Dude (Looks Like a Lady)

Last updated

"Dude (Looks Like a Lady)"
Dudelookslikealady.jpg
7-inch vinyl variant of standard artwork
Single by Aerosmith
from the album Permanent Vacation
B-side
  • "Once is Enough"
  • "Simoriah"
ReleasedSeptember 22, 1987
1990 (re-issue)
Recorded1987
Genre
Length
  • 4:24 (album version)
  • 5:13 (alternate mix)
Label Geffen
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Bruce Fairbairn
Aerosmith singles chronology
"Hangman Jury"
(1987)
"Dude (Looks Like a Lady)"
(1987)
"Angel"
(1988)
Music video
"Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" on YouTube

"Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" is a song by American rock band Aerosmith. It was released as the lead single from the band's ninth studio album Permanent Vacation in 1987.

Contents

The track reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 41 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart, number four on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, number 22 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart and number 45 on the UK Singles Chart. It was re-released in early 1990 and peaked at number 20 in the UK. It was certified gold in the UK for sales and streams exceeding over 400,000 units.

The song was written by lead singer Steven Tyler, lead guitarist Joe Perry and songwriter Desmond Child.

Origins

The song talks about a man who is mistaken for a woman. According to Desmond Child, Steven Tyler came up with the idea after mistaking Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil for a woman with long blonde hair. Tyler's bandmates made fun of him, joking about how the "dude looked like a lady". [8] In his book The Heroin Diaries , Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx concurs that the song was inspired by Neil.

"We were hailing a taxi in New York one night and these fucks, Mötley Crüe, pulled up in a limo. They called us in and every other word out of their mouths was 'dude'. You know, 'Yo dude! Your dude is really dude, dude.' I hadn't heard this crazy 'dude' shit before. We had just bought a sampler and we were listening to an Eddie Murphy album – the one where he keeps going on about Mr. T being gay… I kind of got a lick, but couldn't get the words. I had shit like, 'Cruisin' for the ladies,' or, 'My old lady's got rabies.' Bad stuff. Then I remembered my new word, 'dude'." – Steven Tyler [9]

Of "Cruisin' for the ladies", Child said, "I don't think Van Halen would put that on the B-side of their worst record." [10]

Joe Perry — who came up with the chorus riff – was concerned that the subject matter would offend the gay community, but Child said, "I'm gay, and I'm not insulted. Let's write this song." [11]

Controversy

Every four or five year old child in America was able to sing that song. It was like, do you realize this is about a tranny? [12]

Despite the song's mainstream success, "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" has been accused of being transphobic, with "its lyrics and music video’s offensive insinuations about trans women." [8] In 2012, Child said, "I talked Aerosmith into the whole scenario of a guy that walks into a strip joint and falls in love with the stripper on stage, goes backstage and finds out it's a guy." [13] In 2019, Child confirmed that the song was about a man who "just walks into a bar and sees this gorgeous blonde up on the stage and then goes backstage after the show and then she 'whips out a gun, tries to blow me away.'" [10]

Vox 's Abbey White pointed out that "the song also plays on the idea that trans women intentionally deceive men or are 'in disguise', that they are unattractive or repulsive ... and at one point mixes pronouns, going from 'Oh she like it' in one line to 'Oh, he was a lady,' in the next." [8] [ irrelevant citation ]

Child has refuted all allegations of transphobia, describing the song as "accepting" because of the lyric, "Never judge a book by its cover, or who you're going to love by your lover." [10] [13]

On August 27, 2013, Fox News played this song while introducing Chelsea Manning. As well as the network's use of masculine pronouns and Manning's deadname, playing this song received backlash from commentators. [14]

After Caitlyn Jenner called "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" her "theme song" in 2017, backlash ensued from fans and from LGBT activists due to the perceived transphobia. [8]

Reception

Cash Box said that it has "humorous lyrics coupled with a driving rock beat." [15]

Music video

The video for "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" features the band performing live onstage as well as random moments of characters portraying drag queens, including a cameo appearance by A&R man John Kalodner dressed up in a wedding dress at one point. This is a joke based on the fact that Kalodner always dresses in white. Joe Perry's wife Billie also appears in the music video, pretending to play the saxophone on stage.

