"A Love Bizarre" is a song recorded by Sheila E., and written by Prince and Sheila E. The song is a duet between both singers and it appears on Sheila E.'s 1985 album Romance 1600. It clocks in at 12:16, but the single version is 3:46 in duration. It made its debut in the music movie Krush Groove.

"A Love Bizarre"
Single by Sheila E.
from the album Romance 1600
B-side"A Love Bizarre (Part II)", "Save the People"
ReleasedNovember 1985
Recorded1984–1985
GenreR&B, funk
Length12:18 (album version)
3:46 (single version)
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Prince, Sheila E.[1]
Producer(s)Prince, Sheila E.
Sheila E. singles chronology
"Sister Fate"
(1985)
"A Love Bizarre"
(1985)
"Holly Rock"
(1986)

The song was a major hit and reached number one on the Urban radio airplay and Dance/Club play charts.[2] On other American charts, "A Love Bizarre" went to number 2 on the US R&B charts and number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and pop radio airplay charts.[3] The German 12" single release is backed by the B-side "Save the People" which also served as the B-side for her previous single "Sister Fate". She performed the song as part of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band during their 2001, 2003 and 2006 tours.

Music video

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The club scene from Krush Groove in which Sheila E. and her band are performing the song was used for the majority of the music video with a few scenes from the film edited in. The music video uses the song's single edit.

Formats and track listings

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US 7"

  1. "A Love Bizarre" – 3:46
  2. "A Love Bizarre (Part II)" – 3:50

US 12" promo

  1. "A Love Bizarre" (LP version) – 12:18
  2. "A Love Bizarre" (edit) – 3:46

German 12"

  1. "A Love Bizarre (Parts I and II)" – 7:36
  2. "Save the People" – 8:28

Personnel

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Credits from Duane Tudahl and Benoît Clerc[4][5]

  • Sheila E. – lead & backing vocals, percussion
  • Prince – lead and backing vocals, keyboards, Yamaha DX7, electric guitars, bass guitar, LinnDrum
  • Eddie M. – saxophone, backing vocals
  • Juan Escovedo – percussion
  • Steph Birnbaum, Susie Davis, & Jerome Benton – backing vocals

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Weekly chart performance for "A Love Bizarre"
Chart (1985–1986) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[6] 14
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] 9
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[9] 16
UK Singles Chart[10] 76
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 11
US Billboard Hot Black Singles[12] 2
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[13] 1
West Germany (GfK)[14] 4

Year-end charts

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Year-end chart performance for "A Love Bizarre"
Chart (1986) Rank
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[15] 83

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ascap entry for song[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 232.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 522.
  4. ^ Tudahl, Duane (2021). Prince and the Parade and Sign O' The Times Era Studio Sessions 1985 and 1986. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781538144527.
  5. ^ Clerc, Benoît (October 2022). Prince: All the Songs. Octopus. ISBN 9781784728816.
  6. ^ "Sheila E. – A Love Bizarre" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  7. ^ "Sheila E. – A Love Bizarre" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  8. ^ "Sheila E. – A Love Bizarre" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  9. ^ "Sheila E. – A Love Bizarre". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  10. ^ "a love bizarre | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  11. ^ "Sheila E. Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  12. ^ "Sheila E. Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  13. ^ "Sheila E. Chart History: Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  14. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Sheila E. – A Love Bizarre" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  15. ^ "1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. Nielsen Business Media. December 27, 1986. p. Y-21.