"Our Lips Are Sealed" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Single by the Go-Go's | ||||
from the album Beauty and the Beat | ||||
B-side | "Surfing and Spying" | |||
Released | June 12, 1981 | |||
Recorded | 1981 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:44 | |||
Label | I.R.S. | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
| |||
The Go-Go's singles chronology | ||||
|
"Our Lips Are Sealed" is a song co-written by Jane Wiedlin, guitarist of the Go-Go's, and Terry Hall, singer of the Specials and Fun Boy Three.
It was first recorded by the Go-Go's as the opening track on their album Beauty and the Beat (1981) and was their debut American single in June 1981. The single eventually reached the top 5 in Australia and Canada, and the top 20 in the United States. Originally written and performed with three verses, [2] the song appears in an abbreviated version on Beauty and the Beat. Most of the song's vocals are performed by lead singer Belinda Carlisle, with co-writer Wiedlin singing the bridge.
In 1983, Hall's band Fun Boy Three released their version of "Our Lips Are Sealed". Issued as a single, the track became a top-ten hit in the United Kingdom, besting the recording by the Go-Go's which only made it to No. 47 in the UK.
Record World described the song as being as "innocent and infectious as pop music can be", with a "steady, pulsating dance beat" and "candy-coated keyboard riffs". [3]
In 2000, Rolling Stone & MTV put the Go-Go's' original version of "Our Lips Are Sealed" at No. 57 on a list of 100 Greatest Pop Songs. [4] In 2021, their version was also listed at No. 477 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. [5] The Go-Go's performed the song, along with "Vacation" and "We Got the Beat", during the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. [6]
The Go-Go's supported the Specials on the latter's 1980 Seaside tour of England. According to Jane Wiedlin, she and Terry Hall had a brief affair despite his being in a relationship with another woman at the time. After Wiedlin returned to the United States, Hall mailed her some lyrics, and this led to their co-writing the song. The Go-Go's version is significantly more upbeat than Fun Boy Three's, which Wiedlin describes as "great" but also "gloomier". [7]
The official music video for the song features sequences of the band members in carefree tableaux (riding around LA in a 1960 Buick convertible, stopping at a lingerie shop, and splashing around in a fountain) interspersed with footage of the band playing at a club.
Jane Wiedlin says the band was initially unenthusiastic when Miles Copeland, president of their label, I.R.S. Records, told them they would be doing the video. "We were totally bratty", she recalls. The video was financed with unused funds from the Police's video budget. [8]
The group wanted an older-style convertible, and found a red 1960 Buick LeSabre at Rent-a-Wreck.[ citation needed ] After riding around Beverly Hills, at some point, they stop at the famous Trashy Lingerie store located at La Cienega Blvd. The girls go into the shop, but Jane Wiedlin remains in the car to sing the bridge of the song (although Carlisle can be seen in the driver's seat trying to hide). The day of shooting was very hot so it was the band's idea to end the video by jumping into the fountain on the corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica. Wiedlin later said "I thought, at any minute the cops are gonna come. This is gonna be so cool." [8]
Wiedlin looks back on the video experience fondly. "I have horrible '80s poodle hair in it", she recalled in a 2011 history of MTV. "But there's a simplicity and innocence to the video that appeals to me." [9]
The music video received heavy airplay on the fledgling MTV.
