Prior to her appearance on The Wiz, Cheryl taped an episode of the Gong Show in the early part of 1976. She went on to win the competition while singing Joe Cocker's "You Are So Beautiful." Lynn later told Dick Clark during her appearance on American Bandstand that after the episode aired, in the fall of 1976, record industry executives were calling about her soon after the win.
Success and later career
After signing with Columbia Records, Lynn released her first and biggest hit, "Got to Be Real," which was penned by Toto's keyboardist David Paich, David Foster and Lynn. The song peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #1 on the R&B chart. The success of the single prompted a full scale debut album. Titled, Cheryl Lynn, it was produced by Paich. The album sold over a million copies and peaked at #5 on Billboard's R&B albums chart and #23 on Billboard's top 200 album charts. The follow-up single, "Star Love," also became a hit —reaching the top twenty on both the R&B and Dance charts.
During Cheryl's debut album's run, members of the rock group Toto were putting together their debut album. During the production Lynn was asked to provided the female backing vocal on the single, "Georgy Porgy." The single peaked at #48 on Billboard's Pop charts. Although Toto would go on to chart more than a dozen pop hits throughout the years, it was Lynn's vocal on "Georgy Porgy" that aided the group in charting their one and only R&B (#18) and Dance (#80) hit on the Billboard charts.
In 1981, Ray Parker, Jr. produced "Shake It Up Tonight," a major club R&B hit from Lynn's third album, In The Night. The following year, Luther Vandross was called on to produced Cheryl's fourth album, Instant Love. The second single off the album, "If This World Were Mine" —a 1982 duet with Luther Vandross that covered a Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell song, has become an urban contemporary classic. For her fifth album, Preppie, Cheryl took it upon herself to produce most of the tracks with the exception of the single "Encore" (#1 R&B hit) —written and produced by the Minneapolis funk duo, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. It became Lynn's second #1 single on the U.S. Billboard R&B Charts. Her final top ten hit in the 80s was released in 1989: "Every Time I Try To Say Goodbye," from her eighth album, Whatever It Takes.
The 1990's
Cheryl began the 90's without a record contract. During this period she did session work on Richard Marx albums Rush Street and Paid Vacation. She also worked with Luther Vandross on his album Your Secret Love . In 1995, after a six year hiatus from recording her own material, Lynn teamed up with producer/songwriter Teddy Riley, (formally of the New Jack Swing group Guy), to record her ninth album, Good Time. It was released in Japan, the UK and later in the United States as an imported CD and featured the club favorite single "Guarantee For My Heart."
2000 to present
During the new millennium Lynn toured Japan and did the occasional gig in the U.S., performing at charity events in her hometown of Los Angeles. She performed on ABC's The Disco Ball... A 30-Year Celebration, which aired in January 2003. In 2004 she recorded the song, "Sweet Kind Of Life," which was also written and produced by Jam & Lewis, for the animated film and soundtrack to Shark Tale.
On September 19, 2005, Lynn's signature song "Got to Be Real" was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame. She is considered an influence on some of today's R&B female singers, including Mary J. Blige, who, along with Will Smith, covered Lynn's signature song, "Got to Be Real", also for the soundtrack of the animated film Shark Tale.
Preppie
Cheryl Lynn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He drives an old Mercedes-Benz
You always see him is tweenie shoes
But that don't mean that he ain't mad
Not really shy but kind of sly
Before I knew it I had told the girls goodbye
It was his smile I must confess I let him
Oh, he was so preppie
He's my kind of guy
Preppie
Flashy lots of style
Preppie
He is a wizard of everything
Dream at the arcade
He's all the rescuers
The girl is donkey kong
Plays is the band and
Never a day that's the same
He's more exciting than a football game
He's so complete and so unique
He makes me want to take the beauty all my breath
You've so preppie
But I like it preppie
He's my kind of guy
Preppie
Flashy lots of style
Preppie
He's a bit more than kinky
He's about the
He's got everything a girl can see
Or like to want this
Oh, I need you I want me a preppie
A preppie boy preppie, preppie boy
Here and there
The preppie boys are everywhere
I want a preppie boy
Preppie yeah
I need a preppie boy
Preppie yeah
I want a preppie boy
Preppie yeah
I want a preppie boy
Yeah preppie boy
I wanna, wanna, wanna preppie
Sexy preppie boy
I want a flashy kinky preppie boy
Flashy kinky preppie boy
He's a bit more than kinky
He's a lot more than
He's flashy
He's got everything a girl...
