Shake Your Head

Background

The original version features Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne on lead vocals. Madonna had auditioned for the vocal but was not used on the final release.

In 1992, it was re-recorded and remixed by house music producer Steve "Silk" Hurley, and features actress Kim Basinger alongside a re-recorded Ozzy Osbourne on vocals. It appeared on the group's compilation album Hello Dad... I'm in Jail.

The original plan for the re-release was to restore Madonna's vocals to the track, but she refused to grant permission, hence Basinger was approached instead. However, Madonna's restored vocals were accidentally released on two occasions. A full Madonna vocal appears on the two-LP and double-cassette formats of compilation release Now Dance 92, entitled the 12-inch mix. The CD format of this compilation includes the regular 7-inch mix, however. The 12-inch and CD single formats of Was (Not Was)'s follow-up single, "Somewhere in America (There's a Street Named after My Dad)", includes a Dub Mix of "Shake Your Head" which uses several of Madonna's vocals. Although the song did not chart in the US, it was the band's biggest commercial success across the Atlantic, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart.

There are several versions of the 1992 remake:

• The 3:48 single version starts with Ozzy Osbourne singing "You can't feed the hungry, you can't talk Shakespeare to a monkey..."
• The 4:00 album version starts with Kim Basinger singing "You can't argue with death. You can't break a burly sailor's neck...". There is also a Steve "Silk" Hurley 12-inch mix and a 12-inch dub.

While the song's verses list things that cannot be done (some are outlandish, some can be done, but have a high amount of difficulty), the chorus rects with the advice to "Shake your head" and "Let's go to bed".

Track listings

• 7-inch and cassette single

1. "Shake Your Head" – 3:42
2. "I Blew Up the United States" – 3:51

• 12-inch single :A1. "Shake Your Head" – 6:49 :A2. "I Blew Up the United States" – 3:51 :B1. "Listen Like Thieves" (Giant club mix) :B2. "Listen Like Thieves" (Vandal dub)

• CD single

1. "Shake Your Head"
2. "Spy in the House of Love"
3. "I Blew Up the United States"
4. "Robot Girl"

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end chart

Release history

Other versions

In 2003, Dutch-German pop singer C. C. Catch released a version of the song that reached number 12 on the Spanish Singles Chart.

References

References

1. (1992). "Shake Your Head". [[Fontana Records]].
2. (1992). "Shake Your Head". Fontana Records.
3. (1992). "Shake Your Head". Fontana Records.
4. (1992). "Shake Your Head". Fontana Records.
5. (August 15, 1992). "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles".
6. (September 19, 1992). "European Dance Radio".
7. (October 17, 1992). "Top 10 Sales in Europe".
8. (August 1, 1992). "Top 50 Airplay Chart".
9. (July 11, 1992). "Top 60 Dance Singles".
10. (July 4, 1992). "The Record Mirror Club Chart".
11. (December 19, 1992). "1992 Year-End Airplay Charts: European Dance Radio".
12. (January 16, 1993). "Year End Charts: Top Singles".
13. (January 9, 1993). "1992 Airplay Chart".
14. (June 27, 1992). "New Releases: Singles".
15. (August 23, 1992). "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 24/08/92: Singles".
16. "C.C. Catch – Shake Your Head 2003".