This Day in Music – Da Ya Think I'm Sexy

On this day in 1978, Rod Stewart was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy”, the singers fifth UK chart topper. A plagiarism lawsuit by Brazilian musician Jorge Ben Jor confirmed that the song had been derived from his composition “Taj Mahal”. Stewart agreed to donate all his royalties from the song to United Nations Children’s Fund.
Which was very good of him.
Bit, do you think Rod Stewart is sexy? I’m sure some people do!
Rod Stewart and the Faces were the first ever live gig I went to, and they didn’t disappoint. They fell onto the stage, clutching bottles of wins, cigarettes in hand and played a blinding if not somewhat shambolic show. But I didn’t find Rod sexy. I was a 14-year-old boy at my first gig; I was far more impressed with Ronnie Woods’s ability to hold a cig in his mouth whilst playing the guitar – for two hours.
But, going back to “Do You Think I’m Sexy”, for poor old Rod it has sort of become his signature tune, which I would imagine would drive him or anybody mad. It’s a throwaway song, which worked at the time – but having to prance around the stage now in skintight pants singing…
Most big acts have a signature song – which becomes like an albatross… Robert Plant has “Stairway To Heaven”, which he now apparently hates performing, and I can see why. It’s a brilliant song, classic rock, captured Led Zeppelin at their zenith. But to be expected to sing it every time you go out on tour must be a nightmare.
Other acts have strange songs that stick with them. How about Jeff Beck and “Hi Ho Silver Lining”. It just isn’t what Jeff Beck is about, and never was. But unfortunately, most people who know that song think that’s what Jeff Beck is about! No! He doesn’t sing, and he’s probably one of the greatest guitarists on the planet.
I have a theory, when you die you take your signature song with you.
Take Kurt Cobain. Do you think he would still be singing “Smells Like Teen Spirit”? No, he would be sick to death of it, but because Kurt is no longer with us and can never perform the anthem again, and it makes it even more of a classic song. Same with Otis Redding and “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay”, those magical 3 minutes that where captured on recorded has become a timeless piece of music history. Would you want to go a see a 68 year-old Jim Morrison belting out a version of “Light My Fire” in his leather pants? No, I don’t think so, but what we are left with is a striking image of a young sexy man who you wanted to ‘light your fire’. (That was aimed at the female readers btw).
Britney Spears will always be expected to sing “Oops… I Did It Again”, U2 have to play “Where The Streets Have No Name” and The Rolling Stones will always have to play “(I Can’t Get No), Satisfaction”. But they are all great songs and I’m sure as Keith kicks into that killer riff, he and his rolling bones know its almost time to go back to the hotel. And it’s all money in the bank.