The Glamorous Life

This article is about the Sheila E. song. For other uses, see The Glamorous Life (disambiguation).

"The Glamorous Life" is a song written by Prince, recorded by American percussionist Sheila E. and produced by both. The song has lyrics which reflect a cynicism for the decadence and materialism of the song's protagonist, referred to in the third person, who "wants to lead a glamorous life", although she is aware that "without love, it ain't much".

"The Glamorous Life"
Artwork for picture sleeve used for most editions
Single by Sheila E.
from the album The Glamorous Life
B-side	"The Glamorous Life" (Part II)
Released	May 2, 1984
Genre	Funk-pop^[1]
Length	9:04 (album) 3:41 (7-inch single)
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Prince
Producer(s)	Sheila E., Prince (as the Starr ★ Company)
Sheila E. singles chronology
"The Glamorous Life" (1984) "The Belle of St. Mark" (1984)
Music video
"The Glamorous Life" on YouTube

"The Glamorous Life" is the title track and closing song on Sheila E.'s debut solo album, and reached number seven on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, as well as number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. The track earned two Grammy Award nominations and three MTV Award nominations. In 2019, the original Prince demo of the song was released on his posthumous album Originals.

Track listings

7-inch vinyl

A. "The Glamorous Life" – 3:41

B. "The Glamorous Life Part II" – 3:12

12-inch vinyl

A. "The Glamorous Life" (club edit) – 6:33

B. "The Glamorous Life Part II" – 3:12

Personnel

Credits sourced from Benoît Clerc and Duane Tudahl^[2][3]

• Sheila E. – lead and backing vocals, cowbells, timbales, cymbal
• Prince – co-lead and backing vocals, Oberheim OB-8, Linn LM-1
• Larry Williams – saxophone
• David Coleman – cello
• Jill Jones – backing vocals

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "The Glamorous Life" Chart (1984–1985) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)^[4] 11 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[5] 5 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[6] 3 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[7] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[8] 3 UK Singles (OCC)^[9] 96 US Billboard Hot 100^[10] 7 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[11] 1 US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)^[12] 9

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "The Glamorous Life" Chart (1984) Position Australia (Kent Music Report)^[13] 80 Belgium (Ultratop)^[14] 61 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[15] 35 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[16] 48 US Billboard Hot 100^[17] 30

Melissa Tkautz version

"The Glamorous Life"
Single by Melissa Tkautz
from the album Lost & Found
Released	September 5, 2005 (2005-09-05)^[18]
Length	3:20
Label	Big
Songwriter(s)	Prince
Producer(s)	Paul Wiltshire
Melissa Tkautz singles chronology
"Is It...?" (1993) "The Glamorous Life" (2005) "All I Want" (2005)

"The Glamorous Life" was covered by Australian actress and singer Melissa Tkautz in September 2005. The single was seen as a comeback for Tkautz who had enjoyed considerable success in the early 1990s both as an actress and singer. Tkautz had previously scored an Australian number-one hit in 1991 with the song "Read My Lips", which spent two weeks at the top spot and won her an ARIA Award for Highest Selling Single in 1992. After a twelve-year hiatus from the music industry, Tkautz returned with her cover of Sheila E.'s 1984 hit "The Glamorous Life" and a new album Lost & Found. "The Glamorous Life" debuted and peaked at number 31 on the Australian Singles Chart on September 18, 2005, and spent two weeks in the top 50.

Track listing

Australian CD single^[19]

1. "The Glamorous Life" (radio edit) – 3:22
2. "The Glamorous Life" (AC radio edit) – 3:35
3. "The Glamorous Life" (Hotfuss radio edit) – 3:21
4. "The Glamorous Life" (Luke Leal vs. Peachy club mix) – 8:24
5. "The Glamorous Life" (JimmyZ vs. Bootyscratcherz 4Play club mix) – 6:28
6. "The Glamorous Life" (Hotfuss club mix) – 6:22

Charts

Chart performance for "The Glamorous Life" by Melissa Tkautz

Chart (2005)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[19]	31

T-Funk version

"The Glamorous Life"
Single by T-Funk featuring Inaya Day
Released	October 3, 2005 (2005-10-03)^[20]
Studio	XXLarge
Length	3:30
Label	Ministry of Sound Australia
Songwriter(s)	Prince
Producer(s)	mrTimothy
T-Funk singles chronology
"I'm On My Way" (2005) "The Glamorous Life" (2005) "Be Together" (2006)
Inaya Day singles chronology
"Nasty Girl" (2005) "The Glamorous Life" (2005) "Stand by Me" (2006)

Four weeks after Tkautz released her rendition of the song, Australian dance music act T-Funk released their cover, which features vocals from American singer Inaya Day. Andrew De Silva of Australian quartet CDB plays bass on the song. This version reached number 31 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart four weeks after Tkautz's rendition did the same. Outside Australia, this cover peaked at number five in Hungary and number six on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Track listing

Australian CD single^[21]

1. "The Glamorous Life" (T-Funk radio edit)
2. "The Glamorous Life" (T-Funk 12-inch)
3. "The Glamorous Life" (original demo 12-inch)
4. "The Glamorous Life" (mrTimothy remix 12-inch)

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the Australian CD single liner notes.^[21]

Studio

• Recorded, mixed, and mastered at XXLarge Studio

Personnel

• Prince – writing
• Inaya Day – vocals
• Andrew De Silva – bass
• T-Funk – production (as mrTimothy)
• Rudy Sandapa, Damian Smith – programming
• Chris Petty – artwork and logo designs
• One of a Kind – additional design

Charts

Chart performance for "The Glamorous Life" by T-Funk

Chart (2005–2006)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[22]	31
Hungary (Dance Top 40)^[23]	10
Hungary (Single Top 40)^[24]	5
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[25]	6

References

1. Rolling Stone Staff (September 17, 2014). "100 Best Singles of 1984: Pop's Greatest Year". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 31, 2023. Prince and Sheila E. maintained a behind-the-scenes relationship for years...and it's not hard to hear on this irresistibly frisky funk-pop morality play...
2. Clerc, Benoît (October 2022). Prince: All the Songs. Octopus. ISBN 9781784728816.
3. Tudahl, Duane (2018). Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions: 1983 and 1984 (Expanded Edition). Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781538116432.
4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 270. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
5. "Sheila E. – The Glamorous Life" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
6. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9520." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
7. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 35, 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
8. "Sheila E. – The Glamorous Life" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
9. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
10. "Sheila E Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
11. "Sheila E Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
12. "Sheila E. Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
13. "Kent Music Report No 548 – 31 December 1984 > National Top 100 Singles for 1984". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 12, 2022 – via Imgur.com.
14. "Jaaroverzichten 1984" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
15. "Top 100 Singles of 1984". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
16. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1984" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
17. "Talent Almanac 1985: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 51. December 22, 1984. p. TA-19.
18. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 5th September 2005" (PDF). ARIA. September 5, 2005. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
19. "Melissa Tkautz – The Glamorous Life". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
20. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 3rd October 2005" (PDF). ARIA. October 3, 2005. p. 30. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
21. The Glamorous Life (Australian CD single). T-Funk. Ministry of Sound Australia. 2005. MOSCD5043.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
22. "T-Funk feat. Inaya Day – The Glamorous Life". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
23. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
24. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
25. "Inaya Day Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2020.