Despite McShane being the focus, the songs were mostly written and sung by Italian vocalist Maurizio Bassi, although controversy exists (as in many 'studio'-based groups) over McShane's level of co-singing and co-songwriting. The songs are considered a key example of the "italo disco" sound.
Baltimora first appeared during the summer of 1985, sweeping over Europe before finding release in the United States via EMI. The time it took for EMI to finally break "Tarzan Boy" in America resulted in the song earning a six month stay on the Hot 100, ultimately peaking at #13 in the early spring of 1986. His first album, 'Living in the Background', arrived some time later. The group, despite successful touring and frequent dance club plays, quickly fell off of the radar.
However, "Tarzan Boy" made a second run up the Hot 100 in the spring of 1993, climbing to #51 thanks to its appearance in the movie 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III'. No such resurgence occurred when the song appeared again in a movie a few years later in the 1997 Chris Farley comedy 'Beverly Hills Ninja'. "Tarzan Boy" did catch the attention of millions again in a Listerine commercial, which featured the song playing (minus the lead vocals) while a computer-animated bottle of blue minty mouthwash swung around on vines in a colorful digital jungle.
Jimmy McShane died on March 29, 1995 as a result of AIDS complications. Maurizio Bassi remained involved in the music industry, although finding mainstream success elusive. His son, Matteo Bassi, is also a musician.
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Baltimora is also the stage name of Italian singer-songwriter and record producer Edoardo Spinsante (born 2001), most known for winning the fifteenth season of the Italian talent show X Factor.
Tarzan Boy
Baltimora Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Jungle life
I'm far away from nowhere
On my own like Tarzan boy
Hide and seek
I play alone while rushing 'cross the forest
Monkey business on a sunny afternoon
Jungle life
I'm living in the open
Native beat that carries on
Burning bright
A fire blows the signal to the sky
I sit and wonder, does the message get to you?
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Night to night
Gimme the other, gimme the other
Chance tonight
Gimme the other, gimme the other
Night to night
Gimme the other, gimme the other world
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Jungle life
You're far away from nothing
It's all right
You won't miss home
Take a chance
Leave everything behind you
Come and join me, won't be sorry
It's easy to survive
Jungle life
We're living in the open
All alone like Tarzans boy
Hide and seek
We play alone while rushing 'cross the forest
Monkey business on a sunny afternoon
Night to night
Gimme the other, gimme the other
Chance tonight, oh yeah
Night to night
Gimme the other, gimme the other
Night to night
You won't play
Night to night
Gimme the other, gimme the other
Chance tonight, oh yeah
Night to night, night to night
Gimme the other, gimme the other
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
The lyrics of "Tarzan Boy" by Baltimora depict a young man living a wild and carefree life in the jungle. The song expresses a longing for adventure and freedom, away from the constraints of modern society. The singer, feeling like a modern-day Tarzan, plays hide and seek alone in the forest and enjoys monkey business on a sunny afternoon. The rhythmic beat of native drums is the only music he needs to move to. He wonders if the signal from his fire is received in the outside world, but he remains content with his simple existence. He encourages others to take a chance and join him in the jungle, where life is lived openly and freely, far away from the trappings of civilization.
The song has a tropical disco vibe that was popular during the 1980s. Its upbeat tempo and catchy refrain make it an easy song to dance to. Interestingly, the song was actually created by the Italian musician Maurizio Bassi, who simulated a Caribbean-style sound despite never having visited the area. The lyrics express a desire for adventure and the simple pleasures of life, resonating with listeners who are searching for an escape from the everyday.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Repetitive vocalization of the song's main melody
Jungle life
Living in the wild and free
I'm far away from nowhere
Being isolated from civilization
On my own like Tarzan boy
Being self-sufficient like the fictional character Tarzan
Hide and seek
Playing a game of hiding and finding
I play alone while rushing 'cross the forest
Playing hide and seek solo in the woods
Monkey business on a sunny afternoon
Having fun in the jungle like monkeys do in the wild
I'm living in the open
Enjoying the freedom of living in nature
Native beat that carries on
Rhythm of the jungle that never stops
Burning bright
A fiery blaze shining brightly
A fire blows the signal to the sky
Smoke signal sent up by the fire
I sit and wonder, does the message get to you?
Curious if others will receive the signal message
Night to night
From one evening to another
Gimme the other, gimme the other
Wanting something new or different
Chance tonight, oh yeah
An opportunity to explore tonight, oh yeah
You're far away from nothing
Being away from everything without feeling lonely
It's all right
Things are going well
You won't miss home
Not feeling homesick
Take a chance
Taking a risk
Leave everything behind you
Leaving everything in the past and moving forward
Come and join me, won't be sorry
Inviting others to share in the adventure with no regrets
It's easy to survive
Living in the wild can be simple
We're living in the open
Living in freedom outdoors
You won't play
Not feeling the urge to participate
Night to night, night to night
Repetitive cycle of adventure
Gimme the other, gimme the other
Wanting something different and exciting
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Repetitive vocalization of the song's main melody
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Maurizio Bassi, Naimy Hackett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@brendagutierrez8155
Jungle life
I'm far away from nowhere
On my own like Tarzan Boy
Hide and seek
I play along while rushing cross the forest
Monkey business on a sunny afternoon
Jungle life
I'm living in the open
Native beat that carries on
Burning bright
A fire the blows the signal to the sky
I sit and wonder does the message get to you
Night to night
Gimme the other, gimme the other
chance tonight
Gimme the other, gimme the other
Night to night
Gimme the other, gimme the other world
Jungle life
You're far away from nothing
It's all right
You won't miss home
Take a chance
Leave everything behind you
Come and join me
Won't be sorry
It's easy to survive
Jungle life
We're living in the open
All alone like Tarzans Boy
Hide and seek
We play along while rushing cross the forest
Monkey business on a sunny afternoon
Night to night
Gimme the other, gimme the other
Chance tonight
Oh Yeah
Night to night
Gimme the other, gimme the other
Night to night
You won't play
Night to night
Gimme the other, gimme the other
Chance tonight
Oh Yeah
Night to night
Night to night
Gimme the other, gimme the other
:)
@GabrielMSoler
You can't imagine how hard it's to find this song only with "OOOOooooOOOOoooOOOooOOh"
@dr6932
ZOireto Zoireto trust me I’ve been there too lol
@myrtleirisv
How did you find it? I'm glad you did =)
@ASTHMAVideoZ
I found it today after 9 Years
@euromatlox
Now when found, check also Ken Laszlo's version of this song. I think it's even better than this Baltimora's version, but as I like Ken's voice so much, it might be the reason.
@acebuo2788
me too hahha
@boeing900
This song came on the radio as I was driving home this evening, and brought back a memory of the most significant day of my life. Besides today, the last time I heard this song was in the afternoon of May 11, 1987. How can I be so precise? That was the day my childhood dream, to become an Airline Pilot came true. I had just completed my final interview with Continental Airlines and was offered the job. As I got in my car and started driving home I turned on radio and this song had just begun playing, and I was singing it loudly. That was the beginning of my 34 year career with Continental/United, which ended last year, when I turned 65, the FAA's mandatory retirement age.
@FLtreasure
I first heard this song when I was walking down the main street in Olongapo City , Philippines. It was blaring out the doorway of one of the many bars in that town. The following year, I was a civilian again, and hired into aircraft maintenance with Continental at Newark.
@mazombak
Happy retirement Sir!
I first heard this song in Sep 1986 ;)
@tsukasa2324
What a time, but Happy retirement sir!