Murder She Wrote (song)

"Murder She Wrote"
Single by Chaka Demus & Pliers
from the album Tease Me
Released1992
Studio
Genre
Length4:04
LabelMango, Taxi
Songwriter(s)John Taylor, Everton Bonner, Lloyd "Gitsy" Willis, Sly Dunbar
Producer(s)Sly & Robbie, Lloyd "Gitsy" Willis
Chaka Demus & Pliers UK singles chronology
"Twist and Shout"
(1993) 		"Murder She Wrote"
(1993) 		"I Wanna Be Your Man"
(1994)

"Murder She Wrote" is a song by Jamaican reggae duo Chaka Demus & Pliers, from their 1993 album Tease Me. It was first released as a single in 1992 and again in late 1993, reaching number 27 on the UK Singles Chart in early 1994,[3] and number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100, spending 17 weeks there. The song was certified gold in the UK in 2022.[4] The music to the song is based on the Maytals' 1966 song "Bam Bam", while the lyrics discuss abortion (as revealed in the third verse).[5]

The song became a staple for weddings, BBQs, and clubs[2] and has been called one of the best and most important dancehall tracks of all time.[6][7] The tag team effort of call and response verses with melodic choruses introduced a new format of toasting from Jamaica, influencing pan-Caribbean culture[8] and crossing over globally. It went on to impact other stars of the genre like Shaggy[9] and Sean 'YoungPow' Diedrick.[10]

Sampling wise, the song was included in Billboard's list of the "Best Song Interpolations of the 21st Century", having been interpolated in Omarion's "Post to Be",[11] and in XXL's list of "20 of the Most Iconic Reggae Samples in Hip-Hop", being sampled in French Montana's "Freaks".[12] The song was also interpolated in Pitbull's "El Taxi",[13] in Jason Derulo's "Too Hot",[2] and in the remix version of Black Eyed Peas' "Ritmo" featuring Jaden Smith, as well as having been sampled and interpolated in many other songs.[14]

  1. ^ ""I'm thrilled!": Angela Lansbury has finally heard Chaka Demus & Pliers' 'Murder She Wrote'". NME. 1 October 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Gracie, Bianca (23 September 2020). "'Murder She Wrote': The Story Behind Chaka Demus & Pliers' Anthem".
  3. ^ "CHAKA DEMUS & PLIERS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
  4. ^ "Chaka Demus & Pliers' 'Murder She Wrote' Certified Gold In The UK". June 8, 2022.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference JDG was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "The 100 most important dancehall tracks of all time". DJMag.com. November 3, 2021.
  7. ^ "The 50 Best Dancehall Songs of All Time - Page 5". Pitchfork.
  8. ^ "25 Songs That Tell Us Where Music is Going". The New York Times. 10 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Shaggy's Top Reggae Tracks". July 9, 2015.
  10. ^ "Producer YoungPow's List of 5 of the most ICONIC Reggae/Dancehall Songs". Red Bull.
  11. ^ Billboard Staff (October 28, 2021). "The 50 Best Song Interpolations of the 21st Century: Staff Picks". Billboard.
  12. ^ XXL Staff. "20 of the Most Iconic Reggae Samples in Hip-Hop". XXL Mag.
  13. ^ "Pitbull bites into a dancehall classic". Jamaica Observer. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  14. ^ "The story behind 'Murder She Wrote'". Loop News. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2018.