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Sometimes tidying up your record collection can bring pleasant surprises. Dusting off old records that once thrilled us but may not have the same effect today. Or the exact opposite, records covered in dust that deserved more attentive listening...
Here we have Deee-lite, whom I had previously categorized as a superficial one-hit group, and nothing more. Encouraged by some videos circulating online showcasing the trio's technical skills and compositional abilities, I've decided to delve deeper into their work. I preface this by saying that my initial sensation, almost 20 years later, is of a cheerful and unpretentious album, and it should be listened to with this attitude. For instance, in my bar, it always impresses, and often people ask me about them before reaching the well-known single.
"World Clique" was released in 1990 after several attempts by the trio to break through. The band members are a peculiar multiracial mix: DJ Dmitri comes from Ukraine following his parents' flight and subsequent request for political asylum. In New York, he meets and starts dating Kierin Magenta Kirb, known in the underground scene as Lady Miss Kier, who becomes the group's vocalist. Towa Tei, a DJ of Japanese origin, later joined them, becoming the only one of the three to have a fairly (but very interesting) notable recording career.
The album, which achieved enormous success in the United States, is driven by the single "Groove is in the Heart", which was in turn driven by a hilarious and psychedelic video. It's the groove they manage to create with samples, jazzy parts, a lot of funk, and more than decent vocals that make this album appreciable. Besides the single, there are many noteworthy tracks, and, for my part, I highlight the dance floor track "Try Me On... I'm Very You" supplemented by fantastic horns and piano. "Good Beat" is not my favorite, yet it was one of the four number ones in the American charts. The same goes for "The Power of Love." "Smile On" slows down, but trombones and xylophones make it fun and very danceable, maybe even for a tight embrace... "What is Love", the B-side of the single, leans towards synths that sound a bit dated to today's listener. However, the result is interesting, thanks to the phonemes from the lady at the microphone. The title track of the album seems negligible to me, while the following "E.S.P", the third single, rich in syncopation and sighs, makes me want to move. I skip track nine because you all know it, and I still find it brilliant and magnificent.
"Who Was That" continues in the same pleasant vein as the rest of the album, as do the last two tracks, with the final one being instrumental. But the song that struck me the most is the very first one because I think a better introduction couldn't exist, a prologue with a capital P. Sorry for the track-by-track, for the length of the review, sorry if you don't like it, but this time I really got carried away. It's a pity it didn't happen 20 years ago when I was young and full of energy. Salut!
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Good Beat (04:40)
Depending on you see a thing
The ship is free, or is it sinking?
Depending on how you see it
You cage your mind, or you free it.
Depending on how you see the times
The world divides or it closely binds
But I just wanna hear a good beat
I jus wanna I jus wanna
But I just wanna hear a good beat
I jus wanna hear a good beat.
Oooahh
Depending on you see a thing
The ship is free, or is it sinking?
Depending on how you see it
The song is over or you keep it
Depending on how you see the times
We’re wasting time or in a moving line
But I just wanna hear a good beat
Oh oh oh a
I jus wanna hear a good beat
Just piano and bass
Everything will be alright
When you feel it tonight
Zu zu zu wah zu wah
I just wanna hear a good beat
02 Power of Love (04:40)
I believe in the power of love (I believe)
I believe in the power of love (I believe)
I believe in the power of love
I believe in the power of love
Feel the power
Let the people call me naive
I believe I believe I believe I believe
What is it that can make a lost soul found?
Love
And what is it that can make the coldest day seem warm?
Love
And what is it that can bring a smile through to strangers?
Love love love love
I believe in the power of love (I believe)
I believe in the power of love (I believe)
I believe in the power of love
Let them call me naïve
But I still believe
What is it that can make a lost soul found?
Love
And what is it that can make the coldest day seem warm?
Love
And what is it that can bring a smile through to strangers?
Give it everything
Cause what you give you get so give it everything
Open your heart
I believe I believe
Power of power of power of love
07 E.S.P. (03:43)
ESP ouijee yeeyee
ESP runs right through me
Sometimes to blind to see
The mirror between you and me
ESP boomerang me
ESP mind orgy
Like a songbird melody
Whose cage is really free
ESP hypnotize me
ESP 3D stylee
I’d walk a milely for your smilely
Because it’s really recommended quite highly
Won’t you listen to what the DJ’s spinnin
He’s tappin into just what you’re feelin
Won’t you listen to what the DJ’s spinnin
He’s tappin into just what you’re feelin
Supernatural perhaps
Supernatural perhaps
Psychic power psychic power
ESP mystery see
ESP skips right through time see
Freaky mystiquery
It’s ESP I dig highly
Copper beat conducts our feet
Like a doodle beat skipping down the street
In 3D NYC
You can hold the bird
But the song she sings is really free
Psychic power psychic power
Midi soul is really groovy
On a roll this DJ moves me
To some he is a guru
He pushes grooves that go right through you
Won’t you listen to what the DJ’s spinnin
He’s tappin into just what you’re feelin
Won’t you listen to what the DJ’s spinnin
He’s tappin into just what you’re feelin
08 Groove Is in the Heart (03:51)
You're going to dance
You're going to dance
You're going to dance
And have some fun
Dig
The chills that you spill
Up my back keep me filled
With satisfaction when we're done
Satisfaction of what's come
I couldn't ask for another (I-I-I-I)
No, I couldn't ask for another (that's right)
Your groove I do deeply dig
No walls only the bridge
My supper dish
My succotash wish (sing it baby)
I couldn't ask for another (uh-huh, uh-huh)
(I-I-I-I) No, I couldn't ask for another
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art (astronomical)
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art (hit me!)
Watch out!
The depth of hula groove
Moves us to the nth hoop
We're going through too
Horten hears a who-o-o
I couldn't ask for another (I-I-I-I)
No, I couldn't ask for another
DJ Soul (Soul!) was on a roll
I've been told he can't be sold
He's not vicious or malicious
Just dee-lovely and delicious
I couldn't ask for another
Someone's in this torso (yeah)
Hot! Gotta deal you wanna know (wanna know)
Dee-Liteful truly Dee-Liteful (liteful)
Makin' it doin' it 'specially at show (show)
Feeling kinda high like a Hendrix haze (haze)
Music makes motion moves like a maze (maze)
All inside of me (side)
Heart especially (yeah)
Help of the rhythm where I wanna be (c'mon)
Flowin' glowin' with electric eyes (ha)
You dip to the dive baby you'll realize (yeah)
Baby you'll see the funky side of me
Baby you'll see that rhythm is the key (hmm!)
Get get ready with it (with it)
Can't can't quit it (quit it)
Stomp on the stoop when I hear a funk loop (loop)
Playing Pied Piper
Follow what's true
Baby just sing about the groove (sing it)
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art (na-na-na-na)
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art (na-na-na-na)
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art (na-na-na-na)
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art
1-2-3 Brrrrr
Blow them horns, oh lord
Groove is in the heart
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art (yeah)
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art
Groove is in the hea-a-a-art
(Laughs) C'mon, ya'll are... (laughs) ya'll are crazy, man
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