Ashford & Simpson: A Satirical Masterpiece in “Bourgie Bourgie”
Ashford & Simpson’s “Bourgie Bourgie” is a sparkling gem of 1970s soul music, a track that cleverly skewers the pretensions of the upper class while simultaneously delivering a funky, infectious groove.
Released in 1974 on their album “Solid,” the song quickly became a disco anthem and a cultural touchstone, capturing the zeitgeist of an era marked by social change and economic disparity.
Background
The term “bourgie,” a slang contraction of “bourgeois,” is a pejorative term used to describe people who are perceived as materialistic, pretentious, and out of touch with reality.
Ashford & Simpson masterfully employ this term as a central motif, crafting a satirical portrait of the upper class that is both humorous and incisive.
The couple’s vocal chemistry is impeccable, their delivery infused with a sense of irony and playful disdain.
Musically, “Bourgie Bourgie” is a tour de force. The infectious bassline, combined with the rhythmic interplay of percussion and horns, creates a hypnotic groove that is irresistible.
Video
Lyrics
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
[Verse 1]
Livin’ the life
You’re a jet-setter
Livin’ the life
You’ve got it all together
Hold the pose, turn the nose
Some fancy struttin’
Its a fact you from across the tracks
You said you wasn’t[Hook]
Everybody wants to be
Bourgie Bourgie
I know that
Everybody wants to be
Bourgie Bourgie
Told you