-hop group consisting of rapper Naeem Juwan and producer Alex Epton . Their style is generally described as a mix of underground alternative rap and electro and rock.- Biography :...
.
Critical reception
Christopher Lloyd from Drowned in SoundDrowned in Sound
DrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
described the song as "ultra-catchy seven minute dancefloor killer."
Track listing
- European CD, Maxi-single
- "Wordy Rappinghood" (Radio Edit) - 4:20
- "Wordy Rappinghood" (The PlaygroupPlaygroup (band)Playgroup is a British dance act. Basically the project of musician and designer Trevor Jackson, they were associated with the electroclash movement.Jackson has also performed under the names Underdog and Skull.-Albums:...
Remix) - 5:23 - "Wordy Rappinghood" (Dave Clarke's Non Techno Mix) - 3:37
- "Wordy Rappinghood" (The Playgroup Instrumental Mix) - 5:24
Charts
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium Dance (Ultratop Ultratop Ultratop is an organization which generates and publishes the official record charts in Belgium, and it is also the name of most of those charts... ) |
5 |
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) | 66 |
Uffie Version
French-American electronic artist UffieUffie
Anna-Catherine Hartley , better known by her stage name Uffie , is a Paris-based underground electronic musician, rapper, fashion designer and socialite signed to French electronic music record label Ed Banger Records. She has been described as a muse for French DJs, and is known for working with...
covered the song in 2011. The single, produced by labelmate DJ Mehdi
DJ Mehdi
Mehdi Favéris-Essadi , better known by his stage name DJ Mehdi, was a French hip hop and electro producer of mixed French and Tunisian origin.-Biography:...
, was released through Ed Banger Records
Ed Banger Records
Ed Banger Records is a French electronic music record label run by Pedro Winter. It was founded in 2002 as a division of Headbangers Entertainment. The label is home to French electronic acts Justice, SebastiAn, Daft Punk, Cassius, Uffie, Krazy Baldhead, DJ Mehdi, Mr Oizo, Mr...
, Because Music
Because Music
Because Music is an independent record label with headquarters in Paris and London. Because Music was founded in 2006 and has acts on its roster such as Mercury Music Prize nominated Metronomy and electronic duo Justice. Along with actress and songwriter Charlotte Gainsbourg and husband and wife...
and Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
.