Rod Stewart, “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 59^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?”  by Rod Stewart. 

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he vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 59^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?”, performed by 🎙 Rod Stewart.

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Theme & Lyrics ✍ 

“Sugar, sugar / Ooh.” Indeed! In the 1970s, disco was inescapable. I can remember in the sixth grade professing my love of the style – probably not the coolest thing a middle schooler has ever done.  I’M DIFFERENT, dang it! Regardless, it’s true to this day that I ❤ the style and era of music.  Musicians who weren’t disco musicians were performing disco for good reason – it had a dominant run.  It died, sure, but it had a dominant run! 🎙 Rod Stewart certainly wasn’t a disco artist, but one of his biggest hits embodies it: 🎵 “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?”

“Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” from his 1978 album, 💿 Blondes Have More Fun, marked a departure for Rod.  Expectedly, some liked it and others loathed it.   Compared to his discography, it is pop to the core.  It’s not  🎵 “Hot Legs” nor “You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)” (Foot Loose & Fancy Free, released just the prior year, 1977). Of course, let’s not forget, later in his career, Stewart would cover traditional pop standards – truly about-face.  While the lyrics aren’t deep, “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” does have a story beyond the electrifying danceable instrument and silly title.  Is that story distinct? Well, no. Many men and women have partaken of the experience, honestly.  Shy guy meets lonely girl in the club, they go back to his place (“They catch a cab to his high-rise apartment /, At last, he can tell her exactly what his heart meant”), they have sex (“They wake at dawn ‘cause all the birds are singing / Two total strangers but that ain’t what they’re thinking”) – yeah,  you get the picture.  Still, even if the substance is missing, this record is irresistible and has stood the test of time, maybe surprisingly.  The chorus is golden:

“If you want my body and you think I’m sexy

Come on sugar, let me know

If you really need me, just reach out and touch me

Come on honey tell me so

Tell me so, baby.”

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Final Thoughts 💭 

🎵 “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” wasn’t without its skeptics and detractors.  Still, despite the criticism and accidental plagiarism, Rod Stewart ultimately got the last laugh.  “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” stayed no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks because of course it did, “SUGAR, SUGAR!”

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🎙 Rod Stewart • 💿 Blondes Have More Fun • 🏷 WEA Records B.V. • 🗓 1978

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Rod Stewart, “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 59 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  The Musical Hype, WEA Records B.V]

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