Is “The Electric Slide” Song About a Sex Toy?

In 2019, a Facebook post divulged that the song “Electric Boogie (The Electric Slide)” is about a vibrator. The internet, needless to say, lost its ish via social media. As it does. However, there have since been sources claiming this is merely a myth, including the song’s writer himself. I’ll leave it up to you to decide if you believe if this is true or not. But, regardless, you’ll always end up in a line dance at your next family cookout. Let’s face it, it’s an iconic song and isn’t going anywhere, no matter what its inspiration.

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Bunny Wailer Denies His Song Is About A Vibrator

The songwriter is Neville Livingston aka Bunny Wailer, a founding member of The Wailers along with reggae legends Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. “The Electric Slide” was first recorded by Wailer’s life-long friend Marcia Griffiths in 1976. In 2018, the website Aazios claimed Wailer had been contacted at his home in Kingston, Jamaica and asked about the vibrator rumors, which he reportedly confirmed and answered “I’m surprised it took people this long to figure out.” However, after EDM magazine published the rumor, Wailer reached out directly to the site and gave quite a statement to edm.com:

“At no time have I ever lent credence to a rumor that the song was inspired by anything other than Eddie Grant’s “Electric Avenue.” To state otherwise is a falsehood and offends my legacy, the legacy of the singer Marcia Griffiths, and tarnishes the reputation of a song beloved by millions of fans the world over.”

No Matter Its Origin, The Electric Slide Remains A Beloved Classic

 

“Tarnish” might be a bit of a strong word. Some of the lyrics, however, are a bit questionable given the contextual suspicion. After hearing it was about a vibrator, I did what anyone would do—I Googled the lyrics. With the rumor in-ear, some of the lyrics about the electric boogie and the party ride definitely seemed a bit more…let’s say electric. Take a look at the Electric Slide lyrics (and watch the video while you’re at it):

It’s electric!
You can’t see it (it’s electric!)
You gotta feel it (it’s electric!)
Ooh, it’s shakin’ (it’s electric!)

Jiggle-a-mesa-cara she’s a pumpin’ like a matic
She’s a movin’ like electric
She sure got the boogie

You gotta know it
(It’s electric
Boogie woogie, woogie!)
Now you can’t hold it
(It’s electric
Boogie woogie, woogie!)
You can’t resist it
(It’s electric
Boogie woogie, woogie)
You can’t do without it
(It’s electric
Boogie woogie, woogie)

I’ve got to move,
I’m going on a party ride
I’ve got to groove, groove, groove,
And from this music I just can’t hide

Are you comin’ with me?
Come let me take you on a party ride
And I’ll teach you, teach you, teach you
I’ll teach you the electric slide

So is it about a sex toy? Well, I’ll leave that up for you to decide. But, I say yes.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on July 10, 2019.

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