"Sex (I'm a ...)" | ||||
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Single by Berlin | ||||
from the album Pleasure Victim | ||||
B-side | "Tell Me Why" | |||
Released | February 1983 | |||
Recorded | 1982, Los Angeles | |||
Genre | Dance-pop [1] | |||
Length | 3:30 | |||
Label | Geffen | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Daniel R. Van Patten | |||
Berlin singles chronology | ||||
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"Sex (I'm a ...)" is a song by American new wave band Berlin from their second studio album, Pleasure Victim (1982). The song was co-written by group members John Crawford, Terri Nunn, and David Diamond and sung as a duet by Crawford and Nunn. It has an electronic disco arrangement, inspired by Giorgio Moroder, and in particular Donna Summer's "I Feel Love". [2]
Released as the album's second single in February 1983, [3] the single became a cult hit on American radio (and a massive hit in Canada, peaking at #4 on the RPM charts) and brought the group into the mainstream. Despite the significant attention, the song's racy lyrics resulted in its being banned from several radio stations. The single peaked at No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in late March and early April 1983. [4] [5] The song was also the first single release from the band's new label, Geffen Records.
The music video, which received only limited play on MTV, features a cameo appearance by Nunn's mother Joy. [6]
Nunn later said the lyrics were inspired by her relationship with KROQ DJ Richard Blade, and her attempts to introduce elements of erotic roleplay into their sex life; [7] this was confirmed by Blade. [8]
Weekly charts
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Berlin is an American new wave band formed in Los Angeles in 1978. The band gained commercial success in the 1980s with singles including "The Metro", "Sex ", "No More Words" and the chart-topping "Take My Breath Away" from the 1986 film Top Gun, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. The group disbanded right after reaching global success. The best-known lineup consisted of singer Terri Nunn, bass guitarist and vocalist John Crawford, keyboardist David Diamond, guitarist Ric Olsen, keyboardist Matt Reid, and drummer Rob Brill.
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