What is word up by cameo about

«Word Up!» is a funk and R&B song originally recorded by American funk band Cameo in 1986. It was released as the first single from their twelfth album, Word Up! (1986). The song was written by band members Larry Blackmon and Tomi Jenkins. Its frequent airing on American dance, R&B, and contemporary hit radio, as well as its MTV music video (in which LeVar Burton appears as a police detective trying to arrest the band),[3] helped the single become the band’s best known hit.

«Word Up!»
WordUpCameo.jpg
Single by Cameo
from the album Word Up!
B-side «Urban Warrior»
Released May 27, 1986
Genre
  • Funk[1]
  • R&B[2]
Length 4:21
Label
  • Atlanta Artists
  • Mercury
  • PolyGram
Songwriter(s)
  • Larry Blackmon
  • Tomi Jenkins
Producer(s) Larry Blackmon
Cameo singles chronology
«Single Life»
(1985) 		«Word Up!»
(1986) 		«Candy»
(1986)
Music video
«Word Up» on YouTube

Release and receptionEdit

«Word Up!» was Cameo’s first US Top 40 hit, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and spending three weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B chart[4] and one week at number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles chart.

In the United Kingdom, «Word Up» spent ten weeks in the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number three on September 21, 1986 – for the week ending date September 27, 1986.

Besides being a commercial success, the track also earned critical acclaim from several publications. «Word Up!» won Cameo the Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single as well as the NME Award for Best Dance Record. Like the band’s previous single «Single Life», «Word Up!» features a reference to the opening notes of Ennio Morricone’s theme to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

«Word Up» was a colloquialism, popular in New York City and other US urban areas, that acted as an affirmation of what was said — a kind of a more-hip «You Bet.»

Blackmon said of the song:

It just sounded good, and it was before its time. You can play ‘Word Up’ anyplace anywhere, and someone is going to be grooving and bobbing their head. Our sound was unique, as well. I haven’t heard another one like it, and we probably won’t hear another one like it in the future. It was that significant for us.»[5]

Impact and legacyEdit

Time Out listed the song number 54 in their The 100 best party songs list in 2018.[6]

Word Up! has been covered numerous times by other artists. It is an easy song to sing, being riff-based and having a simple vocal melody.[7]

ChartsEdit

Gun versionEdit

«Word Up!»
 
Single by Gun
from the album Swagger
Released July 1, 1994
Genre Hard rock
Length 4:13
Label A&M
Songwriter(s) Larry Blackmon, Tomi Jenkins
Gun singles chronology
«Welcome to the Real World»
(1992) 		«Word Up!»
(1994) 		«Don’t Say It’s Over»
(1994)

In the 1990s, «Word Up!» was first covered by Scottish hard rock band Gun, whose version carried a harder, more rock-oriented sound, including a guitar solo.[citation needed] Taken from their album Swagger, it was released on July 1, 1994, and peaked number eight on the UK Singles Chart.[29] Two versions of the CD single were released in the UK, each carrying different cover art and different tracks.[30]

ChartsEdit

Chart (1994-95) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[31] 41
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[32] 24
France (SNEP)[33] 46
Germany (Official German Charts)[34] 32
Ireland (IRMA)[35] 17
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[36] 21
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[37] 14
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[38] 39
Scotland (OCC)[39] 4
UK Singles (OCC)[29] 8
UK on a Pop Tip Club Chart (Music Week)[40] 31

Mel B versionEdit

«Word Up!»
 
Single by Melanie G
from the album Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me: Music from the Motion Picture
B-side «Sophisticated Lady»
Released June 28, 1999[41]
Length
  • 3:23 (radio edit)
  • 5:23 (single version)
Label
  • Warner Bros.
  • Virgin
Songwriter(s)
  • Blackmon
  • Jenkins
Producer(s) Timbaland
Melanie G singles chronology
«I Want You Back»
(1998) 		«Word Up!»
(1999) 		«Tell Me»
(2000)
Music video
«Word Up» on YouTube

«Word Up!» was later covered by British singer Mel B of the Spice Girls (known as Melanie G at that time, and her only single under that name) from the film soundtrack Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. It was released on June 28, 1999, and peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. The single was also included on the Japanese edition of her album Hot. Static sings uncredited background vocals on the track.[42] Brown’s bandmate Emma Bunton sings background vocals on the B-side, «Sophisticated Lady», with an uncredited rap by Dexter.

