Chaka Demus & Pliers

Last updated

Chaka Demus & Pliers
Chaka Demus, 2009 (cropped).jpg
Pliers (Everton Bonner), 2009.JPG
Chaka Demus (left) and Pliers (right) in 2009
Background information
Origin Kingston, Jamaica
Genres Reggae, dancehall
Years active1991–present
Labels Greensleeves, RAS, Island, Explorer
Members

Chaka Demus & Pliers[ needs IPA ] are a Jamaican reggae duo made up of deejay Chaka Demus (born John Taylor) and singer Pliers (born Everton Bonner), known for their hits "Tease Me" and "Murder She Wrote". As a duo, they enjoyed more commercial success with mainstream pop fans after their collaboration began in the early 1990s than either had in their previous solo careers. [1]

Contents

Career

Both artists were established musicians when they teamed up in 1991 after performing together in Miami, both having worked as solo artists, and Pliers as a duo with Pinchers. [2] Their early hits together included "Gal Wine", recorded for producer Ossie Hibbert. [2] They went on to work with a string of producers, including Ranking Joe, Jah Screw, Prince Jammy, and Mafia & Fluxy, with several of their most successful single tracks included on their debut album Gal Wine (1992). [2]

They appeared at Reggae Sunsplash in 1992, and the following year broke through to international success with "Tease Me", which was in the UK Singles Chart for three months in 1993, peaking at No. 3 in July. [3] [4] They followed this with a cover of Curtis Mayfield's "She Don't Let Nobody" and a cover (with collaboration of Jack Radics) of the Top Notes' "Twist and Shout", which topped the UK Singles Chart in early 1994, the duo becoming the first Jamaican act to top the chart in 8 years, [2] and the first to have three consecutive top five hits on the chart. [5] They had further UK hits with "I Wanna Be Your Man" (No. 19) and "Gal Wine" (No. 20), with six hit singles in all taken from their album, Tease Me . [5] [6] The re-release of Tease Me also charted at number one on the UK Albums Chart in 1994, going on to receive gold certification, selling more than 500,000 copies. [6]

In 1996, they signed to Island Records and released the album For Every Kinda People. [7]

They performed at Sunsplash again in 2004 and 2008, and released the album Help Them Lord in 2001. [2]

In 2007, Chaka Demus & Pliers recorded "Need Your Lovin", which was released on vinyl on Explorer Records. This song was a hit on the Jamaican chart.[ citation needed ]

On 18 November 2007, Chaka Demus & Pliers performed "Murder She Wrote" alongside Alicia Keys at the 2007 American Music Awards. In the summer of 2008, they performed at the annual Detroit Caribbean Festival. Their latest album So Proud was released on 6 October 2008.

In July 2013, Chaka Demus & Pliers performed at the BET Awards show in the reggae segment alongside Dawn Penn, Beenie Man and Elephant Man. [3]

Discography

Albums

Compilations

Singles

YearTitlePeak chart positions Certifications Album
AUS
[11]
BEL
(Fl)

[13]
FRA
[14]
GER
[15]
IRE
[16]
NL
[17]
NZ
[10]
UK
[8]
US
[18]
US
R&B

[19]
1992"Murder She Wrote" (US release)5739Tease Me/All She Wrote
1993"Tease Me"5164731165153
"I Wanna Be Your Man" (US release)87
"She Don't Let Nobody"37261959912204
  • BPI: Silver [9]
"Twist and Shout" (with Jack Radics and Taxi Gang)13723329821
1994"Murder She Wrote" (international release)27
"I Wanna Be Your Man" (international release)3019
"Gal Wine"20
1996"Every Kinda People"1547For Every Kinda People
1997"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"1951Reggatta Mondatta (A Reggae Tribute to The Police)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buju Banton</span> Jamaican dancehall, ragga, and reggae singer (born 1973)

Mark Anthony Myrie, known professionally as Buju Banton, is a Jamaican dancehall, ragga, and reggae singer. He is one of the most significant and well-regarded artists in Jamaican music. Banton has collaborated with many international artists, including those in the hip hop, Latin and punk rock genres, as well as the sons of Bob Marley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twist and Shout</span> 1961 single by the Top Notes

"Twist and Shout" is a 1961 song written by Phil Medley and Bert Berns. It was originally recorded by the Top Notes, but it did not become a hit in the record charts until it was reworked by the Isley Brothers in 1962. The song has been covered by several artists, including the Beatles, Salt-N-Pepa, The Astronauts and Chaka Demus & Pliers, who experienced chart success with their versions.

