"She's on It" is a song by American

rap rock Rap rock is a music genre that developed from the early to mid-1980s, when hip hop DJs incorporated rock records into their routines and rappers began incorporating original and sampled rock instrumentation into hip hop music. Rap rock is co ...

group

Beastie Boys The Beastie Boys were an American Hip-hop, hip hop and Rap rock, rap rock group formed in New York City in 1979. They were composed of Ad-Rock, Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz (vocals, guitar), Adam Yauch, Adam "MCA" Yauch (vocals, bass), and Mike D, ...

. It was released on September 12, 1985, as the fifth single from the

soundtrack A soundtrack is a recorded audio signal accompanying and synchronised to the images of a book, drama, motion picture, radio program, television show, television program, or video game; colloquially, a commercially released soundtrack album of m ...

to the 1985 film ''

Krush Groove ''Krush Groove'' is a 1985 American musical comedy-drama film distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures that was written by Ralph Farquhar and directed by Michael Schultz (who also produced the movie, along with George Jackson and Doug McHenry). ...

''. The song's

guitar riff A riff is a short, repeated motif or figure in the melody or accompaniment of a musical composition. Riffs are most often found in rock music, punk, heavy metal music, Latin, funk, and jazz, although classical music is also sometimes based on ...

is a slightly slower version of the riff in

Cheap Trick Cheap Trick is an American rock band formed in Rockford, Illinois in 1970 by guitarist Rick Nielsen, bassist Tom Petersson, lead vocalist Robin Zander and drummer Bun E. Carlos. Their work bridged elements of '60s pop rock, guitar pop, '70s har ...

's 1978 song " Stiff Competition," which in turn was based on the riff in

the Who The Who are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup (1964–1978) consisted of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. Considered one of th ...

's 1971 song "

Won't Get Fooled Again "Won't Get Fooled Again" is a song by the English rock band the Who, written by guitarist and primary songwriter Pete Townshend. It was released as a single in June 1971, reaching the top 10 in the UK, while the full eight-and-a-half-minute ver ...

." Despite failing to attract commercial success at the time of its initial release in 1985, a re-release in 1987 was more successful, becoming a top-10 hit on the UK Singles Chart and reaching the top 50 in Ireland, the Netherlands, and West Germany.

Critical reception

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'' said that it "makes up in rhythm what it lacks in lyrics and musicianship."

Music video

The song's video was produced by

Rick Rubin Frederick Jay Rubin (, ; born March 10, 1963) is an American record producer. He is a co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, founder of American Recordings, and former co-president of Columbia Records. Rubin helped popularize hip hop by produci ...

and directed by producer and filmmaker Sean Travis, who later, in the 2000s, produced MTV's

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series '' The Hills'' and '' The City''. It was the band's first professionally produced music video and their third video overall, after 1981's ''Holy Snappers'' and ''Egg Raid On Mojo'' in 1982. Filmed in

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in New York's Nassau County, the boys are trying to win the heart of a woman ( Sharon Middendorf) on the beach, but their efforts are foiled by stampeding female fans. Not even the assistance of a mentor (played by

) can help them. Their attempts range from using

Spanish Fly Spanish fly or Spanish Fly may refer to: * ''Lytta vesicatoria'', a species of beetle * Cantharidin, a poisonous compound secreted by the beetle, historically used in medication and as an aphrodisiac Film * Spanish Fly (1975 film), ''Spanish ...

to flying over her in a helicopter and a net, and they even attempt to blow her up. She survives while the boys struggle to start the dynamite, and suddenly, it blows up and the video concludes. The video was included in the band's 1987

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compilation, but has not been included on any video release since.

Track listings

7-inch single (1985) :A. "She's on It" – 3:28 :B. "Slow and Low" – 3:37 12-inch single (1985) :A. "She's on It" – 4:15 :B. "Slow and Low" – 3:37 12-inch single (1987) :A1. "She's on It" – 4:15 :B2. "Hold It, Now Hit It" – 3:30 :B2. "Slow and Low" – 3:37

Charts

Release history

References

{{Authority control 1985 singles 1985 songs 1987 singles Beastie Boys songs Columbia Records singles Def Jam Recordings singles Song recordings produced by Rick Rubin