Format and track listingEdit

  • Digital download EP
  1. «Word Up» (Radio Edit) – 3:23
  2. «Sophisticated Lady» – 2:44 [43]
  3. «Word Up» (Tim’s Dance Mix) – 5:32

ChartsEdit

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[44] 86
UK Singles (OCC)[45] 13

Korn versionEdit

«Word Up!»
 
Single by Korn
from the album Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
Released November 16, 2004
Genre Nu metal[46]
Length 2:53
Label Epic
Songwriter(s) Larry Blackmon, Tomi Jenkins
Producer(s)
  • Jonathan Davis
  • Korn
  • Toby Wright
Korn singles chronology
«Everything I’ve Known»
(2003) 		«Word Up!»
(2004) 		«Another Brick in the Wall, Pts. 1–3»
(2004)

«Word Up!» by American nu metal band Korn is a cover of the Cameo song. Its musical arrangements are similar to that of the cover version by Gun, except it is played in a lower sounding 7 string guitar tuning instead of the standard E.[citation needed] «Word Up!» was the first track featured on Korn’s 2004 retrospective album, Greatest Hits, Volume 1, and was one of two new tracks along with Pink Floyd’s «Another Brick in the Wall» that was exclusive to the album (the «Word Up!» CD single also featured a live performance of the latter).

Background and releaseEdit

It was released as the album’s first single in July 2004, and received heavy airplay on alternative radio at its time of release, peaking in the top 20 of both Billboard charts,[47] whilst making a respectable impression on the mainstream charts of other countries, including Australia (where it debuted at number 28),[48] and Germany (number 46).[49] It is the only Korn single to be sent out to Top 40 radio stations, notably receiving airplay on New York City’s Z-100, the largest Top 40 station in the US. Lead singer Jonathan Davis has said of the band’s decision to include the song on their greatest hits, «We’ve been doing ‘Word Up!’ for years as a sound-check song—not the full version, just messing around with the riff.»[50]

ChartsEdit

Chart (2004–2007) Peak
position
Argentina (Monitor Latino)[51] 74
Australia (ARIA)[48] 28
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[52] 58
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[53] 9
Canada Rock Top 30 (Radio & Records)[54] 28
Finland Download Chart (Suomen virallinen lista)[55] 24
Germany (Official German Charts)[56] 46
Greece (IFPI)[57] 40
Iceland (Fréttablaðið Top 20)[58] 2
Norway (VG-lista)[59] 15
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[60] 47
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[61] 10
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[62] 23
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[63] 28
US Mainstream Rock Tracks[47] 16
US Modern Rock Tracks[47] 17

Jan Delay versionEdit

«Türlich Türlich (Word Up)»
Single by Jan Delay
from the album Mercedes-Dance-Live
Released 2007
Length 3:06
Label
  • Im- und Export Hanburg-City
  • Universal
Songwriter(s)
  • Larry Blackmon
  • Tomi Jenkins
  • Das Bo
  • Jan Eißfeldt
  • Kaspar Wiens
Producer(s) Jan Delay
Jan Delay singles chronology
«Im Arsch»
(2007) 		«Türlich Türlich (Word Up)»
(2007) 		«Alles bleibt anders»
(2008)

In 2007 German singer Jan Delay recorded a mashup of the music from «Word Up!» with the lyrics of Das Bo’s «Türlich, Türlich (Sicher, Dicker)». The new song was titled «Türlich Türlich (Word Up)» and was a hit in German-speaking countries.

ChartsEdit

Chart (2007) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[64] 49
Germany (Official German Charts)[65] 31
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[66] 84

Little Mix versionEdit

«Word Up!»
 
Single by Little Mix
Released March 14, 2014
Genre Dance-pop
Length 3:29
Label
  • Syco
  • Columbia
Songwriter(s)
  • Larry Blackmon
  • Tomi Jenkins
Producer(s)
  • TMS
  • Maegan Cottone
Little Mix singles chronology
«Little Me»
(2013) 		«Word Up!»
(2014) 		«Salute»
(2014)
Music video
«Word Up!» on YouTube

British girl group Little Mix released a cover version of the song for Sport Relief 2014, through Syco Music and Columbia Records. It was released digitally on March 16, 2014, followed by a physical release the following day, which was only available to purchase from Sainsbury’s supermarkets.[67]

«Word Up» peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart and reached the top twenty in Ireland. The song also charted in Australia, Austria, Denmark, France, Czech Republic, and Japan. It has been certified gold in Brazil. The single is also included on the expanded edition of the group’s second studio album Salute (2013).

