Please talk about: "Buffalo Stance" by Neneh Cherry

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You know, I need to hear this song again, seriously. I can't even remember how it goes at all, but I bought it at the time (on a 'cassingle' no less). I came across Raw Like Sushi in the Trouser Press Record Guide the other day and thought about how it really seemed like a lot of folks flipped over that record. It seemed like it was on everyone's fave albums of the year list, whatever year that was. I'm sure not everyone liked it of course, but this is how I remember it.

― honorary joy division roadie (Bimble...), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 03:58 (eighteen years ago) link

I always associate Buffalo Stance and Rain with Coldcut's Stop This Crazy thing, don't know why - they were probably all out at roughly the same time

― m3ntal1st, Wednesday, 10 May 2006 04:20 (eighteen years ago) link

Probably one of the best synth hooks ever!

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 04:33 (eighteen years ago) link

With the new reissue of Red Hot + Blue, it's worth putting in a good word for her hip-hop version of "I've Got You Under My Skin".

It takes some courage to do a blank-verse rap like the "Smokin', no cokin'" section, then going all Tracy Ullman with the imitation cockney accents.

― Eazy (Eazy), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 05:29 (eighteen years ago) link

I hated this for a long time and then a couple years ago listened to it and was blown away. Now I have no idea how I feel about it. It's undeniable on some level but felt amazingly corny and dated at the time to me. (I was no futurist in 1989, either.) But it's also totally exuberant and ultimately I think that tips me back into the "like" category, at least a little.

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 05:34 (eighteen years ago) link

I'm always awed by the reassuring simplicity of a couplet like "no money man can win my love / it's sweetness that I'm thinking of."

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 05:38 (eighteen years ago) link

I remember when it came out it seemed like one of those inpenetetrably British novelty hits, with the Bomb The Bass cameo and, again, the Cockney voices - I felt a little left out of what it meant or why it was good, except during all-ages nights at The Underground in the U District.

― Eazy (Eazy), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 05:45 (eighteen years ago) link

I once had a nightmare that my copy of this had split into several pieces inside the sleeve, it was horrible!

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 06:03 (eighteen years ago) link

TOTAL.
FUCKING.
CLASSIC.

makes me yearn for a nostalgic look back into the early 90's.
cross colors.
fades.
an urban youth i didn't have.
and i STILL love this song...

― eedd, Wednesday, 10 May 2006 14:48 (eighteen years ago) link

too bad her dad's dead.

-- hstencil (hstenc!...), May 19th, 2005 11:42 AM. (hstencil) (link)

Read: I am aware that her dad is a notable jazz musician and would like to show off this fact.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 14:52 (eighteen years ago) link

Raw Like Sushi was #5 in 1989's P&J poll.

In the summer of '89 this, "Me, Myself & I," and all those wonderful Fine Young Cannibals seemed to herald a real Daisy Age. I don't hear the song enough to get tired of it. The synth squiggle-hook is marvelous, and so is the bit about the gigolo, and almost everything about the chorus. So, ok, I'll say classic.

The followup, "Kisses On the Wind," is not as memorable but for some reason is a better song, if that makes sense.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 14:53 (eighteen years ago) link

I was listening to this just today, only to log on to ILM and find a resurrected thread about it! It's like you've read my mind, people. One of my favourite songs of all time, at least to dance to. Reminds me of going in Charlie's in Manchester on a Friday night, only they don't seem to play it anymore, which is a shame. Not that big on the album, but Buffalo Stance is a stone-cold classic. Brilliant vocal, great synth line and, as was said upthread, endearingly piss-poor scratching.

"Wot is 'ee loike!"

― yer mam! (yer mam!), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 14:59 (eighteen years ago) link

Last time I heard this song was a week and a half ago, shouted on a public street by several gay Canadians.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 15:05 (eighteen years ago) link

How do you know they were Canadian?

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 15:11 (eighteen years ago) link

thoughts, apropos of nothing:

Nenah retreated from music when she contracted Lyme disease...I think Daryl Hall also had lyme disease...I don't think John Oates did...

the phrase "Raw Like Sushi" was borrowed from Big Daddy Kane...

Benjamin Diamond covered "The Rain", sans the end rap (which really makes the original: "my first thought was to pull a Rambo on ya..but instead, I chilled...yeah, that's right...I chilled")

― hank (hank s), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 15:43 (eighteen years ago) link

How do you know they were Canadian?

I was in Canada and was hanging out with them.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 15:45 (eighteen years ago) link

GIGALO!

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 16:01 (eighteen years ago) link

"Read: I am aware that her dad is a notable jazz musician and would like to show off this fact."

Stepdad!

― Lovelace (Lovelace), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 16:09 (eighteen years ago) link

I've got a Colette CD sitting around (Thrill of Colette, decent mix of out/electronic pop tracks) with "Buffalo Stance (Electro Ski Mix)"- no idea who's responsible for the remix, but it's nice enough. Email me if anyone wants to hear it (it's in iTunes' .m4a format; I'm in the process of deleting my old album rips and redoing them as VBR mp3s but haven't gotten around to this one yet).

― Telephonething (Telephonething), Thursday, 11 May 2006 19:04 (eighteen years ago) link

'Raw Like Sushi was #5 in 1989's P&J poll.'
That would make the LP Overrated in my book. I like Buffalo better than anything else on the album.

'In the summer of '89 this, "Me, Myself & I," and all those wonderful Fine Young Cannibals seemed to herald a real Daisy Age.'

Yes, when you look at a year end list for '89, Neneh and FYC stand out as sort of a last great vintage 80s pop which i can't think of an equivalent of in the early 90s. They are "so '89" in the best way!

