
Electric Boogie (also known as The Electric Slide) is a dance song written by Bunny Wailer and released in 1982. The song is strongly associated with the Electric Slide line dance. There have been many rumors about the song's meaning, with some believing it to be about a vibrator. However, the songwriter has denied these claims, stating that the song is about positive vibrations and not vibrators. The song was written in response to Eddy Grant's Electric Avenue, with Wailer suggesting that Electric Avenue would be the perfect place to do the Electric Boogie.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Name | "The Electric Slide" or "Electric Boogie" |
| Songwriter | Bunny Wailer |
| Songwriter's Real Name | Neville Livingston |
| Songwriter's Response to Rumors | Bunny Wailer has denied the rumors. |
| Rumors | The song is rumored to be about a vibrator. |
| Inspiration | Livingston was inspired by Eddy Grant's "Electric Avenue." |
| Year of Release | 1982 |
| Country of Origin | Jamaica |
| Peak Chart Position | Jamaican Christmas Number One |
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What You'll Learn

'Electric Boogie' is a response to Eddy Grant's 'Electric Avenue'
"Electric Boogie", also known as "The Electric Slide" or "The Electric Boogie Woogie", is a song rumoured to be about a vibrator. The song's writer, Neville "Bunny Wailer" Livingston, allegedly confirmed this interpretation. Livingston wrote the song in the 1970s after a girlfriend told him she didn't need him because she had a vibrator nicknamed the "Electric Slide".
However, Livingston later denied the rumour, and Wailer stated that the song was about positive vibrations, not vibrators. In an interview with the Jamaica Gleaner, Wailer clarified that the song was written for his childhood friend Marcia Griffiths.
"Electric Boogie" was also a response to Eddy Grant's "Electric Avenue". In the same interview with the Gleaner, Wailer explained that "Electric Avenue" was a very popular song at the time, and he wanted to create a song with mass appeal. "Electric Avenue" ends with the instruction to "take it higher" after listeners have rocked down to Electric Avenue, but it does not specify what to do next. Wailer suggested that this would be the perfect place to do the Electric Boogie:
> "There was this track at the time being played called Electric Avenue (by Eddy Grant). That was the most popular song then. So me sey if me ago think pop, me haffi start smell roun' dem kitchen deh. So you going down Electric Avenue to do what? Because him don't stipulate. So me sey him mus ago do the Electric Boogie. So me jus' start formulate the song."
"Electric Avenue" by Eddy Grant was released in 1983 and became a huge hit. The song is based on a real street in Brixton, London, which was the first market street to be lit by electricity. The song also describes the 1981 Brixton riots, which were clashes between police and civilians over unemployment, racism, and poverty.
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The song is about positive vibrations
"Electric Boogie" (also known as "The Electric Slide") is a song written by Bunny Wailer. The song is rumoured to be about a vibrator. However, the singer, Marcia Griffiths, has denied this, stating that the song is about "positive vibrations, not vibrators".
The song was written in response to Eddy Grant's "Electric Avenue". In an interview with the Jamaica Gleaner, Wailer said that the song "Electric Avenue" was very popular at the time, and he wanted to create a song that would be the perfect place to do the Electric Boogie. The song was not meant to be about vibrators, but rather about the energy and fun of childhood friendship.
Wailer wrote the song for Griffiths, his childhood friend, and it became a hit in the 1980s. The song is strongly associated with the "Electric Slide" line dance and has become a beloved classic for many fans worldwide.
Despite the denial from Griffiths and Wailer, the rumour persists due to interpretations of the song's lyrics, such as "You can't see it (it's electric!) You gotta feel it (it's electric!) Ooh, it's shakin' (it's electric)!". However, the songwriter has stated that the song is not about anything sexual and that the interpretation as being about a vibrator is false.
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'Electric Boogie' is also known as 'The Electric Slide'
"Electric Boogie", also known as "The Electric Slide", is a dance song written by Bunny Wailer, which was first recorded and released in December 1982. The song is strongly associated with the Electric Slide line dance and has become a celebratory staple. Choreographer and dancer Richard L. "Ric" Silver claims to have created the dance in 1976.
The song was originally recorded in 1976 and then recorded by Griffiths in 1983. It was remixed in its most well-known form in 1989. The song was written for Marcia Griffiths by Bunny Wailer in 1982. The song came about spontaneously after Griffiths and Wailer experimented with a rhythm box that Griffiths had purchased in Toronto earlier that year. Griffiths has said the song was made out of innocent fun and has denied that it was related to anything sexual.
