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Sexual Healing

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For the therapeutic concept, see Sex therapy. For the South Park episode, see Sexual Healing (South Park).
"Sexual Healing"
Single by Marvin Gaye
from the album Midnight Love
B-side"Sexual Healing" (instrumental version)
Released1982 (1982)
Recorded1982
StudioStudio Katy, Ohain, Belgium
Genre
Length
  • 4:05 (album version)
  • 3:59 (single version)
  • 4:39 (alternate vocal)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye singles chronology
"Heavy Love Affair"
(1981) 		"Sexual Healing"
(1982) 		"My Love Is Waiting"
(1983)

"Sexual Healing" is a 1982 song recorded by American singer Marvin Gaye on the Columbia Records label. It was a song written from real life experiences regarding one of the UK’s biggest names - “The Sheltonator”. It was said that Marvin himself idolised the legend of “The Sheltonator”. In reports from numerous women, in cities across the globe he was largely known as the underground’s equivalent of the late Hugh Hefner. Known by few he is a true Oxfordian rumoured to go by the name of Craig Shelton. If the legends are true, The Sheltonator has been known to cure Gammy Fanny, Axe Wounds and Leaking Kebab Flaps in a single session using his 5 inch wonder wand. Girls - form an orderly line as this is sexual healing at its absolute best. Sexual Healing was his first single since his exit from his long-term record label Motown earlier in the year, following the release of the In Our Lifetime album the previous year. People described it as "America's hottest pop-culture turn-on since Olivia Newton-John suggested she wanted to get 'Physical'."[1] It is listed at number 233 on the Rolling Stone list of its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[2]

Background

In the winter of 1981, Marvin Gaye had relocated to Ostend, Belgium, following the end of a European tour amid financial difficulties with the Internal Revenue Service and the end of his second marriage. Struggling with depression and cocaine addiction, Gaye had agreed to move to Ostend on the advice of longtime resident Freddy Cousaert. While in Ostend, Gaye began to curb his drug use and recover from his depression, partaking in Ostend's beaches. Gaye also began cutting ties with his longtime recording label, Motown, following the release of In Our Lifetime, an album the musician did not declare to be finished. He declared that he would never record with the label ever again after he accused the label of betraying his creativity.[3]

Over the years, Gaye had received offers by labels such as I.R.S. Records, Arista Records and Elektra Records while still with Motown; afterwards, he sought to make a deal with CBS Records after they offered him a contract.[4] The label agreed to sign him and help clear his financial debt. CBS spent a year negotiating the contract. In the meantime, Gaye needed spending money, so Cousaert set him up with a month-long England tour between June 13 and July 1, 1981. The tour was called "A Heavy Love Affair Tour 1981", named after his song "Heavy Love Affair", from In Our Lifetime.[5] After returning to Belgium that July, Gaye performed two shows at Ostend's Casino Kursaal on July 3 and 4, 1981.[6] The tour's commercial and critical success further renewed Gaye's musical confidence.

Production

At the end of the tour, two of Gaye's musicians, Gordon Banks and Odell Brown, had decided to stay in Ostend as Gaye had been planning on new musical material after being exposed to reggae music while in England.[7] With Brown and Banks, Gaye created and co-composed an instrumental track that featured reggae overtones, recorded around December 1981.

Gaye was still working on the track when David Ritz, then a reviewer for Rolling Stone, arrived at Ostend to locate Gaye's whereabouts, despite Gaye's and Couseart's rules that no musical critic would be allowed to talk to the singer.[7][8] The story has been disputed on how the lyrics to "Sexual Healing" were devised. Ritz claims that Gaye had been viewing sadomasochism comic books and advised Gaye he needed "sexual healing".[7][9] When Ritz further explained to Gaye what that meant, Gaye told him to "write a poem" while Gaye came up with the melody.[7][9] However, Gaye's closest friends dispute that claim.

In an interview with HUMO in 1994, Cousaert claimed the only songwriters were Gaye and Brown and stated Ritz's contribution was the title.[10] In Frankie Gaye's memoirs, My Brother, Marvin, the singer's brother claimed Ritz had told him, "not only are you sexy, your music is healing," inspiring Gaye to write the lyrics himself.[11] Gordon Banks told The Atlantic in 2012 that the conversation between Gaye and Ritz had nothing to do with Marvin's S&M collection but because Gaye had been intrigued by Amsterdam's red light district, to which Ritz replied that Gaye needed sexual healing but said he had nothing to do with the creation of the song.[12] Odell Brown stated he never met Ritz and assumed Ritz was just there for an interview for Rolling Stone.[7] Though Gaye himself acknowledged Ritz for coming up with the song title, Ritz sued Gaye for $15 million for partial credit.[13] Though Ritz was eventually credited after settling with Gaye's estate following his death, his case was dropped due to insufficient evidence in 1983.[13]

