Sexx Laws

"Sexx Laws" is a song by American singer Beck, from his album Midnite Vultures (1999). It was released as the lead single from the album in October 1999.

"Sexx Laws"
Single by Beck
from the album Midnite Vultures
B-side"This Is My Crew" / "Salt in the Wound"
Released25 October 1999
FormatCD, 7-inch, 12-inch
Recorded1999
GenreFunk rock
Length3:38
LabelGeffen
497 181-2 (UK, CD1)
497 182-2 (UK, CD2)
497 182-7 (UK, 7")
Songwriter(s)Beck Hansen
Producer(s)Beck Hansen, Mickey Petralia
Beck singles chronology
"Nobody's Fault but My Own"
(1999)		 "Sexx Laws"
(1999)		 "Mixed Bizness"
(2000)

Composition

Beck said of the song's lyrics:

It's me playing with the ridiculousness of those entrenched ideas about what a man does and what a woman can do. A lot of soul music comes from a real masculine strength, but there's also this intense vulnerability about it. You have the masculine tough-guy exterior and the emotional openness, which is feminine, as well. I wanted to have fun with that, turn up that contrast a little bit without getting bogged down into preciousness and psychobabble.[1]

Of the song's music, he said:

I think my main interest in using the horns was for performance - so much music today is so guitar heavy. I sought other places to get muscle into the music. Many bands rely heavily on guitar to pump up the sound, but I thought it would be interesting to make the horns into the guitars. I think it was the L.A. Rams. I used to watch them when I was growing up, and it just reminded me of Monday Night Football in 1978.[1]

Reception

In 2014, NME named it the 260th Greatest Song of All Time.[2]

"Sexx Laws" was used in the 2014 Renault Twingo advertisement. The song was also used in the Futurama episode "Bendin' in the Wind" and in Daria.

Live performances

Beck has performed the song close to 300 times. Although it was released on Midnite Vultures in 1999, he performed the song live for the first time as early as June 1998.[3]

Music videos

The music video, directed by Beck himself, is partly a tribute to the film Mr. Freedom.[4] Jack Black appears in the music video as a member of the Vision Warrior Men's Circle, along with Neil Strauss and Justin Meldal-Johnsen.[5] Surreal elements of the video include a refrigerator dry humping an oven, Kenny G (played by Meldal-Johnsen) in a room of football players, and a spinning mannequin of a zebra with a banjo.

There are several versions of the video. The original (once posted on Beck's website) was over 18 minutes long and extended the intro of the Men's Circle. The subsequent versions edited out the intro and ending, the latter truncating a pep rally speech by Jack Black's character.

Track listings

CD1

  1. "Sexx Laws" – 3:38
  2. "Salt in the Wound" – 3:24
  3. "Sexx Laws" (Wizeguyz Remix) – 6:03

CD2

  1. "Sexx Laws" – 3:38
  2. "This Is My Crew" – 3:55
  3. "Sexx Laws" (Malibu Remix) – 6:51

7"

  1. "Sexx Laws" – 3:38
  2. "Salt in the Wound" – 3:24

12"

  1. "Sexx Laws" – 3:38
  2. "Sexx Laws" (Malibu Remix) – 6:51
  3. "Salt in the Wound" – 3:24
  4. "Sexx Laws" (Wizeguyz Remix) – 6:03

Personnel

Charts
Chart (1999) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[6] 84
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[7] 27
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[8] 21

References
  1. "Beck Song Information - Sexx Laws". whiskeyclone.net.
  2. "Rocklist.net....NME The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time.. 2014". rocklistmusic.co.uk.
  3. "Hijacked Flavors - Search Results". whiskeyclone.net.
  4. "Video Hangover: Beck – "Sexx Laws"". Stereogum. January 8, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  5. "Beck - "Sexxlaws"". mvdbase.com. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  6. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  7. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  8. "Beck – Chart History: Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
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