In an era dominated by the Jamaican rudeboy archetype, Jamaican singer-songwriter Diana King brought the less favoured and fantasized about “Shy Guy” to the forefront with her career-launching 1995 hit single.
Diminishing the trendy glorification and obsession with the cliché, overtly eager and flirty bad boy, King praised the many attributes of a more reserved man.
With her rich, sultry vocals, King easily fused the Jamaican genres of reggae and dancehall with America’s pop and R&B into a palatable musical style for international audiences that still allowed her to stay true to her roots.
During her career, the St. Catherine native produced several hits, including L-L-Lies, a cover of Chaka Khan’s hit Ain’t Nobody, Treat Her Like a Lady, which was later covered by Celine Dion, Tenderness, and Say A Little Prayer.
King’s 1997 Say A Little Prayer cover was featured in My Best Friend’s Wedding, starring Julia Roberts. But before the success of the previously mentioned singles, King would receive international notoriety for her breakthrough hit Shy Guy.
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The single was released on the singer’s Tougher Than Love album and was featured on multiple international music charts, such as charts in America, Finland, the United Kingdom, and Japan. Shy Guy also appeared on the soundtrack for the first instalment of the Bad Boys movie franchise.
Listen to the song below.
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