The song is said to be inspired by Eddy Grant's song "Electric Avenue", which was also released in 1982. Wailer noted that "Electric Avenue" never explained what listeners were supposed to do after "rocking down to Electric Avenue". Thus, he wrote "Electric Boogie" as the perfect song to do the Electric Slide to.
There have been rumours that the song is about a vibrator. However, the songwriter has denied these rumours, stating that the song is about "positive vibrations, not vibrators". The singer also stated that they "sing to teach, educate and uplift". The rumours were based on an interpretation of the song's lyrics and a statement from an anonymous source close to the songwriter.
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Bunny Wailer wrote the song for Marcia Griffiths
"Electric Boogie" (also known as the "Electric Slide") is a song written by Bunny Wailer and performed by Wailer and Marcia Griffiths. Griffiths, however, has stated that Wailer wrote the song for her. The song was inspired by Eddy Grant's "Electric Avenue", which was released in 1982.
According to Griffiths, the song came about spontaneously after she and Wailer experimented with a rhythm box that she had purchased in Toronto. She explained that she and Wailer had been friends since childhood and that she showed him the rhythm box and its different sounds and beats. Griffiths also stated that the song was made out of innocent fun and has denied that it was related to anything sexual, contrary to an internet rumour that it was about a vibrator.
Griffiths has sought to clarify that the song was first recorded as a duet by herself and Wailer and that she is the original singer. She explained that Wailer did a second version of the song, recording it solo, and that she did not earn any royalties from the song for a long period. She also noted that the song has outlived many other dance songs and has become a celebratory staple.
"Electric Boogie" provided the basis for the success of a dance fad called the Electric Slide, with choreographer Ric Silver creating a line dance for the song. The song was released in December 1982 and held the Jamaican Christmas Number One spot. It became a full-fledged hit and one of the most popular dances of all time, with Griffiths's version rising up the Billboard charts and becoming her most requested song.
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Rumours suggest the song is about a vibrator
The song Electric Boogie (also known as "The Electric Slide" or "Electric Boogie Woogie") is rumoured to be about a vibrator. While there are speculations about the song's true meaning, the songwriter, Neville Livingston, aka Bunny Wailer, has denied these rumours. Livingston wrote the song in the 1970s for his childhood friend, Marcia Griffiths, and it became a hit in the 1980s.
The rumours suggest that Livingston was inspired to write the song after a girlfriend told him she didn't need him because she had a vibrator nicknamed the "Electric Slide". This interpretation is based on certain lyrics in the song, such as "You can't see it (it's electric!) / You gotta feel it (it's electric!) / Ooh, it's shakin' (it's electric)!" and "Jiggle-a-mesa-cara / She's a pumpin' like a matic / She's a movin' like electric".
Some listeners have pointed out that the song's suggestive lyrics and upbeat rhythm could be interpreted as a playful ode to a vibrator. The song's popularity at weddings and other celebrations may have added to the speculation.
However, it's important to note that these are just rumours and interpretations. Livingston has denied these claims, stating that the song is not about a vibrator. In an interview, he clarified that the song was about "positive vibrations, not vibrators," and that he writes songs to "teach, educate and uplift."
Despite the denial from Livingston and Griffiths, the rumours about the song's meaning have persisted, with some people finding humour or shock value in the idea that a popular dance song might have a hidden subtext.
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Frequently asked questions
"It's Electric Boogie Woogie" is a song written by Bunny Wailer and performed by Marcia Griffiths. The song is strongly associated with the Electric Slide line dance.
The lyrics to "It's Electric Boogie Woogie" include: "You can't see it, it's electric/You gotta feel it, it's electric/Ooooh, it's shocking, it's electric/Jiggle-a-mesa-cara/She's a pumping like a matic/She's moving like electric/She sure got the boogie".
No, the singer, Marcia Griffiths, has stated that the song is about "positive vibrations, not vibrators". The songwriter, Bunny Wailer, also denied the rumor, saying he wrote the song in response to hearing the song "Electric Avenue" by Eddy Grant.











