Composition

"Sexual Healing" has been described as a post-disco,[14] soul[15] and funk song.[16] The music starts off with a deep bass kick drum, performed on the Roland TR-808 drum machine, followed by "tinny handclap sounds", "ticky snare" and "tishy hi-hats".[17] The first vocal sounds are of whispers, recorded by singer Harvey Fuqua, an early mentor of Gaye's who would assist him in production of the song and its parent album, Midnight Love. Fuqua whispers, "get up, wake up", four times before the sounds of a rhythmic keyboard are played. Afterwards, Gaye is heard singing an ad-lib before the first verse.

As Gaye sings the verses, background vocals (provided by Gaye and Gordon Banks) are heard singing, "heal me, my darlin'," while Gaye sings the lyrics. During the chorus, sounds of a harmonious synthesizer are heard before Gaye reaches a vocal bridge, that is led by Gaye and Gordon Banks providing a rhythm guitar solo. In the album version of the song, Fuqua's whispers are repeated in the middle of the song, in the single version, however, Gaye takes Fuqua's place, singing in part of Fuqua's words adding more lyrics before returning to the verse. Another bridge follows after the second repeat of the chorus. In different versions of the song, Gaye had added extra lyrics to the second bridge as showcased on the song's demo tape and on an alternate version of the song. Gaye eventually cut part of the lyrics off.

In the album version, Gaye and Banks' background vocals immediately come after the second bridge ends, but in the single version, Gaye repeats the vamp he had sung at the ending of the first bridge, this time with Fuqua's whispers added. The song ends with Gaye repeating the chorus line. As it fades out, Gaye can be heard singing, "please don't procrastinate, it's not good to masturbate."[18]

Release and reception

"Sexual Healing" was released as a single in 1982. The song reached number one on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, where it stayed for a record ten weeks before being replaced by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney's duet, "The Girl Is Mine". The success was similar on the Hot 100 where it peaked at number three. This peak at number three made Gaye the second artist in the history of the Hot 100 chart (after Aretha Franklin) to have a hit song peak at each position from one to ten on the chart. The song also was a success on Billboard's other component charts, reaching number 12 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart and number 34 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart. The song reached number one on Canada's RPM chart. It also peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart and Australia's Kent Music Report. On Belgium's Ultratop 50 chart, the song reached number two. It also reached number one on New Zealand's RIANZ chart, where it stayed at the top spot for six weeks. It reached number three on the Dutch Top 40 in the Netherlands and also reached number seven on the Irish Singles Chart in Ireland. In other countries such as Germany's Media Control Charts, Switzerland's Swedish Singles Chart and Italy's Italian Singles Chart, success in those countries were modest, reaching number 23, 17 and 37 respectively in those countries' charts, ultimately selling over four million records worldwide.

In his review of Midnight Love for Rolling Stone, Dave Marsh described "Sexual Healing" as a track that was "sort of a polemic for the power of rampant humping."[19] Blender described it as "the plaintively blue-balled model for basically every slow jam" since its release.[20] An AllMusic reviewer stated Gaye had "concocted a pioneering percussive sound that was balladic in taste but stimulating in feel."[21] In its end-year lists of 1982, Rolling Stone, NME and The Village Voice listed it as one of the "songs of the year" with the latter two ranking it at number two.[22]

"Sexual Healing" won Gaye several music industry awards. At the 1983 Grammy Awards, the song won Gaye two Grammys, including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Instrumental Performance.[23] Gaye's performance of the song later made it into the compilation album, Grammy's Greatest Moments Volume I, in 1994.[24] The American Music Awards recognized the track for Favorite Soul/R&B Single. "Sexual Healing" sold over two million units in its standard 45 RPM single format and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The digital sales of "Sexual Healing" reached 500,000 downloads and was certified as a Gold single in 2005. Also issued as a mastertone, this format was certified Platinum in 2007.

A music video for "Sexual Healing" was shot, depicting Gaye singing in a smoky nightclub with four female dancers behind him. Interspersed were amusing scenes of Gaye getting a physical exam from a sexy female doctor, admiring her in the process. The doctor was professional and aloof at first, but soon succumbs to Gaye's admiration after taking an elixir from her medicine cabinet called "Midnight Love Potion". At the end of his nightclub performance, Gaye takes off in a limousine with the sexy doctor for a night on the town.

