Sidewalk Talk
"Sidewalk Talk" is a song by American record producer John "Jellybean" Benitez from his first extended play, Wotupski!?! (1984). It was released on October 21, 1984, by EMI Records as the first single from the EP. The song was written by Madonna and produced by Benitez. They had initially met in 1983 and Benitez worked as a producer on Madonna's self-titled debut album. When he started work on his debut EP, Wotupski!?!, Madonna wrote "Sidewalk Talk" for him. The song features bass and electric guitars, synthesizers, piano, and drums. Lead vocals are by Catherine Buchanan with additional chorus vocals by Madonna.
"Sidewalk Talk"
"The Mexican"
October 21, 1984
1984
3:57 (single)
6:06 (album version)
"Sidewalk Talk" received mixed reviews from critics, with David Nick Ybarra questioning Buchanan's credit as lead vocalist, instead of the better-known Madonna. The song was released initially in 12-inch promotional format to club DJs, and reached the top of the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart. It was later released commercially in 7-inch and 12-inch formats, and charted on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also had minor chart placements in the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Background and composition[edit]
In 1983, Madonna met John "Jellybean" Benitez, who worked as a DJ at the Funhouse club in lower Manhattan. Soon, they started dating and working on her self-titled debut album.[1][2] When Benitez started work on his debut EP, Wotupski!?!, he asked Madonna to write a song for him.[3] Within two days Madonna wrote "Sidewalk Talk", whose idea she had initially thought of using on her debut album.[4] According to Benitez, Wotupski!?! was a concept album: "It's a street slang in the Bronx. It means 'what's up, what's new?'"[5] The artist credit of the song was simply Jellybean, with lead vocals credited to Catherine Buchanan. Madonna provided background vocals for the track with Audrey Wheeler and Cindy Mizelle. Benitez produced the track as well as arranging and mixing it. Michael Hutchinson assisted on engineering, recording, and mixing. Producer Stephen Bray also arranged "Sidewalk Talk" with Benitez. Instrumentation featured in the track included bass guitar by Marcus Miller, synthesizer by Boyd Jarvis, Fred Zarr, and Bray, electric guitar by Ira Siegel, percussion by Bashiri Johnson and Trevor Gale, and drum programming by Benitez and Bray.[6]
Chart performance[edit]
"Sidewalk Talk" debuted at number 48 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart for the issue dated December 22, 1984.[16] After five weeks, it reached the top of the chart, replacing Nuance's song, "Loveride".[17] In an article published in Billboard, Chin noted that "Sidewalk Talk" was an unusual song to reach the top of the dance chart, since it was not released till then in commercially available 7-inch or 12-inch forms. The song was only serviced in remix form to the clubs. Chin added that the song's "emergence without a hard copy, so to speak, is highly uncharacteristic of a market, in which the 'commercial twelve' is a given for a long-show pop record." The song harkened back to the time when remix forms were not available except for club promotions.[18] "Sidewalk Talk" ranked at number 20 on the year end tabulation of the Top Dance Club Songs for 1985.[19] The song was released in 7-inch and 12-inch formats after eight months and entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 80 on the issue dated November 16, 1985.[20] After twelve weeks, it reached a peak of number 18 on the chart.[21] Its final appearance on the chart was on the week ending March 15, 1986.[22] On the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, "Sidewalk Talk" reached a peak of number 51, and was present for a total of nine weeks.[23]
"Sidewalk Talk" also charted in the United Kingdom, where it was credited as "Jellybean featuring Catherine Buchanan". It reached a peak of number 47 on the UK Singles Chart on the issue dated February 1, 1986, and was present for a total of four weeks.[24] On the Netherlands Single Top 100, it reached a peak of No. 31, while on the Top 40 comprehensive chart, it peaked inside the top-ten at number six.[25][26] "Sidewalk Talk" also debuted at peaked at number 34 on the Official New Zealand Music Chart.[27]