"Unskinny Bop" is a song by American glam metal band Poison, released as the first single from their third studio album, Flesh & Blood (1990), on June 18, 1990. The song peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, number five on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, and number one on Canada's The Record chart. It also entered the top 20 in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Background The meaning of "Unskinny Bop" has always been shrouded in obscurity. Guitarist C.C. DeVille later confessed the phrase "unskinny bop" has no particular meaning: he invented it as temporary placeholder words while writing the song, before vocalist Bret Michaels had begun working on the lyrics. The phrase was used as it was phonetically suited to the music. The song was later played to producer Bruce Fairbairn, who said although he did not know what an "unskinny bop" was, the phrase was perfect."In Samantha 7 Heaven: An Interview with C.C. DeVille of Samantha 7 , by Cindy Harper, " Ink 19, Retrieved October 18, 2005.
Music video The music video for the song features Bret Michaels, dancing with a couple of animated neon cowgirls next to him.
Track listings 7-inch and cassette single "Swampjuice (Soul-O)" – 1:26 "Unskinny Bop" – 3:47 "Valley of Lost Souls" – 5:37
12-inch and CD single "Swampjuice (Soul-O)" – 1:26 "Unskinny Bop" – 3:47 "Valley of Lost Souls" – 5:37 "Poor Boy Blues" – 5:19
Japanese mini-CD single "Unskinny Bop" "Valley of Lost Souls"
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1990)PeakpositionCanada Retail Singles (The Record) 1Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 42US Cash Box Top 100Cash Box Chart Entries 1990-1996 3
Year-end charts Chart (1990)PositionAustralia (ARIA) 28New Zealand (RIANZ) 31US Billboard Hot 100 32US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard) 49US Cash Box Top 100 33
Decade-end charts Chart (1990–1999)PositionCanada (Nielsen SoundScan) 62
Certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United KingdomJune 18, 1990June 25, 199012-inch picture discJapanJune 29, 1990Mini-CDCBS/Sony
See also List of glam metal albums and songs
References