Throughout the 70s and 80s, the group remained up with the times and occasionally crept ahead of them, such that they became influences themselves upon younger generations of R&B and hip-hop acts. By the time the group's popularity started to fizzle in the late 80s, a series of hits were left in the band's wake, ranging from greasy, funky workouts to smooth ballads to swinging synthesized tracks and more. Further separating Cameo from their forebears was the fact that they didn't have a diaper-clad guitarist. Instead, they had a codpiece-wearing lead vocalist in Larry Blackmon.
Today, the group's iconic single "Word Up", released in 1986 from the album of the same time, remains a radio staple. The U.S. Hot Dance Singles and U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart topper has also been famously covered by artists such as the hard rock band Gun and the alternative metal group Korn. Other popular Cameo singles include "Attack Me With Your Love", "Candy", "Freaky Dancin'","I Just Want To Be", and "Sparkle".
She's Strange
Cameo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fine lady
I like the way she walks
I like the way she talks
She turns me on with a special concern
Now I'm a different guy
And I don't compare to many
Not many can see the light blue aura
That surrounds the girl wherever in the world
She's a 9, a 10, a 25th
She's bittersweet and a [Incomprehensible]
She's strange and I like it
She's strange just the way she is
Strange walking down the avenue
She's strange always doing something new
She's the kind of person everybody knows
She reeks distinction from head to toe
She's my twilight zone, my Al Capone
She's my Rolling Stones and my Eva Peron
And I like it, yes I like it
I like it, the way she wears her hair
And I like it, I like it
In room 123, she elusive you see
Like the invisible man in drag
And when you come to meet her
You'll never greet her
She'll be waving her skirt as a flag
Like the cold in October she'll take you right over
It's not mean to be facetious
And that look in her eye says your the guy
She plans to spend this evening with
She's strange and I like it
She's strange just the way she is
Strange walking down the avenue
She's strange always doing something new
No, no no, no no
Knock me off my feet
Strange
The lyrics of Cameo's song She's Strange are about a woman who is strange in all the right ways. The singer is attracted to the way she walks, talks, and presents herself to the world. He describes her as someone who turns him on with her special concern, and while he may be a different guy who doesn't compare to many others, next to her, he feels plain and ordinary. Many can't see the light blue aura that surrounds her, but the singer can, and he describes her as being bittersweet and captivating. She's strange in the sense that she's unique and doing something new all the time, and he likes that about her.
The woman in the song is described as having a strong personality and a distinctive presence, something that everyone knows about her. She's different or separates herself from others, right down to the way she wears her hair. The singer compares her to historical and cultural icons like Al Capone, Rolling Stones, and Eva Peron. Despite her strangeness, the singer finds himself drawn to her, and she seems to be attracted to him too. In room 123, the mysterious woman waves her skirt as a flag, and that look in her eye says that she plans to spend this evening with him.
Line by Line Meaning
Strange
She is unusual, different from what people usually expect.
Fine lady
She is an attractive woman.
I like the way she walks
I am attracted to her movements.
I like the way she talks
I enjoy listening to the sound of her voice.
She turns me on with a special concern
She has a unique quality that makes me feel sexually aroused.
Now I'm a different guy
Since I met her, I feel like a changed person.
And I don't compare to many
There are not many people like her, so I find it hard to compare myself to others.
But next to her I'm plain ordinary
Compared to her, I am just an average person.
Not many can see the light blue aura
Few people notice the positive energy that surrounds her.
That surrounds the girl wherever in the world
She emits this positive energy wherever she goes.
She's a 9, a 10, a 25th
She is gorgeous and stands out from the rest.
She's bittersweet and a [Incomprehensible]
She is complex and has both positive and negative qualities that make her unique.
She's the kind of person everybody knows
She is famous and well-known among many people.
She reeks distinction from head to toe
She exudes an air of exclusivity and sophistication.
She's my twilight zone, my Al Capone
She is like a mystery to me, like a character from the Twilight Zone, or a notorious figure like Al Capone.
She's my Rolling Stones and my Eva Peron
She is like my favorite music group, the Rolling Stones, and a historical figure like Eva Peron.
In room 123, she elusive you see
She is hard to find and difficult to pin down, like someone staying in room 123.
Like the invisible man in drag
She is like a man dressed as a woman, who goes unnoticed.
And when you come to meet her
When you try to meet her,
You'll never greet her
You will never find her or say hello to her.
She'll be waving her skirt as a flag
She will be using her clothing and body language to grab attention.
Like the cold in October she'll take you right over
She will have a powerful effect on you, like the cold weather in October.
It's not mean to be facetious
I am not trying to be insincere or sarcastic.
And that look in her eye says you're the guy
The way she looks at you makes you feel like you are the one she wants to be with.
She plans to spend this evening with
She intends to spend the night with you.
She's strange and I like it
Her uniqueness intrigues and excites me.
She's strange just the way she is
I don't need her to change, I love her for who she is.
Strange walking down the avenue
She looks unusual as she walks down the street.
She's strange always doing something new
She is unpredictable and always trying new things.
No, no no, no no
An exclamation indicating strong emotion.
Knock me off my feet
She will surprise me and have a profound effect on me.
Strange
She is different, but that is what makes her interesting and attractive to me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLES SINGLETON, CHARLES L. SINGLETON, LARRY BLACKMON, NATHAN DAVID LEFTENANT, TOMI JENKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ericwashington4470
This group never got the recognition it should have!! They were great!!!
@NotfromDetroit
I don’t even think they have been on Unsung! Just terrible!
@johng9207
Sure I GAVE IT
@moniquescarlett6936
You need to correct that they still are great seen them a couple years back and they're still great
@ericwashington4470
@@moniquescarlett6936 I never said they weren't great, I'm speaking from what I know and have heard. You're fortunate to have seen them at the location which they performed. Not everyone have that luxury.
@claudiaratcliff6070
Not were, but is EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!
@dwayne4576
Why don't mainstream radio stations play songs like this anymore Cameo so underrated this was record was straight 🔥
@gypsylotusblossom777
Because the industry wants to steal it later because they know how the younger folks coming out now I don't know anything about this so they can make money after the royalties or whatever kind of paperwork expires they can steal can use music and reproduce it and put it back out like it's their own that's what thats all about
@e37a
For my money, one of the most innovative bands of all time.
@jferra5
Went from 10 or 11 guys down to 5 or 6 and kept rockin!