Super Freak

"Super Freak" is a 1981 single produced and performed by American singer Rick James. The song, co-written by James and Alonzo Miller, was first released on James' fifth album, Street Songs (1981) and became one of James' signature songs. "Freak" is a slang term for the sexually adventurous, as described in the song's lyrics, "She's a very kinky girl / The kind you don't take home to mother". Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song number 477 in its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> number 481 in 2010, and number 153 in an updated list in 2021.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The song was nominated for the Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the 1982 Grammys.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The song has been sampled by MC Hammer in 1990, Jay-Z in 2006, and Nicki Minaj in 2022.<ref name=sfg>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Recording

"Super Freak" was recorded with other tracks for the Street Songs album during December 1980 – January 1981 at the Record Plant, in Sausalito, California and Motown / Hitsville U.S.A. Recording Studios, Hollywood, California. It features background vocals from James' Motown labelmates the Temptations—whose bass singer, Melvin Franklin, was one of James's idols—and Canadian singer Taborah Johnson. The bass was played by Oscar Alston. The tenor saxophone solo is by Stone City Band member Daniel LeMelle. James' improvised lyrics were later toned down by Los Angeles DJ Alonzo Miller, who received co-writing credit. James apparently was not particularly excited about the song, but reputedly wanted to have something on the album that "white folks could dance to."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Charts

Weekly charts

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Chart (1981–1982)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	26
US Billboard Hot 100<ref name="awards">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	16
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard)<ref name="awards"/>	1
US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)<ref name="awards"/>	3
US Cash Box Top 100<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	17
US Record World Singles<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	14

Year-end charts

Chart (1981)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	54
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	24
Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	26

Beatfreakz version

In 2006, Dutch music group Beatfreakz covered the song as "Superfreak" and released it as a single. This cover reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart and number six in Finland and Hungary.

Track listings

Template:Columns-start Dutch CD single<ref name="netcd">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

1. "Superfreak" (radio edit)
2. "Superfreak" (club mix)
3. "Superfreak" (Fonzerelli remix)
4. "Superfreak" (Dennis Christopher De-Electro remix)
5. "Streetgirl" (album version)

UK 12-inch single<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

A1. "Superfreak" (Beatfreakz club mix)

A2. "Superfreak" (Fonzerelli remix)

B1. "Superfreak" (Dennis Christopher De-Electro remix)

B2. "Superfreak" (Friday Night Posse remix)

Template:Column UK CD1<ref name="ukcd1">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

1. "Superfreak" (radio edit)
2. "Superfreak" (Beatfreakz club mix)

UK CD2<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

1. "Superfreak" (radio edit)
2. "Superfreak" (Fonzerelli remix)
3. "Superfreak" (Dennis Christopher De-Electro remix)
4. "Superfreak" (Verdez remix)
5. Extended interactive CD-ROM

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Dutch and UK CD1 liner notes.<ref name="netcd"/><ref name="ukcd1"/>

Studios

• Recorded at Beatfreakz Studios (Weesp, Netherlands)
• Sample replays recorded at Scorccio.com Studio (Barcelona, Spain)

Personnel

• Rick James, Alonzo Miller – writing
• Sandro – vocals
• Jassy Tamar Husk – additional vocals
• Beatfreakz – production
• Hal Ritson – vocal production
• Mark Summers – sample replay production
• Ben Cook – executive production
• Dipesh Parmar – executive production assistant
• Antonio Petronzio – photography

Charts

Weekly charts

Template:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chart

Chart (2006–2007)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Dance Flanders)<ref name="BEL"/>	8
Romania (Romanian Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	66
Russia Airplay (TopHit)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	24

Year-end charts

Chart (2006)	Position
CIS (TopHit)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	195
Russia Airplay (TopHit)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	200
UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	189

Chart (2007)	Position
CIS (TopHit)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	128
Russia Airplay (TopHit)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	171

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Template:Abbr
Netherlands	2006	CD	Spinnin'	<ref name="netcd"/>
United Kingdom	9 October 2006	Template:Hlist	Data	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Sampling

The predominant riff of the song was most popularly sampled in 1990 by MC Hammer in "U Can't Touch This".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The song would then be sampled by Jay-Z in his 2006 song "Kingdom Come", by American group Black Eyed Peas in their 2020 single "Vida Loca", and by Nicki Minaj in her 2022 single, "Super Freaky Girl".<ref name=sfg/> Minaj previously appeared in the remix of Big Sean's "Dance (A$$)" (2011), which sampled "U Can't Touch This".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The chorus of the song appears in a scene in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen where Sam Witwicky, one of the main protagonists, is driving his Camaro, which is actually the Autobot Bumblebee, with a college girl named Alice, who is a Decepticon in disguise.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• List of number-one dance singles of 1981 (U.S.)

External links

• Super Freak at Discogs