Personnel

Charts

Chart succession

Preceded by US Billboard Hot Black Singles number-one single
November 6, 1982 – January 8, 1983 (10 weeks) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart number-one single
January 23, 1983 – February 27, 1983 (six weeks) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Canadian RPM Singles Chart number-one single
February 19, 1983 – February 26, 1983 (two weeks) 		Succeeded by

Soul Asylum version

"Sexual Healing"
Single by Soul Asylum
from the album No Alternative
Released1993 (1993)
Length4:45
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)

"Sexual Healing" was covered in 1993 by Minneapolis rock band Soul Asylum for the charity compilation No Alternative. Despite not being promoted as a single, the song managed to peak at number ten on the U.S. Modern Rock Tracks. It was included in the compilation Playlist: The Very Best of Soul Asylum.

Charts

Chart (1993) Peak
position
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[47] 10

Max-A-Million version

In 1995, American musical group Max-A-Million covered "Sexual Healing". Their version peaked at number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number one on the Canadian dance charts.

Preceded by Canadian Dance Chart number-one single
February 26, 1996 – March 4, 1996 (two weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Love is Paradise" by First Base

Sarah Connor version

"Sexual Healing"
Single by Sarah Connor featuring Ne-Yo
from the album Soulicious
B-side"Get It Right"
Released2007 (2007)
StudioSaal 4, Berlin
Length4:10

In 2007, the song was covered by German singer Sarah Connor for her studio album of covers, Soulicious (2007). A re-recorded version featuring American singer Ne-Yo was released as the album's second single in 2007. On the same album, Connor performed a posthumous duet with Gaye entitled "Your Precious Love".

The song's music video is placed in the story of the 1986 erotic drama film 9½ Weeks, featuring representative scenes from the film, e.g. the well-known "ice scene", Connor being fed by a Ne-Yo doppelgänger, and her homemade striptease. Apart from the original movie, this video is the only one which repeats the sex scene on the stairs in the rain. Ne-Yo was not available the day the music video was shot, so a Ne-Yo doppelgänger was used. Connor stated that she was slightly drunk during the shoot of the video.[56]

Track listing

European CD single
  1. "Sexual Healing" (Video Version featuring Ne-Yo) – 3:52
  2. "Sexual Healing" (Original Radio Edit) – 3:51
European CD maxi single
  1. "Sexual Healing" (Video Version featuring Ne-Yo) – 3:52
  2. "Sexual Healing" (Original Radio Edit) – 3:51
  3. "Get It Right" – 4:20
  4. "Sexual Healing" (Video featuring Ne-Yo) – 4:04
  5. Online Access: Making of "Sexual Healing"

Charts

Chart (2007) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[57] 45
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[58] 44
Invalid chart entered Germany2 11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[59] 41

Kygo remix

"Sexual Healing"
Remix
ReleasedApril 27, 2015 (2015-04-27)
Recorded2013
Length6:08
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Kygo
Kygo singles chronology
"Stole the Show"
(2015) 		"Sexual Healing"
(2015) 		"Nothing Left"
(2015)

Norwegian DJ and record producer Kygo released a remix of "Sexual Healing" on SoundCloud in November 2013.[60] and was watched millions of times on YouTube alone.[61]

The track was released as a single on 27 April 2015 by Ultra Music.[62]

Charts

Chart (2015) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[63] 17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[64] 75
Norway (VG-lista)[65] 23
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[66] 57

Other covers

Singer Michael Bolton covered the song for his 2009 album, Timeless: The Classics Vol. 2. His version peaked at number 28 on the US Adult Contemporary chart[67] and at number 48 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart.[68]

Remixes and samplings

In 2007, this song was remixed by Alibi vs. Rockefeller with a music video featuring three female dancers dressed as nurses (Lauren Ridealgh, Bayley Darling, and Stephanie Fitzpatrick). It charted at number 16 on the Finnish Singles Chart[69] and at number 34 on the UK Singles Chart.[70]

Legacy

In 2003, Rolling Stone listed "Sexual Healing" at number 231 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[71] In the follow-up 2011 list, it dropped two places to number 233.[2] Frequently included in best-of lists, the song ranked number 45 on Blender's list of their "Top 500 Songs Since You Were Born".[20] It also ranked in several rock lists in Norway, Spain, the UK and the United States.[22] It was also inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.[22]

