Physical Lyrics
This song is really too light and peppy to be very dirty. I guess ONJ did that on purpose to coincide with her girl-next-door image. Still, I like it, and I applaud her for singing a song in which the woman takes the lead in seducing the man. Not very many songs or other media acknowledge that guys aren't the only ones sitting there thinking dirty thoughts about their dates...
It was very racy at the time (even banned in some areas). She specifically did it to go against her good girl image.
The video was funny. Apparently she was ready to pull the record like the day before it was like set to be released.( It was a number one in 1981). She was horrified,because she didn't want to be seen as some sexually aggressive woman. It didn't seem to tarnish her image at all. She was and still a great vocalist. :)
haha the Sue Sylvester 'Glee' version is so funny :) is there anything she can't do (except be nice the the glee club...)
ONJ tries a "raunchy" song. Catchy 80's pop. It's good, but not great.
recvo did the best cover of this
I love this song!!
@goddesscaroline - You're right. I remember rockin' to this song when I was a kid. I always thought it was about jazzercise. I only read the lyrics, "There's nothing left to talk about 'less it's horizontally," today for the first time. It's pretty obvious what she's implying.
@vulnavia - So, I wanted to verify that my beliefs about jazzercise were wrong by re-watching the video for the first time in 30 years. You're right, it is pretty funny. But I think there's a deeper meaning to this song:
In the video, OLJ starts out fantasizing about a bunch of hot, sweaty, speedo-clad muscle-men. The scene changes and she's surrounded by several overweight slobbish guys poorly attempting to work out. She then tries to help out the overweight guys, taking a physical trainer role.
It's the end of the video that really tells the deeper story. In the last scene, all the overweight guys are magically transformed into their muscle-clad counterparts, but then something poignant happens: the hot guys all pair up into couples and walk out of the gym holding hands with their partners! I'd say this is a somewhat precocious twist for 1981! Finally, OLJ goes back and finds a tall, dark, overweight guy and "hooks up" with him.
So, I think the real meaning of this song is to bemoan that she can't get what she thinks she wants in her fantasy. After all, the really sexy men are all gay. So she must settle for a mediocre-looking guy if she wants to ever get some action.
despite all the mass of effort thrown against it sex is still fun
The lyrics in this song are outright hilarious. I think this song is actually a subversive parroting of how some men treat women, and how dubious that is.
The verses tell the real story:
"I've been patient, I've been good Tried to keep my hands on the table It's gettin' hard this holdin' back If you know what I mean"
It reads as "aw c'mon, look, I've been a nice guy, now it's time for you to hold up your end of the deal". I see it as poking fun at that sort of attitude, pointing out how ridiculous it is. The video is sort of an extension of this idea, where she is forcibly making rotund men work out whether they want to or not .... pairing this with the lyrics, it almost reads as a date rape song. "Come on, you'll enjoy yourself, just relax", that sort of thing.