Davoli, Semplici, and Limoni had previously formed a group called Groove Groove Melody, producing dance music under names such as Starlight (who had a UK Top 10 hit in August 1989 with "Numero Uno") and Wood Allen. They went on to record music under many other aliases, most notably Mixmaster, which scored a UK #9 hit in November 1989 with the song "Grand Piano".
In 1989, the trio teamed up with French Caribbean model Katrin Quinol (b. Catherine Quinol) and formed the group Black Box. Quinol did not contribute musically to any of the tracks on the album, was considered the group's "image", lip-syncing the songs in TV performances and music videos.
The first single "Ride On Time" was an international hit, making Top 10 in many countries and No. 1 in the UK, soon becoming the UK's best-selling single of 1989. The song heavily sampled "Love Sensation" by Loleatta Holloway, a 1980 disco hit. The Black Box title is derived from the lyrics "Cause you're right on time".
Dan Hartman, writer and producer of "Love Sensation", was not sought for permission to sample his song, and soon after the international success of "Ride On Time," questions arose as to the true vocalist on the song. Legal proceedings ruled that Loleatta Holloway was the actual singer on "Ride On Time" (albeit by means of the "Love Sensation" vocal samples) and Black Box surrendered a large percentage of the royalties from the song to Hartman and Holloway. A new version of the track with uncredited vocals by Heather Small appeared solely as a single.
The group enlisted Martha Wash to perform vocals on a number of tracks which, Wash was apparently told, were for club consumption and were not for mass-release. The album Dreamland was released in May 1990, and featured six songs sung by Wash, including the singles "Everybody Everybody", "I Don't Know Anybody Else", and "Strike It Up", which became major hits worldwide. Dreamland earned a gold disc in both the UK and the US and achieved double-platinum status in Canada. In Australia it spent three weeks at #1, achieved platinum accreditation and was ranked the country's 16th highest selling album of 1991. Along the way, it also spawned six hit singles, both on the mainstream charts and in the clubs.
Martha Wash was uncredited on the album and singles, with Katrin Quinol lip-synching to the songs in public appearances. Wash sued Black Box, RCA Records and then C+C Music Factory for not receiving due credit. RCA and Wash settled out of court in 1990, with Wash receiving financial compensation and a record deal with RCA.[7] Wash received full vocal credit upon the single release of "Strike It Up", but the music video still featured Katrin Quinol lip-synching the lyrics.
In 1993, the group returned with the single "Rockin' To The Music", dismissing Quinol as the group's image and using American singer Charvoni Woodson as lead vocalist and image, but failed to emulate their previous success. The group recorded their second album Positive Vibration, with Woodson. The album was released around Europe and Asia in different independent labels from 1995 to 1997. The album spawned four singles, including a cover of Odyssey's disco hit "Native New Yorker" which became minor hits in Europe.
In America, they are best remembered for their early '90s singles, "Everybody Everybody", "I Don't Know Anybody Else", and "Strike It Up", their biggest hit in the United States, where all three of their hits are still heard on rhythmic radio and in clubs on a fairly regular basis to this day. Black Box remain one of the few piano-house groups to achieve mainstream success in the USA.
Official website : http://www.blackboxhouse.eu/
Katrin Quinol official website : http://katrinquinol.fr/
Rockin' to the Music
Black Box Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah he yeah
Just rockin' to the music...
Dance... Dance...
I know it's foolish but I like your touch
It keeps me movin' till I've had enough
You're on a pedestal, I felt so alone
Won't you come along and...
I'm always busy tryin' to catch your eye
'Cause I just need you an' it ain't no lie
This night is calling, I won't let it go
Watcha gonna do for me
Won't you come along and...
Ask me how I'm feelin'
Doing this way
Feelin' fine
Ask me how's the feeling
I say it's allright
Just allright
Now we've got a feeling
Don't let it fade
Fade away
Ask me how's I'm feeling
I'm feelin' grand
Feelin' grand
The lyrics to "Rockin' to the Music" are about the joy of dancing and being swept up in the moment. The opening lines, "Woh ho ho, Yeah he yeah, Just rockin' to the music... Dance... Dance..." convey a sense of carefree enjoyment and being lost in the rhythm. The first verse reveals the singer's affection for someone and how their touch keeps them moving on the dance floor. The second verse expresses a longing for the object of their affection, as they are always trying to catch their eye. The chorus is an invitation for the person to join them in dancing and enjoy the feeling of the music. The bridge of the song emphasizes the positivity of the moment and the feeling of elation that comes from dancing to good music.