The original version peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and 15 on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart. On the dance chart, the song peaked at number 10. [10] A song of unusual longevity as a hit, it remained on the Billboard charts until March 1982, long after its peak, ultimately charting for 30 weeks. [11]
Weekly charts
| Certifications and sales
Year-end charts
|
"Our Lips Are Sealed" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Single by Fun Boy Three | ||||
from the album Waiting | ||||
Released | 29 April 1983 | |||
Genre | New wave | |||
Length | 3:36 | |||
Label | Chrysalis | |||
Songwriter(s) | Jane Wiedlin, Terry Hall | |||
Producer(s) | David Byrne | |||
Fun Boy Three singles chronology | ||||
|
The following year, co-writer Terry Hall re-recorded the song with his own band, Fun Boy Three. It was included on their second album Waiting and reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart, and was the last single to chart in the UK before their split later in 1983. Backing vocals were provided by Mo-dettes drummer June Miles-Kingston, who also played drums on the single and the Waiting LP.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Our Lips Are Sealed" (Single Version) | Terry Hall, Jane Wiedlin | 2:51 |
2. | "Our Lips Are Sealed" (Urdu Version) | 3:50 | |
3. | "Going Home" (Specially recorded by The Old Grey Whistle Test ) | ||
4. | "We're Having All the Fun" (Specially recorded by The Old Grey Whistle Test) | The Fun Boy Three |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Our Lips Are Sealed" (Special Club Remix) | Terry Hall, Jane Wiedlin | 6:07 |
2. | "Our Lips Are Sealed" (Single Version) | Hall, Wiedlin | 2:51 |
3. | "Our Lips Are Sealed" (Urdu Version) | Hall, Wiedlin | 3:50 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Our Lips Are Sealed" (Remixed Version) | Terry Hall, Jane Wiedlin | 6:00 |
2. | "Our Lips Are Sealed" (Single Version) | Hall, Wiedlin | 2:51 |
3. | "Our Lips Are Sealed" (Urdu Version) | Hall, Wiedlin | 3:50 |
Chart (1983) | Peak position |
---|---|
Ireland (IRMA) | 13 |
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) | 7 |
"Our Lips Are Sealed" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Single by Hilary Duff and Haylie Duff | ||||
from the album A Cinderella Story | ||||
Released | June 5, 2004 | |||
Length | 2:40 | |||
Label | Hollywood | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Hilary Duff singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
A Cinderella Storysingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Audio video | ||||
"Our Lips Are Sealed" on YouTube |
Sisters Hilary and Haylie Duff covered the song for the soundtrack of the 2004 film A Cinderella Story ,in which Hilary starred. The cover,which was released on June 5,2004,was produced by Charlie Midnight and Spider. The Duff sisters said in an interview that they had wanted to record together,and Hilary chose "Our Lips Are Sealed" because the "secretive" theme of the song relates to the film A Cinderella Story. [22] As of July 27,2014,the song had sold 161,000 copies in the United States. [23] It was released on June 3 and received medium airplay on MuchMusic in Canada and MTV in the U.S. Though the video was popular on the MTV video chart show Total Request Live ,the single failed to chart on the US Hot 100. In Australia it was released on August 30,2004 and reached number eight.
The single's music video was directed by Chris Applebaum and filmed in Toronto,Canada,in May 2004. [22] Similar to the video for the Go-Go's single,it depicts the Duff sisters driving around town in a car and goofing about,and is interspersed with footage from A Cinderella Story. A second version of the video,which had new scenes and is not interspersed with scenes from A Cinderella Story,was included on the Dignity deluxe edition DVD. The song was included on Duff's compilation album, Most Wanted (2005) and the Japanese and Australian editions of Hilary Duff's second compilation album Best of Hilary Duff .
Chart (2004) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [24] | 8 |
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan) [25] | 41 |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | June 5,2004 | Contemporary hit radio | Hollywood | [26] |
Australia | August 30,2004 | CD single | Festival Mushroom | [27] |
Haylie Katherine Duff is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her roles as Sandy Jameson in the television series 7th Heaven,Amy Sanders in Lizzie McGuire and Summer Wheatley in Napoleon Dynamite. An avid food blogger,Duff had her own cooking show,The Real Girl's Kitchen,in 2014. She is the older sister of Hilary Duff.
The Go-Go's were an American all-female rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1978. Except for short periods when other musicians joined briefly,the band has had a relatively stable lineup consisting of Charlotte Caffey on lead guitar and keyboards,Belinda Carlisle on lead vocals,Gina Schock on drums,Kathy Valentine on bass,and Jane Wiedlin on rhythm guitar. They are widely considered the most successful all-female rock band of all time.
