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Wild Cherry, 1976: ‘Play That Funky Music’

The frontman of Wild Cherry was Rob Parissi. He really wanted to write a hit song, and his plan was to copy his strategy from the best of the best. He immediately disco’ed down to the store and checked out the Billboard magazine, which weekly charted the hit singles. Rob ended up subscribing to the magazine. When the magazine arrived in his mailbox each week, he would pick out a funky tune or two to replicate the single into his own, making it just unique enough to avoid any potential lawsuits. After a few tries of this activity, he re-wrote a single that would become his own #1 hit in the Billboard magazine. The song that he copied to write this song was “Fire” by The Ohio Players (especially with the bass line and vocal tones).

Fire
Fire (it’s all about)
Fire (woo, woo, woo)
Fire

The way you walk and talk really sets me off
To a fuller love, child, yes, it does, uh
The way you squeeze and tease, knocks to me my knees
‘Cause I’m smokin’, baby, baby

The way you swerve and curve, really wrecks my nerves
And I’m so excited, child woo, woo
The way you push, push let’s me know that you’re good
(You’re gonna get your wish) Oh, yeah

Fire (What I said, child, ow)
Fire (Uh-huh)
Got me burnin’, burnin’, burnin’
Got me burnin’, burnin’, burnin’ (Yeah)
Got me burnin’, burnin’, burnin’ (Yeah)

Woo, hoo, hoo, baby
Start burnin, burnin’ baby
Ooh. Ooh, ooh, ooh
Burnin’, burnin’ baby
Oh, baby

Throw some water on me
When you shake what you got, and girl, you’ve got a lot
You’re really somethin’, child, yes, you are
When you’re hot you’re hot, you really shoot your shot
You’re dyn-o-might, child, yeah

Well, I can tell by your game
You’re gonna start a flame
Love, baby, baby
I’m not gon’ choke from the smoke
Got me tightenin’ up my stroke
Do you feel it, girl, yeah

Got me burnin’, got me burnin’
Got me burnin’, got me burnin’
Got me burnin’, got me burnin’ (fire)
Got me burnin’, got me burnin’ (on fire)
Got me burnin’, got me burnin’ (fire)
Got me burnin’, got me burnin’ (on fire)
Got me burnin’, got me burnin’ (fire)
Got me burnin’, got me burnin'(on fire)
Got me burnin’, got me burnin’ (fire)
Got me burnin’, got me burnin’ (on fire)
Got me burnin’, got me burnin’ (fire)
Got me burnin’, got me burnin’ (on fire)

(Source: MetroLyrics)