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
"Young Love"
(1981)		 "Square Biz"
(1981)		 "It Must Be Magic"
(1981)

"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 Sugarhill Gang's 1979 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

  1. ↑ Breihan, Tom (December 26, 2010). "Teena Marie R.I.P.". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  2. ↑ Playlist Eleven of Teena Marie mlive.com/entertainment/detroit
  3. ↑ 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....".
  4. ↑ Teena Marie Album & Song Chart History.Billboard Hot 100
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