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.
Shake It Up
Cheryl Lynn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm getting ready
See the moonlight on the town
I'm getting ready
I'm gonna put on my stepping shoes
'Cause I'm getting ready
Walk the streets and spread the news
I'm gonna call you on the telephone
Gonna tell somebody there's a party going on
[Chorus:]
Shake it up tonight
Show you how to party right
Shake it up tonight
Show you how to party right
Gonna be a lot of people there
Don't you want to be ready
There'll be coming from everywhere
I'm getting ready
Don't you know I want to be with you tonight
Come on baby, 'cause we're gonna do it right
I'm getting ready
Just put the pillow rhythm in your heart
Just put your hands together
When the music starts
Shake it up tonight
Show you how to party right
Shake it up tonight
Move your body left and right
Shake it up tonight
Show you how to party right
Shake it up tonight
Dance the night away
Shaking my body up and down tonight
Said the time is right
Oh, I'm gonna shake my body tonight
And move my hips from left to right
I'm gonna shake my body tonight
I want to shake it down now
I'm gonna put on my steppin shoes
'Cause I, I want to be ready
Walk the streets and spread the news
There's a party
Call my friends on the telephone
Let's all get together and we'll get off
Now let's party
Shake it up tonight
Show you how to do it right
Shake it up tonight
Show you how to party right
I want to show you how to party right
I want to show you how to get down tonight
I want to show you how to have some fun
I want to show you how it can be done
Shake it, shake it up tonight
Show you how to party right
Shake it up tonight
Show you how to party right
Shake it, shake it up tonight
Show you how to party right
The lyrics of Cheryl Lynn's "Shake It Up Tonight" express the excitement and anticipation of a fun-filled night of partying. She is eagerly waiting for the sun to go down so she can put on her "stepping shoes" and walk the streets, spreading the news about the party. A sense of community is implied as she says that people will be coming from everywhere.
In the chorus, Lynn encourages everyone to shake it up and move their bodies left and right. She wants to show them how to party right and to have fun. The final verse is a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the desire to shake, move, and have a good time.
Overall, the song is about letting go, having fun, and connecting with others through dance and music. The lyrics suggest a carefree attitude and a desire to enjoy life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't wait until the sun goes down
I'm excited to start the party when the sun sets
I'm getting ready
I'm preparing for the party
See the moonlight on the town
I'm observing the moon shining on the city
I'm gonna put on my stepping shoes
I'll wear my dancing shoes
'Cause I'm getting ready
I'm still preparing for the party
Walk the streets and spread the news
I'll announce the party to everyone
I'm gonna call you on the telephone
I'll contact you to invite you to the party
Gonna tell somebody there's a party going on
I'll inform someone about the ongoing celebration
Shake it up tonight
Let's dance energetically tonight
Show you how to party right
I'm going to demonstrate how to have a fun-filled celebration
Gonna be a lot of people there
Many guests will be attending the party
Don't you want to be ready
Don't you want to prepare properly for the party?
There'll be coming from everywhere
Guests will be arriving from different locations
Don't you know I want to be with you tonight
I want to spend tonight with you
Come on baby, 'cause we're gonna do it right
Let's have a fun and memorable party tonight
Just put the pillow rhythm in your heart
Let the music flow through you
Just put your hands together
Clap your hands to the rhythm
When the music starts
As soon as the music begins
Move your body left and right
Dance and sway your body in different directions
Dance the night away
Let's dance all night long
Said the time is right
The moment is perfect for the party
And move my hips from left to right
I'll dance by swaying my hips side to side
I want to shake it down now
I'm excited to dance energetically now
Let's all get together and we'll get off
Let's come together and enjoy the party
Show you how to do it right
I'll demonstrate how to have a great time
I want to show you how to party right
I'm eager to teach you how to enjoy the celebration
I want to show you how to get down tonight
I want to show you how to dance well tonight
I want to show you how to have some fun
I'm excited to show you how to have a good time
I want to show you how it can be done
I'm confident that I can show you how to party like a pro
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: FREDRICK MCGREGOR, JEPTHER MCCLYMONT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dianette19
Ray Parker Jr. is a genius. Cheryl Lynn is a genius Great minds.
@steelydannnn
At 63 dancing this most awesome song like when I was 21 when it came out. It just brings the best felling in you. ❤
@yvonnetaylor5433
Real music i am 66
@janetbelanger5757
I am 65 the best music ever to dance to. If there is a heaven I hope it is a disco playing the best music ever to dance to.
@aharvin3282
Why am I crying 😭 😭😭.. 🔥🔥🔥2023.yall God Bless everyone ❤️❤️❤️❤️
@NateInDC
My favorite Cheryl Lynn song, produced and arranged by the great Ray Parker Jr, Ray also played the guitar on this song and killed it, listen to the rhythm
@carmendmanso9363
58 years old, and I live to shake my body!!
@toldyaso444
We had it the best, hands down
@MrBoothaVandross
Has to be one of the more over looked voices of the modern era! Her voice is IMMACULATE!!!!!!!!!!
@anthonytaylor7928
No it wasn't overlooked