Shalamar is an American R&B and soul music vocal group created by Dick Griffey and Don Cornelius in 1977 and active throughout the 1980s. Shalamar's classic lineup on the SOLAR label consisted of Howard Hewett, Jody Watley, and Jeffrey Daniel, together with dancer Jermaine Stewart. It was originally a disco-driven group created by Soul Train booking agent Dick Griffey and show creator and producer Don Cornelius. They went on to be an influential dance trio, masterminded by Cornelius. As noted in the British Hit Singles & Albums, they were regarded as fashion icons and trendsetters, and helped to introduce "body-popping" to the United Kingdom. Their name was created by Griffey.
Jody Vanessa Watley is an American singer, songwriter and producer whose music crosses genres including pop, R&B, jazz, dance and electronic soul. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, she was a member of the R&B/funk band Shalamar, who scored many hits, notably in the UK. In 1988, she won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist and has been nominated for three Grammy awards.
"It's Raining Men" is a song by the American musical duo The Weather Girls from their third studio album, Success (1983). It was released as the album's lead single on September 10, 1982, through Columbia Records and CBS Records International. Paul Jabara wrote the song in collaboration with Paul Shaffer, and produced the song in collaboration with Bob Esty. "It's Raining Men" incorporates elements of R&B, soul, and 1970s-style electronic dance music. Its lyrics describe an excitement and enjoyment of many different types of men.
"Mickey" is a song recorded by American singer Toni Basil for her debut studio album, Word of Mouth (1981). It was first recorded by the pop group Racey. Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn wrote the song, while production was helmed by Greg Mathieson and Trevor Veitch. Basil's version is new wave, featuring guitar, synthesizers and cheerleading chants. It garnered a mixed response from music critics, with some critics praising the radio-friendly nature of the song, while others described some of the lyrics as obscene.
"1, 2 Step" is a song by American singer Ciara featuring American rapper Missy Elliott. Written alongside producer Jazze Pha, it was released on November 1, 2004, as the second single of the former's debut studio album, Goodies. It peaked within the top 10 of the charts in several countries worldwide, including Germany, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for seven weeks. The song is heavily inspired by 1980s electro music production. Throughout the song, Ciara gives a description of how the song's beat feels as she exhorts party-goers to dance to the music. "1, 2 Step" was ranked 59th on Billboard's Top 100 Songs of the 2000s.
"Jetstream" is the thirtieth single by English band New Order. Released through Warner Bros. Records on 16 May 2005, it is the second single to be taken from their eighth studio album, Waiting for the Sirens' Call (2005). The song features Scissor Sisters member Ana Matronic on additional vocals. "Jetstream" charted at number 20 in the United Kingdom and number 30 in Ireland. The music video for the song is the first to feature the band since 1993's "World ".
"High" is the debut single of British singer James Blunt and Ricky Ross for Blunt's debut album, Back to Bedlam. The song was produced by Tom Rothrock and Jimmy Hogarth. It was released in October 2004 and failed to make an impact on the UK Singles Chart, peaking outside the top 75. Following the success of Blunt's second single, "You're Beautiful", "High" was re-released in late 2005 and became a top-20 hit worldwide, charting at number three in Italy and at number 16 in the UK.
"Hunter" is a song by British singer Dido from her debut album, No Angel (1999). The song was released as the third single from the album in the United States on 18 June 2001. "Hunter" reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart and peaked within the top 50 in Australia, France, Greece, Ireland, and New Zealand. In the US, it entered the top 20 on two Billboard charts.
"Get Down on It" is a 1981 song by American band Kool & the Gang. It was originally released on their Something Special album in 1981. The single was certified Gold by the RIAA.
"Breathe" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure. It was released by Mute Records in the UK and the US as the first single from the band's 11th studio album, Nightbird (2005). Written and produced by Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, the song was remixed slightly for its radio version. The UK CD single includes CD-ROM information that allowed buyers to download the Digipro software package and use isolated musical tracks of "Breathe" to create their own remixes. For a short time, fans were able to upload their finished "Breathe" remixes to Erasure's website to share with others.
