The two biggest talent shows on UK TV
(The Voice BBC1 and Britain's Got Talent) both featured contestants
singing Terrence Trent D'arby's 80's smash hit Sign Your Name Across
My Heart. I'm not fit to judge anybody but I think Tyler James (The
Voice) did a better job. My TV was on maximum and I liked what
(little) I heard. Of course, me singing along (badly) made my
curious daughter want to know how I knew the song so well and who
sung it originally.
Well... back to the 80's I travelled
down memory lane. When Terrence released his debut single If You Let
Me Stay in 1987 his 'prancing' around stage was a bit too much for
me. Also with his one short, one tall male backing singers a lot of
people were certain he was just another gimmick artist (Jermaine
Stewart was one amongst a few) and there was a lot of curiosity about
his sexuality, especially as he busted a braided bob. It was when he
released the bluesy ballad Sign Your Name that I sat up and noticed.
Terrence's raspy and refined vocals over that unforgettable beat had
everybody singing along back then. I never bought the album
Introducing The Hardline According To Terrence Trent D'arby (UK sales
5x platinum) but follow up singles Wishing Well and the funky rocky
pop Dance Little Sister were big and lasting favourites of mine.
A FUNKTASTIC LIVE RECORDING OF TERRENCE PERFOMING DANCE LITTLE SISTER
Terrence's vocal saxophone in the bridge of Dance Little Sister “Do Do Do Doooo, Do Do Do, Do Do Do Do Du Du Do, Do Do Dooo” was the catchiest thing ever. Some critics compared him as a cross between James Brown and Prince and its clear to see influences were there, the dancing style of the former and the effeminate image of the latter. I regret not appreciating his art enough back then as its hard for me to recapture the magic but I hope music lovers who were around in the 80's do recognise his talent and the impact his music made on pop back then.
Terrence's vocal saxophone in the bridge of Dance Little Sister “Do Do Do Doooo, Do Do Do, Do Do Do Do Du Du Do, Do Do Dooo” was the catchiest thing ever. Some critics compared him as a cross between James Brown and Prince and its clear to see influences were there, the dancing style of the former and the effeminate image of the latter. I regret not appreciating his art enough back then as its hard for me to recapture the magic but I hope music lovers who were around in the 80's do recognise his talent and the impact his music made on pop back then.
After his 1993 album Symphony Or Damn which released the rocky She Kissed Me and the beautiful ballad Let Her Down Easy Terrence disappeared from the charts and as there wasn't the internet access we're fortunate to have now, it was hard to follow up on what he was doing. He officially changed his name to Sananda Maitreya in 2001 and still records music.
Sananda! I've had a blessed and funky
weekend watching your videos on Youtube and sharing that magic with
my kids. Unforgettable music I'm eternally grateful for, I salute
you.
Check out Terrence Trent D'arby's hits on my mixpod in the side bar
©
Donna Woolcock 2012
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