Overall, "Rockin' to the Music" is a high-energy party song that celebrates the joy of dancing and being in the moment. The lyrics reflect the idea that dancing can be a release from the stresses of everyday life, and that the connection that can be made on the dance floor can be meaningful and even romantic. The song also has a strong sense of community, inviting everyone to come together and enjoy the shared experience of dancing.
Line by Line Meaning
Woh ho ho
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm.
Yeah he yeah
Another expression of excitement and enthusiasm.
Just rockin' to the music...
Enjoying and moving to the beat of the music.
Dance... Dance...
Encouraging dancing to the music.
I know it's foolish but I like your touch
Admitting that their attraction to someone might seem illogical, but they enjoy physical contact with them.
It keeps me movin' till I've had enough
The physical contact is energizing and keeps them moving until they're satisfied.
You're on a pedestal, I felt so alone
The person they are attracted to is idealized, and previously they felt alone without them.
Watcha gonna do for me
Won't you come along and...
Asking the person to join in on the fun and keep them company, wanting the person to reciprocate the feelings and actions.
I'm always busy tryin' to catch your eye
'Cause I just need you an' it ain't no lie
Hoping to get the attention of the person they are attracted to, as they need them and it's not a lie.
This night is calling, I won't let it go
Watcha gonna do for me
Won't you come along and...
Not wanting to miss out on an opportunity to be with the person they like, asking them to join them.
Ask me how I'm feelin'
Doing this way
Feelin' fine
Responding positively to being asked about how they are feeling, indicating that they feel fine.
Ask me how's the feeling
I say it's allright
Just allright
Responding to someone asking about the general feeling in the room or atmosphere, saying it's just okay, no better or worse.
Now we've got a feeling
Don't let it fade
Fade away
Having a good feeling at the moment, and wanting to hold on to it and not let it fade away.
Ask me how's I'm feeling
I'm feelin' grand
Feelin' grand
Responding enthusiastically to being asked how they are feeling, indicating that they feel great.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANIELE BENATI, DANIELE DAVOLI, MIRKO LIMONI, VALERIO SEMPLICI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jim M
Martha Wash & Lolleatta Holloway were the actual singers for Black Box. The tour’s were done by models who lip synced these smash songs. As far as this song goes I too love the song. I’m not sure if she’s the actual vocalist or a lip sync artist. This fell by the way of a few other groups of the time. Millie Vanilli was another such act. The extremely sad fact with this duo was that they could actually sing. As a result of the scandal the one singer some years later had taken his life. A few more scandals took place. Only too have them also have real Singer’s in the group’s as well. I have all of Black Boxes CD’s & Remixes. I bought them at the time & still have them in my collection today. I bought them because I knew who the real singer’s were. I didn’t buy them because of who performed them in the video’s or who performed them on the tour. I wouldn’t see them on tour because I knew they weren’t the real artists. I’m not sure why the actual singer’s didn’t do the actual performances. These actual artists should be paid for their work. They should be paid for the royalties of the song’s as well. It’s critical that record companies & labels wouldn’t exist without the Artist/Vocalist. They should be allowed to keep the music they sing.
Busy Bee🐝
Similar sound to Angela Winbush voice, with this group you never know, it might be Angela Winbush
efg5000
Her name is Celestine Walcott-Gordon she is actually singing. I think shes is from the VOICE tv show
Maria B.
amazing voice.
Justified Suspicion
What a voice ❤
RAMIRO PEREIRA
muito obrigado, pois eu já tinha escutado essa música do black, mas não conhecia o clipe.valeu demais !
Iramis Sánchez camargo
Hace mucho tiempo que no lo oía gracias por subirlos saludos desde Colombia
Tsvetan Dudulov
Black Box are the Titans of the aesthetic music!
Angelito Zam
icono de los 90's
лохматый кот
Great! 👍👍👍