She's a Beauty
Encyclopedia
"She's a Beauty" is a song by American rock band The Tubes
. Released in 1983
on The Tubes' album Outside Inside
from Capitol Records
, the song became the band's biggest hit. It went to number 10 on the Billboard U.S. Hot 100
list, and number 1 on the Billboard U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks list which charts the frequency of songs played on mainstream rock stations.
"She's a Beauty" is Track 1 on Side 1 of the Outside Inside LP, on which it runs 4:01 minutes long. It is Side A on the single; the B-side is a non-album track "When You're Ready to Come".
that became a staple of then-fledgling MTV
. This video was directed by the choreographer of The Tubes' famous stage shows, Kenny Ortega
, who has since gone on to great success choreographing movies such as Dirty Dancing
and Ferris Bueller's Day Off
, and as a director with High School Musical
and its sequels.
In the video, The Tubes' lead singer Fee Waybill
plays a carnival barker who extols a crowd with the virtues of a sideshow
attraction:
He takes money from a young boy who then rides a carnival car through hallucinogenic scenes of a mermaid, female trapeze artist, prehistoric women dressed in furs, and others. The recurring theme is that he is attracted but is unable to reach them. At the end of the video we see the boy exiting the ride aged to an old man, the message apparently being the financial and emotional cost of falling in love with a stripper, prostitute or other type of sex worker.
The role of the young boy was the first acting job for 12-year-old Robert Arquette, who later became Alexis Arquette
.
and Steve Lukather
. Waybill says the song was originally inspired when he passed a booth on a San Francisco street outside a massage parlor
, the booth being marked with a sign reading "Talk to a Naked Woman for a Dollar", and the frustrating conversation that ensued between him and the woman inside the booth. Thus the lines in the song, "She'll give you every penny's worth/but it will cost you a dollar first."
The Tubes
The Tubes are a San Francisco-based rock band, whose 1975 debut album included the hit single, "White Punks on Dope". During its first fifteen years or so, the band's live performances combined quasi-pornography with wild satires of media, consumerism, and politics...
. Released in 1983
1983 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1983.-January-April:*January – ZTT Records is founded.*January 8 – The UK singles chart is tabulated from this week forward by The Gallup Organization...
on The Tubes' album Outside Inside
Outside Inside
Outside Inside is a 1983 release on Capitol Records by The Tubes. The album was produced by David Foster. The Tubes had their biggest radio hit with the single "She's a Beauty" ....
from Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, the song became the band's biggest hit. It went to number 10 on the Billboard U.S. Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
list, and number 1 on the Billboard U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks list which charts the frequency of songs played on mainstream rock stations.
"She's a Beauty" is Track 1 on Side 1 of the Outside Inside LP, on which it runs 4:01 minutes long. It is Side A on the single; the B-side is a non-album track "When You're Ready to Come".
Music video
The popularity of "She's a Beauty" was largely driven by a very inventive, provocative music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
that became a staple of then-fledgling MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. This video was directed by the choreographer of The Tubes' famous stage shows, Kenny Ortega
Kenny Ortega
Kenneth John "Kenny" Ortega is an American producer, director, and choreographer. He is known for directing the High School Musical trilogy and Michael Jackson's This Is It concert tour.-Life and career:...
, who has since gone on to great success choreographing movies such as Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing is a 1987 American romantic film. Written by Eleanor Bergstein and directed by Emile Ardolino, the film features Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in the lead roles, as well as Cynthia Rhodes and Jerry Orbach...
and Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a 1986 American teen coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by John Hughes.The film follows high school senior Ferris Bueller , who decides to skip school and spend the day in downtown Chicago...
, and as a director with High School Musical
High School Musical
High School Musical is a 2006 American television film, first in the High School Musical film franchise. Upon its release on January 20, 2006, it became the most successful film that Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced, with a television sequel High School Musical 2 released in 2007 and...
and its sequels.
In the video, The Tubes' lead singer Fee Waybill
Fee Waybill
John Waldo Waybill , known as Fee Waybill, is the lead singer and songwriter of the band the Tubes...
plays a carnival barker who extols a crowd with the virtues of a sideshow
Sideshow
In America, a sideshow is an extra, secondary production associated with a circus, carnival, fair or other such attraction.- Types of attractions :There are four main types of classic sideshow attractions:...
attraction:
- Step right up and don't be shy
- Because you will not believe your eyes
- She's right here behind the glass
- And you're gonna like her
- 'Cause she's got class.
He takes money from a young boy who then rides a carnival car through hallucinogenic scenes of a mermaid, female trapeze artist, prehistoric women dressed in furs, and others. The recurring theme is that he is attracted but is unable to reach them. At the end of the video we see the boy exiting the ride aged to an old man, the message apparently being the financial and emotional cost of falling in love with a stripper, prostitute or other type of sex worker.
The role of the young boy was the first acting job for 12-year-old Robert Arquette, who later became Alexis Arquette
Alexis Arquette
Alexis Arquette is an American trans woman, actress, musician, and cabaret performer.-Early life:...
.
Inspiration
"She's a Beauty" was co-written by Fee Waybill, producer David FosterDavid Foster
David Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
and Steve Lukather
Steve Lukather
Steve "Luke" Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer best known for his work with the rock band Toto. Lukather has played with many artists, released several solo albums, and worked as a composer, arranger, and session guitarist on more than 1,500 albums...
. Waybill says the song was originally inspired when he passed a booth on a San Francisco street outside a massage parlor
Massage parlor
A massage parlor is a business where customers can receive a massage. Sometimes the term is synonymous with brothel as the term "massage" may be used as a euphemism for paid sexual favours....
, the booth being marked with a sign reading "Talk to a Naked Woman for a Dollar", and the frustrating conversation that ensued between him and the woman inside the booth. Thus the lines in the song, "She'll give you every penny's worth/but it will cost you a dollar first."
See also
- List of number-one mainstream rock hits (United States)