Which 1982 George Clinton single includes "Why must I be like that?"?

Which 1982 George Clinton single includes “Why must I be like that?” “Atomic Dog.” Released in December 1982, the track was the second and final single from Clinton’s solo album Computer Games and became one of the most recognizable recordings in the P-Funk tradition.

Clinton created the song with David Spradley and Garry Shider during a spontaneous studio session. The arrangement grew from a drum track, synths, backing vocals, panting sounds, and Clinton’s improvised dog-themed performance. Its repeated “bow-wow” refrain and futuristic funk production made the song instantly distinctive.

“Atomic Dog” reached No. 1 on the U.S. R&B chart, although it did not enter the Billboard Hot 100. Its influence expanded through sampling and interpolation in hip-hop, while the song also became closely associated with Omega Psi Phi fraternity events and Black popular culture.

One lyric detail is commonly misheard: the recorded line is generally transcribed as “Why must I feel like that?” rather than “Why must I be like that?” The lyric points to the song’s playful question about instinct, behavior, and “the dog in me,” but the intended answer remains “Atomic Dog.”