First time hearing Rick James "Super Freak" Reaction | Asia and BJ

[@brasco96wired67]

It blows my mind that Rick James was once in a band with Neil Young and I think they even shared an apartment for a while. What a pair.

[@willfromyadkinville]

i know right! "The Mynah Birds" had some great tones that did not sell well! but i thought they were awesome!

[@brettv5967]

What??? I have never heard this. I love some Neil Young. Now I’ve gotta go find some of their music. Not sure how I could be totally unaware of such a thing.

[@GeronFletcher]

That’s like how jimi hendrix used to be in James browns band and little richards too

[@paulpetock2836]

@@GeronFletcher Hendrex also did studio work for Joey Dee and The Young Rascals , under the name Jimmy James .

[@marym.5025]

Musical expansion. Thank you

[@blackprix]

I saw him twice in person his show, was something you would never forget… One he did on his own with his band the other one was with his soulmate as far as music was concerned, Teena Marie may they both Rest In Peace

[@daftoptmst]

They did date for a while

[@poppycock6572]

Wow. I've seen SO many famous musicians in my life... like trading cards? I would have given up 5 of those experiences to have seem MR. Rick James!!!

[@gesundheit602]

I am so glad I got to see Rick James in concert. I was a young teen when this song was a hit. My dad was a radio announcer and got me and my two sisters passes to see Rick, and the Mary Jane Girls opened up for him. We must’ve looked so funny, three young white kids by themselves, but we couldn’t have had a better time. All the people around watched over us like we were their own family. Great music and time!

[@fridaylong2812]

Same thing happened when our small town g'rents gave my little sister and I tickets to see the Supremes (and STEVIE WONDER!) in the late '60's. I'm not even sure they knew who the Supremes and Stevie W were. Some young Black adults literally walked us around outside after the show until we found Mom's car, and she thanked them. I think they were a bit flabberghasted to see a 10 and 12 yr old there without an adult, and we did kind of stick out like little white thumbs, lol.

[@glennallen239]

I graduated High School in 1982. This Song was played at School Dances and Parties and at theSkating Rink, ThisSong wasplayedall over the Radio Stations.

[@classiclife7204]

Roomed with folk-rock legend Neil Young back in college. Even formed a band with Neil called "The Mynah Birds".

[@GinaGeeILuvu]

This song was a mega-hit…a classic! It was famously sampled by MC Hammer for his biggest hit, Can’t Touch This! The popular music in the late seventies and early eighties was funky and stylish! There was a lot of sexual overtones in the music, Prince has a whole lot of sexually explicit music and a whole album titled, Dirty Mind (1980)! There were a lot of artists crossing that line and no one was clutching their pearls at this type of music, it was fun…not shocking at all! ❤️❤️

[@ronsilvia8127]

One of the most icon songs of all time.

[@davidbanachek7966]

Can't hear this song without thinking of 2 things: 1) MC Hammer song "Can’t Touch This" and 2) Charlie Murphy telling a hilarious Rick James story on the Chappelle Show.

[@markwilliams6394]

When Dave would say, I'm Rick James, Bitch!! I'd laugh so hard cuz you know Rick would say that.

[@conureron3792]

Yes, gotta check out the Charlie Murphy stories

[@bobbymcbay1586]

@@-blythe2986 f*** yo couch 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@joe2thesequel]

Rick was the man. Fire and Desire was the best song with Teena Marie. Also Mary Jane was amazing too. Thanx for giving Rick some Love!

[@patrickcain1455]

He was freaking talented, "Give it to me Baby " is great too.

[@ericsmith6615]

Wife here...Ok..this is song is such a LEGEND..I was a small child when this came out...I remember my Father LOVED This song..Which was SUPER cool because up to that point I only remember him playing Country!!

[@laurakali6522]

One of the funniest scenes ever in a movie is the use of this song in Little Miss Sunshine.

[@janehughesmayon1974]

One of my favorite movies

[@laurakali6522]

@@janehughesmayon1974 Loved it as well. Been a fan of Paul Dano since but the whole cast was perfect.