Background and releaseEdit

Little Mix first announced the single on January 16, 2014, through their official Twitter.[67][68] The song was first played on BBC Radio 1 on January 20, 2014, during Nick Grimshaw’s Breakfast show.[69]

The cover art of the single was revealed on January 24, 2014.[70]

Critical receptionEdit

The song received mostly positive reviews with Popjustice ranking it as third for the best version of the song and third for the best Sport Relief single and gave the song 7 out of 10 stars.[71] Kevin Kevinpod of DirectLyrics said that «[Little Mix’s] harmonies are spot-on, and the whole record is pure fire.» and that the song is a chance of the band getting a number one hit.[72] Its production was also likened to Janet Jackson’s single «Black Cat.»[73]

Music videoEdit

The shooting for the music video started in early February 2014. The band posted an exclusive picture from the video on February 25, 2014.[74] The video was first shown on the Chart Show TV on February 28, 2014 and was posted on Vevo on March 3, 2014.[75] It features celebrity cameos from Nick Grimshaw, Louie Spence, Louis Smith, Arlene Phillips, Melanie C and Chris Barrie.[76]

The video starts off with the band in a changing room of a gym. As they walk out of the changing room, Jade tries to pick up a barbell pretending that she cannot lift it but then she lifts it up and walks away carrying it. Perrie then walks along four women who are working out while Jade is on a stationary bicycle among three other women, following the instructions of a trainer. With the bicycle, Jade starts going forward with the rest following her at the back.

The scene then switches to a court with the band exercising and dancing the same time along with other people while singing the chorus of the song. Afterwards, Leigh-Anne is stood in front of some athletes with one using her as a barbell at the end of her part. Jesy continues with her part while dancing in front of two men working out on treadmills and fall off them after some time. During the chorus, the scene changes again to the court with the owner (Barrie, who had previously played leisure centre manager Gordon Brittas in BBC sitcom The Brittas Empire) of the gym seeing the girls and the rest dancing and runs upset out of his office. As he is going down to the court, he sees the athletes in the swimming pool shaping out the title of the song. When he reaches the court, he starts dancing with them.

Track listingsEdit

Digital download[77]
  1. «Word Up!» – 3:26
Digital remixes[78]
  1. «Word Up!» (The Alias Radio Edit) – 3:33
  2. «Word Up!» (Extended Mix) – 4:59
  3. «Word Up!» (Instrumental) – 3:05
CD single[79]
  1. «Word Up!» – 3:26
  2. «Word Up!» (The Alias Radio Edit) – 3:33
  3. «Word Up!» (Extended Mix) – 4:59
  4. «Word Up!» (Instrumental) – 3:05

ChartsEdit

CertificationsEdit

Release historyEdit

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ Jonathan Buckley, Mark Ellingham (1996). Rough Guides Ltd (ed.). Rock: The Rough Guide. ISBN 978-1858282015.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link) «»Word Up» was funk’s last stand before it was completely swallowed up by hip-hop culture.»
  2. ^ Roni Sarig (2007). Da Capo Press (ed.). Third Coast: Outkast, Timbaland, and How Hip-Hop Became a Southern Thing. p. 100. ISBN 978-0306814303. «With number-one R&B singles like 1984’s «She’s Strange» and 1986’s «Word Up»—released on Cameo’s Atlanta Artists label—the city found its first major urban act of the hip-hop era.»
  3. ^ «Cameo’s Got The Word». grammy.com. September 28, 2011. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  4. ^ Joel Whitburn (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 98.
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  50. ^ [1][dead link]
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BibliographyEdit

  • Lucy Green (2008). Music, Informal Learning and the School: A New Classroom Pedagogy. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 9780754662426.
Источник

Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • «Word Up» is a saying that was popular in New York and other urban areas in the US that acted as an affirmation of what was said, kind of a hipper «you bet.» Cameo developed a character around the saying and wrote the lyrics about what he would say. They called the character «Vicious» and had him take out his frustrations on rappers who delve into psychodrama when they should be creating music you can dance to: «Give us music, we can that, we need to dance. We don’t need that type of psychological romance.»

