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I'm Too Sexy

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Wikipedia article




{{Infobox song

| name = I'm Too Sexy

| cover = ImTooSexy.jpg

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Right Said Fred

| album = Up

| released = 15 July 1991

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Dance-pop

| length = 2:50

| label =

| writer =

| producer = TommyD

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = Don't Talk Just Kiss

| next_year = 1991

| misc =

}}

"'I'm Too Sexy'" is a 1991 song by British group Right Said Fred, released as their debut single from their first album, 'Up' (1992). It peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. Outside the United Kingdom, "I'm Too Sexy" topped the charts in seven countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the United States.

Composition and recording



The idea for the song came about when the Fairbrass brothers were running a gym in London where, according to Richard, there was "lots of narcissism and posing". One day, he took his shirt off and started singing "I'm too sexy for my shirt" in front of a mirror as a joke. The band originally recorded it as an indie rock song.

It was rejected by multiple record companies before they played it to radio plugger Guy Holmes. He was initially unimpressed after playing it on his car stereo, but his passengers latched onto the song's "I'm a model, you know what I mean" hook and Holmes asked the band if they could rework it as a dance track.

DJ TommyD, an acquaintance of Richard Fairbrass, programmed electronics around the original vocal, whilst guitarist Rob Manzoli added a riff borrowed from the Jimi Hendrix song "Third Stone from the Sun".

In the clubs, many people imitated their "catwalk" dance as seen on the video clip by January 1992.

Release



The single was released on 15 July 1991. It equalled the record for the most weeks at number two on the UK Singles Chart without ever topping the chart, staying at number two for six weeks in a row while held back by Bryan Adams' "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" (this equalled the previous record set by Father Abraham's 1978 hit "The Smurf Song").

In May 1992, the song was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award for Best Selling 'A' Side. "I'm Too Sexy" was the act's first of several hits, particularly in the United Kingdom. They went on to have a number one single on the UK Singles Chart with "Deeply Dippy" in April 1992.

Critical reception



AllMusic editor Stephen Schnee described the song as a "humorous yet misunderstood swipe at self centered male bodybuilders and models." David Taylor-Wilson from 'Bay Area Reporter' called it "a campy send-up of the fashion world." In November 1991, Larry Flick from 'Billboard' wrote, "Thoroughly fun and goofy ditty recently heated up international dance floors and radio airwaves. Fred cheekily boasts about his physical attributes over a festive pop/house groove, which should have no trouble duplicating its success here." Andy Kastanas from 'The Charlotte Observer' stated, "This midtempo "techno/house" beat has a catchy hook and unusual deep male vocals (a la Elmer Fudd on steroids) that'll put a meltdown on any ladies in the vicinity. You'll dance whether you like it or not and the lyrics are sure to give you some chucks when you sing along (and you WILL sing along)... "I'm too sexy for my car, too sexy for your party, too sexy for this song, too sexy it hurts" and on and on." British magazine 'Music Week' deemed it an "eccentric" and "amusingly muttered 121.7bpm pop rattler". Randy Clark and Bryan Devaney from 'Cashbox' said, "Here is a fun, tongue-in-cheek dance tune that should get lots of club play." They concluded that the group "have put together a clever dance/club put-down of what could only be the whole fashion-model "poser" attitude that's so much in vogue." A reviewer from 'People Magazine' described it as a "dopey dance tune mocking fashion models and voguersbut it'll keep you moving."

Impact and legacy



In June 2007, "I'm Too Sexy" was voted No. 80 on VH1's list of '100 Greatest Songs of the '90s'.

In April 2008, the song was rated No. 49 on 'The 50 Worst Songs Ever! Watch, Listen and Cringe!' by 'Blender'.

In April 2011, it was voted No. 2 on VH1's '40 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the '90s'.

In 2017, 'BuzzFeed' ranked it No. 90 in their list of 'The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s', adding, "Yes, this song is cheesy as hell, but it doesn't ever try to be anything other than what it is: a fun, catchy, campy dance song."

In 2019, 'Billboard' listed the song at No. 210 in their ranking of 'Billboard's Top Songs of the '90s'.

Track listing



*'UK 7"' (SNOG 1) / cassette (CA SNOG 1)

#"I'm Too Sexy"

#"I'm Too Sexy" (instrumental)

*'UK 12"' (12 SNOG 1)

#"I'm Too Sexy"

#"I'm Too Sexy" (7" version)

#"I'm Too Sexy" (12" instrumental)

*'UK CD' (CD SNOG 1)

#"I'm Too Sexy" (Betty's mix)

#"I'm Too Sexy" (7" mix)

#"I'm Too Sexy" (12" instrumental)

#"I'm Too Sexy" (Italian version)

*'US single'

#"I'm Too Sexy" (7" version)

#"I'm Too Sexy" (Extended Club Mix)

#"I'm Too Sexy" (Betty's Mix)

#"I'm Too Sexy" (Instrumental)

#"I'm Too Sexy" (Catwalk Mix)

#"I'm Too Sexy" (Tushapella)

#"I'm Too Sexy" (Spanish version)

Charts



Weekly charts



Year-end charts



Decade-end charts



Certifications and sales



Covers and adaptations



*In August 2009, English girl group Sugababes included an interpolation of the song in their single "Get Sexy".

*In August 2017, American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift released her single "Look What You Made Me Do", and credited Right Said Fred, as the chorus to her track follows the same rhythmic pattern of the line "I'm too sexy for my shirt".

*In September 2021, Canadian rapper Drake released the song "Way 2 Sexy" with American rappers Future and Young Thug, which samples and interpolates the track. The song also topped the 'Billboard' Hot 100.

*In July 2022, American singer Beyonc released the song "Alien Superstar" as part of her seventh studio album 'Renaissance', which interpolates the track.

See also



*'Billboard' Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1992

*List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1990s

*List of Top 25 singles for 1991 in Australia

*List of number-one hits of 1992 (Austria)

*List of 'Billboard' Hot 100 number-one singles of 1992

*List of 'Billboard' Hot 100 top 10 singles in 1992

*List of number-one singles of 1991 (Ireland)

*List of number-one singles from the 1990s (New Zealand)

*List of 'RPM' number-one dance singles of 1992

References



Category:1991 songs

Category:1991 debut singles

Category:2007 singles

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Charisma Records singles

Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles

Category:Narcissism in fiction

Category:Number-one singles in Australia

Category:Number-one singles in Austria

Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand

Category:Right Said Fred songs

Category:Songs written by Richard Fairbrass

Category:Songs written by Fred Fairbrass

Category:Songs written by Rob Manzoli

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