Sheena Easton's "Strut" video was a bold declaration of independence, transforming her image from sweet pop princess to a defiant rock siren.
The Song
Released in August 1984, "Strut" was the lead single from Sheena Easton's fifth studio album, A Private Heaven. The song was composed by singer-songwriter Charlie Dore and her longtime songwriting partner Julian Littman. Produced by Greg Mathieson, the track marked a significant shift in Easton's musical direction, moving away from her earlier, more wholesome pop sound towards a more assertive, dance-pop, and synth-pop style.
The lyrics of "Strut" are a powerful statement of female autonomy and defiance. Originally written from a male perspective, Easton famously persuaded the songwriters to change it to reflect a woman refusing to be manipulated or objectified, delivering lines like "Strut, pout, put it out / That's what you want from women" with a newfound edge. This lyrical content, combined with the track's energetic production, set the stage for Easton's edgier, more sexually suggestive image.
The Artist
Born Sheena Shirley Orr in Bellshill, Scotland, Sheena Easton rose to prominence in 1980 through a BBC reality television series, The Big Time: Pop Singer. She quickly achieved international success with hits like "Morning Train (9 to 5)" and the James Bond theme song "For Your Eyes Only." By the mid-1980s, Easton's management felt she was being pigeonholed as a "middle of the road" or "pop adult" artist, prompting her desire to explore more rock and dance-oriented material.
A Private Heaven and its lead single "Strut" were instrumental in rebranding Easton as a "sexy pop singer," showcasing a more provocative persona. This artistic evolution led to notable collaborations, including working with Prince, who wrote and produced her controversial follow-up single "Sugar Walls" and later dueted with her on "U Got the Look." Easton's career has been marked by remarkable versatility, making her the first artist in Billboard history to have a top-five hit on each of the Billboard primary singles charts.
Chart Performance
"Strut" was a significant commercial success for Sheena Easton, particularly in North America. The single peaked at No. 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1984, spending 15 weeks on the chart. It also reached No. 4 on the US Cash Box charts and No. 6 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart.
Internationally, the song also performed well, reaching No. 7 in Canada, No. 8 in New Zealand, No. 13 in Australia, No. 18 in South Africa, and No. 21 in Germany. Despite its widespread success, "Strut" notably failed to chart in the UK Top 100, a surprising outcome for an artist who had previously enjoyed significant success in her home country. The song's success contributed to A Private Heaven becoming Easton's most successful album in the U.S. to date, peaking at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and achieving Platinum certification.
Cultural Impact
"Strut" played a pivotal role in redefining Sheena Easton's public image, moving her from a "girl next door" persona to a more edgy and confident artist. This transformation was crucial in the MTV era, where visual presentation was as important as the music itself. The song's embrace of a more liberated female perspective resonated with audiences and helped Easton connect with a broader, more contemporary pop and dance market.
The video's visually striking and assertive portrayal of Easton contributed to its cultural footprint, signaling a new, bolder chapter for her career. This shift also paved the way for her later, even more provocative material, such as "Sugar Walls," and collaborations that cemented her status as an enduring 80s pop phenomenon.
Fun Facts
- "Strut" was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female at the 27th Grammy Awards in 1985, though it ultimately lost to Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It."
- The album A Private Heaven was intentionally crafted to be edgy and provocative, drawing inspiration from Olivia Newton-John's Physical album for its assertive and empowering musical statement.
- The lyrics of "Strut" were originally written from a male perspective, but Sheena Easton successfully convinced the songwriters, Charlie Dore and Julian Littman, to change them to a female viewpoint.
- In 1986, Sheena Easton performed "Strut" while dressed as a geisha in a Japanese TV commercial for shōchū.
- The song marked the beginning of a commercially successful, edgier period for Easton, particularly in the United States, and led to her iconic collaborations with Prince.