  • Cameo was a popular funk band in the ’70s and ’80s. This hit fused their funk background with elements of rap, giving them a big hit.

  • Cameo leader Larry Blackmon got the idea for the guttural vocal from Sly Stone, who is one of his heroes.

  • Korn and Melanie Brown have both recorded this. It was also part of a popular mash-up with Gwen Stefani’s «Hollaback Girl.» The corn version cracked the US chart at #123.

  • In the movie The 40-year-old virgin, Steve Carell sings a karaoke version of this alone in his apartment.

Источник
«Word Up!»
Обложка сингла «Word Up!» (Cameo, (1986))
Сингл Cameo
из альбома Word Up!
Выпущен

1986
Формат

7″ , 12″
Записан

1986
Жанр

Фанк , R&B
Длительность

4:20
Лейбл

Atlanta Artists Records
Хронология синглов Cameo
«»Word Up»
(1984)»		 «Word Up!»
((1986))		 «»Candy»
(1986)»
«Word Up!»
Обложка сингла «Word Up!» (Мел Би, (1999))
Сингл Мел Би
из альбома Austin Powers 2: Original Soundtrack
Выпущен

28 июня, 1999
Формат

CD
Записан

1999
Жанр

Поп
Длительность

3:25
Лейбл

Virgin Records
Хронология синглов Мел Би
«»I Want You Back»
(1998)»		 «Word Up!»
((1999))		 «»Tell Me»
(2000)»
«Word Up!»
Обложка сингла «Word Up!» (Korn, (2004))
Сингл Korn
из альбома Greatest Hits vol. 1
Выпущен

16 ноября, 2004
Формат

CD
Записан

2004
Жанр

Нью-метал
Длительность

2:53
Лейбл

Epic Records
Продюсер

Джонатан Дэвис
Korn
Тоби Райт
Хронология синглов Korn
«»Everything I’ve Known»
(2003)»		 «Word Up!»
((2004))		 «»Another Brick in the Wall»
(2004)»

Word Up! — фанк/R&B песня, написанная и опубликованная группой Cameo. В результате усиленной трансляции на американских поп и R&B радио и показываемого по MTV видео, сингл стал самым известным хитом группы. Песня с одноименного альбома Cameo стала для группы первым хитом, попавшим в американский топ-40, и достигнувшим шестой строчки в Billboard Hot 100. Также сингл за три недели достиг первой строчки в американском чарте Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Содержание

  • 1 Версия Мел Би
    • 1.1 Список композиций в версии Мел Би
  • 2 Версия Korn
    • 2.1 Список композиций в версии Korn
  • 3 Дополнительные факты
  • 4 Дополнительные кавер-версии
  • 5 Ссылки

Версия Мел Би

«Word Up!» стал синглом Мел Джи (больше известной как Мел Би) и кавер-версией хита группы Cameo. Сингл был издан 28 июня 1999 и достиг 14-й строчки в чарте синглов Великобритании. Также сингл вошел в саундтрек к фильму «Остин Пауэрс: Шпион, который меня соблазнил». «Word Up!» продался тиражом в 77.000 копий по Великобритании, что стало самым низким результатом среди синглов, имеющих отношение к Spice Girls в 1990-х.

Список композиций в версии Мел Би

  • Версия для Великобритании
  1. «Word Up!» [радиоверсия] — 3:25
  2. «Sophisticated Lady» — 2:44
  3. «Word Up!» [Tim’s Dance Mix] — 5:32
  4. «Word Up!» [видеоклип]
  • Европейское двухтрековое издание
  1. «Word Up» — 3:55
  2. «Sophisticated Lady» — 2:44

Версия Korn

Нью-метал группа Korn сделали кавер-версию песни R&B группы Cameo «Word Up!». «Word Up!» был первым треком, вошедшим в студийный сборник 2004 Greatest Hits vol. 1 и стал одним из двух треков, вместе с кавер-версией песни Pink Floyd «Another Brick in the Wall», которые появились только на этом альбоме («Word Up» также исполнялся позже на концертных выступлениях). Сингл получил обширную трансляцию на рок-радио к моменту релиза, попал в топ-20 обоих чартов, и произвел внушительное впечатление в популярных чартах других стран, включая Австралию (где сингл стартовал на 38-й строчке) и Германии (47-я строчка).

