Black Box was an Italian house music group popular in the late 1980s and ea… Read Full Bio ↴Black Box was an Italian house music group popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The members of the group included a trio made up of a club DJ (Daniele Davoli), a classically trained clarinet teacher (Valerio Semplici), and a keyboard and electronic music "wiz" (Mirko Limoni). The three created an image for the Black Box act using French fashion model Katrin Quinol as its album/singles cover art and supposed lead singer in all of the group's music videos.

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/

get down
Black Box Lyrics

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Baby, baby, we get nasty, nasty, we can get freaky, deaky
Baby, baby, we can do more than just talk
'Cause I can hear ya, hear ya, and I can see ya, see ya
Baby, baby, we can do all that we want
We're getting nasty, nasty, we're getting freaky, freaky
Digital, digital get down, just you and me
You may be twenty thousand miles away, but I can see ya
And baby, baby you can see me

Digital, digital get down, just what we need
If we can't get together naturally
Then we can, we can get together on the digital screen
Every time I'm sittin' home alone girl
I can't wait to get you on the phone girl
So, pick it up, babe
I can see everything you do
Bouncin' me from satellite to satellite
I love the things you do for me so late tonight
Turn me on, babe
It's like I'm right there next to you, yeah
Can we get connected?
I need some love and affection, baby
I'll call you on the phone
I hope that I get through
If you're in the mood and on the phone
Here's what you do, leave a message
You know the kind I like to get back to
Digital, digital get down, just you and me
You may be twenty thousand miles away, but I can see ya
And baby, baby you can see me
Digital, digital get down, just what we need
If we can't get together naturally
Then we can, we can get together on the digital screen, yeah
I lose my mind just when you're speakin'
I see you on the screen, I get to freakin'
So, get down, babe
And I'll get down for you
I get so excited when I'm watchin', girl
I can't wait to see you touch your body, girl
It's just me and you
So, we can do what we gotta do, yeah
Can we get connected?
I need some love and affection, baby
I'll call you on the phone
I hope that I get through
If you're in the mood and on the phone
Here's what you do, leave a message
You know the kind I like to get back to
Digital, digital get down, just you and me
You may be twenty thousand miles away, but I can see ya
And baby, baby you can see me
Digital, digital get down, just what we need
If we can't get together naturally
Then we can, we can get together on the digital screen, yeah
Digital, digital, digital, digital get down, get down
Digital digital digital digital get down, get down
Baby, baby we can do more than just talk
'Cause I can hear ya, hear ya, and I can see ya, see ya
Baby, baby we can do all that we want
We're getting nasty, nasty, we're getting freaky, freaky
Baby, baby we can do more than just talk
'Cause I can hear ya, hear ya, and I can see ya, see ya
Baby, baby we can do all that we want
We're getting nasty, nasty, we're getting digital
Digital, digital get down, just you and me
You may be twenty thousand miles away, but I can see ya
And baby, baby you can see me
Digital, digital get down, just what we need
If we can't get together naturally
Then we can, we can get together on the digital screen, yeah
Digital, digital get down, just you and me
You may be twenty thousand miles away, but I can see ya
And baby, baby you can see me
Digital, digital get down, just what we need
If we can't get together naturally

Then we can, we can get together on the digital screen, yeah
Digital, digital get down, get down, just what we need

Overall Meaning

The song "Get Down" by Black Box is a playful and suggestive ode to long-distance relationships conducted over the phone or internet. The lyrics describe two lovers who are physically far apart but can connect through technology, getting "nasty" and "freaky" while "digital, digital get[ting] down." The song speaks to the idea of virtual intimacy, where physical distance is not necessarily a barrier to sexual expression.

The refrain repeats throughout the song, emphasizing the power of technological connection to bridge physical distances. The lyrics suggest a degree of voyeurism and exhibitionism, as the lovers describe watching each other through digital screens and enjoying seeing each other get "freaky" and "nasty." The song is a testament to the power of modern technology to bring people together, though it also speaks to the limitations of virtual intimacy and the ultimate desire for physical connection.

Line by Line Meaning

Baby, baby, we get nasty, nasty, we can get freaky, deaky
We are going to engage in sexual activities and explore our wild and kinky sides.

Baby, baby, we can do more than just talk
We can actually act on our desires instead of just talking about them.

'Cause I can hear ya, hear ya, and I can see ya, see ya
I can hear your voice and see your image through technology.

Baby, baby, we can do all that we want
We have the freedom to do whatever we desire, without any limitations or restrictions.

We're getting nasty, nasty, we're getting freaky, freaky
Our sexual activities are becoming more intense and wild.

Digital, digital get down, just you and me
We are having virtual sex through technology, creating the illusion of being physically intimate.

You may be twenty thousand miles away, but I can see ya
Even though we are far apart, I can still see your image through the screen.

And baby, baby you can see me
You also have the ability to see me through the screen as well.

Just what we need
Virtual sex is what we need to fulfill our sexual desires and needs when we are apart.

If we can't get together naturally
If we are unable to meet in person and get physically intimate, we can still have virtual sex.

Then we can, we can get together on the digital screen
We can still be intimate with each other through technology, even if we cannot be physically together.

Every time I'm sittin' home alone girl
When I am alone at home, I think about being intimate with you.

I can't wait to get you on the phone girl
I am eager to communicate with you and engage in virtual sex through technology.

Turn me on, babe
Excite me and get me in the mood for virtual sex.

It's like I'm right there next to you, yeah
Through virtual sex, it feels like we are physically together, even though we are not.

I need some love and affection, baby
I am craving emotional and physical intimacy with you.

I hope that I get through
I hope to successfully connect with you through technology for virtual sex.

If you're in the mood and on the phone
If you are also interested in virtual sex and available to connect through technology.

Here's what you do, leave a message
Leave a message for me to let me know that you are interested in virtual sex with me.

Digital, digital, digital, digital get down, get down
We are having virtual sex through technology.

Baby, baby we can do all that we want
We are free to explore and engage in any sexual activities that we desire.

We're getting nasty, nasty, we're getting digital
Our virtual sex is becoming more intense and wild.

Digital, digital get down, get down, just what we need
Virtual sex is fulfilling our sexual desires and needs when we are unable to physically be together.

I lose my mind just when you're speakin'
I become aroused and excited when I am communicating with you, preparing for virtual sex.

I see you on the screen, I get to freakin'
Seeing your image on the screen excites me and prepares me for virtual sex.

Get down, babe
Engage in virtual sex with me and fulfill our desires.

I get so excited when I'm watchin', girl
Seeing you engage in virtual sex with me excites me and arouses me.

I can't wait to see you touch your body, girl
I am eager to see you engage in sexual activities and explore your body during virtual sex.

It's just me and you
We are the only ones involved in our virtual sex and we can feel as though we are physically together.

Contributed by Emily W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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