Sugar Walls

{{Infobox song

| name = Sugar Walls

| cover = Sugar Walls single cover.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| B-side = Straight Talking

| released = December 1984 (US){{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZSQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA19 |page=19 |title=Hot 100 Singles Radio Action |date=22 December 1984 |magazine=Billboard |volume=96 |number=51 |issn=0006-2510}}
March 1985 (UK){{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1985/Music-Week-1985-03-09.pdf|title=Music Week}}

| recorded = January 20–21, 1984

| studio =

| genre =

Dance-pop{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: Sheena Easton's "Morning Train (Nine to Five) |website= Stereogum |date= May 4, 2020 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/2083071/the-number-ones-sheena-eastons-morning-train-nine-to-five/columns/the-number-ones/ |quote= Prince, the circa-1984 king of funky dance-pop, took an interest, and he wrote Easton’s remarkably horny single “Sugar Walls"...|accessdate= July 19, 2023}}
funk{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: Sheena Easton's "Morning Train (Nine to Five) |website= Stereogum |date= May 4, 2020 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/2083071/the-number-ones-sheena-eastons-morning-train-nine-to-five/columns/the-number-ones/ |quote= Prince, the circa-1984 king of funky dance-pop, took an interest, and he wrote Easton’s remarkably horny single “Sugar Walls"...|accessdate= July 19, 2023}}
R&B{{cite book|last=McGarrity|first=Andre|chapter= Sheena Easton|editor-last1=Graff|editor-first1=Gary|editor-last2=du Lac|editor-first2=Josh|editor-last3=McFarlin|editor-first3=Jim|date=January 1, 1998|title=MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide|publisher=Visible Ink Press|location=Detroit|pages=190-193}}

| length = 4:01

| label = EMI

| writer = Prince (as Alexander Nevermind)

| producer = Greg Mathieson, Prince

| prev_title = Strut

| prev_year = 1984

| next_title = Swear

| next_year = 1985

}}

"Sugar Walls" is the second single from Sheena Easton's 1984 album A Private Heaven. It spent 16 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, nine of which were in the top 40. It reached number 9 on the Hot 100,{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/sheena-easton/chart-history/hsi/|title=Sheena Easton|magazine=Billboard}} number 3 on the R&B chart{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/sheena-easton/chart-history/bsi/|title=Sheena Easton|magazine=Billboard}} and number 1 on the Dance chart.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/sheena-easton/chart-history/dsa/|title=Sheena Easton|magazine=Billboard}} The song did not chart in Easton's native UK. The music was credited to Alexander Nevermind, a pseudonym used by Prince.{{cite web|url=http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sheena-easton-sets-a-billboard-chart-record-when-quotsugar-wallsquot-becomes-a-top-10-rb-hit |title=Sheena Easton sets a Billboard chart record when "Sugar Walls" becomes a Top 10 R&B hit|publisher=History.com |date= |accessdate=2021-02-24|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308020028/http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sheena-easton-sets-a-billboard-chart-record-when-quotsugar-wallsquot-becomes-a-top-10-rb-hit|archivedate=8 March 2010}}

"Sugar Walls" was given a special release on 13 April 2019, as a 12-inch single picture disc pressing by RT Industries (Razor & Tie), for 2019 National Record Store Day.

Background

The song title is presumed to be a euphemism for the lining of a vagina, and the general content was considered suggestive enough to qualify the song for the "Filthy Fifteen".{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=11358 |title=Sheena Easton: She's Got the Look - 1424 - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News - Windy City Times |publisher=Windycitymediagroup.com |date= 3 May 2006|accessdate=2013-07-28}}{{cite web | title=Philadelphia Inquirer: Search Results | website=archive.is | date=2013-07-28 | url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB2994C20BEF5D8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130728091201/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB2994C20BEF5D8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | url-status=dead | archive-date=2013-07-28 | access-date=2021-05-06}}{{cite web|author=|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1987/11/25/rock-lyrics-seem-less-objectionable-during-a-campaign/ |title=Rock Lyrics Seem Less Objectionable During A Campaign - Chicago Tribune |publisher=Articles.chicagotribune.com |date=1987-11-25 |access-date=2013-07-28}} Although Easton's music video for "Sugar Walls" did not feature any controversial visual content, some broadcasters refused the video airplay because of the sexual imagery of the song's lyrics. Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart and Tipper Gore's PMRC criticised the song when it was first released.{{Cite web|url=https://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/night_and_day/jennings-sheena-easton-three-dog-night-highlight-weekend/article_7a98579b-f7e5-5e6c-afba-9caa57ad8c3e.html|title=JENNINGS: Sheena Easton, Three Dog Night highlight weekend|first=Thom|last=Jennings|website=Niagara Gazette|date=25 September 2014 }}

Prince came up with the track after having been introduced to Sheena Easton through their engineer, David Leonard. Easton was a fan of Prince, and asked Leonard to see if Prince would be willing to work with her after watching her performance on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson". At the time, Prince was working on mixing "Ice Cream Castle" for The Time, but once Leonard told him of Easton, Prince watched her performance of "Hard to Say It's Over" on the show and liked it.

Prince spent the next day recording the instrumental track and a guide vocal to send to Easton. Prince then supervised the recording of her vocals, and they both enjoyed working together a lot. Their work on this track sparked future collaborations between the two, on Prince's singles "U Got the Look" and "The Arms of Orion".

