Legal Tender (song)

"Legal Tender"
Single by the B-52s
from the album Whammy!
B-side"Moon 83"
Released1983
Recorded1982
StudioCompass Point (Nassau)
Genre
Length3:40
LabelWarner Bros.
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Robert Waldrop
Producer(s)Steven Stanley
The B-52s singles chronology
"Give Me Back My Man"
(1980) 		"Legal Tender"
(1983) 		"Whammy Kiss"
(1983)
Music video
"Legal Tender" on YouTube

"Legal Tender" is the first single released by American new wave band the B-52s from their third studio album Whammy! (1983).

Description

The lyrics of "Legal Tender" tell a story about printing counterfeit American currency, in which the protagonist outfits a basement with "jelly jars" and "heavy equipment", and learns to print money due to inflation and rising prices. A companion music video was produced featuring Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson, in wigs of many shapes and colors.

"Legal Tender" is an upbeat, synthesizer-based track with a drum machine and hand-clap rhythm. The lead vocals are shared by Pierson and Wilson. The song appears as the opening track on the band's third studio album, Whammy! (1983), signifying that the band had altered their sound quite significantly for the record.

"Legal Tender" was performed live during the Whammy! tour, with Keith Strickland on synthesizer, and horn parts added. The band has also performed the song on various occasions throughout the years.

Chart performance

The single was the band's third Billboard Hot 100 chart entry, peaking at #81. The song also reached #9 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart, along with album tracks "Whammy Kiss" and "Song for a Future Generation."

The song was a 1984 airplay and club hit in Brazil, and was included in the band's performance at the 1985 Rock in Rio festival. When the band toured Brazil in 2009, omitting the song from the live set, fans chanted for them to play it.[4] Because of the song's popularity in Brazil, it appeared on the Brazilian version of Time Capsule: Songs for a Future Generation, on which it replaced "52 Girls". It is also featured on the group’s Nude on the Moon (2002) compilation album.

Chart positions

Chart (1983) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[5] 81
U.S. Cashbox Top 100 81
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[6] 9

References

  1. ^ Sheffield, Rob (February 24, 2023). "The 100 Best Songs of 1983, the Year Pop Went Crazy". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 4, 2023. Pierson and Wilson sing about counterfeiting cash in the basement, using it as a feminist metaphor for outsmarting the patriarchy. (New Wave girls love to sing about stealing.)
  2. ^ Naftule, Ashley (August 13, 2019). "Seven Songs to Get You Into The B-52s". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  3. ^ Molanphy, Chris (June 29, 2018). "The Deadbeat Club Edition, Part 1". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  4. ^ "B-52s - Shiny Happy People", SameSame, Interview with Kate Pierson, by Christian Taylor. July 27, 2009 Archived July 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 79.
  6. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 34.