Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter (song)

Last updated
"Funkier Than a Mosquita's Tweeter"
Funkier-Than-A-Mosquita's-Tweeter.jpg
Single by Ike & Tina Turner
from the album Workin' Together
A-side "Proud Mary"
ReleasedJanuary 1971
Recorded1970
Genre Funk [1]
Length2:40
Label Liberty Records
Songwriter(s) Aillene Bullock
Producer(s) Ike Turner
Ike & Tina Turner singles chronology
"Workin' Together"
(1970)
"Funkier Than a Mosquita's Tweeter"
(1971)
"Ooh Poo Pah Doo"
(1971)

"Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter" is a song written by Alline Bullock, sister of Tina Turner. It was first released by Ike & Tina Turner on their 1970 album Workin' Together with Tina Turner and the Ikettes on vocals. [2] Mosquita's was the original spelling of Mosquito's, but after jazz singer Nina Simone released her version in 1974, most subsequent releases of the song have used the latter spelling including Ike & Tina Turner reissues.

"Funkier Than a Mosquita's Tweeter" was produced by Ike Turner and released as a B-side single to "Proud Mary" on Liberty Records in January 1971. This song is a scathing assessment of an unidentified man, opening with "you're nothin' but a dirty, dirty old man." [3]

The song was used as the title for Ike & Tina Turner's 2002 compilation album Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter .

Nina Simone version

Nina Simone began performing a rendition of "Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter" in 1971. [4] She recorded her performance at New York's Philharmonic Hall in July 1973. [5] It was released on her 1974 live album, It Is Finished, on RCA Records. [6] Her version differs greatly from the original, using "special rhythmic effects on a variety of African and Eastern instruments." [7] Simone's rendition has since become a classic and the best known version of the song. [8] It is regarded as one of her best vocal performances. [9] "Her voice cracks with exasperation, alluding that the predator she sings about might well be the good ol' US of A," observed Julianne Escobedo Shepherd for Pitchfork. [10] Alex Deley at DJ D-Mac & Associates wrote, "Simone manages to transform the song into something even greater than the original, really digging deep and pulling out the righteous, accusatory essence of the song." [6] A remixed version was released on the 2006 compilation album Remixed & Reimagined . [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ike & Tina Turner</span> American musical duo

Ike & Tina Turner was an American musical duo consisting of husband and wife Ike Turner and Tina Turner. From 1960 to 1976, they performed live as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, supported by Ike Turner's band, the Kings of Rhythm, and backing vocalists, the Ikettes. The Ike & Tina Turner Revue was regarded as "one of the most potent live acts on the R&B circuit."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Deep – Mountain High</span> 1966 single by Ike & Tina Turner

"River Deep – Mountain High" is a song by Ike & Tina Turner released on Philles Records as the title track to their 1966 studio album. Produced by Phil Spector and written by Spector, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. Rolling Stone ranked "River Deep – Mountain High" No. 33 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. NME ranked it No. 37 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame added it to the list of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proud Mary</span> 1969 single by Creedence Clearwater Revival

"Proud Mary" is a song by American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival, written by vocalist and lead guitarist John Fogerty. It was released as a single in January 1969 by Fantasy Records and on the band's second studio album, Bayou Country. The song became a major hit in the United States, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1969, the first of five singles to peak at No. 2 for the group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nutbush City Limits</span> 1973 single by Ike & Tina Turner

"Nutbush City Limits" is a semi-autobiographical song written by Tina Turner which commemorates her rural hometown of Nutbush in Haywood County, Tennessee, United States. Originally released as a single on United Artists Records in August 1973, it is one of the last hits that husband-wife R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner released together.

<i>Remixed and Reimagined</i> (Nina Simone album) 2006 remix album by Nina Simone

Remixed and Reimagined is the first album in the Legacy Remixed series released by Sony BMG. This is a collection of songs by Nina Simone, remixed by several Electronica artists. All original songs come from her albums released by RCA records. It was released in 2006 on Legacy/RCA/SBMG Records.

<i>River Deep – Mountain High</i> (album) 1966 studio album by Ike & Tina Turner

River Deep – Mountain High is a studio album by Ike & Tina Turner. It was originally released by London Records in the UK in 1966, and later A&M Records in the US in 1969. In 2017, Pitchfork ranked it at No. 40 on their list of the 200 Best Albums of the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ike & Tina Turner discography</span> Cataloging of published recordings by Ike & Tina Turner

This article contains information about albums and singles released by the American musical duo Ike & Tina Turner.

<i>Funkier Than a Mosquitos Tweeter</i> 2002 compilation album by Ike & Tina Turner

Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter is a 2002 compilation album by Ike & Tina Turner released on Stateside Records. The songs were originally recorded from 1969 to 1974 and released on the albums Come Together (1970), Working Together (1970), 'Nuff Said (1971), Feel Good (1972), and Let Me Touch Your Mind (1973).

<i>The Rhythm and the Blues</i> 2009 studio album by Jimmy Barnes

The Rhythm and the Blues is the thirteenth solo studio album by Australian rock musician Jimmy Barnes, released through Liberation Music on 28 August 2009. The album was produced by Don Gehman in Los Angeles and peaked at number one on the Australian Albums Chart for two weeks. The Rhythm and the Blues was Barnes' ninth solo album to reach number one on the ARIA Charts, an all-time record for an Australian artist.

