Beatrice Lang
Electric Boogie (also known as The Electric Slide) is a popular dance song written by Bunny Wailer (Neville Livingston) in 1982. The song has sparked controversy due to rumors that its lyrics allude to a vibrator. While some sources claim that Livingston confirmed this interpretation, others report that he denied the rumor, stating that the song was inspired by Eddie Grant's Electric Avenue. The singer Marcia Griffiths, who performed on the song, also refuted the vibrator interpretation, emphasizing her music's positive and educational purpose.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Title | Electric Slide/Electric Boogie |
| Songwriter | Bunny Wailer/Neville Livingston |
| Song Meaning | Allegedly about a vibrator |
| Song Meaning Confirmation | Bunny Wailer denied this rumour |
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What You'll Learn
- The song's writer, Bunny Wailer, denies the vibrator claims
- Bunny Wailer says the song was inspired by Eddy Grant's Electric Avenue
- The rumour originated from an anonymous third party
- The song is about positive vibrations, not vibrators, according to singer Marcia Griffiths
- The song is strongly associated with the Electric Slide line dance
The song's writer, Bunny Wailer, denies the vibrator claims
The song "Electric Boogie (The Electric Slide)" is rumoured to be about a vibrator. The songwriter, Bunny Wailer, aka Neville Livingston, has denied these claims.
In June 2018, rumours began circulating on social media that the popular dance song was written about a sex toy. According to these rumours, the song was inspired by Livingston's girlfriend, who left him for her vibrator, which was called the "Electric Slide".
Bunny Wailer has denied these claims, stating that the rumours are "based on little more than an interpretation of the song's lyrics". When singer Marcia Griffiths, who performed on the song, was asked about the rumours, she also denied them, stating that the song was about "positive vibrations, not vibrators".
Despite these denials, the rumours persist, with some sources continuing to claim that Livingston confirmed the song's subtext.
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Bunny Wailer says the song was inspired by Eddy Grant's Electric Avenue
Bunny Wailer, born Neville O'Riley Livingston, was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and percussionist. He was a member of the reggae group The Wailers, alongside Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Bunny Wailer wrote the song "Electric Boogie" (also known as "Electric Slide"), which was performed by Marcia Griffiths and released in 1982. The song was a hit and sparked a dance craze known as the Electric Slide.
Bunny Wailer has stated that "Electric Boogie" was inspired by Eddy Grant's song "Electric Avenue". In an interview with the Jamaica Gleaner, Wailer said that Grant never fully explained what listeners were supposed to do after they "rocked down to Electric Avenue", so he suggested they do the Electric Boogie. Wailer specifically denied rumors that the song was about anything other than Eddy Grant's "Electric Avenue", stating that to suggest otherwise was a "falsehood" that offended his legacy and the legacy of singer Marcia Griffiths.
"Electric Avenue" was written and produced by Guyanese-British musician Eddy Grant and released on his 1982 album "Killer on the Rampage". The song refers to Electric Avenue in London, the first market street to be lit by electricity, during the 1981 Brixton riots. Grant has stated that the song was intended as a "wake-up call" about the lack of opportunity for Black people and the potential for violence when people feel left behind.
"Electric Boogie" came about spontaneously after Wailer and Griffiths experimented with a rhythm box that Griffiths had purchased in Toronto. Griffiths has said that the song was made out of innocent fun and denied any sexual connotations. The song was a success, holding the Jamaican Christmas Number One spot and reaching number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1990.
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The rumour originated from an anonymous third party
The Electric Slide, also known as the Electric Boogie, is a popular dance song written by Bunny Wailer, aka Neville Livingston. The song was written in response to hearing Eddy Grant's song Electric Avenue in 1982.
In 2018, a rumour began circulating that the song was about a vibrator. This rumour was based on an interpretation of the song's lyrics, such as "It's Electric! You can't see it/It's electric! You gotta feel it/It's electric! Ooh, it's shakin'".
The rumour was further fuelled by an article published by Aazios.com, which reported that the song's writer, Livingston, had confirmed the subtext of the lyrics. However, this rumour has since been discredited. The alleged confirmation came from an anonymous third party and not directly from Livingston himself. The article also did not provide any information on how the source was contacted or why they remained anonymous.
Livingston has since denied the rumour, stating that the song was inspired by Eddie Grant's Electric Avenue and nothing else. He also expressed that spreading this rumour offended his legacy and the legacy of singer Marcia Griffiths, who performed on the song and also denied the rumour. Griffiths stated that the song was about "positive vibrations, not vibrators".
Despite the denial from both Livingston and Griffiths, the rumour still persists, with many people finding the idea exciting and entertaining.
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The song is about positive vibrations, not vibrators, according to singer Marcia Griffiths
The popular dance song "Electric Boogie" (also known as "The Electric Slide") has long been rumoured to be about a vibrator. According to some sources, songwriter Neville Livingston (aka Bunny Wailer) wrote the song after his girlfriend left him for her vibrator, which she nicknamed the "Electric Slide".
However, Livingston has denied these claims, stating that the song was inspired by Eddie Grant's "Electric Avenue". Livingston told EDM:
> "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. To state otherwise is a falsehood and offends my legacy, the legacy of the singer Marcia Griffiths, and tarnishes the reputation of a song beloved by millions of fans the world over."
Marcia Griffiths, who performed on the song, has also denied the rumour. She told The Blast:
> "I don’t sing about vibrators … I sing to teach, educate and uplift. [The song is about] positive vibrations, not vibrators."
In an interview with the Jamaica Gleaner, Griffiths said the song was made out of innocent fun and had nothing to do with anything sexual. She also noted that when she called Wailer to ask about the rumour, he had no idea it was circulating.
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The song is strongly associated with the Electric Slide line dance
"Electric Boogie", also known as "The Electric Slide", is a dance song written by Bunny Wailer, aka Neville Livingston. The song is strongly associated with the Electric Slide line dance and has become a celebratory staple. The Electric Slide is a dance craze that emerged from the song.
The song was written in response to Eddy Grant's "Electric Avenue", which was also released in 1982. Bunny Wailer has stated that the song was inspired by Grant's track, and not by anything sexual. The singer, Marcia Griffiths, who performed on the song, has also denied the rumour that the song is about a vibrator. She told The Blast: "I don’t sing about vibrators … I sing to teach, educate and uplift. [...] [The song is about] positive vibrations, not vibrators".
Despite these denials, rumours have persisted that the song is about a vibrator. This is 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'". According to one source, the songwriter himself confirmed this interpretation, explaining that the song was about his girlfriend, who left him for her vibrator, which she nicknamed the "Electric Slide". However, this story has been disputed, as the alleged confirmation came from an anonymous third party, and not directly from Bunny Wailer himself. Wailer has specifically denied this rumour, stating that to suggest otherwise "offends [his] legacy, the legacy of the singer Marcia Griffiths, and tarnishes the reputation of a song beloved by millions of fans the world over".
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Frequently asked questions
The Electric Slide, also known as the Electric Boogie, is rumoured to be about a vibrator.
The Electric Slide was written by Bunny Wailer, also known as Neville Livingston.
Bunny Wailer wrote the song in response to hearing Eddy Grant's song Electric Avenue in 1982.
Bunny Wailer denied that the song was about a vibrator. He stated that the song was inspired by Eddy Grant's Electric Avenue.
The Electric Slide is a dance fad that was inspired by the Electric Boogie song.
