Artwork for US and some other territorial releases
Single by Ready for the World
from the album Ready for the World
B-side
"I'm the One Who Loves You"
Released
1985 (1985)
Genre
Synth-funk[1]
electropop[2]
Length
4:00 (album version)
3:36 (single version)
Label
MCA
Songwriter(s)
Melvin Riley Jr.
Gordon Strozier
Gerald Valentine
Producer(s)
Ready for the World
Ready for the World singles chronology
"Deep Inside Your Love" (1985)
"Oh Sheila" (1985)
"Digital Display" (1985)
Music video
"Oh Sheila” on YouTube
"Oh Sheila" is a song by American R&B band Ready for the World. Released as a single in 1985, it reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, and the Billboard Hot Dance/Disco Club Play chart. It was the first of two chart toppers for the band on the Billboard R&B chart, preceding their 1986 number-one R&B hit "Love You Down".
The song is commonly misattributed to Prince, due to the similarities to his vocal and musical style, heavy use of the detuned rimshot sound of a drum machine, and the belief that the song's lyrics allude to frequent Prince collaborator Sheila E.[3][4]
The use of a faux British accent during parts of the song was the preference of singer Melvin Riley Jr., who said "I like that kind of accent, so I thought I'd use that sound."[5]
^Breihan, Tom. "The Number Ones: Ready for the World's "Oh Sheila"". Stereogum. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
^Smith, Troy L. (13 May 2021). "Every No. 1 song of the 1980s ranked from worst to best". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
^"The Prince Hit That Wasn't a Prince Hit". Grammy.com. The Recording Academy. May 12, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
^DeKnock, Jan (October 13, 1985). "Ready For the World on Top with Prince-like 'Oh Sheila'". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
^Jackson, Dana (December 5, 1985). "This Group's Finally Ready for the World". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
"OhSheila" is a song by American R&B band Ready for the World. Released as a single in 1985, it reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, the Billboard...
to late 1980s. They were founded by Melvin Riley and Gordon Strozier. OhSheila! Ready for the World's Greatest Hits (1993, MCA Records) 20th Century...
Ready for the World's second R&B chart-topper, following the success of "OhSheila" in 1985. It also reached #24 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart...
(Li Da Di)" 1999 Angel City featuring Lara McAllen The Netherlands, United Kingdom "Love Me Right (OhSheila)" 1999 Eiffel 65 Italy "Blue (Da Ba Dee)"...
His influence is evident in songs ranging from Ready for the World's 'OhSheila' to Fine Young Cannibals' 'She Drives Me Crazy.'" Walters hailed it as...
Sheila Frances Steafel (26 May 1935 – 23 August 2019) was a British actress, who was born in Johannesburg, but lived all her adult life in the United Kingdom...
"Money for Nothing" Dire Straits September 28 October 5 579 October 12 "OhSheila" Ready for the World 580 October 19 "Take On Me" a-ha 581 October 26 "Saving...
with "Save Your Love (For #1)" in July, and Ready for the World with "OhSheila" in September. Both Houston and Jackson achieved a second chart-topper...
Sheila Beryl Grant Sim, Baroness Attenborough (5 June 1922 – 19 January 2016) was an English film and theatre actress. She was also the wife of the actor...
Sheila Diana Ferguson (born October 8, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and author, who has worked primarily in the United Kingdom. Between...
"Nightshift" – The Commodores "Nikita" – Elton John "Obsession" – Animotion "OhSheila" – Ready for the World "The Old Man Down The Road" – John Fogerty "One...
World formed in Flint in 1982. They had a Billboard Hot 100 #1 song with "OhSheila" in 1985. Country music, especially in the Metro Detroit area, is massively...
Love for You" – Whitney Houston "Freeway of Love" – Aretha Franklin "OhSheila" – Ready For The World Favorite Soul/R&B Male Video Artist Stevie Wonder...
(Exo album), 2015 "Love Me Right" (song), by Exo, 2015 "Love Me Right (OhSheila)", by Angel City, 1999 "Love Me Right", a song by Gretta Ray from the...
Sheila Ann Martin (née Cowan; born July 31, 1943) is the wife of Paul Martin, who served as the 21st Prime Minister of Canada from December 12, 2003, to...
Sheila James Kuehl (born February 9, 1941) is an American politician and retired actress, and served as the member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors...
Sheila Mary Florance (24 July 1916 – 12 October 1991) was an Australian theatre, television and film actress. She played numerous roles in the Crawford...
Oh. Sandra Oh as Jasmine Charlotte Ayanna as Jessie Kristin Bauer as Nico W. Earl Brown as Bobby Daryl Hannah as Angel Chris Hogan as Dennis Sheila Kelley...
Know (I Go Crazy)" #8 (Boss Records, 2004) Angel City – "Love Me Right (OhSheila)" #11 (Boss Records, 2003) Angel City – "Sunrise" #9 (Boss Records, 2004)...
Global Information