There are also some provocative sexual performances, both led by singer Steven Tyler as well as a presumed female who has her skirt torn off to reveal the Aerosmith "wings" tattoo on her buttocks. The video was directed by Marty Callner.

Award nominations

"Dude" picked up two MTV Video Music Award nominations in 1988 (the first for the band). It was nominated for Best Group Video and Best Stage Performance, but failed to gain the wins. The band made up for it eventually, winning over 10 "moon-men" and 4 Grammys in the 1990s.

Credits and personnel

Additional personnel

Charts

Chart (1987–1988)Peak
position
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [16] 22
UK Singles (OCC) [17] 45
US Billboard Hot 100 [18] 14
US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) [19] 41
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [20] 4
Chart (1990)Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC) [21] 20

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [22] Gold400,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Legacy

The song has long been a staple on both rock radio and in concert, as the band has regularly rotated it into their set lists over the years.

The song has been featured on a number of subsequent compilation albums by Aerosmith including 1994's Big Ones , 2002's O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits , 2006's Devil's Got a New Disguise: The Very Best of Aerosmith, and the 1998 live album, A Little South of Sanity .

Concurrent with its chart run, the song was played in the 1987 comedy film Like Father Like Son , starring Kirk Cameron and Dudley Moore.

Professional wrestler Roddy Piper appeared as a guest VJ on MTV shortly after the song's release. During one segment, the song's video was played, followed by a Michael Jackson video. Piper appeared afterward, repeatedly chanting "Dude looks like a lady!" in the manic fashion of a wrestling interview, intended more as a jab at Jackson than any reference to Aerosmith or the song.

In 1993, the song was prominently featured in the film Mrs. Doubtfire , during a montage of the main character bonding with his family in disguise as a woman. The song was also used in the film's TV ads. Randi Mayem Singer, the writer of Mrs. Doubtfire, credits "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" as one of the most important songs ever written and as the direct influence for writing the script. She was quoted as saying "Without ['Dude (Looks Like a Lady)'], there would be no Mrs. Doubtfire". [23] [24]

The song was also featured in the movie It's Pat where the title character (played by Julia Sweeney) sings a karaoke version at their wedding reception. The song fits in with the running joke throughout the film, in reference to Pat's gender ambiguity.

The song was performed live by the band in the movie, Wayne's World 2 , and is featured on the soundtrack for the film.

In "There's Something About Marrying" the tenth episode of the sixteenth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons , Veronica is singing the song while shaving as Marge accidentally discovers him as a man cross-dressed as a woman who is about to marry her sister Patty.

The video for "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" is featured on the karaoke game SingStar Vol. 2 for PlayStation 3.

Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira sang the song with Steven Tyler on MTV Icon and also included it on the set list of her Tour of the Mongoose.

The song is played as one of the possible song choices on Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney's Hollywood Studios. [25]

The song is featured in the MTV animated series, Station Zero where DJ Tech played on his turntables.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerosmith</span> American rock band

Aerosmith is an American rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of Steven Tyler, Joe Perry (guitar), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums), and Brad Whitford (guitar). Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has also incorporated elements of pop rock, heavy metal, glam metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many subsequent rock artists. Aerosmith is sometimes referred to as "the Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". The primary songwriting team of Tyler and Perry is sometimes referred to as the "Toxic Twins".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven Tyler</span> American singer (born 1948)

Steven Victor Tallarico, known professionally as Steven Tyler, is an American singer, best known as the lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the keyboards, harmonica and percussion. He has been called the "Demon of Screamin'" due to his high screams and his powerful wide vocal range. He is also known for his on-stage acrobatics. During his performances, Tyler usually dresses in colorful, sometimes androgynous outfits and makeup with his trademark scarves hanging from his microphone stand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walk This Way</span> 1975 single by Aerosmith