"I Want You" is a song by Australian pop duo Savage Garden, originally released in Australia on 27 May 1996 as the lead single from their eponymous debut album, Savage Garden (1997). The single reached number one in Canada and peaked at number four in Australia and on the US Billboard Hot 100. Much of the song's chart success in the US was the result of Rosie O'Donnell playing the song on several episodes of The Rosie O'Donnell Show. In the United Kingdom, the single was issued twice, achieving its highest peak of number 11 during its initial release in 1997.
"If There's Any Justice" is the first single taken from British R&B singer Lemar's second album, Time to Grow (2004). Originally offered to Hear'Say, the song was rejected by the group after they decided it was "too mature" for them. It would eventually become a top-10 hit for Lemar, peaking at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, his fourth in a row to reach the top 10. Outside the UK, the song reached No. 1 in Hungary and entered the top 40 in France, Ireland, and New Zealand.
"Angel" is a song by Irish folk rock band the Corrs, the second single released from their fourth studio album, Borrowed Heaven (2004). The song is a tribute to the band members' mother, Jean, who died in 1999. "Angel" was first released in Australia on 23 August 2004 and was issued in the United Kingdom the following month. The song peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart, number 14 in Hungary, and number 19 in Ireland.
"The One I Love" is a song by British singer-songwriter David Gray. It was released on 29 August 2005 as the first single from his seventh studio album, Life in Slow Motion (2005). The song was produced by Marius de Vries and is Gray's second-highest achievement on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number eight. Worldwide, the song reached number six in Ireland and number 31 in New Zealand. In the United States, it topped the Billboard Triple-A chart for six weeks.
"I'm Still in Love with You" is a song by Jamaican recording artist Sean Paul for his second studio album, Dutty Rock (2002). It features vocals from Sasha. Released on 6 October 2003, the song reached number six in the United Kingdom and number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also became a top-10 hit in Hungary, Italy, Ireland, and Switzerland.
"Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)" is a song by American boy band 98 Degrees, released as the first single from their third studio album, Revelation, on July 31, 2000. It was a success for the group, reaching number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart, becoming the band's highest-charting solo effort in both nations. The song was not as successful internationally but did reach the top 40 in Australia, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The single was certified gold by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of 500,000 units.
"Koochy" is a song by American DJ Armand Van Helden. It was released on May 8, 2000, as the lead single from his fourth studio album, Killing Puritans (2000). It heavily samples Gary Numan's 1979 single "Cars". Although the lyric seems to comprise sexual references, the title actually points back to Numan's song, as the word "kocsi" means "car" in Hungarian.
Friends is the sixth album by American R&B group Shalamar, released in 1982 on the SOLAR label. The album, which features the 'classic' Shalamar line-up, topped the R&B chart and peaked at #35 on the Billboard chart. It has been certified Gold in the United States for sales over 500,000. It would eventually go Platinum. In the United Kingdom Friends gained impetus from a now-legendary demonstration of body-popping by Daniel during a performance of "A Night to Remember" on the BBC programme Top of the Pops. It reached #6 on the UK Albums Chart and produced four top 20 singles.
"Promises" is a rock song by Irish rock band the Cranberries. It is the first single from the band's fourth album, Bury the Hatchet, released in 1999. The song was the only single from the album to chart in the US and the last single before their hiatus. The song, which has a heavy rock beat with strident lead guitar, deals with the subject of divorce. A music video involving a cowboy confronting a witch/scarecrow hybrid, directed by Olivier Dahan, was released to promote the single.
"I Can Make You Feel Good" is a 1982 song by American R&B group Shalamar from their Platinum album Friends. It reached No. 7 in the United Kingdom, making it their first top ten hit, followed by the singles "A Night to Remember" and "There It Is", which both peaked at No. 5.