[@jerickson725]

I just commented on that before I saw your post. Asked them to put it on their movie list if they haven't seen it!

[@marilyndurham738]

Yes❤Loved the dancing to this song in Little Miss Sunshine

[@g.dubyou6263]

Iconic. I’d love to see you guys dive into the older R&B. There’s a lot missing. More of The Deele, After 7, K-Ci and JoJo. Jodeci, Ready for the world. Etc. love to see you guys jamming to what we now call the oldies.

[@janehughesmayon1974]

Yes!!!

[@safromnc8616]

Those are not oldies.... kids...lol

[@g.dubyou6263]

@@safromnc8616 “older” not “oldies” 80s 90s.

[@WineSippingCowboy]

Written by the late Rick James. Released in 1981. Temptations sing! The Temptations sing backing vocals. 40 years ago 🎂 That is, 1 year after recording with Rick James, The Temptations sang backing vocals in the Lionel Richie song You Are. Sampled by MC Hammer 🔨 He wrote the lyrics to Can't Touch This. RIP Rick James 😢 Suggested next Rick James song: Cold Blooded 🥶

[@chrisa4695]

I read an interview where he said along the way he forgot that Rick James was a character and James Johnson was the man. Along the way, the man became the character that he created. Charlie Wilson said that Rick truly lived the “rock star” life style off stage. “Come on Charlie, we’re stars we don’t wait in line. Just go right in and let them know who we are”.

[@bobschenkel7921]

Play this song loud in the parking lot after a Grateful Dead concert and what do you get? About 300 people dancing in front of your car going nuts. And the girls are the most enthusiastic ones.

[@mentalward3340]

Ohio Players, Lakeside, The Chi--lites, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, The Isley Brothers, The Dramatics, Any of those would be great! Real music from the past really smokes today's BS

[@fridaylong2812]

You sound like my parents. There's been a ton of good music from all genres in the last 50 years.

[@larrysaenz8964]

My dad worked at high school as a janitor the school had sock hops in the gym on Friday nights 70s

[@larrysaenz8964]

Lots of fun I was in jr high but always help my dad clean up afterwards concert too

[@deborahchouinard7175]

Yes please, all of these.

[@gemsun6512]

Hahahaha this was THE JAM in the clubs back in the day!! One of my favs!! 🔥🔥🔥💃🕺🏽

[@stephaniegaddis6392]

New Year's Eve 1981, I'm in 7th grade, my brother is in 5th grade. My parents went to a party and left us home with our 60-something grandparents and their friends, another couple the same age. We're watching Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve and my grandparents are complaining about how much they miss Guy Lombardi. And here comes Rick James performing "Super Freak" live, slinking all over the stage. My grandparents' faces look like they just ate a skunk. The performance ends, they look at me and my brother and say, "Do you listen to him?" And without even looking at each other, my brother and I, in unison, say, "No, never heard of him." Which was total BS because he was played every hour on the hour on the radio. Looking back it was hilarious.

[@emanuelsanders2030]

Long before "Super Freak" Rick James got us on the floor with the dance anthem "You and I!"

[@vegasbaby3669]

Yesssssss! “I You and I” always gets slept on, due to “Superfreak”. But “You and I” is far superior.

[@jerry5449]

Fool on the street was my jam

[@robertkenneth6517]

Funk is music perfection. I love Mary Jane Girls' "In My House."

[@bkm2797]

This song just cracks me up, Rick James is something else,lol. Thank you Asia and B.J.

[@tb9579]

Every time I hear this song I immediately think Frenchie!! “I’m hip, I’m slick and all the women love my .. “ If you’re old enough, you know exactly what I’m talking about 😂😂😂😂

[@chrisa4695]

Rick was the man! I saw him twice: infamous tour with Prince in 1980 and again on the Street songs tour in 1981. Great musician and performer. Come Get Get It, Bustin’ Out of L7 and Street Songs are classics. Fire It Up and Cold Blooded are also good. You can skip The Garden of Love.

