Rod Stewart hit #1 with “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy”

Da Ya Think I’m Sexy Rod Stewart

Writer(s): Rod Stewart, Carmine Appice, Duane Hitchings (see lyrics here) Released: November 10, 1978 First Charted: November 18, 1978 Peak: 14 US, 15 CB, 15 HR, 16 RR, 5 RB, 1 CL, 11 UK, 14 CN, 12 AU (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, 0.5 UK, 3.0 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 155.0 video, 256.26 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy” gave Stewart his third chart-topping hit after “Maggie May” in 1971 and “Tonight’s the Night” in 1976. The song reached #1 in the United States, Australia, Canada, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. It was a top 10 hit in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland. According to Carmine Appice, who had recently joined Stewart’s band and co-wrote the song, Stewart “was always looking at the charts and listening. He was a big fan of the Rolling Stones…so he wanted to do some kind of disco-y song, something like ‘Miss You.’” SF Some fans and critics thought his “defection to disco was unforgivable.” FB Critic Greil Marcus said in The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll “rarely has anyone betrayed his talent so completely.” FB It’s also been said it “could be the worst example of narcissim on record.” KL While the song certainly played on Stewart’s image as an international playboy, he insisted he was singing in the third person. KL Co-writer Duane Hitchings said the song was “a spoof on guys from the ‘cocaine lounge lizards’ of the Saturday Nightr Fever days.” WK The song also stirred claims of plagiarism from Brazilian songwriter Jorge Ben. He said the melody of “Da Ya” was stolen from his song “Taj Mahal.” FB While it never reached court, reissues of the song have credited Ben KL and Stewart donated the royalties from the song to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). WK Stewart admitted to “unconscious plagiarism” in his 2012 autobiography. WK He also said the “song’s signature synthesizer riff” came from Bobby Womack’s “If You Want My Love Put Something Down on It.” WK Resources: FB Fred Bronson (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (5th edition). Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 497. KL Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh (2005). 1000 UK Number One Hits: The Stories Behind Every Number One Single Since 1952. London, Great Britain: Omnibus Press. Page 243. SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 3/7/2021; last updated 9/15/2023.

Stevie Wonder hit #1 with “Superstition”

Superstition Stevie Wonder

Writer(s): Stevie Wonder (see lyrics here) First Charted: November 11, 1972 Peak: 11 US, 12 CB, 2 GR, 12 HR, 38 AC, 13 RB, 4 CL, 11 UK, 6 CN, 95 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- US, 1.2 UK Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 238.51 video, 524.14 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Discrepancies abound regarding this song’s origin. One version says Wonder wrote it while at the drums, first playing the beat and then humming the melody. AMG Blues-rock guitarist Jeff Beck was planning a 1971 album with Motown MA but when the project was abandoned, MA Motown opted to release a version by Wonder. LW It became his first #1 hit in nearly a decade. RS500 Another account suggests that when Wonder began his Talking Book album, Beck was a principal collaborator TB and that “Superstition” grew out of the pair jamming in the studio TB with Beck coming up with the drum groove while Wonder crafted the distinctive riff on clarinet. TB In this more selfish version of the story, after initially offering the song to Beck, Wonder opted to keep it for himself as a single release to the dismay of Beck’s label. TB Regardless of its origins, the song “was a rock/ funk crossover” AMG that furthered soul and pop music’s modern studio recording techniques MA via “early use of synthesized keyboards” DJ and “one of the most copied and influential riffs ever written.” LW When Beck finally released his own version on Beck, Bogart, Appice, it was a drum-driven rock song aided by Carmine Appice, AMG which was “nothing more than bluesy light jazz.” MA After label-mate Marvin Gaye’s success with the themed album, What’s Going On, in 1971, he renogitiated his Motown contract for more royalties and artistic control. LW Wonder followed suit with the company’s most lucrative contract in their history and was guaranteed complete artistic control – at only 21 years old. LW Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Stevie Wonder AMG All Music Guide review by Ed Hogan DJ David Jasen (2002). A Century of American Popular Music: 2000 Best-Loved and Remembered Songs (1899-1999). Routledge: Taylor & Francis, Inc. Page 185. LW Alan Lewens (2001). Popular Song – Soundtrack of the Century. Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 133. MA Dave Marsh (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. New York, NY; New American Library. Page 165. RS500 Rolling Stone (2004). “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time“ TB Thunder Bay Press (2006). Singles: Six Decades of Hot Hits & Classic Cuts. Outline Press Ltd.: San Diego, CA. Page 137. Related Links: Last updated 2/3/2023.