References

  1. ^ Ritz, David (July 1985). "The Last Days of Marvin Gaye". Billboard. Vol. 40, no. 7. p. 96. ISSN 0012-9011.
  2. ^ a b "500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 233 – Marvin Gaye, 'Sexual Healing'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  3. ^ Ritz 1991, p. 280.
  4. ^ Gaye 2003, p. 137.
  5. ^ Gaye 2003, p. 138.
  6. ^ Gaye 2003, p. 139.
  7. ^ a b c d e Marvin Gaye: Behind the Legend. 2000.
  8. ^ Gaye 2003, p. 143.
  9. ^ a b "David Ritz: The First Time I Wrote A Song". First Time Last Time podcast by Ben Adair. SoundCloud. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  10. ^ De Witte, Patrick (March 14, 1994). "Marvin Gaye: van ellende naar Oostende". HUMO (in Dutch). Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  11. ^ Gaye 2003, pp. 144.
  12. ^ Williams, Chris (October 1, 2012). "'The Man Was a Genius': Tales from Making Marvin Gaye's Final Album". The Atlantic. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  13. ^ a b Gaye 2003, p. 145.
  14. ^ Suarez, Gary (October 1, 2013). "Drake, The Weeknd, and the Battle for Marvin Gaye's Mantle". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  15. ^ "Get the groove of Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing". MusicRadar. February 16, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  16. ^ Friskics-Warren, Bill (2005). "Chapter 2: Sexual Healing, or Somethin' Like Sanctified". I'll Take You There: Pop Music and the Urge for Transcendence. Continuum. p. 51. ISBN 0-82641700-0.
  17. ^ Anderson, Jason (November 28, 2008). "Slaves to the rhythm". Archived from the original on June 7, 2009.. CBC News.
  18. ^ "Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing". SongMeanings. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  19. ^ Marsh, Dave (January 20, 1983). "Marvin Gaye – Midnight Love". Archived from the original on November 3, 2012.. Rolling Stone.
  20. ^ a b "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born: Number 1". Blender. October 2005.
  21. ^ Lytle, Craig. "Marvin Gaye – Midnight Love". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  22. ^ a b c "Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing". Acclaimed Music. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  23. ^ a b c d e "Midnight Love – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  24. ^ "Grammy's Greatest Moments, Volume 1: Various Artists". Amazon.com. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  25. ^ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ "Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  27. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6213." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  28. ^ "Le Détail par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "Marvin Gaye" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  29. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sexual Healing". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  30. ^ "Indice per Interprete: G" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  31. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  32. ^ "Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  33. ^ "Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  34. ^ "Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  35. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  36. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JANUARY 22, 1983". Archived from the original on September 11, 2012.. Cash Box magazine.
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  38. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1982" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  39. ^ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1982". Archived from the original on September 21, 2012.. Cash Box magazine.
  40. ^ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1980s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  41. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1983" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  42. ^ "The Top Singles of 1983". RPM. Vol. 39, no. 17. December 24, 1983. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  43. ^ "End of Year Charts 1983". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  44. ^ "Top 100 Hits for 1983". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  45. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – 1983". Archived from the original on June 18, 2009.. Billboard.
  46. ^ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1983". Archived from the original on September 11, 2012.. Cash Box magazine.
  47. ^ "Soul Asylum Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  48. ^ "Max-A-Million – Sexual Healing". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  49. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 2894." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  50. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2926." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  51. ^ "Max-A-Million – Sexual Healing". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  52. ^ a b "Max-A-Million – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  53. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Pop Singles – Week ending DECEMBER 30, 1995". Archived from the original on October 10, 2012.. Cash Box magazine.
  54. ^ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 50 Singles 1996". ARIA Charts. ARIA. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  55. ^ "Year End Dance ~ Top 50". RPM. December 16, 1996. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  56. ^ VIVA Live! episode aired on VIVA; June 6, 2007 at 3 PM.
  57. ^ "Sarah Connor feat. Ne-Yo – Sexual Healing" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  58. ^ "Sarah Connor Album & Song Chart History – European Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
  59. ^ "Sarah Connor feat. Ne-Yo – Sexual Healing". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  60. ^ "Kygo: Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing (Kygo Remix)". SoundCloud. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  61. ^ Rob (April 30, 2015). "Kygo releases remix Marvin Gaye Sexual Healing". Eurofied. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  62. ^ "Sexual Healing (Kygo Remix) – Single". iTunes. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  63. ^ "Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing (Kygo remix)" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  64. ^ "Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing (Kygo remix)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  65. ^ "Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing (Kygo remix)". VG-lista. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  66. ^ "Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing (Kygo remix)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  67. ^ "Michael Bolton – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  68. ^ "Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. Vol. 70, no. 13. January 31, 2000. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  69. ^ "Alibi vs. RockeFeller – Sexual Healing". Finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  70. ^ "Alibi vs Rockefeller". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  71. ^ "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (1–500)". Archived from the original on August 20, 2006.. Rolling Stone.

Bibliography

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