[@eliseintheattic9697]

Used to have a regular UPS driver deliver to my office, and his name was Frank. Nice guy, he'd always stay and chat for a few minutes. One time he made a delivery and this song was playing. He started singing along and having fun with it. After that we called him "Super Frank". This song always makes me think of that, even though Frank the UPS driver probably isn't nearly as exciting as a "super freaky girl". 😂

[@bikerbud3903]

Rick James and Tina Marie Duo singing "Fire and Desire" Live is a must watch!

[@lisahumphries3898]

This is such a great song because whenever you heard this in a nightclub, you could NOT stay seated. Great beat and sound.

[@carriea8971]

His autobiography “glow” , hands down one of the most entertaining reads

[@bobschenkel7921]

Fun fact I just found out last week: Rick James was in a band with Neil Young in 1966 in Upstate New York.

[@dontworrybehappy8080]

I was in Jr high at the time. When this song came out at dances, EVERYBODY danced! Even if you couldn't.....this song you danced to. Packed the dance floor.

[@tbone2071]

He's definitely the King of Funk! Cold Blooded, Give it to Me, You and I, Hard to Get, Ghetto Life, and Dance Wit' Me

[@nberrypatch02]

I have a song suggestion that I think you two will flip out over - LOL! It was written & produced by Rick James, to be included on a debut album by Eddie Murphy. The song is called "Party all the time" (1985). There is a music video for it, which has Rick James in it. Yes, you read that correctly - Eddie Murphy, the same dude from 48 Hrs., Trading Places, Coming to America, The Nutty Professor, Dr. Doolittle, SHREK, & more... I've always liked the song, it's got a great beat for dancing at the club - LOL!

[@eddiekoch3901]

This song always takes me back to the club in the 90s! Great times!

[@dianaprobst3157]

As a teenager, this was the only song by Rick James I was familiar with. Lover Girl was the only exposure I'd had to Teena Marie. Imagine how surprised (and delighted!) I was when adult me stumbled across Fire & Desire, Happy, Square Biz, etc. Super Freak is fun & gets you moving, but only the tip of talent iceberg.

[@allencrameriii9305]

Rick James is from Buffalo, NY. My mother’s best friend Vivian introduced my mom to Rick!!! He was a real freak… Cool dude; really out there on a different level.

[@kevincaulder96]

GIVE IT TO ME, BABY is the natural follow-up to this dance floor classic. Or you can watch him produce Eddie Murphy on his record, PARTY ALL THE TIME. And forget his song, YOU AND I.

[@DeAnne1233]

Eddie’s Bees in your Butt still makes me laugh when I think about that song.

[@johnbeasley7658]

Loved this back when I was in highschool.

[@eldoprdr]

This song, for decades, played at rides at every local fair. You'd hear the song, look at the carnies running the rides, and get a creepy feeling all over again. 😁

[@SRGots]

This was such a fun song for roller skating. I was 6 when it came out and I loved it so much.

[@bakercarl8518]

One of the most talented persons ever. Complete musical great. Best live performance. Naturally you can hear MC Hammer's/ You can't touch this sampled.

[@donnabruhn6907]

Nothing better than funk, and he is the funkiest there is. Get it Rick James!!!!

[@tiffanyspencer2782]

Did ya'll miss that The Temptations sang the chorus? Both of them were on Motown & the guy who has the really deep voice is Rick's cousin. I died when I realized that. 🤣🤣...Come on Temps. 😂 Those lyrics were crazy. Nobody was singing that $hit then. No 1. The crazy lyrics weren't on the radio till mid 90's, but it still wasn't even close to rick.

[@christopherlievens]

Fun fact : back in the day Rick James and Neil Young started a band together 💥😮💥

[@SchreeSR]

Love Rick James and some of his best songs are duets with Teena Marie. Love you both!