"Walk This Way" is a song by the American rock band Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the album Toys in the Attic (1975). It peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit singles for the band in the 1970s. In addition to being one of the songs that helped break Aerosmith into the mainstream in the 1970s, it also helped revitalize their career in the 1980s when it was covered by hip hop group Run-D.M.C. on their 1986 album Raising Hell. This cover was a touchstone for the new musical subgenre of rap rock, or the melding of rock and hip hop. It became an international hit, reaching number 4 on the Billboard charts and becoming the first hip hop single to reach the top five on the charts, and won both groups a Soul Train Music Award for Best Rap Single in 1987 Soul Train Music Awards. Both versions are in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

<i>Pump</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Aerosmith

Pump is the tenth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith. It was released on September 12, 1989, by Geffen Records. The album peaked at No. 5 on the US charts, and was certified septuple platinum by the RIAA in 1995.

<i>Nine Lives</i> (Aerosmith album) 1997 studio album by Aerosmith

Nine Lives is the twelfth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released on March 18, 1997. The album was produced by Aerosmith and Kevin Shirley, and was the band's first studio album released by Columbia Records since 1982's Rock in a Hard Place. In the United States, it peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 and sold over two million copies. One of the album's singles, "Pink", won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Until Music from Another Dimension!, Nine Lives was their longest album, at 63 minutes.

John David Kalodner is a retired American A&R executive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janie's Got a Gun</span> 1989 single by Aerosmith

"Janie's Got a Gun" is a song by American rock band Aerosmith and written by Steven Tyler and Tom Hamilton. The song was released as the second single from Pump in 1989, peaking at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart in 1990. In Australia, the song reached number one, becoming Aerosmith's first of two number-one singles there. It also reached number two in Canada, number 12 in Sweden, and number 13 in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crazy (Aerosmith song)</span> 1994 song by Aerosmith

"Crazy" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith and written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Desmond Child. It was the final single from their massively successful 1993 album Get a Grip, released in May 1994 by Geffen Records. "Crazy" peaked at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number three in Canada, and number one in Iceland for two weeks. In Finland and the United Kingdom, it was released as a double-A side with "Blind Man", reaching number eight in the former country and number 23 in the latter. Marty Callner directed the song's music video, featuring Liv Tyler and Alicia Silverstone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Give Love a Bad Name</span> 1986 single by Bon Jovi

"You Give Love a Bad Name" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi, released as the first single from their 1986 album Slippery When Wet. Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child about a woman who has jilted her lover, the song reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on November 29, 1986, and became the band's first number-one hit. In 2007, the song re-entered the charts at No. 29 after Blake Lewis performed it on American Idol. Despite the lyrics of the chorus, the song should not be confused with "Shot Through the Heart", an unrelated song from Bon Jovi's 1984 self-titled debut album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Other Side (Aerosmith song)</span> 1990 single by Aerosmith

"The Other Side" is a song performed by the American rock band Aerosmith, and written by Steven Tyler, Jim Vallance, and Holland-Dozier-Holland. It was released on June 6, 1990 as the fourth single from the band's highly successful 1989 album Pump.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Misunderstood (Mötley Crüe song)</span> 1994 single by Mötley Crüe

"Misunderstood" is a power ballad by the American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, released on their 1994 eponymous album. The lyrics were written by vocalist/guitarist John Corabi and bassist Nikki Sixx, while the music was written by Corabi, Sixx, drummer Tommy Lee and guitarist Mick Mars. The song charted at number 24 on the Mainstream rock charts. It was the final song recorded with Scream singer John Corabi.

"F.I.N.E.*" is a song by rock band Aerosmith. It was written by lead singer Steven Tyler and lead guitarist Joe Perry. The song title is an acronym for "Fucked Up, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional", as stated in the album's liner notes. The song, totaling four minutes, nine seconds, is the second track on the band's 1989 album Pump. It was released as a promotional single to rock radio in 1989, and reached No. 14 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're All I Need (song)</span> 1987 single by Mötley Crüe

"You're All I Need" is a power ballad by American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. It was released as the third and final single from the band's 1987 album Girls, Girls, Girls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerosmith singles discography</span>

