Ring My Bell

Last updated
"Ring My Bell"
Ring My Bell by Anita Ward US vinyl red label A-side.png
One of side-A pressing labels of the US 7-inch vinyl single
Single by Anita Ward
from the album Songs of Love
B-side "If I Could Feel That Old Feeling Again"
Released1979
Genre
Length
  • 4:28 (album)
  • 3:30 (7" single)
  • 8:11 (12")
Label Juana Records (through TK)
Songwriter(s) Frederick Knight
Producer(s) Frederick Knight
Anita Ward singles chronology
"Ring My Bell"
(1979)
"Make Believe Lovers"
(1979)
Music video
"Ring My Bell": TopPop on YouTube

"Ring My Bell" is a 1979 disco song written by Frederick Knight. The song was originally written for eleven-year-old Stacy Lattisaw as a teenybopper song about children talking on the telephone. [3] When Lattisaw signed with a different label, American singer and musician Anita Ward was asked to sing it instead, and it became her only major hit. [4]

Contents

"Ring My Bell" went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the Disco Top 80 chart and the Soul Singles chart. [5] It also reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. [6] [7] It also garnered Ward a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1980 Grammy Awards. [8]

Composition

The song is noted for its innovative use of the Synare electronic drum, playing a decaying high-pitched tom tone on the first beat of every bar. It also uses chimes. The lyrics concern a woman encouraging her partner to relax with her after a hard day at work. [9]

The lyric "You can ring my bell" was seen as sexually suggestive according to 1984 book The Slanguage of Sex, "'You can ring my bell any time you want to' would be regarded as a 'come-on' phrase in the US if used by a female," and "Songs like 'Ring My Bell' by Anita Ward caused scarcely a raised eyebrow in the '70s." [10] Billboard magazine included the song on its list of the 50 sexiest songs of all time. [9] Songwriter Frederick Knight, however, said that he deliberately avoided any overly suggestive lyrics, wanting to project a clean-cut image for Ward. [11]

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [51] Platinum150,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [52] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Collette version

"Ring My Bell"
Single by Collette
from the album Raze the Roof
B-side "Save Yourself"
ReleasedFebruary 27, 1989 [53]
Recorded Studios 301, Sydney
Length3:22
Label CBS
Songwriter(s) Frederick Knight
Producer(s) Kirke Godfrey, Peewee Ferris
Collette singles chronology
"Ring My Bell"
(1989)
"All I Wanna Do Is Dance"
(1989)

"Ring My Bell" was covered by New Zealand-born Australian pop singer Collette. It was released in 1989 as her debut single. The song peaked at number 5 on the ARIA Charts and was certified gold by ARIA. [54]

Track listing

A. "Ring My Bell" – 3:22
B. "Save Yourself" – 4:06
A1. "Ring My Bell" (Ring-a-Ling Mix) – 6:12
A2. "Ring My Bell" (Ding-Dong Mix) – 5:41
B1. "Save Yourself" (Survival Mix) – 5:53
B2. "Save Yourself" (Pow Wow Mix) – 6:39

Charts

Certification

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [54] Gold35,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

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