"Shake Your Thang"
Single by Salt-N-Pepa featuring E.U.
from the album A Salt with a Deadly Pepa
B-side"Spinderella's Not a Fella (But a Girl DJ)"
ReleasedAugust 1, 1988
RecordedBayside Sound
Genre
Length3:59
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • O'Kelly Isley
  • Ronald Isley
  • Rudolph Isley
Producer(s)Hurby Luv Bug
Salt-N-Pepa singles chronology
"Chick on the Side"
(1987)		 "Shake Your Thang"
(1988)		 "Get Up Everybody (Get Up)"
(1988)

"Shake Your Thang" is a song by American R&B and hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa, released by Next Plateau Entertainment and London Records as the first single from their second studio album, A Salt with a Deadly Pepa (1988). The song features the Washington, D.C.-based go-go musical band, E.U. It samples "It's Your Thing" by The Isley Brothers and "Funky President" by James Brown.[1]

The music video features Salt-N-Pepa being arrested for "dirty dancing". At the police station they are questioned by cops played by Hurby Luv Bug and Kid 'n Play. There are scenes of them dancing in an all white room with a crowd and back up dancers, additionally they dance outside on stairs and on the streets. At the end of the video they are released from the police station, this leads into the music video for their next single, "Get Up Everybody (Get Up)".

In an interview, Salt explained she considers herself a feminist "in a way", emphasizing the need for women to avoid complete emotional and financial dependence on men. Songs like "Tramp" and "Shake Your Thang" express these feminist themes of female autonomy.[2]

Critical reception

Ben Thompson from NME wrote, "As usual bits of this were purloined from various sources (Isley Bros etc) but who cares when it's such a belting tune. That all-but-forgotten go-go swing, courtesy of EV, some crappy '70s disco trumpets, an argumentative piano and a fine plucky bass add up to a night of fun for all concerned. The package comes complete with a stern reminder to would-be disco casanovas, "We just met, we can't do that yet." You can't help wanting to enjoy yourself when you hear this, however hard you try, because it is irresistably wholesome. Shake Your Thang indeed."[3]

Track listing

  1. "Shake Your Thang" – 3:59
  2. "Spinderella's Not a Fella (But a Girl D.J.)" – 4:27
  • 12" vinyl / CD single[5]
A1. "Shake Your Thang" (club mix) – 5:16
A2. "Shake Your Thang" (radio version) – 3:59
A3. "Shake Your Thang" (instrumental) – 4:02
A4. "Shake Your Thang" (acappella) – 0:28
B1. "Spinderella's Not a Fella (But a Girl DJ)" (Vocal) – 4:24
B2. "Spinderella's Not a Fella (But a Girl DJ)" (Instrumental) – 4:17
B3. "Spinderella's Not a Fella (But a Girl DJ)" (Acappella) – 0:36

Charts

Chart performance for "Shake Your Thang"
Chart (1988) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[6] 47
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[7] 9
Ireland (IRMA)[8] 29
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[9] 8
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] 9
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 22
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[12] 8
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[13] 14
West Germany (Official German Charts)[14] 29

References

  1. ↑ "Salt-N-Pepa-E.U.-Shake-Your-Thang-The-Isley-Brothers-It's-Your-Thing". www.whosampled.com. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  2. ↑ Rose, Tricia (May 1990). "Never Trust A Big Butt and a Smile" (PDF). Camera Obscura. 8 (2): 108–131. doi:10.1215/02705346-8-2_23-108. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  3. ↑ Thompson, Ben (27 August 1988). "Singles". NME. p. 16. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "Shake Your Thang / Spinderella's Not A Fella (But A Girl DJ) 7". Discogs. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "Shake Your Thang / Spinderella's Not A Fella (But A Girl DJ) 12". Discogs. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  6. ↑ "Salt-N-Pepa feat. E.U. – Shake Your Thang". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  7. ↑ "Salt-N-Pepa feat. E.U. – Shake Your Thang" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  8. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Shake Your Thang". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Salt-N-Pepa" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  10. ↑ "Salt-N-Pepa feat. E.U. – Shake Your Thang" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  11. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Salt-N-Pepa Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Salt-N-Pepa Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Salt-N-Pepa – Shake Your Thang" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.


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