Beauty and the Beat is the debut album from California new wave band the Go-Go's. Released July 14,1981 on the I.R.S. Records label,the album reached number one on Billboard's Top LPs &Tape chart in March 1982,bolstered by its two big Hot 100 hit singles:"Our Lips Are Sealed" and "We Got the Beat",released in 1980,but in a different version. After a long and steady climb,Beauty and the Beat reached number one in the album chart dated March 6,1982,the week before "We Got the Beat" entered the Top Ten of the Hot 100. The album stayed at the top for six consecutive weeks,and ranked second in Billboard's year-end Top 100 of 1982. The LP sold in excess of two million copies,and was RIAA-certified double platinum,qualifying it as one of the most successful debut albums of all time. Critically acclaimed,it has been described as one of the "cornerstone albums of American new wave".
Metamorphosis is the second studio album by American actress and singer Hilary Duff. The album was released on August 26,2003,by Hollywood Records as the follow-up to her debut studio album and first Christmas album,Santa Claus Lane (2002). According to Duff,the album incorporates elements of pop and rock music,and it represents changes that are specific to her life and that everyone experiences. Duff worked with several producers on the album such as The Matrix. Others who collaborated on the album include Chico Bennett,Matthew Gerrard,John Shanks and Kara DioGuardi.
Hilary Duff is the third studio album by American singer Hilary Duff. It was released on September 15,2004,by Hollywood Records. The recording sessions for the seventeen-track album took place in between Duff's filming of Raise Your Voice (2004) and The Perfect Man (2005).
Jane Marie Genevieve Wiedlin is an American musician and singer,best known as the co-founder,rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist of the new wave band The Go-Go's. She also voices Dusk,the drummer and backup vocalist of the fictional rock band The Hex Girls. She also had a successful solo career.
A Cinderella Story is a soundtrack album to the 2004 film of the same name. It was released on July 13,2004,by Hollywood Records. It includes 3 new songs by Hilary Duff including the single,a cover of "Our Lips Are Sealed" with her sister Haylie Duff. It also includes 2 of her previous released songs from her 2003 album Metamorphosis which are "Anywhere But Here" and "Girl Can Rock",which was a bonus track.
Paris is the debut studio album by American media personality and singer Paris Hilton. It was released on August 14,2006,by Warner Bros. Records. The entire album was posted on AOL Music,becoming available for online stream eight days before the scheduled physical copy release date. After being signed to the label in 2005,Hilton began working on the album with producer Rob Cavallo,who was originally set to produce the entire record. They recorded the song "Screwed",which was intended to be the lead single. However,after meeting with producer Scott Storch,Hilton decided to change the musical direction of the album and record more hip hop and R&B influenced songs. She collaborated with other producers,including Fernando Garibay,J.R. Rotem,Dr. Luke and Greg Wells. Musically,Paris is a pop album that is influenced by hip hop. It also incorporates elements of reggae,soul,pop rock and R&B.
"Come Clean" is a song by American singer Hilary Duff for her second studio album,Metamorphosis (2003). It was written by Kara DioGuardi and John Shanks,while production was handled by Shanks. The song contains influences of electronica and techno,with the lyrics chronicling the protagonist wanting to "come clean" with her love interest,from a strained relationship. "Come Clean" was received by critics with mixed reviews. The song was released on January 12,2004,as the album's second single.
"Wake Up" is a song by American actress and singer Hilary Duff from her first compilation album Most Wanted (2005). Written by Duff and the Dead Executives,a record production team consisting of Jason Epperson,Joel Madden,and Benji Madden,"Wake Up" was crafted with the intention of having a "totally different sound" from Duff's previous material. Although she thought of the work to be a new milestone in her career,she was at the same time nervous about how her fans would react to the material. "Wake Up" was released as the lead single from Most Wanted in the United States on July 12,2005,by Hollywood Records. It was released also digitally in the United Kingdom on October 24,2005.
