Umair Gaines
In June 2018, a rumour spread on social media that the popular dance song Electric Boogie (The Electric Slide) was written about a sex toy. The claim was based on an interpretation of the song's lyrics, which include lines such as It's electric! You can't see it and She's a pumpin' like a matic. The songwriter, Neville Bunny Wailer Livingston, denied the rumour, stating that the song was inspired by Eddie Grant's Electric Avenue. Livingston's statement was supported by singer Marcia Griffiths, who performed on the song and said that it was about positive vibrations, not vibrators.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song name | Electric Boogie (The Electric Slide) |
| Songwriters | Neville Livingston, Bunny Wailer |
| Rumor | The song is about a vibrator |
| Confirmation of rumor | Denied by songwriter |
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What You'll Learn
The song's writer, Bunny Wailer, denies the vibrator claims
The writer of the song "Electric Boogie (The Electric Slide)", Bunny Wailer, has denied claims that the song is about a vibrator. The rumours, which circulated on social media and news outlets, interpreted the song's lyrics as evidence of the sexual subtext:
> It's Electric!/You can't see it/It's electric!/You gotta feel it/It's electric!/Ooh, it's shakin'/It's electric!/Jiggle-a-mesa-cara/She's a pumpin' like a matic/She's a movin' like electric/She sure got the boogie
The claim that the song was about a vibrator was based on an anonymous source "close to" Wailer, who allegedly confirmed the song's inspiration. However, Wailer himself has refuted this, stating that the song was inspired by Eddie Grant's "Electric Avenue". He expressed his displeasure at the rumour, stating that it offended his legacy and that of singer Marcia Griffiths, who also performed on the song and denied the vibrator claims. Griffiths clarified that the song was about "positive vibrations, not vibrators".
Despite the denial, the rumour sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with some finding humour in the interpretation and others expressing dismay at their "ruined childhoods".
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The song was inspired by Eddie Grant's Electric Avenue
The Electric Slide, or Electric Boogie, is a popular dance song written by Neville "Bunny Wailer" Livingston. In 2018, a rumour began circulating that the song was about a vibrator or sex toy. The rumour was based on an interpretation of the song's lyrics:
> It's Electric! You can't see it / It's electric! You gotta feel it / It's electric! Ooh, it's shakin' / It's electric! Jiggle-a-mesa-cara / She's a pumpin' like a matic / She's a movin' like electric / She sure got the boogie
According to the rumour, Livingston's girlfriend left him for her vibrator, which she nicknamed the "electric slide". However, Livingston has denied this rumour, stating that the song was inspired by Eddie Grant's "Electric Avenue".
"Electric Avenue", released in 1983, was Grant's biggest international hit. The song was written in response to the 1981 Brixton riots, which were a result of tensions over unemployment, racism, and poverty in the UK. Grant was horrified by the events and wrote the song as an objection to violence and a call for peaceful demonstration. The song also highlights the disparities between the struggles of those in the riot-torn area and the more comfortable lives of those in uptown neighbourhoods.
Despite the denial from Livingston and the song's performer, Marcia Griffiths, the vibrator rumour persisted and was even reported as fact by some sources.
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The rumour started with an anonymous source
The anonymous source's story went as follows: Livingston wrote the song after his girlfriend left him for her vibrator, which she nicknamed the "electric slide". This interpretation of the song's lyrics added fuel to the fire, and many people began to believe that the song had a hidden meaning.
Marcia Griffiths, who performed on the song, also denied the rumour. She told The Blast that the song was about positive vibrations, not vibrators, and that she sings to teach, educate and uplift people. When she called Livingston to ask about the rumour, he had no idea about it. A search through news articles, musical histories, magazines, and album reviews yielded no evidence that the song was about a sex toy.
Despite the lack of confirmation from Livingston or Griffiths, the rumour persisted, and some people even claimed that Livingston had confirmed the subtext of the lyrics. However, this was later proven to be false, with Livingston specifically denying that the song was about a vibrator. He stated that the claim was based on nothing more than an interpretation of the song's lyrics.
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The song's lyrics are interpreted as referring to a vibrator
The song "Electric Boogie (The Electric Slide)" is rumoured to be about a vibrator. This interpretation is based on the lyrics:
> It's Electric! You can't see it
> It's electric! You gotta feel it
> It's electric! Ooh, it's shakin'
> It's electric! Jiggle-a-mesa-cara
> She's a pumpin' like a matic
> She's a movin' like electric
> She sure got the boogie
Some people believe that the songwriter, Neville "Bunny Wailer" Livingston, wrote the song about a girlfriend who left him for her vibrator, which she nicknamed the "electric slide". However, this story has been disputed. Livingston himself has denied the rumour, stating that the song was inspired by Eddie Grant's "Electric Avenue".
Marcia Griffiths, who performed on the song, has also refuted the claim, saying that the song is about "positive vibrations, not vibrators". She added that when she called Livingston to ask about the rumour, he had no idea about it. A search through news articles, musical histories, magazines, and album reviews yielded no evidence that the song was about a sex toy.
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The singer, Marcia Griffiths, denies the rumour
The singer, Marcia Griffiths, has denied the rumour that the song "Electric Boogie (The Electric Slide)" is about a vibrator. She told The Blast that the song is about "positive vibrations, not vibrators", and that she "doesn't sing about vibrators". Griffiths also said that when she called Wailer to ask about the rumour, he had "no clue" about it.
In 2018, the song's writer, Neville "Bunny Wailer" Livingston, also denied the rumour, saying that he had never lent credence to a rumour that the song was inspired by anything other than Eddie Grant’s Electric Avenue. Livingston's statement refuted a claim by an anonymous source reported by Aazios.com that the song was about a vibrator.
Despite these denials, the rumour has persisted, with many people interpreting the song's lyrics as being about a sex toy. The song includes lyrics such as "It's electric! You can't see it / It's electric! You gotta feel it" and "She's a pumpin' like a matic / She's a movin' like electric".
However, a search of news articles, musical histories, magazines, and album reviews found no indication that the song was written about a sex toy. The Electric Slide is a popular dance song that has been played at many weddings and other celebrations, and the interpretation of its lyrics as being about a vibrator may be nothing more than a playful rumour.
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Frequently asked questions
No, despite the rumours, the songwriter, Bunny Wailer, has denied that the song is about a vibrator.
In June 2018, the rumour spread on social media that the song was about a sex toy.
The rumour was that the song was written by Bunny Wailer after his girlfriend left him for a dildo she called the Electric Slide.
No, he denied the rumour and stated that the song was inspired by Eddie Grant's Electric Avenue.
No, singer Marcia Griffiths, who performed on the song, also denied the rumour and stated that the song was about "positive vibrations, not vibrators".
