American Gigolo

From Weezerpedia
"American Gigolo"
Album track by Weezer
from the album Maladroit
ReleasedMay 14, 2002
RecordedDecember 2001/January 2002
Length2:42
LabelGeffen
Songwriter(s)Rivers Cuomo
RC#600
COR#281
Producer(s)Weezer, Rod Cervera, Chad Bamford
StatusOfficially released
Live debutJune 8, 2001 in Toronto, Ontario
Last playedJuly 27, 2002 in Atlanta, GA
StreamError creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination Spotify
Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination Apple Music
Rivers Cuomo song chronology

"Saturday Night"
(RC# 599)

"American Gigolo"
(RC# 600)

"Take Control"
(RC# 601)

Maladroit track listing
15 tracks
  1. "American Gigolo"
  2. "Dope Nose"
  3. "Keep Fishin'"
  4. "Take Control"
  5. "Death and Destruction"
  6. "Slob"
  7. "Burndt Jamb"
  8. "Space Rock"
  9. "Slave"
  10. "Fall Together"
  11. "Possibilities"
  12. "Love Explosion"
  13. "December"
International bonus tracks
  2. / 15. "Island in the Sun"
  4. / 15. "Living Without You" (UK/Japan only)

"American Gigolo" is the opening track from Maladroit.

Appearances

Overview

"This is a really screwed up song we're about to play."
—Rivers Cuomo, Dortmund, Germany, 2001

"American Gigolo" was first written by Rivers Cuomo around February of 2001, and recorded by Weezer at Monster Island Studios on May 27, 2001. Another recording was made during the band's BBC Sessions the following June 23rd. Both of these sessions would feature Mikey Welsh on bass guitar and occasional backing vocals. These original recordings portrayed the song in more of a funky vibe. Many fans were later surprised to hear the song evolve into more of a heavy metal riffer as the Maladroit sessions unfolded. Early versions of the song contain lyrics that greatly resemble that of "Photograph" ("If you want it / You can have it..."), though it is unknown if this is a deliberate allusion. A "gigolo" is a male escort or social companion who is supported by a woman in a continuing relationship, often living in her residence or having to be present at her beck and call. The song's title may have been inspired by the 1980 film of the same name, but this has never been commented on. According to the Recording History, the song shares its chorus with the unreleased song "I Can't Tell You", written around the same time and also demoed at Monster Island Studios.

"American Gigolo" was performed live for the first time on June 8, 2001 in Toronto, Ontario, as well as several additional shows that month on the Euro Freak Out Tour. The song was performed sporadically in 2002 and has, to date, been played only three times following its official release on Maladroit.

Live performances

Personnel

Album version

Audio

Lyrics

Sit down, quiet everybody
We got a long way to go
I told you once before
That you better not start the show

Keep on, keep on
Keep on, keep on
Keep on, keep on
Keep on, Yeah

If you want me
You can't have me
Because you've got to
Understand me

Back off, baby I'm a loner
I got a lotta things to see
I told you once before
That you better not take it from me

Keep on, keep on
Keep on, keep on
Keep on, keep on
Keep on, Yeah

If you hate this
No, I can't blame you
Because I'm hurtin'
So I'll flame you

And I've seen this game before
My love walks right to your door
There ain't no hope for me anymore
Ha ha ha ha, yeah

If you hate this
No, I can't blame you
Because I'm hurtin'
So I'll flame you

And I've seen this game before
My love walks right to your door
There ain't no hope for me anymore
Ha ha ha ha, yeah yeah yeah

NOTE: Some later versions of the song have altered structures and lyrics. These transcriptions come from the May 5 2001 demo

Sit down, quiet everybody
We got a long way to go
I told you once before
That you better not start the show

Keep on, keep on
Keep on, keep on
Keep on, keep on
Keep on, Yeah

If you want it
You can have it
Pay your beeswax
You can grab it

Yeah
Sugar
Yeah, yeah
Sugar

Sit down, quiet everybody
We got a lot of things to see
I told you once before
That you better not take it from me

Keep on, keep on
Keep on, keep on
Keep on, keep on
Keep on

Keep on, keep on
Keep on, keep on
Keep on, keep on, yeah

If you want it
You can have it
Pay your beeswax
You can grab it

And I've seen this game before
My love comes right to your door
There ain't no hope for you anymore

Yeah
Sugar
Yeah
Sugar

Keep on, keep on
Keep on, keep on
Keep on, keep on
Keep on

If you want it
You can have it
Pay your beeswax
You can grab it

And I've seen this game before
My love comes right to your door
There ain't no hope for you anymore

Yeah
Sugar
Yeah
Sugar

Known recordings

Performer(s) Title Filename Date of recording Recording location Length Appeared on Notes
Weezer American Gigolo WEEZER-2001-05-27-American_Gigolo_281.mp3 May 27, 2001 Monster Island Studios, Washington, D.C. 2:57 Released on weezer.com
Weezer American Gigolo WEEZER-2001-12-17_01American_Gigolo_281.mp3 December 17, 2001 Cello Studios, Los Angeles, CA 2:45 Released on weezer.com
Weezer American Gigolo ? December 19, 2001 Cello Studios, Los Angeles, CA 2:48 Released on weezer.com
Weezer American Gigolo WEEZER-2001-12-22_08American_Gigolo_281.mp3 December 22, 2001 Cello Studios, Los Angeles, CA 2:49 Released on weezer.com
Weezer American Gigolo WEEZER-2001-12-29_04American_Gigolo_281.mp3 December 29, 2001 Cello Studios, Los Angeles, CA 2:48 Released on weezer.com
Weezer American Gigolo WEEZER-2001-12-30_06American_Gigolo_281.mp3 December 30, 2001 Cello Studios, Los Angeles, CA 2:40 Released on weezer.com
Weezer American Gigolo WEEZER-2002-01-01_05American_Gigolo_281.mp3 January 1, 2002 Cello Studios, Los Angeles, CA 2:42 Released on weezer.com
Weezer American Gigolo WEEZER-2002-01-03_02American_Gigolo_281.mp3 January 3, 2002 Cello Studios, Los Angeles, CA 2:42 Released on weezer.com
Weezer American Gigolo WEEZER-2002-01-12_01American_Gigolo_281.mp3 January 12, 2002 Cello Studios, Los Angeles, CA 2:46 Released on weezer.com
Weezer American Gigolo WEEZER-2002-01-20_American_Gigolo_281.mp3 January 20, 2002 Cello Studios, Los Angeles, CA 2:43 Released on weezer.com
Weezer American Gigolo WEEZER-2002-01-21_American_Gigolo_281.mp3 January 21, 2002 Cello Studios, Los Angeles, CA 2:40 Released on weezer.com
Weezer American Gigolo 2002 Cello Studios, Los Angeles, CA 2:42 Maladroit
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See also

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