Вокалист Джонатан Дэвис сказал о решении группы включить эту песню в альбом своих Лучших хитов: «Мы играли „Word Up!“ годами, как песню для саундчека, не полную версию, просто основную мелодию». Музыкальное видео на песню снял Антти Йокинен, в котором лица музыкантов были преобразованные с помощью компьютера в собачьи морды (похожее на видео Basement Jaxx «Where’s Your Head At?», где человеческие лица превращались в морды обезьян), в клубе, с женщиной, танцующей топлес. Гитарист Брайан «Хэд» Вэлч был недоволен этим решением.

Список композиций в версии Korn

  1. «Word Up!»
  2. «Word Up!» (Atticus Clark Remix)
  3. «Word Up!» (Damizza Ree Mix)
  4. «Word Up!» (радиоверсия)
  5. «Another Brick in the Wall» (Live)
  6. «Word Up!» (видео)

Дополнительные факты

  • Кавер-версия в исполнении Korn использовалась в 2006 и 2007 в рекламе сериала Entourage на канале ITV2.
  • Версия песни в исполнении Cameo использовалась в рекламе второго сезона шоу Everybody Hates Chris на канале британского телевидения Paramount Comedy 1 в августе 2007.
  • Версию песни в исполнении Cameo можно услышать в двадцатом сезоне мультсериала Симпсоны в серии «Homer and Lisa exchange cross words»

Дополнительные кавер-версии

  • кавер-версия шотландской рок-группы Gun
  • кавер-версия группы The BossHoss в 2005 на альбоме Internashville Urban Hymns
  • кавер-версия кантри-соул певицы Виллис (с сингла 2004 «Take You High»), вошедшего в седьмой сезон сериала CSI: Место преступления, эпизод «Post Mortem», в котором Ходжес танцует под эту песню
  • Песня содержится в европейской версии популярной аркадной игры «Dance Dance Revolution»
  • кавер-версия, исполненная Yonder Mountain String Band на их концерте в Мелквеге, Амстердам 20 марта, 2007 (доступна на archive.org)
  • кавер-версия русского исполнителя Noize MC под названием «Героин-фест» на фестивале «Яга-фест»

Ссылки

Текст песни

 Просмотр этого шаблона Korn
Джонатан Дэвис • Реджинальд «Филди» Арвизу • Джеймс «Манки» Шаффер • Рэй Лузье
Бывшие участники Korn Брайан «Хэд» Уэлч • Дэвид Сильверия
Дополнительные музыканты Клинт Ловери • Зак Бэйрд • Кален Чейз • Майкл Жокум
Дискография
Студийные альбомы Korn • Life Is Peachy • Follow The Leader • Issues • Untouchables • Take a Look in the Mirror • See You on the Other Side • Неназванный альбом • Korn III — Remember Who You Are • The Path of Totality
Демо, сборники, концертные альбомы Neidermeyer’s Mind • Greatest Hits vol. 1 • Live and Rare • MTV Unplugged: Korn • Korn Kovers
Синглы Blind • Shoots and Ladders • Clown • Need To • No Place To Hide • A.D.I.D.A.S. • Good God • All in the Family • Got the Life • Freak on a Leash • Children of the Korn • B.B.K. • Falling Away from Me • Make Me Bad • Somebody Someone • Here to Stay • Thoughtless • Alone I Break • Did My Time • Right Now • Y’All Want a Single • Everything I’ve Known • Word Up! • Another Brick in the Wall • Twisted Transistor • Coming Undone • Politics • Freak on a Leash (версия MTV Unplugged) • Evolution • Hold On • Haze
Видеография Who Then Now? • Deuce • Korn Live • Live on the Other Side • Chopped, Screwed, Live and Unglued
Туры и сольные проекты Family Values Tour • Bitch We Have a Problem Tour • Alone I Play
Статьи по теме Дискография • Награды и номинации Korn • Отличная загадка группы Korn о пиратском призраке • It’s Time to See Religion Die • Королева Проклятых (саундтрэк)
Предыдущие группы участников L.A.P.D. • Sexart
Источник

