
The Electric Slide, also known as Electric Boogie, is a popular dance song recorded in 1976 and released in 1982. It has been rumoured that the song was written about a vibrator. The speculation began when someone close to the songwriter, Bunny Wailer, claimed that the song was inspired by the songwriter's girlfriend, who left him for her vibrator, which she nicknamed the electric slide. However, Bunny Wailer has denied this rumour, and the singer, Marcia Griffiths, has also refuted the claim, stating that the song is about positive vibrations, not vibrators.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Name | Electric Boogie (The Electric Slide) |
| Songwriter | Bunny Wailer/Neville Livingston |
| Songwriter's Claim | Denies that the song is about a vibrator |
| Rumor | The song is about a vibrator |
| Rumor Source | An anonymous third party |
| Marcia Griffith's Claim | The song is about positive vibrations, not vibrators |
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What You'll Learn

The Electric Slide songwriter denies the dildo rumour
The Electric Slide, also known as Electric Boogie, is a popular dance song recorded in 1976 and released in 1982. It has been rumoured that the song was written about a vibrator. The rumour was that the songwriter, Neville "Bunny Wailer" Livingston, wrote the song about his girlfriend who dumped him for her vibrator, which she nicknamed the "electric slide".
However, Livingston has denied this rumour, stating that he never lent credence to the idea that the song was inspired by anything other than Eddie Grant's Electric Avenue. Livingston's statement reads:
> "At no time have I ever lent credence to a rumor that the song was inspired by anything other than Eddie [Grant's Electric Avenue]."
Marcia Griffiths, who performed on the song, also denied the rumour, stating that the song was about "positive vibrations, not vibrators". She added that when she called Livingston to find out about the rumour, he had no idea about it.
Despite the denials, the rumour has persisted due to interpretations of the song's lyrics, which some people believe hint at a sexual subtext.
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The song was inspired by Eddie Grant's Electric Avenue
The song "Electric Boogie (The Electric Slide)" was rumoured to be about a vibrator. The song's writer, Neville "Bunny Wailer" Livingston, denied this, stating that the song was inspired by Eddie Grant's "Electric Avenue".
"Electric Avenue" by Eddy Grant was released in 1983 and became a huge hit, spending five weeks at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was written about the struggle for racial equality in England and the civil rights marches that took place on Electric Avenue, a street in Brixton, London. Brixton was the setting for riots between police and protesters in 1981, which Grant refers to in the song's opening line, "Down in the street, there is violence".
Grant, who moved to England from Trinidad as a child, wrote the song after watching the Brixton riots unfold on television. He had also witnessed the Notting Hill riots a few years prior and was struck by the sense of people being left behind and the potential for violence. The song is intended as a wake-up call, highlighting the lack of opportunity for black people and the struggle for racial equality.
"Electric Avenue" carries a serious message about race and equality, and its success helped break the colour barrier on MTV, with the music video gaining popularity in the United States. The song's writer, Eddy Grant, played every instrument in the recording, and the song's creation involved a delay on the snare drums, which Grant initially disliked but eventually felt worked well with the sound of the song.
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The rumour originated from an anonymous third party
The Electric Slide, also known as Electric Boogie, is a popular dance song recorded in 1976 and released in 1982. It has been rumoured that the song was written about a vibrator. This rumour was sparked by an interpretation of the song's lyrics.
In June 2018, the rumour resurfaced on social media and spread across news outlets. The outlet Aazios, an online source of LGBTQ news and entertainment, reported that an anonymous source "close to" the songwriter, Neville Livingston, aka Bunny Wailer, had confirmed the song was about a vibrator. The publication stated that the source reached out to Livingston in Kingston, Jamaica, where he lives. The anonymous source claimed that Livingston wrote the song after his girlfriend told him she didn't need him because she had a vibrator she nicknamed the "electric slide".
However, this rumour has been disputed by Livingston himself, who denied it in a statement to EDM, a website for electronic dance music news. Livingston said, "At no time have I ever lent credence to a rumor that the song was inspired by anything other than Eddie Grant’s Electric Avenue". Marcia Griffiths, who performed on the song, also denied the rumour, stating that the song was about "positive vibrations, not vibrators".
Despite the denials, the rumour continues to circulate, and people have expressed excitement and surprise at the idea that the song could be about a sex toy.
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The Electric Slide's lyrics are open to interpretation
The Electric Slide, also known as Electric Boogie, is a popular dance song recorded in 1976 and released in 1982. It has been the subject of much speculation regarding the meaning of its lyrics.
Some people interpret the song's lyrics as being about a vibrator. This interpretation gained traction in 2018 when rumours spread on social media and news outlets that the songwriter, Neville Livingston, also known as Bunny Wailer, had confirmed this subtext. Livingston, however, has adamantly denied these rumours, stating that the song was inspired by Eddie Grant's Electric Avenue and not a vibrator.
The rumour originated from an anonymous source who claimed that Livingston wrote the song after his girlfriend told him she didn't need him because she had a vibrator she nicknamed the "electric slide". This interpretation of the lyrics, with its suggestive phrases like "you can't see it, you gotta feel it", "she's pumpin' like a matic" and "she sure got the boogie", led to the belief that the song was about a vibrator.
Marcia Griffiths, who performed on the song, also denied the rumour, stating that the song was about positive vibrations, not vibrators. She added that she called Wailer to address the rumour, and he had no clue about it. A search through news articles, musical histories, magazines, and album reviews yielded no evidence that the song was written about a sex toy.
While the songwriter and performer have denied the vibrator interpretation, the rumour has persisted, with many people finding it exciting and humorous.
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The singer, Marcia Griffiths, denies the song is about a vibrator
The popular song "Electric Boogie (The Electric Slide)" has long been rumoured to be about a vibrator. The song's writer, Neville "Bunny Wailer" Livingston, has been subject to claims that the song was inspired by a girlfriend who left him for her vibrator, which she nicknamed the "electric slide".
However, Livingston has adamantly denied these claims, stating that he never lent credence to the rumour and that the song was inspired by Eddie Grant's "Electric Avenue". The singer, Marcia Griffiths, supports Livingston's denial, telling The Blast that the song is about "positive vibrations, not vibrators". She also said that when she called Livingston to ask about the rumour, he had no idea about it.
Griffiths also stated that she does not sing about vibrators, and that her music is meant to "teach, educate and uplift". She is not the only one to dismiss the claims, as some sources have pointed out that there is no reliable evidence to support the rumour. One source even suggests that the story was invented to take advantage of the song's viral status.
Despite these denials, the rumour has persisted and continues to be a topic of discussion and humour among listeners.
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Frequently asked questions
No, despite the rumours, the songwriter has denied that the song is about a vibrator or a dildo.
The rumour started on social media in 2018, with people interpreting the song's lyrics as being about a vibrator.
The singer, Marcia Griffiths, has stated that the song is about "positive vibrations, not vibrators".
"Electric Slide" was written by Neville Livingston, also known as Bunny Wailer.






















