"Red Light Special" is TLC

TLC (band)

TLC is an American musical trio whose repertoire spanned R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, and new jack swing. Originally consisting of singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper-singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas it found success in the 1990s while also enduring a series of spats...

's second single from CrazySexyCool

CrazySexyCool

CrazySexyCool is the second studio album by American R&B group TLC, released by LaFace Records on November 15, 1994 in North America...

, their second album. The song peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100

Billboard 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 became their fifth top-ten single. It also reached #3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...

 chart. It was featured on the 2005 comedy film, The 40 Year Old Virgin

The 40-Year-Old Virgin

The 40-Year-Old Virgin is a 2005 American buddy comedy film about a middle-aged man's journey to finally have sex. The film was written and directed by Judd Apatow and co-written by its lead star, Steve Carell, though the film itself features a great deal of improvised dialogue...

.

The two guitar solos that are played were performed by Dwight Sills.

Music video

The music video was directed by Matthew Rolston

Matthew Rolston

Matthew Russell Rolston is an American photographer and music video director. Rolston is known for his signature lighting techniques and detailed approach to art direction and design, and has been repeatedly identified throughout his career with the revival and modern expression of Hollywood glamour...

 and is set in a brothel

Brothel

Brothels are business establishments where patrons can engage in sexual activities with prostitutes. Brothels are known under a variety of names, including bordello, cathouse, knocking shop, whorehouse, strumpet house, sporting house, house of ill repute, house of prostitution, and bawdy house...

. The male actors in the video are portrayed as prostitutes and Left-Eye

Lisa Lopes

Lisa Nicole Lopes better known by her stage name Left Eye, was an American rapper, singer, dancer, actress, television host, and songwriter...

 is dressed as a pimp

Pimp

A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...

.

A young Boris Kodjoe

Boris Kodjoe

Boris Frederic Cecil Tay-Natey Ofuatey-Kodjoe , better known as Boris Kodjoe, is an Austrian-born German actor and former fashion model who works primarily in the United States...

 is featured as one of the male prostitutes.

There are three versions of the music video, called "sexy", "sexier" and "sexiest" edits. One of the videos was considered to be a tad racy as in the unedited video, the guitarist pulls down Chilli's pants and underwear.

Track listing

1. "Red Light Special" (Radio Edit) - 4:40
2. "Red Light Special" (L.A.'s Flava Mix) - 4:28
3. "Red Light Special" (Album Version) - 5:02
4. "Red Light Special" (Gerald Hall Remix) - 5:09
5. "My Secret Enemy" - 5:36

1. "Red Light Special" (Radio Edit) - 4:40
2. "Red Light Special" (Alternate Radio Edit) - 4:31
3. "Red Light Special" (Album Version) - 5:02
4. "Red Light Special" (Album Instrumental) - 5:02

• 12" Vinyl

1. "Red Light Special" (L.A.'s Flava Mix - Extended Version)
2. "Red Light Special" (Album Version)
3. "Red Light Special" (Gerald Hall's Remix)
4. "Red Light Special" (Acappella)
5. "Red Light Special" (Instrumental)
6. "My Secret Enemy"

Peak positions

Chart (1995)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	2
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks	3
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales	9
U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40	1
U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream	11
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 ...	18

End of year charts

End of year chart (1995)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	28