[@patticrichton1135]

I still have the single vinyl 45 rpm record to this. But when I used to hear it on the radio, when that guitar riff starts at the beginning, I am not sure if it's going to be "SUPER FREAK" or M.C. HAMMER'S "U CAN'T TOUCH THIS" because they both start out with the SAME guitar riff!

[@robeskridge7948]

“Room 714, I’ll be waiting.” Quaaludes had the number 714 on the pill.

[@abc456f]

Lemmon.

[@paulpetock2836]

I went to Bennett HS with Rick , James Johnson , we were in the same PE class . Rick made it to the top in a very hard industry .

[@rachelnic3514]

I love this song so much anytime it comes on its a jam session.

[@chrisw3421]

Rick James grew up about 7 minutes from my house in Buffalo, NY. The music scene here used to be amazing.

[@chrism.4544]

Rick James was an original. An incredibly talented outside-of-the-box producer. Miss him so much.

[@39Hundred]

“Room 714, I’ll be waiting.” Rick James was referencing the drug methaqualone or brand name Quaalude. The drug was manufactured in the United States under the name Quaalude with the number 714 stamped on the tablet. Quaaludes became popular for recreational use in the late 1960s and 1970s in discos - where they were known as “disco biscuits” - and in juice bars. It is a central nervous system depressant that acts as a sedative and hypnotic. Hypnotics are drugs that induce sleep.

[@KennyWhite115]

salute for including the sax solo.

[@aagold76]

I remember after he died, there was a show where several people were talking about it. someone expressed shock- another replied, 'O h Please- the healthiest thing Rick ever ate was a vegetarian!' Great line.

[@stephenhuber1219]

Rick James went to Canada to dodge the draft and ended up in a band with Neil Young

[@lisaray9944]

Wooooohooooo I danced to this every Friday and Saturday Night at the clubs back in my 20’s takes me back way back .

[@thecapturban]

Still cant believe that neither one of them said anything about the Back Track being the sample for MC Hammer's "Cant Touch This"🤯

[@sandraquinn8969]

I've always loved this song.

[@mgjkoehler]

Blows my mind to remember first time i heard this; on my ship, somewhere on the pacific ocean, on a tinny boombox. Thanks for making me smile.

[@terryholden3064]

This song came out right around the same time that MTV went on air. The director of acquisitions for MTV stated. "It wasn't MTV that turned down Superfreak, it was me! I turned it down. You know why? Because there were half-naked women in it, and it was a piece of crap. As a black woman, I did not want that representing my people as the first black video on MTV."

[@bobbierobinson6269]

And everyone loved it. It's a classic.

[@jerickson725]

I have always loved this song. Since 2006 it now immediately reminds me of the movie "LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE". If you have not seen this movie, PLEASE, PLEASE put it on your movie reaction list 😊. I think you will both love it! -Joni

[@sarablack2547]

Yes love that scene.

[@surlechapeau]

Asia & BJ, his "Give It to Me Baby" is next for you!!

[@kimberlinibambini1988]

Yessssss! 🎤 that funky stuff, that funky stuff..” 🎤😁

[@terenzo50]

Trying to put Neil Young and Rick James together in my head -- nope. Ah, the 60s.

[@BossDM-2]

Song reminds me of my college days at clubs.

[@suzanneprock7286]

"You and I" is my favorite Rick James' song and a great disco tune, you should check it out on Midnight Special.

[@jacquiewexler4677]

Rick James is from Buffalo NY where I live and he went to the school my dad went to and he’s in the yearbook he looks a lot different when he passed they had a huge tribute here in Buffalo.

[@marinamartinez6886]

Great dance song! You should listen to another great dance song by the Mary Jane Girls, In My House, they were one of his girl groups. 👍👍👍

[@mesharonb]

That was always a fun song. Can't help but move to it.

[@maxpeck7382]

I think the kind girls you can take home to mother are best when they let themselves be the kind you don't take home to mother with you for a little while. Nothing wrong when your darling shows a dash of passion, just make sure you love/adore her for it.