In popular music, interpolation refers to using a melody  or portions of a melody   from a previously recorded song but re-recording the melody instead of directly sampling it. Interpolation is often cited as a legal defence to mask unlicenced sampling when the artist or label who owns the recording of the music declines to license the sample, or if licensing the piece of music is considered too costly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sly Dunbar</span> Drummer

Lowell Fillmore "Sly" Dunbar is a Jamaican drummer, best known as one half of the prolific Jamaican rhythm section and reggae production duo Sly and Robbie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sly and Robbie</span> Jamaican rhythm section and production duo

Sly and Robbie were a prolific Jamaican rhythm section and production duo, associated primarily with the reggae and dub genres. Drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare teamed up in the mid-1970s after establishing themselves separately in Jamaica as professional musicians. Shakespeare died in December 2021 following kidney surgery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richie Spice</span> Musical artist

Richell Bonner, better known as Richie Spice, is a Jamaican reggae artist. He is a member of the Rastafari movement. Some of his most famous songs include, "Brown Skin", "Youth Dem Cold Rel Bad", "Grooving' My Girl", "Earth a Run Red", "Marijuana" ,"The Plane Land" and "King and Queen". Three of his brothers are also reggae artists – Pliers, Spanner Banner and Snatcha Lion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chaka Demus</span> Jamaican musician

John Taylor, better known as Chaka Demus, is a Jamaican reggae musician and deejay, best known as part of the duo Chaka Demus & Pliers.

<i>Boombastic</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Shaggy

Boombastic is the third studio album released by Jamaican artist Shaggy. The album was released on July 11, 1995.

<i>Tease Me</i> (album) 1993 studio album by Chaka Demus & Pliers

Tease Me is the fourth album by Jamaican reggae duo Chaka Demus & Pliers, released in 1993 by Mango Records. It peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart and was a one-hit wonder there. All six singles from the album were top 30 hits in the UK, with "Twist and Shout" reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart.

<i>Now Thats What I Call Reggae</i> 2012 compilation album by Various artists

Now That's What I Call Reggae or Now Reggae is a triple-disc compilation album released in the United Kingdom on 25 June 2012.

Joseph Bonner, also commonly known by the nickname Spanner Banner, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall musician. He is one of the Bonner brothers, all of whom are reggae artists, including Pliers and Richie Spice.

Tanto Metro and Devonte are the Jamaican dancehall vocal duo of deejay Tanto Metro and singer Devonte.

<i>Dale</i> (album) 2015 studio album by Pitbull

Dale is the second Spanish album and ninth studio album by American rapper Pitbull. It was released July 17, 2015, through Mr. 305 and Sony Music Latin. This album arrived almost five years after his first Spanish-language album Armando, released in 2010. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FM Records LLC</span> Record label

FM Records LLC is an American-based record label specializing pop-reggae and dubstep music. FM Records is currently considered the market leader in pop-reggae recordings, having released albums and singles with Sinéad O'Connor, Musiq Soulchild, Syleena Johnson, Jon Secada, Sean Paul, Maxi Priest, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Inner Circle, Sean Paul, Marcia Griffiths, Cas Haley, Gregory Isaacs, Barrington Levy, JC Lodge, Sizzla, Chaka Demus & Pliers, Sister Nancy, Nadine Sutherland, Patra, Luciano, Ce'Cile, Beres Hammond, Wayne Wonder and Gyptian, among many others. The company also is known for proliferating the pop-reggae genre within the British and Canadian music industries, releasing hit singles with Canadian pop/R&B celebrities Divine Brown, Jesse Giddings, Elaine Shepherd, Dru, Ammoye, and British recording stars Janet Kay, Carroll Thompson, Adele Harley, Maddy Carty, Peter Hunnigale, Savage and Peter Spence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angel Eyes (Raghav song)</span> 2005 single by Raghav

"Angel Eyes" is a song by Canadian singer Raghav from his 2004 debut album, Storyteller. It features additional vocals by Jucxi and Frankey Maxx. It is a remake of Raghav's Hindi-language hit "Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya" with new English language lyrics and new arrangement. "Angel Eyes" contains one brief Hindi language excerpt from "Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murder She Wrote (song)</span> 1992 single by Chaka Demus & Pliers

