More than two decades after its release, Shaggy’s hit single Hey Sexy Lady has earned new recognition in the United Kingdom.
The song, from Shaggy’s 2002 gold-certified album Lucky Day, was certified silver in the United Kingdom on Friday, March 27, for sales and streaming equivalents exceeding 200,000 units.
Hey Sexy Lady, which features Brian and Tony Gold, was one of three singles released from Lucky Day, alongside Strength of a Woman and Get My Party On, the latter featuring R&B legend Chaka Khan.
Issued as the album’s lead single, Hey Sexy Lady did not make a major impact on the main United States charts. However, the track performed strongly in Europe and other international markets.
Recorded at Big Yard Studio’s Long Island, New York headquarters, the song has previously earned platinum certification in Australia and Canada, as well as gold certification in Belgium.
On international charts, the track reached No. 5 in France, No. 10 in Germany and the United Kingdom, No. 3 in the Netherlands and Portugal, No. 7 in Italy, No. 4 in Australia, No. 6 in Belgium, and No. 4 in Canada.
In contrast, the song stalled in the United States, peaking at No. 97 on Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and No. 33 on the Rhythmic Airplay chart. It also failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
Hey Sexy Lady was written by Shaggy, Christopher Birch, Rickadoo George Ducent, Robert Livingston, Brian Gold, and Tony Gold, and produced by Birch. The track utilizes the Sexy Lady Explosion riddim with additional beats.
Released on September 3, 2002, via MCA Records, the single was serviced to CHR/Pop, CHR/Rhythmic, and urban contemporary radio formats as the lead single from Shaggy’s sixth studio album.
Despite limited success in the United States, the song became a top 10 hit in Australia and multiple European countries. By August 2014, Hey Sexy Lady ranked as the 110th best-selling single of the 21st century in France, with 287,000 units sold.
The new UK silver certification adds to the track’s continued global success and highlights the enduring international appeal of Shaggy’s catalog.
