Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)
Encyclopedia
"Gypsy Woman" (also released as "Gypsy Woman (La da dee la da da)") is a house music
song by American
singer Crystal Waters
. It was written by Neal Conway and Waters and is the first single from her 1991 debut album, Surprise
. The song includes the chorus of "La da dee, la da da" and a much-sampled organ refrain
that is similar to gospel music
.
Slant Magazine
ranked the song 48th in its 100 Greatest Dance Songs list, adding: ""Gypsy Woman" sets its portrait of a crusty, haphazardly made-up bag lady begging dementedly on street corners to the Basement Boys's unforgivingly brutish, mongoloid thump".
and at number two in the UK Singles Chart
, and it went to number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.
When the song was descending the charts, it appeared on the benefit album Red Hot + Dance
in a new incarnation mixed by Joey Negro
, who took the song into a new musical direction.
"Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)" was the highest-debuting single for a new act in the UK Singles Chart
at that time - its debut at 3 was later eclipsed by Gabrielle
's "Dreams
" entering at two, and then by Whigfield
's "Saturday Night" entering at 1.
on In Living Color
, where series regular Wayans portrayed Waters referencing TV shows. Wayans skewered the song's simple rhythm and melody by singing "Hey look, there's Fred and the Flintstones
/I got a song now, that's a song now/Yabba dabba doo, yabba dabba doo/Yabba dabba doo, yabba dabba doo...." The clip from the comedy show would sometimes show up mixed into Waters' own version at gay clubs with video screens.
The song is played in a fashion show at the end of the King of the Hill
episode "Husky Bobby".
"Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)" is also featured in the video game Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party
on the Wii
.
The song was sampled by Styles P
in 2004 on the song "Favorite Drug" from his album Time is Money, and later by T.I.
on his 2006 single "Why You Wanna
." At the end of the song "Bums" by Mr. Hyde and Necro
, there is a quick sample of Waters saying, "Homeless... She's Homeless."
In 2006, it was remix
ed by Sami Dee & Freddy Jones and re-released as "Gypsy Woman 2006 (La-Da-Dee)" on the record label Absolute Sound France. The 12-inch (30 cm) vinyl included two remixes, as well as the a cappella
vocal. The Big Room Anthem remix was featured on the 2007 Ministry of Sound
Annual.
In 2007 Montefiori Cocktail released an instrumental version of Gypsy Woman.
In summer 2008 Sam Sparro
recorded a cover of the song in London with his touring band. He had been performing the song in his live show during hit UK/European tour since the spring.
In January 2009 UK DJ Timmy Vegas released a song "Another Dimension
" with Bad Lay-Dee which contains the organ sample of "Gypsy Woman", as well as a sample from Beastie Boys
' Intergalactic
. The latter sample is routed through a vocoder
-like instrument, which is also driven by chords of the "Gypsy Woman" organ sample.
In February 2011 Japanese singer YU-A released a cover of "Gypsy Woman" on her album "2 Girls".
slimcase internation CD maxi
CD maxi single
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
song by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer Crystal Waters
Crystal Waters
Crystal Waters is an American dance music singer and songwriter.-Childhood and young adult life:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Waters is the daughter of Betty and Junior Waters, a famed jazz musician; her great aunt, Ethel Waters, was one of the first African-American vocalists to appear in...
. It was written by Neal Conway and Waters and is the first single from her 1991 debut album, Surprise
Surprise (Crystal Waters album)
-Chart positions:Album - Billboard -Singles:...
. The song includes the chorus of "La da dee, la da da" and a much-sampled organ refrain
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
that is similar to gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
.
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
ranked the song 48th in its 100 Greatest Dance Songs list, adding: ""Gypsy Woman" sets its portrait of a crusty, haphazardly made-up bag lady begging dementedly on street corners to the Basement Boys's unforgivingly brutish, mongoloid thump".
Chart performances
It peaked at number eight on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and at number two in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, and it went to number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.
