"Pillow Talk" is a 1973 song by American singer and songwriter
Sylvia, written by Sylvia along with Michael Burton.[2]
History
According to Billboard, the song is about sex.[3] Sylvia had originally hoped the song would be recorded by
Al Green, who turned it down as he thought it was too risqué and against his religious beliefs. Thereafter, Sylvia decided to return as a musical artist and record "Pillow Talk" herself, finally releasing the song in 1973. "Pillow Talk" is an early example of prototypical
disco music. The vocals are replete with moaning and heavy breathing, predating
Donna Summer's
orgasmic moans on 1975's "
Love to Love You Baby". At the
coda section, Sylvia growls out the phrase: "Aw, Would Ya". Several AM radio stations shortened the song, due to its sexual content, omitting the coda portions where Sylvia intones in a whisper" "Oh, My God", and repeatedly, "Nice steady!".
In 1983, singer Tanya Jackson covered the song. This version became very popular at discos around Asia and Europe.
In 1993, singer
Janet Jackson covered the song for her
janet. album but it was not used. Jackson later stated in 2018, "Not sure what I was thinking when I excluded it. Now that I'm hearing it for the first time in years, maybe I made a mistake. Maybe it should have gone on the record. Maybe I just wasn't willing to do a cover because of my eagerness to hone my craft as a writer.".
In 1999, R&B singer Cherelle did a cover on her LP, "The Right Time".
^M. Tye Comer; Mariel Concepcion; Monica Herrera; Jessica Letkemann; Evie Nagy; David J. Prince (February 11, 2010).
"The 50 Sexiest Songs Of All Time". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
^Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 564.
^Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 303.
ISBN0-646-11917-6.
^"Top Pop Singles"(PDF). Billboard. Vol. 85, no. 52. December 29, 1973. p. TA-28.
ISSN0006-2510. Retrieved December 16, 2019 – via American Radio History.