"Tired of Being Blonde" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter
Carly Simon
Carly Elisabeth Simon (born June 25, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, memoirist, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records; her 13 Top 40 U.S. hits include "Anticipation" (No. 13), " The Right Thin ...
for her 12th studio album ''
Spoiled Girl
''Spoiled Girl'' is the 12th studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Epic Records, in June 1985.
Recorded with a variety of producers in New York, this was Simon's only album for Epic. It was commercially unsuccessful ...
'' (1985) for which it served as the lead single.
Background
According to its composer
Larry Raspberry, the song was "inspired by
...high school
ates Ates is a given name and a surname which may refer to:
* Roscoe Ates (1895–1962), American vaudeville performer, actor, comedian and musician
* Sonny Ates
Charles "Sonny" Ates (March 28, 1935 – October 25, 2010) was an American racecar driver. ...
span style="font-size:50%">...who
till haveplatinum hair
...when you see them 14 years later. You think: 'What an expense!' And the song is about a woman who got tired of waiting on the
ife enrichingresults that the
osmeticcompany promised".
[''Memphis Commercial Appeal'' 25 January 1985 "Larry Raspberry in Concert: Raspberry’s hot" by Sandra Vaughn p.70] "Tired of Being Blonde" had been pitched to Simon by
MTV
MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
founder
John Sykes
John James Sykes (born 29 July 1959) is an English guitarist, best known as a member of Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy and Tygers of Pan Tang. He has also fronted the hard rock group Blue Murder and released several solo albums.
Following a stint in ...
after
John Cougar Mellencamp
John J. Mellencamp (born October 7, 1951), previously known as Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American singer-songwriter. He is known for his catchy brand of heartland rock, which emphasizes traditional instrument ...
, who had heard Raspberry perform the song live, suggested it to Sykes as suitable material for Simon.
Recorded in the autumn of 1984, "Tired of Being Blonde", originally set for February 1985 release, would not be released until June of 1985. Promoted by a
video
Video is an electronic medium for the recording, copying, playback, broadcasting, and display of moving visual media. Video was first developed for mechanical television systems, which were quickly replaced by cathode-ray tube (CRT) syste ...
which was directed by actor
Jeremy Irons
Jeremy John Irons (; born 19 September 1948) is an English actor and activist. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969 and has appeared in many West End theatre ...
,
the track failed to become a major hit, peaking no higher than No. 70 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100.
However, it was more successful on the ''Billboard''
Adult Contemporary chart
The Adult Contemporary chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on airplay data submitted to ''Billboard'' by sta ...
, reaching a peak position of No. 36.
Track listing
;7" single
* "Tired of Being Blonde" – 4:07
* "The Wives Are In Connecticut" – 4:34
;12" single
* "Tired Of Being Blonde" - 4:07
* "Black Honeymoon" - 4:34
* "Make Me Feel Something" - 4:40
Personnel
* Carly Simon – lead vocals, backing vocals
* Robbie Kilgore – synthesizers
*
G.E. Smith
George Edward Smith ('' né'' Haddad; born January 27, 1952) is an American guitarist. Smith was the lead guitarist for the duo Hall & Oates during the band's heyday from 1979 to 1985, playing on five number one singles. After Hall & Oates went ...
– guitars, guitar solo
*
Tom "T- Bone" Wolk – bass
*
Russ Kunkel
Russell Kunkel (born September 27, 1948) is an American drummer who has worked as a session musician with many popular artists, including Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Buffett, Harry Chapin, Rita Coolidge, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Da ...
– drums
* Jimmy Bralower – drum programming
Charts
References
External links
Carly Simon's Official Website
{{Carly Simon
1985 songs
Carly Simon songs
1985 singles
Epic Records singles