"Wild Thing" is a song by American rapper Tone Lōc from his first studio album, Lōc-ed After Dark. The title is a reference to the phrase "doin' the wild thing," a euphemism for sex. According to producer Mario Caldato Jr., who engineered and mixed the song, producer Michael Ross was inspired by an utterance of Fab 5 Freddy "Come on baby let's do the wild thing" in Spike Lee's She's Gotta Have It, and asked Young MC to write the lyrics.

Released as the lead single from Lōc-ed After Dark, "Wild Thing" peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1989 and reached number one in New Zealand for two weeks that April. It eventually sold over two million copies in the United States, receiving a double-platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song inspired at least two parodies (the Gilligan's Island-themed "Isle Thing" by "Weird Al" Yankovic, which was Yankovic's first rap parody; and "Child King" by Christian band ApologetiX).

Sampling controversy The song uses an uncredited sample of Van Halen's "Jamie's Cryin'". Van Halen's management at the time asked for a flat fee (credited in some reports to be US$50,000) as payment to have the song sampled by Tone Lōc. Apparently, the sampling decision was made without consulting the band's original members (credited as co-authors of the song). They had no idea "Wild Thing" would become a major hit. A subsequent civil lawsuit was settled out of court, with Van Halen receiving US$280,000 as settlement payment.

Music video A music video directed by Tamra Davis was made for the song at a reported cost of $500, copying the style of Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love." Mini-skirted women play guitars next to Tone Lōc; the video was frequently shown on MTV. The leading lady in the video is played by actress Tracy Camilla Johns.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1989)PeakpositionCanada Top Singles (RPM)7Canada Dance (RPM)1Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)26US Billboard Hot 1002US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)1US Dance Club Play (Billboard)1US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)3US Hot Crossover 30 (Billboard)1US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)2

Year-end charts Chart (1989)PositionAustralia (ARIA)41Canada Top Singles (RPM)96Canada Dance (RPM)10Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)52Netherlands (Single Top 100)50New Zealand (RIANZ)3US Billboard Hot 10033US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)4US Dance Club Play (Billboard)31US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)9US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)26West Germany (Media Control)66

Certifications

Peaches remix

"Wild Thing (Peaches Remix)" is a version of Tone Lōc's "Wild Thing". The song features vocals by Tone Lōc and Peaches herself. This remix was made to celebrate Delicious Vinyl's 20th anniversary. It peaked at number four on the US Billboard Dance Singles Sales chart.

Music video The music video for "Wild Thing Remix" shows Peaches and Tone Lōc performing live at Avalon during the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Delicious Vinyl.

Charts Chart (2008)PeakpositionUS Dance Singles Sales (Billboard) 4

Uses in popular culture "Wild Thing" was used in the 1989 film Uncle Buck (starring John Candy) during the scene when the titular character goes to the school of his nephew and niece to talk to the principal.

In 1991, figure skater Tonya Harding used the track of "Wild Thing" in the last third of her free skate to win the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

In the 2000 film Bedazzled, the song is used when Brendan Fraser's character Elliot first meets the Devil, played by Liz Hurley.

In Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003), the song is used to soundtrack the scene in which Cameron Diaz's character Natalie rides a mechanical bull.

In Taxi (2004), Gisele Bündchen's character Vanessa is introduced by the song walking out of a building with her female henchmen as they prepare for another bank robbery.

The song was used in the trailer for the 2004 film Garfield: The Movie.

The song is also heard, in much-edited form, in the 2016 film The Angry Birds Movie.

In 1989, the song was used in the Season One episode of the TV series Midnight Caller entitled "The Fall". Also in 1989, the song was used in the pilot episode of Doogie Howser, M.D..

The song is briefly heard at a bar in the third chapter of the 2012 video game The Darkness II.

In 2012, Bob Sinclar and Snoop Dogg made an electro house cover.

References