Gigolo

A gigolo (/ˈdʒɪɡəˌloʊ/ or /ˈʒɪɡəˌloʊ/) is a male escort or social companion who is supported by a woman in a continuing relationship, often living in her residence or having to be present at her beck and call. The gigolo is expected to provide companionship, to serve as a consistent escort with good manners and social skills, and often, to serve as a dancing partner as required by the woman in exchange for the support. Many gifts such as expensive clothing and an automobile to drive may be lavished upon him. The relationship may include sexual services as well, when he also would be referred to as "a kept man".

The term gigolo usually implies a man who adopts a lifestyle consisting of a number of such relationships serially, rather than having other means of support.

The word gigolo may be traced to a first use as a neologism during the 1920s as a back-formation from a French word, gigolette, a woman hired as a dancing partner.

See also

Gigolo (Elena Paparizou song)

"Gigolo" is a song by Greek singer Helena Paparizou. It has been recorded in two languages; Greek and English, Greek/English versions also exist. The Greek version is the first track from the Greek album Iparhi Logos, while the English version appears on the international album The Game of Love. The song was released as the third single from the album. It had moderate success on several Japanese radio stations due to the release of the album.

Track listing

Music video

In July 2006 the video for "Gigolo" premiered in Greece. The video is in Greeklish (Greek/English), with the first verse in Greek and the rest of the song in English. In the video Elena plays 2 parts: of herself and of the gigolo that steals Elena's mobile phone.

The video starts with Elena talking on her phone when the gigolo steals it. Security goes after the gigolo while Elena goes on set to shoot her newest videoclip. She dances to her song and as the second verse of the chorus starts the gigolo films Elena with the phone. Elena notices this and quickly chases the gigolo, along with her three dancers. Elena ends up in the car park of the building where she finds her phone on the ground. She looks at the phone, seeing a video of herself moments ago. As the song comes to an end, the gigolo appears from behind, slowly revealing that it's actually Elena herself.

Gigolo (Mary Wells song)

"Gigolo" is a dance single written and produced by Fonce and Larry Mizell and released by R&B singer Mary Wells on the Epic Records label. It was the former Motown star's first single with the CBS-operated label and brought Wells brief renewed success on the Billboard chart.

Overview

Return from retirement

After leaving Motown Records in 1964, Mary Wells struggled to produce hits outside of the label only achieving once with "Use Your Head" on 20th Century Fox though she continued to score top 40 hits on the R&B chart in the late sixties and early seventies. By 1974, however, after the Bobby Womack-produced "If You Can't Give Her Love" single flopped on Reprise, Wells reluctantly retired to raise her four children that she had with second husband, musician Cecil Womack. The couple divorced in 1977 and after being offered a deal with Epic Records in 1981, she returned to the studio to record her first album in thirteen years, In and Out of Love. Among the singles was "Gigolo", a funky dance hit with the then-current sound mixing dance beats with funky riffs. The song talks about a man who only loves a girl for one night before moving to the next woman. The narrator contends she knew that her lover "wasn't going to stay" but assures that the man was "such a gentleman" and trying to explain her affection saying "even Cinderella had her gigolo". The song also featured a clever rap verse also performed by Mary.