"Murder She Wrote" is a song by Jamaican reggae duo Chaka Demus & Pliers, from their 1993 album Tease Me. It was first released as a single in 1992 and again in late 1993, reaching number 27 on the UK Singles Chart in early 1994, and number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100, spending 17 weeks there. The song was certified gold in the UK in 2022. The music to the song is based on the Maytals' 1966 song "Bam Bam", while the lyrics discuss abortion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tease Me (Chaka Demus & Pliers song)</span> 1993 song by Chaka Demus & Pliers

"Tease Me" is a song by Jamaican reggae duo Chaka Demus & Pliers, released in June 1993 by Mango Records as the first single from their fourth album of the same name (1993). The song was produced by Sly & Robbie, who also co-wrote the lyrics, and was a top-20 hit in at least six countries. It peaked at No. 3 in the United Kingdom and No. 5 in Australia and the Netherlands. The song also reached number two on the Music Week Dance Singles chart and number one on the Music & Media European Dance Radio Chart.

"She Don't Let Nobody (But Me)" is a song by American singer-songwriter Curtis Mayfield, included on his twentienth solo album, Love Is the Place (1982). It was released in 1981 by Boardwalk Records as the first single from the album and reached No. 15 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

Dancehall pop is a sub-genre of the Jamaican genre dancehall that originated in the early 2000s. Developing from the sounds of reggae, dancehall pop is characteristically different in its fusion with western pop music and digital music production. Dancehall pop is also different from dancehall in that most songs use lesser Jamaican Patois in lyrics––allowing it to be globally understood and consumed. It also incorporates the key pop music elements of having melodies, hooks, and the verse-chorus format. Additionally, the genre moves away from the reggae and roots reggae music origins in social and political protest, now lyrically centering on partying, dancing, and sexuality.

<i>Ali G Indahouse Da Soundtrack</i> 2002 soundtrack album hosted by Ali G

Ali G Indahouse Da Soundtrack is the soundtrack to 2002 Mark Mylod's film Ali G Indahouse. The enhanced CD was released on 18 March 2002 through Universal Island Records, and consists of a variety of styles of hip hop music. Executively produced by Dan Mazer, Nick Angel and Sacha Baron Cohen, the album features film star Ali G hosting a pirate radio broadcast on his "Drive By FM".

References

  1. Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1st ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 361. ISBN   1-904041-96-5.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Thompson, Dave (2002) Reggae & Caribbean Music, Backbeat Books, ISBN   0-87930-655-6, pp. 94–96
  3. 1 2 Hamilton, Davina (2015) "Chaka Demus & Pliers: Reggae's pioneering pair", The Voice, 30 May 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2016
  4. Moskowitz, David V. (2005) Caribbean Popular Music, Greenwood Press, ISBN   978-0313331589, p. 53
  5. 1 2 Harris, Craig "Chaka Demus & Pliers Biography", Allmusic. Retrieved 25 April 2016
  6. 1 2 Campbell, Howard (2012) "Chaka Demus and Pliers — murder they wrote", Jamaica Observer , 11 July 2012, retrieved 2012-07-12
  7. Oumano. Elena (1996) "For Every Kinda People", Vibe , November 1996, p. 144. Retrieved 25 April 2016
  8. 1 2 "Chaka Demus & Pliers - Full Official Chart History". officialcharts.com. Official Charts Company . Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "British certifications – Chaka Demus". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 8 June 2022.Type Chaka Demus in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  10. 1 2 "Discography Chaka Demus & Pliers". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  11. 1 2 "Discography Chaka Demus & Pliers". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  12. 1 2 "Chaka Demus & Pliers Chart History - Reggae Albums". billboard.com. Billboard . Retrieved 10 June 2019.[ dead link ]
  13. "Discografie Chaka Demus & Pliers". ultratop.be (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  14. "Discographie Chaka Demus & Pliers". lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  15. "Suchen nach "Chaka Demus & Pliers"". offiziellecharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment charts . Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  16. "Search results for "Chaka Demus"". irishcharts.ie. Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  17. "Discografie Chaka Demus & Pliers". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  18. "Chaka Demus & Pliers Chart History - Hot 100". billboard.com. Billboard. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  19. "Chaka Demus & Pliers Chart History - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". billboard.com. Billboard . Retrieved 10 June 2019.[ dead link ]
  20. 1 2 Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 79.
  21. "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 20 November 2024.