Gillette (singer)

Sandra Gillette (born September 16, 1974), better known by her mononyms Sandra and Gillette, is an American dance and hip hop artist, rapper and actress active in mid-1990s and early 2000s.

Gillette
Birth name	Sandra Gillette
Also known as	Gillette
Born	September 16, 1974 New Jersey, US
Origin	Romeoville, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Dance, hip hop
Occupation(s)	Singer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1994–2004
Associated acts	20 Fingers

Life and career

1974–1994: Early life and "Short Dick Man"

Gillette was born in New Jersey to a Puerto Rican mother and Mexican father and grew up in Chicago and Houston, singing and rapping her way through the 1990s. Sandra Gillette graduated from Romeoville High School in 1992. On August 31, 1994, Gillette released, alongside producers 20 Fingers, and her manager/sister, Yolanda Gillette their first single "Short Dick Man" on Zoo Entertainment/SOS Records, which was controversial. The tune was a global success, particularly in France where it was a number one hit for three weeks. It peaked the top 5 in several European countries such as Italy and Germany and also reached the top ten in other countries, including Austria, Belgium, New Zealand and Australia. It also reached number 14 in the U.S. and was considered a club success there. This single, which involves Gillette mocking the size of a man's penis, was also released in a clean version replacing the word "dick" with "short", which was also released under the censored title "Short, Short Man" in the U.K. and several other countries. This new version, remixed by Strike, reached No. 11, whereas the original only reached No. 21 in the UK Singles Chart in 1994.[1] Manny Mohr of 20 Fingers told the Los Angeles Times that the point of the song was to attract attention. "We figured there were all these songs by men bashing women and treating women like sex objects. So we decided a song that turned the tables on men might attract some attention".[2] According to Gillette, the point of the song is to "strike back at all the women-bashing songs in pop, especially in rap". The music video images Gillette singing "Short Dick Man" or "Short Short Man" on a beach and other places alternate with those of a brawny man performing a photo session.

1994–1999: "On the Attack" and "Shake Your Money Maker"

After the massive global success of "Short Dick Man", the producers of 20 Fingers decided to release a full Gillette solo album, called "On the Attack"[3] in Brazil, Canada, Scandinavia, Australia, Japan, Portugal, Chile, South Korea, U.S. and other selected countries, while in Poland and Germany, they released it as a 20 Fingers debut studio album, still credited as "20 Fingers feat. Gillette", retitled "On the Attack and More", an altered cover art and two bonus tracks. 20 Fingers continued to release the singles "Mr. Personality" and "You're a Dog" under the name "20 Fingers feat. Gillette" in Poland and Germany, while as Gillette solo releases everywhere else. In 1996, Gillette released her second studio album Shake Your Money Maker, again fully produced by 20 Fingers, and its three single releases "Do Fries Go With That Shake?", "Bounce" and "Shake Your Money Maker" in 1996 and 1997. The album and the three singles did not chart well.

2000–2004: "Did I Say That?" and Peekaboo Revue

In 2000, 20 Fingers wrote and produced the song "Sex Tonight" of Gillette's third solo album "Did I Say That",[4] which was the first and only release out of the album and became a minor club hit in the U.S.[5] Gillette was cast in several independent films and in 2004, she co-founded a Cabaret group called the Peekaboo Revue. After a year of performances, the group eventually went their own ways. Gillette has been retired from rapping and acting ever since.

Artistry

Musical style

Musically, through the productions of 20 Fingers, Gillette's music is known for her monotone, heavy beats, sounds and melodies. They mix dance with hip-hop, pop, rock, rap and europop, which was popular in Europe, Oceania and South America in the 1990s. The vocals are very simple and catchy arranged. Lyrically her songs do not always follow a traditional verse-chorus structure, such as in "Short Dick Man", with minimalistic vocals and often use simple vocal repeating which led her songs to high recognition. The lyrics were distinguished by the humorous or risque lyrics, which were often sexually explicit, and often led the songs to get controversial and have a Parental Advisory warning label.

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Details	Peak chart positions		Info
		AUT [6]	GER [7]
On the Attack	Release date: December 20, 1994 Label: BMG Formats: CD, Cassette	24	26	Debut studio album by Gillette. Released as 20 Fingers' debut album in 1995, retitled On the Attack and More in Poland and Germany.
Shake Your Money Maker	Release date: May 21, 1996 Label: BMG Formats: CD	—	—	Second studio album by Gillette. Produced by 20 Fingers and features the singles "Do Fries Go with That Shake?", "Bounce" and "Shake Your Money Maker".
Did I Say That?	Release date: October 3, 2000 Label: Jellybean Recordings Formats: CD	—	—	Third and to date final studio album by Gillette. It features the single "Sex Tonight". The full album was not officially released.
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions										Certifications (sales thresholds)	Album
		US	AUT [8]	BEL (Fl) [9]	BEL (Wa) [10]	FRA [11]	GER [12]	ITA [13]	NED [14]	NZ [15]	UK [1]
1994	"Short Dick Man" (featuring 20 Fingers)	14	6	10	6	1	3	1	7	7	11	RIAA: Gold[16] BVMI: Gold[17] SNEP: Silver[18]	On the Attack
1995	"Mr. Personality"[lower-alpha 1]	42	—	—	19	—	22	14	—	32	—
	"You're a Dog"[lower-alpha 2]	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1996	"Do Fries Go with That Shake?"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Shake Your Money Maker
	"Bounce"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1997	"Shake Your Money Maker"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2000	"Sex Tonight"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Did I Say That?
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

• 1994: "Short Dick Man"
• 1995: "Mr. Personality"
• 1996: "Do Fries Go with That Shake?"
• 1997: "Shake Your Money Maker"

Notes

1. "Mr. Personality" has been released as a 20 Fingers feat. Gillette song in Germany and Poland.
2. "You're a Dog" has been released as a 20 Fingers feat. Gillette song in Germany and Poland.

References

1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 570. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
2. 'Short, Short Man' Attacks Big, Big Sexism
3. Hamilton, Andrew. "Review: On the Attack". AMG. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
4. Gillette – Sex Tonight
5. Gillette Billboard Awards
6. Austrian album peak
7. German album peak
8. Austrian peaks
9. Flanders peaks
10. Wallonia peaks
11. French peaks
12. German peaks
13. "Hit Parade Italia – Indice per Interprete: 0". Hit Parade Italia. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
14. Dutch Top 40 peaks
15. New Zealand peaks
16. US Certification for "Short Dick Man"
17. German Certification for "Short Dick Man"
18. French Certification for "Short Dick Man"