Peak
31
Weeks
11
Score
1,257
Chart Year
1989
This Prince song was originally an American chart-topper for the Minneapolis multi-instrumentalist in 1986. Tom Jones' version was recorded with the British avant garde electronica group Art of Noise. After recording a series of country-pop numbers, Tom Jones made a left-field decision to cover this song, and in doing so revived his career. He told the Observer Music Monthly December 2008 how this came about: "If I hear a song I like I'll do it in the show, so when I heard this I sang it in an R&B style. Then I was due to go on Jonathan Ross's program in 1987 to perform the ballad 'A Boy From Nowhere,' and he wanted something upbeat too. My philosophy has always been: when in doubt, do ' Great Balls of Fire.' But Jonathan asked if I had anything new. Art of Noise were watching and they asked if I'd do a version with them. When they sent me the finished version I thought: 'If this isn't a hit, I'll bloody well pack it all in.' It was a busting hit." Prince and Tom Jones were both born on the same day, the 7th of June (Prince in 1958, Jones in 1940). Jones met Prince and thanked him for the song, but didn't ask what his thought of his version, as he wasn't sure he would like the answer. "I saw a movie once that Bette Midler did called The Rose," Jones said in his Songfacts interview. "She goes to see Harry Dean Stanton, a country singer, because she'd recorded one of his songs. She says she's a big fan of his, and just before she walks out the door he says, 'Could I say one thing to you? Don't you ever record one of my songs again.' That hit home. I thought, s--t, I'm never going to ask a songwriter what he or she thinks of my version. I'll leave that to them. That always sticks in my mind. So I just thanked him for writing it."
You don't have to be beautiful To turn me on I just need your body, baby From dusk till dawn You don't need experience To turn me out You just leave it all up to me I'll show you what it's all about You don't have to be rich to be my girl You don't have to be cool to rule my world Ain't no particular sign I'm more compatible with I just want your extra time and your KISS You got to not talk dirty, baby If you wanna impress me You can't be too flirty, mama I know how to undress me I want to be your fantasy Maybe, you could be mine You just leave it all up to me We could have a real good time You don't have to be rich to be my girl You don't have to be cool to rule my world Ain't no particular sign I'm more compatible with I just want your extra time and your KISS I think I'd better dance now..... Women, not girls, rule my world I said they rule my world Act your age woman, not your shoe size Maybe we could do the twirl? You don't have to watch Dynasty To have an attitude You just leave it all up to me My love will be your food You don't have to be rich to be my girl You don't have to be cool to rule my world Ain't no particular sign, I'm more compatible with, I just want your extra time and your KISS
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dec 3, 1988 | 80 | 46 |
| 2 | Dec 10, 1988 | 65 | 61 |
| 3 | Dec 17, 1988 | 49 | 77 |
| 4 | Dec 24, 1988 | 40 | 86 |
| 5 | Dec 31, 1988 | 40 | 86 |
| 6 | Jan 7, 1989 | 38 | 88 |
| 7 | Jan 14, 1989 | 31 | 95 |
| 8 | Jan 21, 1989 | 31 | 95 |
| 9 | Jan 28, 1989 | 39 | 87 |
| 10 | Feb 4, 1989 | 60 | 66 |
| 11 | Feb 11, 1989 | 86 | 40 |