Square Biz
| "Square Biz" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Teena Marie | ||||
| from the album It Must Be Magic | ||||
| Released | 1981 (U.S.) | |||
| Genre | Funk[1] | |||
| Length | 6:26 | |||
| Writer(s) | Teena Marie, Allen McGrier | |||
| Producer(s) | Teena Marie | |||
| Teena Marie singles chronology | ||||
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"Square Biz" is a song by American R&B singer, Teena Marie. The song was released as a single in 1981 from the album It Must Be Magic. It would go on to become one of Marie's signature songs.
The song interpolates a rap verse from the Sugar Hill Gang hit Rapper's Delight.
Cover versions and appearances in media
In 2002, a new version of this song, titled "Hollywood Square Biz", was used as the theme to the popular game show Hollywood Squares from 2002 to 2004.[2]
In 2002, En Vogue performed a cover of the song on their concert DVD, "Live in the USA".
Missy Elliott uses an interpolation of a verse from Square Biz in Ciara's 2004 hit single, "1, 2 Step".[3]
The Firm's "Firm Biz" contains a sample based on the song featuring En Vogue's Dawn Robinson from groups 1997 album The Album.
Master P Featuring Sera-Lynn "Real Love" 2002
In January 2011, The Foreign Exchange performed a piece of the song during their Authenticity Tour in Europe.
Chart performance
The song managed to peak at #3 on Billboard's Black Singles, becoming Marie's highest peak on the chart at the time. The song managed to peak at #12 on Billboard's Club Play Singles, while performing moderately on Billboard's Pop Singles, peaking only at #50, becoming her second single to chart on the Pop Singles chart.
Charts
Chart positions
| Charts (1981) | Peak position[4] |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 50 |
| US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | 3 |
| US Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs | 12 |
References
- ↑ Breihan, Tom (December 26, 2010). "Teena Marie R.I.P.". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
- ↑ Playlist Eleven of Teena Marie mlive.com/entertainment/detroit
- ↑ The relevant verse in 1, 2 Step begins with "Because I'm 5 foot 2..." whereas the verse in Square Biz begins with "I'm less than five foot one....".
- ↑ Teena Marie Album & Song Chart History.Billboard Hot 100
External links
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