Cameo - Word Up!.jpeg

15 апреля 1986 года вышел «Word Up!» — лид-сингл двенадцатого одноимённого студийного альбома американской фанк/R&B-группы Cameo. Т.к. предыдущие синглы группы не пользовались мегапопулярностью, то тираж был напечатан небольшой. В мае, в связи с ростом спроса выпустили новый тираж сингла и сняли клип, который начали активно ротировать на MTV. В результате, к сентябрю песня раскачалась, выпустили ещё один тираж сингла и песня вошла в ТОП-10 чартов 11 стран, включая Великобританию (3 место) и США (6 место), и став лучшим достижением группы Cameo.

9 сентября 1986 года вышел альбом «Word Up!» и на успехе песни вошёл в чарты 8 стран, включая Великобританию (7 место) и США (8 место), что было абсолютно недостижимо ни для всех альбомов группы ДО, ни для альбомов после.

Клип на песню известен тем, что в нём снялся LeVar Burton — известный американский актёр и ведущий детских программ:

Один пост про песню в день!
Добавьте мой журнал в друзья!

Вживую группа Cameo выступала, несмотря на некую фриковость участников:

Учитывая популярность песни, каверов было много и 5 из них попали в чарты.

В 1994 году, британская хард-рок-группа Gun записала свой кавер «Word Up!», который вошёл в чарты 7 стран, в том числе Великобритании, где занял 8 место:

В 1999 году, британская певица Mel B из Spice Girls сделала кавер для фильма «Остин Пауэрс: Шпион, который меня соблазнил». Кавер вошлё в чарты трёх стран, в том числе в Великобритании занял 13 место:

В 2004 году вышел кавер «Word Up!» американской ню-метал-группы Korn, который вошёл в чарты восьми стран:

В 2007 году немецкий певец Jan Delay записал мэшап музыки из «Word Up!» на стихи «Türlich, Türlich (Sicher, Dicker)» Даса Бо. Новая песня была названа «Türlich Türlich (Word Up)» и стала хитом в немецкоязычных странах, войдя в чарты Германии, Австрии и Швейцарии:

В 2014 году, британская женская группа Little Mix сделала кавер на песню «Word Up!» для благотворительного проекта «Sport Relief 2014». Лично мне эта версия вообще не нравится, но она вошла в чарты девяти стран, в том числе заняла 6 место в чарте Великобритании — самое высокое среди каверов, а видео на Ютуб набрало более 150 млн. просмотров:

Читайте мои статьи про другие песни, чей День рождения 15 апреля:

15 апреля. Empire Of The Sun — Alive: видео на песню 2013 года, по сути, стало популярнее песни

15 апреля. Republica — Ready to Go: три варианта песни и десятки вариантов её использования в медиа

15 апреля. Johnny Wakelin — In Zaire: история песни и боксерского боя между Джорджем Форманом и Мухаммедом Али в 1974 году

Это был День рождения песни 667. Cameo — Word Up

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Cameo

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Many of the funk bands that were big in the 1970s had a hard time surviving in the 1980s, especially if they were horn bands. Having a killer horn section was something that a lot of 1970s funk outfits prided themselves on, and it was no fun when, in the 1980s, they were told that their horns sound dated and that urban contemporary audiences only wanted to hear synthesizers, sequencers, and drum machines. But Cameo, unlike many funk bands that emerged in the late ’70s, really thrived in the 1980s. Lead singer/producer Larry Blackmon insisted on changing with the times, and he did so by making Cameo more high-tech and seeing to it that albums like 1985’s Single Life and 1986’s Word Up! were relevant to the urban contemporary and hip-hop scenes. Nonetheless, Cameo still sounded like Cameo; Word Up!, in fact, is one of its best albums. The wildly infectious title song was a major hit, and Cameo is equally captivating on other funk treasures that include «Fast, Fierce and Funny,» «Back and Forth,» and «Candy.» To the young urban contemporary and hip-hop fans who bought Word Up! in 1986, Cameo’s funk was fresh and cutting edge; and at the same time, slightly older fans that Cameo had won over in the late ’70s were still buying its records. Both commercially and creatively, Word Up! was a major triumph for Cameo.

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