The song Preppie by Cheryl Lynn is an upbeat and fun track that talks about the singer's admiration for a preppy guy. The lyrics suggest that the guy is well off and stylish, seen with his old Mercedes-Benz and tweenie shoes. The singer describes him as both sly and complete, detailing how he is a wizard at everything, from playing arcade games to being in a band. The lyrics further detail that he is exciting and unique, making the singer lose her breath. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "He's my kind of guy, Preppie, flashy lots of style, Preppie."
The singer goes on to express her desire for a preppie boy, describing him as sexy and flashy. She wants someone who has everything a girl could want, suggesting that the preppie boy persona is everything she desires. The bridge of the song repeats the phrase, "I wanna, wanna, wanna Preppie, sexy Preppie boy, I want a flashy kinky preppie boy."
Overall, the song Preppie by Cheryl Lynn is a simple yet enjoyable track that portrays the preppy persona as someone desirable and attractive. It's a fun listen and an excellent representation of the trend of the '80s, the time when the song was released.
Line by Line Meaning
He goes to college got cash to spend
He attends college and has a significant amount of money to spend.
He drives an old Mercedes-Benz
He owns and drives an old Mercedes-Benz.
You always see him is tweenie shoes
He's often spotted wearing tweenie shoes.
But that don't mean that he ain't mad
However, this does not mean that he is not cool or attractive.
Not really shy but kind of sly
He's not exactly shy, but he has a sort of sly demeanor.
Before I knew it I had told the girls goodbye
Before she knew it, she was entranced by him and left her friends behind to spend time with him.
It was his smile I must confess I let him
She admits that she was seduced by his smile and drawn in by him.
Oh, he was so preppie
He had all the characteristics of a preppy person - stylish, privileged, and confident.
But I like it preppie
She is attracted to and enamored with preppy guys.
He is a wizard of everything
He's extremely skilled at everything he does.
Dream at the arcade
He can dream and imagine anything possible at the arcade.
He's all the rescuers
He can rescue anyone and solve any problem.
The girl is donkey kong
He's so good at the game that he can even make challenging levels like Donkey Kong look easy.
Plays is the band and
He's involved in playing music with his band.
Never a day that's the same
There is never a dull or boring day with him.
He's more exciting than a football game
He's more thrilling, entertaining and stimulating than a football game.
He's so complete and so unique
He's a well-rounded, one-of-a-kind individual.
He makes me want to take the beauty all my breath
He leaves a breathtaking impression on her and captivates her completely.
He's a bit more than kinky
He has sexual desires and fantasies that go beyond the norm.
He's about the
He's all about that life.
He's got everything a girl can see
He has all the qualities and possessions that a girl could desire.
Or like to want this
And beyond what she already desires, he has even more that she would want.
Oh, I need you I want me a preppie
She is expressing her desire to have a preppy guy in her life.
Here and there
Everywhere she looks.
The preppie boys are everywhere
There seems to be an abundance of preppy boys around.
I wanna, wanna, wanna preppie
She really, really wants a preppy guy.
Sexy preppie boy
She finds preppy guys to be sexy and attractive.
I want a flashy kinky preppie boy
She wants a flashy, slightly unconventional preppy guy.
He's a lot more than
He's more than just what meets the eye.
He's flashy
He has a flashy and showy style.
He's got everything a girl...
He has everything to offer that a girl could possibly desire or want.
Writer(s): Cheryl Lynn, Michael Mcgloiry
Contributed by Bella T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.