"Shake Your Head" is a song by American pop rock group Was (Not Was). It was originally released in 1983 by Geffen Records on their second album, Born to Laugh at Tornadoes (1983), with Ozzy Osbourne on vocals. A 1992 re-recording, remixed by house music producer Steve "Silk" Hurley, with actress Kim Basinger and a re-recorded Osbourne on vocals, was released as a single and on the group's third compilation album, Hello Dad... I'm in Jail (1992).
Background
The original version features Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne on lead vocals. Madonna had auditioned for the vocal but was not used on the final release.
In 1992, it was re-recorded and remixed by house music producer Steve "Silk" Hurley, and features actress Kim Basinger alongside a re-recorded Ozzy Osbourne on vocals. It appeared on the group's compilation album Hello Dad... I'm in Jail.
The original plan for the re-release was to restore Madonna's vocals to the track, but she refused to grant permission, hence Basinger was approached instead. However, Madonna's restored vocals were accidentally released on two occasions. A full Madonna vocal appears on the two-LP and double-cassette formats of compilation release Now Dance 92, entitled the 12-inch mix. The CD format of this compilation includes the regular 7-inch mix, however. The 12-inch and CD single formats of Was (Not Was)'s follow-up single, "Somewhere in America (There's a Street Named after My Dad)", includes a Dub Mix of "Shake Your Head" which uses several of Madonna's vocals. Although the song did not chart in the US, it was the band's biggest commercial success in the United Kingdom, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart.
There are several versions of the 1992 remake: The 3:48 single version starts with Ozzy Osbourne singing "You can't feed the hungry, you can't talk Shakespeare to a monkey..." The 4:00 album version starts with Kim Basinger singing "You can't argue with death. You can't break a burly sailor's neck...". There is also a Steve "Silk" Hurley 12-inch mix and a 12-inch dub.
While the song's verses list things that cannot be done (some are outlandish, some can be done, but have a high amount of difficulty), the chorus rects with the advice to "Shake your head" and "Let's go to bed".
Track listings 7-inch and cassette single "Shake Your Head" – 3:42 "I Blew Up the United States" – 3:51
12-inch single A1. "Shake Your Head" – 6:49 A2. "I Blew Up the United States" – 3:51 B1. "Listen Like Thieves" (Giant club mix) B2. "Listen Like Thieves" (Vandal dub)
CD single "Shake Your Head" "Spy in the House of Love" "I Blew Up the United States" "Robot Girl"
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1992)PeakpositionEurope (Eurochart Hot 100) 20Europe (European Dance Radio) 5Portugal (AFP) 3UK Airplay (Music Week) 2UK Dance (Music Week) 15UK Club Chart (Music Week) 15
Year-end chart Chart (1992)PositionEurope (European Dance Radio)25UK Singles (OCC)44UK Airplay (Music Week)25
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United KingdomJune 29, 1992FontanaAustraliaAugust 24, 1992
Other versions In 2003, Dutch-German pop singer C. C. Catch released a version of the song that reached number 12 on the Spanish Singles Chart.
References