Super Freak
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"Super Freak" is a 1981 hit single, written, produced, and performed by Rick James for the Motown label. The song, which reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, is today one of James' signature songs. It features background vocals from Motown labelmates The Temptations, in which the bass singer is James' uncle Melvin Franklin, and Canadian singer Taborah Johnson. The song was co-written by Alonzo Miller, and was first released on James' Street Songs album.
The song is well known by those who grew up in the late-1980s/early-1990s for being sampled by M.C. Hammer on his 1990 smash hit "U Can't Touch This". However, the "Rick James" segments featured on Chappelle's Show have brought the original song back into general familiarity. The title track of Jay-Z's comeback album Kingdom Come, features a sample from "Super Freak."
An instrumental version of the song was also heard in the 1992 movie Batman Returns, and the song plays a major part in the climax of the 2006 film Little Miss Sunshine. Australian Idol 4 finalist Bobby Flynn performed a unique and memorable version of the song. Most recently the track has featured in the soundtrack to the 2006 videogame Scarface: The World is Yours.
The Dave Matthews Band also paid homage to the recently deceased Rick James, segueing into "Super Freak," thrilling the fans, who sang along enthusiastically. [1]
[edit] Beatfreakz
The dance act Beatfreakz remade the song, using their magical band members in the video. It was released in October 2006 and charted at #37 in the Dutch Top 40.
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[edit] Audio sample
- Rick James - Super Freak (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- An excerpt from "Super Freak".
- Problems listening to the file? See media help.
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