When the song was descending the charts, it appeared on the benefit album Red Hot + Dance
Red Hot + Dance
Red Hot + Dance is an album produced by the Red Hot Organization, an organization dedicated to raising money and awareness to fight the onslaught of HIV/AIDS....
in a new incarnation mixed by Joey Negro
Joey Negro
Dave Lee is a British DJ and house music producer, also known by the stage name Joey Negro. Lee was born on the Isle of Wight. He has released music under a variety of pseudonyms, including the name Jakatta...
, who took the song into a new musical direction.
"Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)" was the highest-debuting single for a new act in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at that time - its debut at 3 was later eclipsed by Gabrielle
Gabrielle (singer)
Louisa Gabrielle Bobb is a multi-platinum selling, BRIT Award winning English singer, who records under the name Gabrielle. Gabrielle began her career temping during the day and singing for free in London clubs at night...
's "Dreams
Dreams (Gabrielle song)
"Dreams" is the debut single from Gabrielle. Written by Gabrielle and Tim Laws and produced by Richie Fermie, "Dreams" reached number one on the UK singles chart for three weeks in June 1993. The single entered the British charts at #2, which was the highest chart entry a debut act ever scored in...
" entering at two, and then by Whigfield
Whigfield
Sannie Charlotte Carlson , best known as Whigfield and also as Naan, is a Danish singer best known for the song "Saturday Night", a hugely popular single during the summer of 1994.-Biography:...
's "Saturday Night" entering at 1.
In the media
In 1991, the song was spoofed in the memorable sketch "My Songs Are Mindless" performed by Kim WayansKim Wayans
Kim Wayans is an American actress, comedian, producer, writer and director. She is also a member of the Wayans family.-Early life:...
on In Living Color
In Living Color
In Living Color is an American sketch comedy television series, which originally ran on the Fox Network from April 15, 1990 to May 19, 1994. Brothers Keenen and Damon Wayans created, wrote, and starred in the program. The show was produced by Ivory Way Productions in association with 20th Century...
, where series regular Wayans portrayed Waters referencing TV shows. Wayans skewered the song's simple rhythm and melody by singing "Hey look, there's Fred and the Flintstones
The Flintstones
The Flintstones is an animated, prime-time American television sitcom that screened from September 30, 1960 to April 1, 1966, on ABC. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, The Flintstones was about a working class Stone Age man's life with his family and his next-door neighbor and best friend. It...
/I got a song now, that's a song now/Yabba dabba doo, yabba dabba doo/Yabba dabba doo, yabba dabba doo...." The clip from the comedy show would sometimes show up mixed into Waters' own version at gay clubs with video screens.
The song is played in a fashion show at the end of the King of the Hill
King of the Hill
King of the Hill is an American animated dramedy series created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, that ran from January 12, 1997, to May 6, 2010, on Fox network. It centers on the Hills, a working-class Methodist family in the fictional small town of Arlen, Texas...
episode "Husky Bobby".
"Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)" is also featured in the video game Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party
Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party
Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party, known as Dancing Stage Hottest Party in the European and Oceanic regions, is a video game released by Konami in and to several countries for the Wii console. Konami took the game beyond the traditional setup of Dance Dance Revolution by incorporating the Wii...
on the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
.
Cover versions, samples and remixes
Drum & Bass producer DJ Ron sampled and remixed in the track called "La Da Dee" on the La Da Dee single in 2003.The song was sampled by Styles P
Styles P
David Styles better known by his stage name, Styles P, is an American rapper, author, and entrepreneur. He is prominently known as a member of Hip Hop group The LOX and is also a part of the Ruff Ryders hip-hop group, and in addition has released multiple albums and mixtapes as a solo...
in 2004 on the song "Favorite Drug" from his album Time is Money, and later by T.I.
T.I.
Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. , better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rap artist, film and music producer, actor and author. He is also the founder and co-chief executive officer of Grand Hustle Records....
on his 2006 single "Why You Wanna
Why You Wanna
"Why You Wanna" is the second official single from American rapper T.I. from his fourth album King. It was released in 2006. It samples a slowed down keyboard chord from Crystal Waters' "Gypsy Woman ". The chorus also interpolates Q-Tip's vocals from Got 'Til It's Gone with Janet Jackson and Find a...