[@thomaslowry5245]

I can listen to this all day some times!

[@johncollins940]

Heck yeah!!!!!! Haven't heard him in forever! Thank you!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@peterwalsh2470]

i was about 10 when this song came out. there was no problems with radio play being too risque, the song was everywhere. we would jam out to it. probably didnt really pay too much attention to the lyrics anyway.

[@daftoptmst]

My cousin had his poster on her bedroom wall when we were kids. I guess I just told my age!!

[@deandee8082]

you guys are how old and you never heard rick james super freak? hopwbout, "Im rick james bish" lol

[@rebellibrarian]

Love your enthusiasm for the oldies but goodies. 💓💓💓💓

[@stephaniemccarthy1676]

Freaking song. Awesome. God bless the individual singing their true self. Ok...to be the super freak.

[@joegreen9987]

Come on young people you can definitely dance to this beautiful great song 🎵 from mr rich James ❤ ♥ he's a rock 🎸 star 🌟 ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@michaelrowsey768]

Rick James and The Stone City Band. We were like, WTF is this? He had our attention back in the day. Mom always acted like she was offended.

[@maximillianosaben]

"Ghetto Life" by Rick James is an absolute must. Can't not groove to that song, it's too damn good.

[@rodb9275]

LOL @ BJ's Rick James imitations. LOL. I love it. Made my night. Great reaction, you 2.

[@marktrimble8548]

1982 sitting in my brothers z28 jamming this lmfao I thought I was so bad haha sometimes memories are great....

[@johngarcia8872]

Just to let you know, the "Super Freak" in Rick James life was written for Linda Blair: Star of "The Exorcist".

[@lindaaugone382]

I saw an interview with Bruno Mars.He was asked what song whenever he hears it he just has to stop an dance too and this was the song!

[@le7669]

I miss him such a vibe

[@roydavis5222]

Rick James played with Neil Young in a band called The Mynah Birds

[@lowprofile513]

Every time I hear this song, I want to listen to ‘The Freaks Come Out at Night’ by Whodini

[@MACMISIAS]

Believe me when I say that then people were more progressive and open to experiences than today.

[@leemcclements8889]

We loved this song back in the day...! It was fun!

[@blaste93]

RIP Rick James. I want your hat BJ.

[@reshaud81]

Mary Jane by Rick James is the ultimate banger!

[@stephenbrownfoot6999]

Dave chappelle and Charlie Murphy stories about Ricky James 😂😂😂❤

[@zunbake3]

Rick James and Neil Young were in a Band together in the 60's. Check the Ohio Players Fire on the Midnight Express

[@minigirl6839]

"I'm Rick James, bitches! Enjoy yoself" !!!😅🤣😂

[@tasblade1]

Heck yeah!!! When this came out it was the hottest song on the radio.Probably the most requested song of its time.

[@Cherazny]

The "SUPER FREAK" is a woman of the streets,very promiscuous,the kind you don't take home to mother.Yet he seemed to like what she was doing to him. Great song of the day

[@mikeferris408]

Ive got an album of his thats been outta print for over 20 years now the last i seen it on ebay it was selling for 1500 bucks, love rick james music,🔥👍

[@charlenewebb5893]

We all love Rick James ! Party On

[@carollittle1059]

First notes of intro sounds like, Can't Touch This by MC Hammer.

[@abc456f]

Because that's what it is.

[@debbiebell1801]

Awesome 👌 Break It To Them gently by Burton Cummings.

[@scottfeuerhammer3595]

I think this was '81. Was kinda risqué at the time, but it is cool 40 years later. I like Asia 's eyes and mindset during the video. Rick had this album when he was battling Prince with, "Controversy " and "1999". Prince shut the door on Rick then. But I love me some Rick James!!!

[@metalmark1214]

This was Rick James biggest hit song. Another artist that unfortunately died at a rather young age, 56. Unfortunately a life of drug use caught up with him.

[@abc456f]

Cocaine's a helluva drug!