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.
Star Love
Cheryl Lynn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All across the universe, we will sail for the skies
Meet behind Mars
We will hold each other as we sail for the stars
On a cosmic bling
We will kiss in Saturn's ring
Make the Milky Way blush to see the sight
I-I'm makin' love
Star love in the night
I-I-I-I'm makin' love
Star love in the night
Come with me tonight
All across the universe, we will sail for the skies
Meet behind Mars
We will hold each other as we sail for the stars
On a cosmic bling
We will kiss in Saturn's ring
Make the Milky Way blush to see the sight
I'm making star love in the night
I'm makin' love
Star love in the night
I-I-I-I'm makin' love, love now
Star love in the night, oh
Why don't you take me in your arms and rocket me, yeah
Take me in your arms and rocket me, yeah
Take me in your arms and rocket me, yeah
Take me in your arms and rocket me, yeah
Take me in your arms and rocket me, yeah
Take me in your arms and rocket me, yeah
Take me in your arms and rocket me, baby
Take me in your arms and rocket me
Come with me
All across the universe, we will sail for the skies
Meet behind Mars
We will hold each other as we sail for the stars
On a cosmic bling
We will kiss in Saturn's ring
Make the Milky Way blush to see the sight
I'm making star love in the night
I'm makin', baby
Star love in the night
I-I-I-I'm makin' love, love now
Star love in the night, oh
Why don't you take me in your arms and rocket me
Why don't you take me in your arms and rocket me
Why don't you take me in your arms and rocket me
Why don't you take me in your arms and rocket me
Why don't you take me in your arms and rocket me
Take me in your arms and rocket me
Why don't you take me in your arms and rocket me
Why don't you take me in your arms and rocket me
Whoa, ho, ho, I said I'm makin' love now
Star love in the night
Whoa, ho, ho, I'm makin' love, love now
Star love in the night
Why don't you
Why don't you
Why don't you, oh, yeah
Why don't you, you, you, you, you, you, you
You
You
You, you, you, you, you, you
So
So
'Cause I'm makin' love now
Said I'm makin' love now
Oh, yeah
I'm makin' love now
I'm makin' love now
I'm makin' love now
I'm makin' love now
Star love in the night
I'm making star love in the night
I'm making star love in the night
I'm making star love in the night
Why don't you
Why don't you
The lyrics of Cheryl Lynn's song Star Love depict a romantic and adventurous journey across the universe. The singer invites her lover to join her on a cosmic trip beyond the boundaries of the earthly world. They will sail for the skies and meet behind Mars while holding each other, traveling through the stars. The lovers will kiss in Saturn's ring, and even the Milky Way will blush to see the sight of their passionate star love in the night. The song urges the lover to take the singer in their arms and rocket her into the galactic depths, where they can explore their love among the shining stars.
The lyrics of Star Love convey the idea of the boundless and infinite love that transcends the earthly realm. The song presents the universe as a setting for a timeless love story that transcends physical distance and encompasses the vastness of the cosmos. Star Love also highlights the theme of exploration and discovery, as the lovers embark on a journey into the unknown, driven by their desire for each other. The song's catchy refrain and upbeat tempo evoke a sense of excitement and enthusiasm, making the listeners feel as if they too are embarking on a thrilling interstellar adventure.
Line by Line Meaning
Come with me tonight
Join me tonight on an intergalactic journey.
All across the universe, we will sail for the skies
Together we'll traverse the vast expanse of space.
Meet behind Mars
We'll rendezvous in the vicinity of planet Mars.
We will hold each other as we sail for the stars
We'll embrace as we embark on our voyage through the galaxy.
On a cosmic bling
Our journey will be on a cosmic scale.
We will kiss in Saturn's ring
Our love will be shown with a kiss in the ring of Saturn.
Make the Milky Way blush to see the sight
Our love will be so radiant that it will cause the Milky Way to blush.
Making star love in the night
We'll make love amongst the stars under the cover of night.
I-I'm makin' love
I'm expressing my love.
Star love in the night
Our love takes place under the stars at night.
I-I-I-I'm makin' love
I'm deeply in love.
Why don't you take me in your arms and rocket me, yeah
Hold me close and take me on a thrilling ride.
I'm makin', baby
I'm consumed with passion.
Why don't you take me in your arms and rocket me
Take me on a wild ride.
Whoa, ho, ho, I said I'm makin' love now
I'm in the moment, making love right now.
Why don't you, oh, yeah
Why not give in to the desire and passion?
So
Therefore.
Cause I'm makin' love now
I'm fully in the throes of love.
Said I'm makin' love now
I'm communicating that I'm making love.
I'm making star love in the night
Our love is taking place amongst the stars at nighttime.
Why don't you
Why not express your love and passion?
You
You, the person I'm expressing love to.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN FOOTMAN, JOHN L FOOTMAN, JUDY WIEDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bobhess7434
Not as well known as her smash "Got to Be Real," but this one set dance floors ON FIRE in the late 70's. The place would explode when this was played.
@Inokea
Disco is alive and well. Younger folks don't know it but they've been listening to modern versions of it.
@lorenzogrant5840
She should have won multiple Grammy's for smash hit songs.
@myratanksley
IMO, the most underrated female vocalist on the planet. Nobody can do what she did with her voice at 5:23. Just unbelievable!
@binslick1000
Your right. Amazing voice.
@pattifanalwayz7388
Patti La Belle said the same
@currter
Maybe so, but the late Minnie Riperton could do dynamics with her vocals too (some recordings done with Rotary Connection). Deniece Williams can do vocal dynamics too.
@mjholaday8172
I don’t think that even Mariah Carey could hit those high notes with such exuberance. Maybe she has, but not like that, that’s for sure.
@vger4567
Apparently, Female artist had to actually be able to sing in years past! She can sing circles around the BEST female artist of today!!
@ryanpowell7397
+vger4567 Her voice is amazing!! There are some great signers out there today, but Pop music is full of auto tuned fakes.