American rock band Aerosmith has released 72 singles. Some of their singles have been officially released to the public, while others have been released as album cuts only to radio. Twenty-one of their songs have reached the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and the band has long been a stalwart of the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, achieving nine number-one hits on that chart to date. An additional 28 of the band's songs have reached the Top 40 on various charts worldwide. The band has achieved four multi-platinum singles, while an additional eight singles have attained silver, gold, or platinum certifications in various territories. The band has certified sales of 16.5 million singles in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerosmith videography</span>

American rock band Aerosmith has released nine video albums and thirty-six music videos. The band and its music have also appeared in numerous films and soundtracks, and have inspired three video games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Permanent Vacation Tour</span> 1987–88 concert tour by Aerosmith

The Permanent Vacation Tour, by American hard rock band Aerosmith, lasted from October 1987 to September 1988. It supported the band's commercially successful comeback album Permanent Vacation, released in September 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pump Tour</span> 1989–90 concert tour by Aerosmith

The Pump Tour was a concert tour by American rock band Aerosmith that lasted twelve months, from mid-October 1989 to mid-October 1990. The tour was put on in support of the band's second consecutive multi-platinum album Pump, released in September 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get a Grip Tour</span> 1993–94 concert tour by Aerosmith

The Get a Grip Tour was a concert tour by American hard rock band Aerosmith that lasted over eighteen months, from early June 1993 to mid-December 1994. The tour was put on in support of the band's third consecutive multi-platinum album Get a Grip, released in April 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let Rock Rule Tour</span> 2014 concert tour by Aerosmith

The Let Rock Rule Tour was a concert tour by American hard rock band Aerosmith that featured Slash as the opening act. The tour sent both acts to various locations across North America from July to September 2014 and included two festival concerts and eighteen regular concerts. In addition, Aerosmith performed a private show in the middle of the tour. Slash with Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators did not perform at Rock Fest in Wisconsin or at the private show, but performed at all of the other concerts.

References

  1. "The Ultimate Hair Metal Party Playlist". Kerrang!. April 5, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  2. Popoff, Martin (2014). The Big Book of Hair Metal: The Illustrated Oral History of Heavy Metal's Debauched Decade. Voyageur Press. p. 136. ISBN   978-1-62788-375-7.
  3. Rivadavia, Eduardo (February 28, 2017). "Aerosmith Albums Ranked". Loudwire . Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  4. Bienstock, Richard (2011). Aerosmith: The Ultimate Illustrated History of the Boston Bad Boys. Voyageur Press. p. 139. ISBN   978-1-61059-769-2.
  5. Guarisco, Donald A. "Dude (Looks Like a Lady) - Aerosmith | Song Info". AllMusic . Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  6. Deusner, Stephen (February 18, 2017). "We're all livin' on a prayer: How a hair band anthem from the least cool '80s rockers became a classic". Salon . Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  7. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Big Ones - Aerosmith | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 4 White, Abbey (July 20, 2017). "Caitlyn Jenner is under fire for calling Aerosmith's "Dude Looks Like a Lady" her theme song". Vox. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  9. Raworth, Ben (April 1997). "Quote, Unquote: Steven Tyler". FHM : 62.
  10. 1 2 3 "Aerosmith Songwriter Recalls 'Really Bad' Original Chorus of 'Dude Looks Like a Lady,' Addresses Accusations That Song Is Anti-Transgender". Ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  11. McIntosh, Dan (June 25, 2012). "Desmond Child interview". Songfacts. Archived from the original on May 15, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  12. "Desmond Child interview". Songfacts.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  13. 1 2 Songfacts. "Desmond Child: Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts.com. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  14. Morse, Felicity (August 28, 2013). "Fox News plays 'Dude looks like a lady' over Chelsea Manning segment". The Independent. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  15. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. September 26, 1987. p. 8. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  16. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0919." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  17. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  18. "Aerosmith Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  19. "Aerosmith Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  20. "Aerosmith Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  21. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  22. "British single certifications – Aerosmith – Dude (Looks Like a Lady)". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  23. "Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  24. "Top 10 Interesting Facts About Aerosmith's Dude (Looks Like a Lady)". The Top Tens. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  25. "Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith". Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012.