"So Yesterday" is a song by American singer Hilary Duff for her second studio album,Metamorphosis (2003). It was written and produced by The Matrix,with additional writing from Charlie Midnight. The song is influenced by pop rock music,and the lyrics chronicle the protagonist getting over a breakup with her boyfriend,declaring him as "so yesterday". The song received mixed to positive reviews from music critics,with some of them noting its close similarity to Avril Lavigne's works,while others named it one of Duff's best songs.
"Fly" is a song by American actress and singer Hilary Duff for her 2004 self-titled third studio album. The song was written by Kara DioGuardi and John Shanks,who also produced the song. The song was first released in the United States on August 10,2004,by Hollywood Records as the lead single from Hilary Duff. It was released again by Angel Records on March 13,2006,in the United Kingdom as the fourth and final single from Duff's first compilation album,Most Wanted (2005).
American actress and singer Hilary Duff has released five studio albums,two extended plays (EPs),one live album,four compilation albums,five video albums,21 singles,four promotional singles,and 16 music videos. Duff released her debut studio album Santa Claus Lane through Buena Vista Records in October 2002. The holiday album peaked at the 154th position on the Billboard 200 in the United States,and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
"Vacation" is a 1982 single released by the all-female rock band,the Go-Go's. The song was the first single from the album,Vacation.
"With Love" is a song recorded by American recording artist Hilary Duff for her fourth studio album,Dignity (2007). It was written by Duff and Kara DioGuardi with the song's producers Vada Nobles and Julius "Logic" Diaz. According to Duff,the song is about having a "crazy job" but being kept "sane" by a lover. Musically,"With Love" has a dance-rock guitar throughout its hook while it presents more mature vocals by Duff in contrast to her previous works. The song was released as the second single from Dignity on February 20,2007,by Hollywood Records.
"We Got the Beat" is a song by the American rock band the Go-Go's,written by the group's lead guitarist and keyboardist Charlotte Caffey. The band first recorded the song in 1980 for a single on UK-based Stiff Records,and later rerecorded it for their debut album Beauty and the Beat on I.R.S. Records. The initial single release brought the Go-Go's underground credibility during their first UK tour and in the band's hometown of Los Angeles. The first version reached No. 35 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart due to its popularity in clubs as an import,and the second version was a top 10 hit in both the United States and Canada. It is considered a new wave classic hit,as well as being the Go-Go's' signature song. The song was named one of "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll".
Waiting is the second and final studio album by English new wave pop band Fun Boy Three,released in 1983 by Chrysalis Records. It featured the hit single "Our Lips Are Sealed",co-written by Terry Hall and previously recorded by the Go-Go's. It was produced by David Byrne.
"She's Gone" is a song written and originally performed by the American duo Daryl Hall and John Oates. The soul ballad is included on their 1973 album,Abandoned Luncheonette.
Most Wanted is the first compilation album by American actress and singer Hilary Duff. It was released on August 10,2005,by Hollywood Records. The album comprises ten previously released tracks,and three new recordings:"Wake Up","Beat of My Heart",and "Break My Heart". A deluxe edition of the album,subtitled The Collector's Signature Edition,was also released,containing additional remixes and another new recording "Supergirl". At first,Duff was concerned about the reaction of fans to the new songs,since they carry a "totally different sound" and are more dance-oriented than her previous music.
"All About You" is a song recorded by American singer Hilary Duff. It was released on August 12,2014 by RCA Records. Written by Duff,Kristian Lundin,Savan Kotecha,and Carl Falk,"All About You" a folk pop and pop rock song,having a banjo,handclaps,and a "heavy hand" drum as the song's instrumentation. Lyrically,the song talks about how the protagonist is so hooked on her boyfriend that she is willing to prove her true love for him anywhere.