And I always used to take your song, ‘Dude (Looks Like a Lady)’.” “I said to Steven, ‘I have had some really, really tough times in my life. Upon seeing Tyler perform, Jenner said she was compelled to go backstage, say hello, and tell the musician how much one of his songs had meant to her.Īfter telling Kimmel that before she publicly came out as a trans woman in 2015, her life was full of “secrets” and “hiding,” she recalled her conversation with Tyler: Jenner revealed that the photo was taken “two nights ago” during a fundraiser in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Then, during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live later that day, Jenner, who is a trans woman, told the story behind the snapshot and how she first came to view “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)” as her “theme song.” One of my favorite songs!Ī post shared by Caitlyn Jenner on at 9:53am PDT For full video interviews with all of our subjects, visit I are working on our duet for Dude Looks Like a Lady. In partnership with Nashville Songwriters Association International, the "Story Behind the Song" video interview series features Nashville-connected songwriters discussing one of their compositions. I was kind of trying to sink into my chair … but it touched me so much that he took that moment, in front of our whole community, to thank me. And he starts telling everybody how much I mean to him and to his band. Suddenly he's thanking everybody, and he stops at me. I was there, and I was sitting next to Ashley Judd, and I was feeling like a king. I know you still see Steven from time to time.ĭC: Yes, and last year he was honored at the Schermerhorn, at this charity ball, and he was thanking people from the stage. I love that.īH: They had to be appreciative of your input on that song and what it meant to their career. In fact, I had one of the workers in my house, one of the construction guys, say, "Oh you wrote that song 'Do a naked lady' " and I said, "No, ‘Dude looks like a lady.’ ” He had made up his own story. And that's one of the great things about songwriting. BUT in this case, he goes with it … and then in the second verse, he says, "Never judge a book by its cover/ or who you're going to love by your lover."īH: And part of the genius of that - it can be applied the way it needs to be applied in every individual listener's mind?ĭC: That's true. So, I hoodwinked them into telling this story about this regular guy that goes into the strip joint and sees this gorgeous blonde up on the stage, falls in love, goes backstage, and then the truth is revealed. He said, "But we don't know what that means."Īnd I said, "I know what that means." I'm gay, I understand what that means. That's a hit!" And Joe, already his arms are crossed and he's looking down at me. He could have responded differently …ĭC: Well, I said, "Dude looks like a lady is fantastic. You told him that the lyric was horrible. They were like, "Oh my God,” and then Steven started saying, "That dude looks like a lady!" And that's where it was born.īH: You know what I love about you? You're as honest as the day is long. And suddenly she turns around, and it's Vince Neil of Motley Crue. They were all drawing straws as to who was going to go up and say hello. It was kind of an empty club, and at the very end of the bar was this gorgeous, very curvy big blonde with all the black nails, beautiful skin and everything. He told the story of having gone to a nightclub with all his roadies. The contrast of opposites, the tension of the opposites is very important in all art. Steven, who's a very sweet soul and kind of a people pleaser, said, "Well, you know, originally I was singing, ‘Dude looks like a lady.' " I went, "What?! Dude looks like a lady?!"īart Herbison: You’re known for juxtaposition - sort of opposing ideas in a song title.ĭC: That's right. I thought I was gonna be escorted out by the roadies. … He started singing “Cruisin’ for the ladies,” and I looked at him and I said, "That's really bad." I was pushed into it by their A&R man, the legendary John Kalodner. They did not want to write with an outside writer. Soon, Tyler revealed the title he really wanted to use, "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)," and the trio had a strutting, risque - and accepting - hit on their hands.Ĭhild told the Story Behind the Song to Bart Herbison of Nashville Songwriters Association International.ĭesmond Child: The very first day I met Aerosmith, I flew to Boston. But their collaborator, Desmond Child - whom they'd just met - didn't hide his disgust. That's the working title frontman Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry had for a catchy tune they were working up. Watch Video: Story Behind the Song: 'Dude (Looks Like a Lady)'Īerosmith has had well over a dozen hits, but "Cruisin' for the Ladies" was never going to be one of them.
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