Personnel

Credits sourced from Duane Tudahl.{{cite book|last=Tudahl |first=Duane |date=2018 |title=Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions: 1983 and 1984 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=9781538116432 |edition=Expanded }}

Sheena Easton – lead and backing vocals
Prince – backing vocal, synthesizers, electric guitar, Linn LM-1

Charts

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Weekly chart performance for "Sugar Walls" ! Chart (1985) ! Peak position
scope="row"\| Australia (Kent Music Report){{Cite book\|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992\|last=Kent\|first=David\|authorlink=David Kent (historian)\|publisher=Australian Chart Book\|location=St Ives, NSW\|year=1993\|isbn=0-646-11917-6 }} \| 87
scope="row"\|Canada (The Record){{cite book\|author=Nanda Lwin\|author-link=Nanda Lwin\|title=Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide\|publisher=Music Data Canada\|year=1999\|isbn=1-896594-13-1}} \| 20
{{single chart\|Canadatopsingles\|27\|chartid=9647\|rowheader=true\|access-date=27 March 2025}}
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|30\|artist=Sheena Easton\|song=Sugar Walls\|rowheader=true\|access-date=13 May 2021}}
{{single chart\|UK\|95\|date=19850331\|rowheader=true\|access-date=13 May 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|9\|artist=Sheena Easton\|rowheader=true\|access-date=13 May 2021}}
scope="row"\| US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-dance-singles-sales/1985-02-09/\|title=Dance Singles Sales\|magazine=Billboard\|date=9 February 1985\|access-date=27 March 2025}} \| 1
scope="row"\| US Hot Black Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-songs/1985-03-09/\|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs\|magazine=Billboard\|date=9 March 1985\|url-access=subscription\|access-date=27 March 2025}} \| 3
scope="row"\| US Hot Dance/Disco (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-club-play-songs/1985-02-23/\|title=Dance Club Songs\|magazine=Billboard\|date=23 February 1985\|access-date=27 March 2025}} \| 1
scope="row"\| US Cash Box Top 100{{cite magazine\|title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles\|magazine=Cash Box\|volume=XLVIII\|issue=39\|page=4\|date=9 March 1985}} \| 5
{{single chart\|West Germany\|57\|artist=Sheena Easton\|song=Sugar Walls\|songid=19329\|rowheader=true\|access-date=13 May 2021}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Weekly chart performance for "Sugar Walls"

! Chart (1985)

! Peak
position

scope="row"| Australia (Kent Music Report){{Cite book|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|last=Kent|first=David|authorlink=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, NSW|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6 }}

| 87

scope="row"|Canada (The Record){{cite book|author=Nanda Lwin|author-link=Nanda Lwin|title=Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide|publisher=Music Data Canada|year=1999|isbn=1-896594-13-1}}

| 20

{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|27|chartid=9647|rowheader=true|access-date=27 March 2025}}

{{single chart|New Zealand|30|artist=Sheena Easton|song=Sugar Walls|rowheader=true|access-date=13 May 2021}}

{{single chart|UK|95|date=19850331|rowheader=true|access-date=13 May 2021}}

{{single chart|Billboardhot100|9|artist=Sheena Easton|rowheader=true|access-date=13 May 2021}}

scope="row"| US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-dance-singles-sales/1985-02-09/|title=Dance Singles Sales|magazine=Billboard|date=9 February 1985|access-date=27 March 2025}}

| 1

scope="row"| US Hot Black Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-songs/1985-03-09/|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|magazine=Billboard|date=9 March 1985|url-access=subscription|access-date=27 March 2025}}

| 3

scope="row"| US Hot Dance/Disco (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-club-play-songs/1985-02-23/|title=Dance Club Songs|magazine=Billboard|date=23 February 1985|access-date=27 March 2025}}

| 1

scope="row"| US Cash Box Top 100{{cite magazine|title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles|magazine=Cash Box|volume=XLVIII|issue=39|page=4|date=9 March 1985}}

| 5

{{single chart|West Germany|57|artist=Sheena Easton|song=Sugar Walls|songid=19329|rowheader=true|access-date=13 May 2021}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Year-end chart performance for "Sugar Walls" ! Chart (1985) ! Rank
scope="row"\| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine\|title=1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles\|magazine=Billboard\|volume=97\|issue=52\|page=T-21\|date=28 December 1985}} \| 100
scope="row"\| US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard){{cite magazine\|title=1985 The Year in Music & Video\|magazine=Billboard\|volume=97\|issue=52\|page=T-21\|date=28 December 1985}} \| 19
scope="row"\| US Dance/Disco Club Play (Billboard) \| 16
scope="row"\| US Cash Box Top 100{{cite magazine\|title=Year End Polls – 1985: Top 100 Singles\|magazine=Cash Box\|volume=XLIX\|issue=29\|page=43\|date=28 December 1985}} \| 48

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Year-end chart performance for "Sugar Walls"

! Chart (1985)

! Rank

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|title=1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles|magazine=Billboard|volume=97|issue=52|page=T-21|date=28 December 1985}}

| 100

scope="row"| US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=1985 The Year in Music & Video|magazine=Billboard|volume=97|issue=52|page=T-21|date=28 December 1985}}

| 19

scope="row"| US Dance/Disco Club Play (Billboard)

| 16

scope="row"| US Cash Box Top 100{{cite magazine|title=Year End Polls – 1985: Top 100 Singles|magazine=Cash Box|volume=XLIX|issue=29|page=43|date=28 December 1985}}

| 48

Popular culture

The song was covered by Rachel Lester during her infamous audition on the fourth series of The X Factor in 2007.{{Cite web|url=https://talentrecap.com/simon-cowell-calls-this-the-worst-x-factor-audition/|title=Simon Cowell Calls THIS The Worst 'X Factor' Audition|date=24 April 2021 |accessdate=10 January 2022}}