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"Super Freak" is a 1981 hit single, written, produced, and performed by Rick James for the Motown label. The song, which reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100, is today one of James' signature songs. It features background vocals from Motown labelmates The Temptations, in which the bass singer is James' uncle Melvin Franklin, and Canadian singer Taborah Johnson. The song was co-written by Alonzo Miller, and was first released on James' Street Songs album.

The song is well known by those who grew up in the late-1980s/early-1990s for being sampled by M.C. Hammer on his 1990 smash hit "U Can't Touch This". However, the "Rick James" segments featured on Chappelle's Show have brought the original song back into general familiarity. The title track of Jay-Z's comeback album Kingdom Come, features a sample from "Super Freak."

An instrumental version of the song was also heard in the 1992 movie Batman Returns, and the song plays a major part in the climax of the 2006 film Little Miss Sunshine. Australian Idol 4 finalist Bobby Flynn performed a unique and memorable version of the song. Most recently the track has featured in the soundtrack to the 2006 videogame Scarface: The World is Yours.

The Dave Matthews Band also paid homage to the recently deceased Rick James, segueing into "Super Freak," thrilling the fans, who sang along enthusiastically. [1]

Beatfreakz

The dance act Beatfreakz remade the song, using their magical band members in the video. It was released in October 2006 and charted at #37 in the Dutch Top 40.

Dutch Top 40 trajectory
Week	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10
Position	37	34

UK Single Chart trajectory
Week	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10
Position	43	7	11

Audio sample

Rick James - Super Freak

An excerpt from "Super Freak".

Problems playing this file? See media help.

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-"'''Super Freak'''" is a [[1981 in music|1981]] hit single, [[songwriter|written]], [[record producer|produced]], and performed by [[Rick James]] for the [[Motown]] label. The song, which reached #6 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]], is today one of James' [[signature song]]s. It features background vocals from Motown labelmates [[The Temptations]], in which the [[basso|bass singer]] is James' uncle [[Melvin Franklin]], and [[Canada|Canadian]] singer [[Taborah Johnson]].  The song was co-written by [[Alonzo Miller]], and was first released on James' ''[[Street Songs (album)|Street Songs]]'' album.
+"'''Super Freak'''" is a [[1981 in music|1981]] hit single, [[songwriter|written]], [[record producer|produced]], and performed by [[Rick James]] for the [[Motown]] label. The song, which reached #16 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]], is today one of James' [[signature song]]s. It features background vocals from Motown labelmates [[The Temptations]], in which the [[basso|bass singer]] is James' uncle [[Melvin Franklin]], and [[Canada|Canadian]] singer [[Taborah Johnson]].  The song was co-written by [[Alonzo Miller]], and was first released on James' ''[[Street Songs (album)|Street Songs]]'' album.
 The song is well known by those who grew up in the late-[[1980s]]/early-[[1990s]] for being [[sampling (music)|sample]]d by [[M.C. Hammer]] on his [[1990 in music|1990]] smash hit "[[U Can't Touch This]]". However, the "Rick James" segments featured on ''[[Chappelle's Show]]'' have brought the original song back into general familiarity. The title track of [[Jay-Z]]'s comeback album [[Kingdom Come (album)|Kingdom Come]], features a sample from "Super Freak."
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 [[Category:Funk songs]]
 [[Category:Rick James songs]]
-{{1980s-pop-song-stub}}