You Dropped a Bomb on Me
"You Dropped a Bomb on Me" is a funk song performed by the Gap Band, released in 1982 on producer Lonnie Simmons's label, Total Experience Records. In addition to the single release, the song was featured on the band's 1982 album Gap Band IV.
| "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 A-side label of U.S. 12-inch vinyl release | ||||
| Single by The Gap Band | ||||
| from the album Gap Band IV | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | August 1982 | |||
| Recorded | 1982 | |||
| Genre | Synth-funk, post-disco[1] | |||
| Length | 4:05 (single version) 5:13 (12" single edit) 13:07 (special disco mix) | |||
| Label | Total Experience | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Lonnie Simmons, Rudy Taylor, Charlie Wilson | |||
| Producer(s) | Lonnie Simmons | |||
| The Gap Band singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Song information
A notable feature of the song is its use of a synthesizer to imitate the whistling sound, as well as an exploding sound of a bomb being dropped. This is first heard immediately before the first verse, and throughout the song from the fourth chorus onward. The song also features timpani drum rolls.
In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, the song was one of those named on the 2001 Clear Channel memorandum of "lyrically questionable" songs.[2]
Chart positions and performance
It reached No. 2 on the Billboard R&B charts, No. 39 on the dance charts, and No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3]
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Dance Club Songs | 39 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 31 |
| US Billboard Hot Black Singles | 2 |
In popular culture
- The song is featured in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on the radio Bounce FM.
- The song is featured in a Walmart Christmas holiday television commercial that started airing in October 2017.[4]
- The song is frequently played at sporting events. For example, it is played at San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, and Miami Marlins home games when a player from the home team hits a home run.
References
- Terich, Jeff; Blyweiss, Adam (August 27, 2015). "10 Essential Synth-Funk tracks". Treble. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
- Foege, Alec (14 April 2009). Right of the Dial: The Rise of Clear Channel and the Fall of Commercial Radio. Faber & Faber. p. 164. ISBN 978-1-4299-2367-5.
- "The Gap Band > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-03-16.
- "Walmart TV Commercial, 'Standing Ovation' Song by The Gap Band". iSpot.tv. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
External links
- You Dropped a Bomb on Me music video from The Gap Band's Vevo page