Red Light Special

"Red Light Special"
Single by TLC
from the album CrazySexyCool
B-side	"My Secret Enemy"
Released	February 21, 1995
Format	CD
Recorded	August 1994 Music Grinder Studios (Los Angeles, California)[1]
Genre	R&B, soul, quiet storm, pop
Length	5:04
Label	LaFace, Arista
Writer(s)	Babyface
Producer(s)	Babyface
Certification	RIAA: Gold
TLC singles chronology
"Creep" (1994) "Red Light Special" (1995) "Waterfalls" (1995)
CrazySexyCool track listing "CrazySexyCool - Interlude" (6) "Red Light Special" (7) "Waterfalls" (8)

"Red Light Special" is the second single released by TLC from the album CrazySexyCool. The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, being held back from the top position by Montell Jordan's "This Is How We Do It", and became their fifth top-ten single. It also reached #3 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Music video

The music video was directed by Matthew Rolston and is set in a brothel. The male actors in the video are portrayed as prostitutes and Left-Eye is dressed as a pimp while Chilli & T-Boz portray customers who part take in a game of strip poker. A young Boris Kodjoe is featured as one of the male prostitutes. T-boz is seen being caressed by a man in a room. Chilli is seen dancing with the guitar player. There are also black and white solo shots of the girls singing.

Track listing

• CD1

1. "Red Light Special" (Radio Edit) - 4:40
2. "Red Light Special" (L.A.'s Flava Mix) - 4:28
3. "Red Light Special" (Album Version) - 5:02
4. "Red Light Special" (Gerald Hall Remix) - 5:09
5. "My Secret Enemy" - 5:36

• CD2

1. "Red Light Special" (Radio Edit) - 4:40
2. "Red Light Special" (Alternate Radio Edit) - 4:31
3. "Red Light Special" (Album Version) - 5:02
4. "Red Light Special" (Album Instrumental) - 5:02

• 12" Vinyl

1. "Red Light Special" (L.A.'s Flava Mix - Extended Version)
2. "Red Light Special" (Album Version)
3. "Red Light Special" (Gerald Hall's Remix)
4. "Red Light Special" (Acappella)
5. "Red Light Special" (Instrumental)
6. "My Secret Enemy"

My Secret Enemy - B-Side

The Red Light Special single came with a B-side rap track titled 'My Secret Enemy', led by group rapper Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes. Despite not making TLC's album CrazySexyCool, the song is highly praised by long-time TLC fans and kept up with the group's more matured style. Its lyrical content focuses on Lisa’s coverage in the media and her relationship with Andre Rison.

Charts

Peak positions Chart (1995) Peak position Australia (ARIA Singles Chart)[2] 53 UK Singles Chart[3] 18 U.S. Billboard Hot 100[4] 2 U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks 3 U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 1 U.S. Billboard Pop Songs 11

End of year charts End Of Year Chart (1995) Position U.S. Billboard Hot 100[5] 28 Certifications Region Certification Sales/shipments New Zealand (RMNZ)[6] Gold 7,500 United States (RIAA)[7] Gold 700,000[8] ^*sales figures based on certification alone

References

1. http://www.vibe.com/article/triple-x-making-tlcs-red-light-special
2. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
3. "Official Charts > TLC". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
4. "Billboard > Artists/TLC > Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
5. "Billboard Top 100 - 1995". Retrieved 2010-08-27.
6. "New Zealand single certifications – TLC – Red Light Special". Recorded Music NZ.
7. "American single certifications – TLC – Red Light Special". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
8. "Best-Selling Records of 1995". Billboard (BPI Communications) 108 (3): 56. January 20, 1996. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 5, 2015.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics