Short Dick Man

This single, which involves women mocking the size of a man's penis, was also released in a censored version replacing the word "dick" with "short", along with rearranged lyrics (this version was also released under the censored title "Short Short Man").Elia Habib, Muz hit. tubes, p. 313 ({{ISBN|2-9518832-0-X}}) Co-writer Manfred Mohr told the Los Angeles Times that the point of the song was to attract attention. "We figured there were all these songs by men bashing women and treating women like sex objects. So we decided a song that turned the tables on men might attract some attention." According to the vocalist Sandra Gillette, the point of the song is to "strike back at all the women-bashing songs in pop, especially in rap."[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-02-04-ca-27901-story.html 'Short, Short Man' Attacks Big, Big Sexism] Some radio stations refused to play the song as it was deemed controversial.{{cite book|last1=Maxwell|first1=Kenneth|title=A Sexual Odyssey: From Forbidden Fruit to Cybersex|date=2013|page=77}}{{Verify source|date=December 2021}}

In 1995, Gillette performed the song live on the Brazilian children's music series Xuxa Hits, completely uncensored.{{cite web | url=https://boingboing.net/2021/07/09/these-brazilian-kids-have-no-idea-what-gillette-is-singing-in-short-dick-man.html | title=These Brazilian kids have no idea what Gillette is singing in "Short Dick Man" | date=July 9, 2021 }}

Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as a "goofy dance novelty single", adding that "comical female rants on the shortcomings of a lover are woven into a rigid groove. 'Clean' version has daintily been retitled 'Short short Man', bleeping out all blunt penis references."{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-08-27.pdf|title=Single Reviews: New and Noteworthy|magazine=Billboard|date=August 27, 1994|access-date=January 31, 2020|author-link=Larry Flick}} BuzzFeed ranked it at number 54 in their list of "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs Of the '90s" in 2017.{{cite web|first1= Matt |last1= Stopera |first2= Brian |last2= Galindo |title= The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s |website= BuzzFeed |date= March 11, 2017 |access-date= March 31, 2020 |url= https://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/jump-to-the-rhythm-jump-jump-to-the-rhythm-jump}} David Browne from Entertainment Weekly commented, "'Short Short Man' (also known as 'Short D — – Man'), with a hard, thumping beat and, er, a harder message: {{'}}You need some tweezers to put that little thing away?{{'}} Gillette taunts. Ouch! If those jibes don't hurt enough, they're followed by synthesizer bleeps of mocking laughter."{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Browne|url=https://ew.com/article/1995/02/17/current-radio-hits/|title=Current radio hits|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=January 17, 1995|access-date=February 23, 2020|author-link=David Browne (journalist)}}

Robbie Daw from Idolator said it "became a dance-crossover sensation — due, largely, to attention-grabbing lyrics like these: {{'}}That has got to be the smallest dick I have ever seen in my whole life / Get the fuck outta here!{{Single+double}} He added, "In many ways, the song played at the time like the female response to hits by male artists that objectified women, such as 'Rump Shaker' and 'Bump N' Grind' — and the music-buying masses, er, grabbed on tightly, thanks to slightly-edited (read: cleaned up) version, 'Short short Man', being put into heavy rotation."{{cite web|author=Daw, Robbie|title=The 50 Best Pop Singles Of 1994 (Featuring New Interviews With Ace Of Base, TLC, Lisa Loeb, Real McCoy & Haddaway)|work=Idolator|date=November 20, 2014|access-date=April 7, 2020|url=https://www.idolator.com/7569924/50-best-pop-singles-1994-interview-ace-of-base-tlc-lisa-loeb-real-mccoy-haddaway|archive-date=September 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925070810/https://www.idolator.com/7569924/50-best-pop-singles-1994-interview-ace-of-base-tlc-lisa-loeb-real-mccoy-haddaway|url-status=dead}} Andy Beevers from Music Week rated it three out of five, adding that "this house track features a fiercely funny verbal assault that leaves little to imagination." He also concluded: "The track is not likely to get any radio play, but has been making up for it with plenty of club exposure."{{cite magazine|first= Andy |last= Beevers |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-11-12.pdf |title= Market Preview: Dance |magazine= Music Week |date= November 12, 1994 |page= 15 |access-date= April 22, 2021}}

James Hamilton from their RM Dance Update described it as a "hilarious bitchy comments prodded sparse bouncily jolting" song.{{cite magazine|first= James |last= Hamilton |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-11-19.pdf |title= Dj directory |magazine= Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= November 19, 1994 |page= 11 |access-date= April 22, 2021 |author-link= James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)}} Wendi Cermak from The Network Forty wrote that "a throbbing base line that's not bogged down by over-production complements the eloquent - and slightly politically incorrect - vocals."{{cite magazine|first=Wendi|last=Cermak|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-Network-40/94/Network-40-1994-06-24.pdf|title=Crossover|magazine=The Network Forty|date=June 24, 1994|page=26|access-date=March 29, 2020}} Also Pete Stanton from Smash Hits gave it three out of five, saying, "Annoying beat, strange quirky noises, and the dodgiest lyrics in town. Let's just say it's about some girl complaining about some fella's tidgy widger."{{cite magazine|first= Pete |last= Stanton |url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/smashhits90s/36233920571/in/album-72157683762016282/ |title= New Singles |magazine= Smash Hits |date= November 9, 1994 |page= 53 |access-date= April 27, 2021}}

"Short Dick Man" proved to be successful on the charts all over the world, peaking at number two on the RPM Dance/Urban chart in Canada and number three on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in the United States. In Europe, the single went to number-one in both France and Italy. It entered the top 10 also in Austria (6), Belgium (6), Germany (3) and the Netherlands (7), as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it peaked at number seven. Additionally, "Short Dick Man" was a top 20 hit in Scotland (14) and the United Kingdom. In the latter, it peaked at number eleven in its second run at the UK Singles Chart, on September 24, 1995.{{cite web|title=Official Singles Chart Top 100 24 September 1995 - 30 September 1995|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19950924/7501/|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=September 17, 2020}} But on the UK Dance Chart, it was an even bigger hit, reaching number three. In Oceania, the single charted at number four and seven in Australia and New Zealand. On the US Billboard Hot 100, it reached number 14, while on the Canadian The Record singles chart, it reached number six.

"Short Dick Man" earned a gold record in Germany and the US, with a sale of 250,000 and 500,000 singles, and a silver record

in France, when 125,000 units were sold there.

A music video was made for "Short Dick Man", directed by Daniel Zirilli.{{cite web|url=https://imvdb.com/video/gillette/short-short-man|title=Short Short Man (1994) by Gillette|date=November 30, 2001 |publisher=IMVDb.com|access-date=October 18, 2018}}

In 1995, the song was covered by Machito Ponce and Diamanda Turbin as "Short Dick Man (¡Ponte A Brincar!)".{{cite news|title=Machito Ponce, un exponente del retro|url=https://diariohoy.net/espectaculos/machito-ponce-un-exponente-del-retro-89798|date=February 25, 2017|access-date=September 27, 2018|work=Diario Hoy|language=es}} In 2007, the song was covered by Laurent Wolf, featuring Marilyn David. This 3:35 version is available on several compilations, such as Été 2007Été 2007, track listing and charts [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?titel=%C9t%E9+2007&cat=a Lescharts.com] (Retrieved September 24, 2008) and Contact Play & Dance vol. 4.Contact Play & Dance Vol. 4, track listing [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?titel=Contact+Play+%26+Dance+Vol.+4&cat=a Lescharts.com] (Retrieved September 24, 2008)

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• CD single

1. "Short Dick Man" (radio mix) — 3:16
2. "Short Dick Man" (J.J. energy mix radio edit) — 3:20

• CD maxi

1. "Short Dick Man" (Radio Mix) — 3:21
2. "Short Dick Man" (Bass Mix) — 4:54
3. "Short Dick Man" (Jazzy Mix) — 4:51
4. "Short Dick Man" (Accapella) — 4:23
5. "Short Dick Man" (Club Mix) — 4:50
6. "Short Dick Man" (J.J. Energy Mix) — 4:39
7. "Short Dick Man" (Insane Mix) — 5:07
8. "Short Dick Man" (Dub Mix) — 2:41

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• 12-inch maxi

1. "Short Dick Man" (club mix) — 4:48
2. "Short Dick Man" (a cappella) — 4:17
3. "Short Dick Man" (bass mix) — 4:51
4. "Short Dick Man" (radio edit) — 3:16

• CD maxi - Italian remixes

1. "Short Dick Man" (heavy dick version) — 10:33
2. "Short Dick Man" (aladino remix) — 5:04
3. "Short Dick Man" (pagany "the sound" remix) — 6:10
4. "Short Dick Man" (Ti.Pi.Cal. planet remix) — 8:33
5. "Short Dick Man" (unity 3 bip remix) — 6:01
6. "Short Dick DJ" (Old Betsy - NoiseLab Crew remix) — 4:29

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• Written by Charlie Babie and Manfred Mohr
• Vocals by Gillette
• Mastered by Mark Richardson, at Metropolis Mastering, Chicago
• Produced by Charlie Babie
• Mixed by Onofrio Lollino and J.J. Flores
• Published by Tango Rose Music (ASCAP)
• Distributed by ID Records, 1994

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20 Fingers version

Machito Ponce version

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{{certification Table Entry|region=France|title=Short Dick Man|type=single|artist=20 Fingers|award=Silver|certyear=1995|relyear=1995}}

{{certification Table Entry|region=Germany|title=Short Dick Man|type=single|artist=20 Fingers|award=Gold|relyear=1995}}

{{certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Short Short Man|type=single|artist=20 Fingers featuring Gillette|award=Gold|relyear=1995|note=for Short, Short Man|certyear=1995}}

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• List of French number-one hits of 1995

{{Reflist}}

{{20 Fingers}}

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Category:1994 debut singles

Category:1994 songs

Category:20 Fingers songs

Category:Multiply Records singles

Category:Novelty songs

Category:Number-one singles in Italy

Category:Obscenity controversies in music

Category:SNEP Top Singles number-one singles

Category:Zoo Entertainment (record label) singles

Category:ZYX Music singles