Lady Writer
1979 single by Dire Straits
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"Lady Writer" is a 1979 song by Dire Straits, which appears on the band's second album Communiqué. It was written by the band's lead singer, Mark Knopfler.
| "Lady Writer" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
UK release picture sleeve | ||||
| Single by Dire Straits | ||||
| from the album Communiqué | ||||
| B-side | "Where Do You Think You're Going?" | |||
| Released | 20 July 1979[1] | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 3:45 | |||
| Label | Vertigo | |||
| Songwriter | Mark Knopfler | |||
| Producers | ||||
| Dire Straits singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Lady Writer" on YouTube | ||||
When asked what the song was about, Knopfler said that he was watching TV one day, and there was a lady writer on the TV.[citation needed] Because the song says the writer is "talking about the Virgin Mary", some have speculated that the writer in question is Marina Warner, a view shared by Warner herself.[2]
Reception
Billboard described the song as a "hypnotic rocker" with "sizzling instrumentation" and "distinctive vocals."[3] Cash Box described it as being "very similar musically to 'Sultans of Swing', with guitarist/singer Knopfler's invigoratingly unique picking and vocal style."[4] Record World said that "Knopfler's transcendent writing & guitar skills work well with the magic of Muscle Shoals."[5] Smash Hits said, "This is SO like 'Sultans of Swing' it's not true. Look, the only way you'll want this is if you've got (a) more money than sense, and (b) a memory like a sieve."[6] Hubert Bauch of the Montreal Gazette agreed it was "a fast and nimble piece that matches 'Sultans of Swing'."[7]
Charts
| Chart (1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] | 95 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9] | 51 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] | 18 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] | 18 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12] | 39 |
| Spain (AFE)[13] | 26 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[14] | 51 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[15] | 45 |
| US Cash Box[16] | 63 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[17] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[18] Sales since 2004 |
Silver | 200,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||