Ring My Bell
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
"Ring My Bell" is a popular disco song by Anita Ward. Released in 1979, it was Ward's only major hit. The song hit number one on the disco charts.
"Ring My Bell" has been covered by many artists since its original release, including Ann Lee, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Tori Amos, Blood Sisters, Dynamic Duo, D'Flow Production Squad, Collette, Saïan Supa Crew, INOJ, Pato Fu and Joey Boy. It has also been remixed many times over and is considered a disco-era classic.
Composition
The song is noted for its innovative use of the Synare electronic drum, playing a decaying high-pitched tom tone on every fourth beat. It also uses chimes. The lyrics concern a woman encouraging her partner to relax with her after a hard day at work.
The lyric "You can ring my bell" was seen as sexually suggestive according to The Slanguage of Sex (1984), "'You can ring my bell any time you want to' would be regarded as a 'come-on' phrase in the US if used by a female," and "Songs like 'Ring My Bell' by Anita Ward caused scarcely a raised eyebrow in the 70s." Billboard magazine included the song on its list of the 50 sexiest songs of all time. Knight, however, said that he deliberately avoided any overly suggestive lyrics, wanting to project a clean-cut image for Ward.
