Nasty Girl

Album: Vanity 6 (1982)
Charted: 101
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Vanity 6 was a female trio Prince put together to showcase his girlfriend, Denise Matthews. The pair met at the American Music Awards in 1980 and began dating. A Canadian who made her way to Los Angeles, Matthews was a model, not a singer. This didn't deter Prince, since for what he had in mind, the look was more important than the sound.

    Prince named Matthews "Vanity" (he wanted to name her "Vagina" and pronounce it "Va-jeana," but she nixed the idea) and teamed her up with two of his other female associates, Brenda Bennett and Susan Moonsie, to form the group. Using his associated group The Time as backing musicians, Prince produced their self-titled album, which was released in 1982. "Nasty Girl" was released as a single and made #101 in America. The group opened for Prince on his tour later that year, performing a short set while wearing lingerie.
  • This song is clearly about sex, with the girls playing coy to lure a man into their little nasty world. In the end, they're disappointed, as his love doesn't last. "Wake me when you're done," they tell him. "I guess you'll be the only one having fun."
  • The spoken interlude on this song represents the lovemaking, although it also relates to dancing. After all, it could be a 7-inch record she needs.
  • Prince put the Vanity 6 project together in the spring and summer of 1982, after he finished touring for his fourth album, Controversy. During this time, he also worked on his 1999 album and oversaw the second album by The Time, What Time Is It?

    "Nasty Girl" is in line with what Prince was doing at the time, with extremely sexual lyrics and smooth funk beats.
  • After the Vanity 6 album was released, Prince and Vanity had a falling out and he replaced her with Apollonia - another one-named protégé - and re-named them Apollonia 6. He also gave Apollonia the female lead in his movie Purple Rain, which was originally Vanity's role. Vanity eventually became a born-again Christian, and renounced the highly sexual nature of her early work. She died in 2016, two months before Prince passed away. Both were 57 when they died.
  • Beyoncé performed part of this song on her 2016 Formation tour as part of a tribute to Prince.

Comments: 4

  • Laura from Springfield, PaDo you think I'm a nasty girl? But more importantly do you expect me to be okay with you touching every bottle in my licensee store?
  • Dave from Oak Park, MiEh, get "Make Love To Me" by an obscure Male/Female duet group, Fire & Rain (Manny Friesen and Pat McCarron)instead.
    Available on their 20th Century LP, LIVING TOGETHER or available as a Longer Version on a '45', where just Pat sings--Moans, Groans, Wails and all!
  • Nelson from MelbourneI forgot to mention that Britney Spears sampled the beat from this track for her song "I'm a Slave for you". You only have to listen to the first two bars to hear this.
  • Nelson from MelbourneVanity 6 was a group created by Prince. He initially wanted to call them 'The Hookers' and have them dressed on stage in lingerie singing erotic songs. When Prince finalised the group he renamed them to Vanity 6 (the 6 represented the group's breast count) and they did go on to dress in lingerie and sing sensual songs.
    Nasty Girl was covered by Inaya Day in 2005.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Wolfgang Van Halen

Wolfgang Van HalenSongwriter Interviews

Wolfgang Van Halen breaks down the songs on his debut album, Mammoth WVH, and names the definitive Van Halen songs from the Sammy and Dave eras.

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The Kingdom

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The KingdomSongwriter Interviews

The Bush frontman on where he finds inspiration for lyrics, if his "machine head" is a guitar tuner, and the stories behind songs from the album The Kingdom.