Wiggle

Album: Talk Dirty (2014)
Charted: 8 5
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This paean to a stripper with a big butt features Snoop Dogg. It is one of five collaborations on Talk Dirty. Hooking up with other well-known recording artists wasn't part of Derulo's original game plan, but the singer told OK magazine that he's more than pleased with the outcome. "Everything happened organically," he said. "Like with the song 'Wiggle' I was like, 'It would be so dope if Snoop was on the track.' Then I saw him at the All-Star game and I was like, 'I have this track I want you to hear.' He was like, 'Oh, man, this is crazy. I'll send it back to you within 48 hours.' It all happens differently."
  • Derulo performed the song for the first time live at the Valentine's Crush concert at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on February 14, 2014.
  • The Colin Tilley-directed twerk-fest video finds Derulo engaging in copious amounts of wiggling. The singer is seen performing the tune with the help of Snoop and special guest Ne-Yo, as he lets a horde of people in on the wiggle action. Derulo said: "When we were making the video I wanted to capture the fun and light nature of the song, as well as highlight the dancing and swag that the song represents."
  • Several writers put their pens to this song. Along with Derulo, it was written by Eric Frederic, Jacob Kasher, Sean Douglas, John Ryan, Joe Spargur, Axident, and Calvin Broadus (Snoop Dogg).
  • Producer Ricky Reed brought in fun elements like peanut wrappers, hand clappers, toy flutes and percussive instruments to support the novelty lyrics and amplify the comical nature of the song. The toy flute melody provides the key instrumental hook for the song and plays most effectively off the key lyrical hook ("wiggle, wiggle, wiggle") during the simple chorus.
  • This song is a blend of several different genres/influences: hip hop/rap, R&B, pop, trap and - the most unique - nursery rhyme. The verse sections are modeled after "Patty Cake" and the first references the classic nursery rhyme in the lyrics:

    Patty cake, Patty cake
    With no hands
    Got me in this club making wedding plans
    If I take pictures while you do your dance
    I can make you famous on Instagram
  • A gracious host, Derulo allows his guest Snoop Dogg to close out the song with one last butt joke: "Damn, baby, you got a bright future behind you." As the backing music is dropped out, the line stands out even more.
  • The title lyric should be unforgettable - it's repeated 57 times throughout the song!
  • "Wiggle" joins the ranks of many other butt odes, including Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls, "Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back," Black Eyed Peas' "My Humps" and Trace Adkins' "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," to name a few.

Comments: 1

  • Miranda1096cuite from United States I love him he is the best
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.