― Carlos Keith (Buck_Wilde), Thursday, 11 May 2006 20:13 (eighteen years ago) link

I wonder what Neneh's stance on the buffalo is now, all these years later. I think she'll be indifferent towards them. Not as bothered as she used to be.

― Johnny Jarvis, Friday, 12 May 2006 10:50 (eighteen years ago) link

The A-side of the remix 12" beat-mixed very nicely with "The 900 Number".

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Friday, 12 May 2006 13:27 (eighteen years ago) link

That is sounding very OTM in my head right now.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Friday, 12 May 2006 13:31 (eighteen years ago) link

Carlos Keith is OTM

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Friday, 12 May 2006 15:01 (eighteen years ago) link

no-style rookie

― xero (xero), Friday, 12 May 2006 20:50 (eighteen years ago) link

w-w-w-wait, i never considered it could be hyphenated! *head reels*

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Friday, 12 May 2006 21:12 (eighteen years ago) link

I never considered it could be un-hyphenated! *staggers*

― xero (xero), Friday, 12 May 2006 21:15 (eighteen years ago) link

i always really liked this song, but damn what was the deal with those inexplicably awkward dancers in the video? you know, the frowny one in (i think) the short white dress and hat and that other one. they were great!

― Kim (Kim), Friday, 12 May 2006 21:42 (eighteen years ago) link

does anyone have a link to the music video?

― bagenius, Sunday, 14 May 2006 15:37 (eighteen years ago) link

Upon hearing this again, I can't say I'm exactly overwhelmed with awe. I'm sure it sounded great in the context of that time, but it seems like there's a lot more stuff today that sounds just like it, which kindof strips it of the power it had. I kind of like the New Order-esque outro, though.

― honorary joy division roadie (Bimble...), Sunday, 14 May 2006 18:59 (eighteen years ago) link

eight months pass...

This song fucking rules. It has a kind of unusual arrangement for a pop song.

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Friday, 26 January 2007 19:46 (seventeen years ago) link

Stone-cold classic, and definitely one of the big "Oh my God, I've found my sound" moments for me as a teen.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Friday, 26 January 2007 19:54 (seventeen years ago) link

She sings lead on the Teddybears song "Yours To Keep" from late 2006. Should be a hit. Check it out if you are so inclined.

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Friday, 26 January 2007 20:06 (seventeen years ago) link

if this was the only song left in the universe, i can't say i'd be all that sad.

― max (maxreax), Friday, 26 January 2007 23:10 (seventeen years ago) link

I think of The Rain as being Drum Machine + synths in an R&B song; one that crossed over to the Hip-Hop market thanks to its attitude.

Oran also had a deal with Def Jam. He was part of Russel Simmon's plan to diversify the DJ roster. IOW his cross over success was directly based on the efforts of DJ's promo engine...

― Disco Nihilist (mjt), Saturday, 27 January 2007 19:03 (seventeen years ago) link

three months pass...

I'LL GIVE YOU LOVE BABY NOT ROMANCE
I'LL MAKE THE MOVE, NOTHING LEFT TO CHANCE
SO DON'T! YOU GET FRESH WITH ME!

today this is the best song ever :D

― lex pretend, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 06:56 (seventeen years ago) link

Yep. The beginning of time, absolutely and totally.

― Marcello Carlin, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 07:19 (seventeen years ago) link

"Man Child" is still way better.

― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 10:23 (seventeen years ago) link

i like this thread. it made me download this song. it made my world a better place.

― acrobat, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 10:29 (seventeen years ago) link

I liked this thread until Geir posted on it. He makes everybody's world a worse place.

― Marcello Carlin, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 10:34 (seventeen years ago) link

think of the line WEARING PADDED BRAS, SUCKING BEER THROUGH STRAWS marcello, and you will be happy again

― lex pretend, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 10:40 (seventeen years ago) link

god the tune on the chorus is so uplifting and gorgeous!

― lex pretend, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 10:40 (seventeen years ago) link

neneh was on bbc2 the other day cooking with anrea oliver, joshing about men + sex. she's still hott.

― Frogman Henry, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 10:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Her two "posse" members in the video. I know they're of some late 80s note, but who were they? Other musicians, comedians, what?

― Dom Passantino, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 10:43 (seventeen years ago) link

six months pass...

I'd love to hear an album singularly focused on the notes in this song, and mixed by a pizza inspired Arthur Baker.

The video is proto-Adobe/Happy-Birthday-MySpace-greeting-gif-from-obscure-high-school-acquaintance-vibes to the fullest.

Major poultry flourishes with its McLaren and Miami passages.

― Cat Stevens, Thursday, 13 December 2007 05:57 (sixteen years ago) link

seven months pass...

I THINK WE ALL AGREE THIS IS CLASSIC AMIRITE ELSE I'LL START A POLL WITH SALT N PEPA'S PUSH IT AND IT WON'T BE PRETTY

― Bimble, Saturday, 2 August 2008 02:30 (fifteen years ago) link

Okay, Geir don't spoil it this time, thanx. Really, please.

― Bimble, Saturday, 2 August 2008 02:33 (fifteen years ago) link

one year passes...

Gigalo!

― k$h (The Reverend), Friday, 2 April 2010 02:43 (fourteen years ago) link

WAAAAGH! wik-wik-WAAAAGH!

― k$h (The Reverend), Friday, 2 April 2010 02:44 (fourteen years ago) link

whatever happened to neneh cherry? i don't even remember an attempt at a follow-up song.

― Daniel, Esq., Friday, 2 April 2010 02:45 (fourteen years ago) link

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