." At the end of the song "Bums" by Mr. Hyde and Necro
Necro
Ron Raphael Braunstein , better known under his stage-name Necro, is a Jewish-American rapper, producer and director from Brooklyn, New York...
, there is a quick sample of Waters saying, "Homeless... She's Homeless."
In 2006, it was remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed by Sami Dee & Freddy Jones and re-released as "Gypsy Woman 2006 (La-Da-Dee)" on the record label Absolute Sound France. The 12-inch (30 cm) vinyl included two remixes, as well as the a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
vocal. The Big Room Anthem remix was featured on the 2007 Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound London, commonly referred to as simply Ministry of Sound or MoS, is a nightclub based in London, United Kingdom and an associated record label. It was ranked fourth in the 2010 DJ Magazine top 100 clubs poll 2010. As well as the nightclub in London, there is another in Egypt and...
Annual.
In 2007 Montefiori Cocktail released an instrumental version of Gypsy Woman.
In summer 2008 Sam Sparro
Sam Sparro
Sam Sparro is an Australian singer-songwriter, music producer, and former child actor. His stage name was derived from a family nickname, which in turn was inspired by the Dagenham radio mascot Sammy Sparrow...
recorded a cover of the song in London with his touring band. He had been performing the song in his live show during hit UK/European tour since the spring.
In January 2009 UK DJ Timmy Vegas released a song "Another Dimension
Another Dimension (Timmy Vegas song)
"Another Dimension" is a song by UK DJ and producer Timmy Vegas and rapper Bad Lay-Dee, released by UK electronic music record label Eye Industries on CD single and on 45 rpm 12" single .-Production credits:...
" with Bad Lay-Dee which contains the organ sample of "Gypsy Woman", as well as a sample from Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
' Intergalactic
Intergalactic (song)
"Intergalactic" is a Grammy-winning song by American hip-hop group the Beastie Boys, released as the first single from their fifth studio album Hello Nasty on May 12, 1998....
. The latter sample is routed through a vocoder
Vocoder
A vocoder is an analysis/synthesis system, mostly used for speech. In the encoder, the input is passed through a multiband filter, each band is passed through an envelope follower, and the control signals from the envelope followers are communicated to the decoder...
-like instrument, which is also driven by chords of the "Gypsy Woman" organ sample.
In February 2011 Japanese singer YU-A released a cover of "Gypsy Woman" on her album "2 Girls".
Track listings
CD single- "Gypsy Woman" (strip to the bone edit) — 3:42
- "Gypsy Woman" (hump instrumental mix) — 4:53
slimcase internation CD maxi
- "Gypsy Woman" (strip to the bone edit) — 3:53
- "Gypsy Woman" (basement boy strip to the bone mix) — 7:31
- "Gypsy Woman" (hump instrumental mix) — 4:50
CD maxi single
- Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless) (Strip To The Bone Radio Edit) - 3:42
- Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless) (Basement Boy "Strip To The Bone" Mix) - 7:26
- Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless) (Red Bone Club Mix) - 7:08
- Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless) (Hump Instrumental Mix) - 4:53
- Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless) ("Give It Up" Vocal Mix) - 8:07
- Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless) (Give It Up Bonus Beats) - 2:43
- Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless) (Original Demo Mix) - 7:00
- Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless) (Acapella) - 2:37
Peak positions
| Charts (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... Singles Chart |
11 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 3 |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
1 |
| Eurochart Hot 100 | 1 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 11 |
| German Singles Chart | 2 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 3 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 1 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart | 50 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 8 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 1 |
| UK Singles Chart | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 8 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | 25 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1991) | Position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart | 23 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 21 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 11 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Silver | May 1, 1991 | 200,000 |
| U.S. | Gold | June 24, 1991 | 500,000 |