<i>Workin Together</i> 1970 studio album by Ike & Tina Turner

Workin' Together is a studio album released by Ike & Tina Turner on Liberty Records on November 9, 1970. This was their second album with Liberty and their most successful studio album. The album contains their Grammy Award-winning single "Proud Mary."

<i>Ike & Tina Turner Revue Live</i> 1964 live album by Ike & Tina Turner

Ike & Tina Turner Revue Live is the first live album by Ike & Tina Turner released on Kent Records in 1964.

<i>Get It – Get It</i> 1966 studio album by Ike & Tina Turner

Get It – Get It is an album by Ike & Tina Turner released on Cenco Records circa 1966. The album contains two previously released singles. "Strange," written by Billy Preston was released from Ike Turner's own label Sonja Records in 1964, and a live version of "I Can't Believe What You Say " was released from Kent Records in 1964. The latter single reached No. 95 on the Billboard Hot 100. The title track "Get It – Get It" was released as a single from Cenco in 1967.

<i>Golden Empire</i> (Ike & Tina Turner album) 1985 compilation album by Ike & Tina Turner

Golden Empire is a 1985 compilation album of unreleased songs and remixed versions of songs previously released by Ike & Tina Turner. In 1986, it was reissued on CD with 10 additional tracks. All tracks were produced, engineered, and arranged by Ike Turner; remastered and remixed by Striped Horse Records chief Carlo Nasi and Philadelphia International veteran engineer Don Murray. Between 1985 and 2005, a total of four singles were released from the album.

<i>His Woman, Her Man: The Ike Turner Diaries</i> 2004 compilation album by Ike Turner

His Woman, Her Man: The Ike Turner Diaries — Unreleased Funk/Rock 1970–1973 is a collection of previously unreleased Ike & Tina Turner tracks as well as some alternative versions of original songs.

<i>The Ike & Tina Turner Story: 1960–1975</i> 2007 compilation album by Ike & Tina Turner

The Ike & Tina Turner Story: 1960–1975 is an anthology released by Time Life in 2007. It contains a 3-CD compilation with a gatefold cover and includes a 24-page booklet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby, Get It On</span> 1975 single by Ike & Tina Turner

"Baby, Get It On" is song written by Ike Turner, and released by R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner on United Artist Records in 1975. The song was the lead single from Tina Turner's solo album Acid Queen. It is noted for being the last chart entry for Ike & Tina Turner before their separation.

<i>(G)Old & New</i> 1974 studio album by The Ikettes

(G)Old & New is a studio album by American girl group the Ikettes, released on United Artists in 1974. The Ikettes were backing vocalists for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. (G)Old & New is their second and final studio album, containing new songs and different version of previously released tracks such as their hit "I'm Blue " which featured Tina Turner singing background vocals.

Ruby Alline Bullock Selico was an American songwriter. She was the older full sister of singer Tina Turner. Bullock once served as the manager of the girl group the Ikettes. She wrote songs for Ike & Tina Turner as well as their band the Kings of Rhythm, including "Funkier Than a Mosquita's Tweeter" which was covered by Nina Simone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Believe What You Say (for Seeing What You Do)</span> 1964 single by Ike & Tina Turner

"I Can't Believe What You Say (For Seeing What You Do)" is a song written by Ike Turner. It was originally released by Ike & Tina Turner on Kent Records in 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let Me Touch Your Mind (song)</span> 1972 single by Ike & Tina Turner

"Let Me Touch Your Mind" is a song written by Oliver Sain. It was recorded and released by R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner on United Artists Records in 1972.

References

  1. Rolling Stone Staff (24 May 2023). "Tina Turner: 15 Essential Songs". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 24 May 2023. Turner demolishes the rumbling funk rhythm with her voice, and when she sings "You're nothin' but a dirty, dirty old man"...
  2. Funkier Than A Mosquita's Tweeter on YouTube
  3. 1 2 ""Funkier Than a Mosquita's Tweeter": Cover Songs Uncovered". The Pop Culture Experiment. February 20, 2017.
  4. Elwood, Philip (1971-04-26). "Nina Lifts Up Her Audience". The San Francisco Examiner. p. 27. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  5. Hampton, Sylvia; Nathan, David (2004). Nina Simone: Break Down & Let it All Out. Sanctuary. p. 81. ISBN   978-1-86074-552-2.
  6. 1 2 "Song of the Day: Nina Simone "Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter"". DJ D-Mac & Associates. May 13, 2019.
  7. "Sounds". Ebony: 30. December 1974.
  8. Adelekun, Emmanuel (April 21, 2018). "Discover the originals of 7 well-known break tracks spun by DJs worldwide". Red Bull.
  9. "SONG OF THE DAY Nina Simone – Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter (LIVE)". The Listening Post Blog. February 26, 2017.
  10. "Nina Simone: Her Art and Life in 33 Songs - Page 3". Pitchfork. 15 May 2017.