He was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina, grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey, and currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida. In Plainfield, he ran a barber salon, where he straightened hair, and soon formed a doo wop group, inspired by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, called The Parliaments. Despite initial commercial failures, The Parliaments eventually found success under the names Parliament and Funkadelic in the seventies (see also P-Funk). This article focuses on Clinton's solo efforts after 1981.
Beginning in the early 1980's, Clinton recorded several nominal "solo" albums, although all of these records featured contributions from P-Funk's core musicians. The primary reason for recording under his own name was legal difficulties, due to the complex copyright and trademark issues surrounding the name "Parliament" (primarily) and Polygram's purchase of his former label (as part of Parliament), Casablanca Records. In 1982, Clinton signed to Capitol Records as a solo artist and as the P-Funk All-Stars, releasing Computer Games that same year. "Loopzilla" hit the Top 20 R&B charts, followed by "Atomic Dog," which reached #1 R&B, but peaked at #101 on the pop chart. In the next four years, Clinton released three more studio albums (You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish, Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends and R&B Skeletons in the Closet) as well as a live album, Mothership Connection (Live from the Summit, Houston, Texas) and charting three singles in the R&B Top 30, "Nubian Nut," "Last Dance," and "Do Fries Go with that Shake." This period of Clinton's career was marred by multiple legal problems (resulting in financial difficulties) due to complex royalty and copyright issues. In 1985 he was recruited by the Red Hot Chili Peppers to produce their album Freaky Styley, because the bandmembers were huge fans of George Clinton and Funk in general. Though Clinton's popularity had waned by the mid 1980s, he experienced something of a resurgence in the early 1990s, as many rappers cited him as an influence and began sampling his songs. Alongside James Brown, George Clinton is considered to be one of the most sampled musicians ever.
In 1989, Clinton released The Cinderella Theory on Paisley Park, Prince's record label. This was followed by Hey Man... Smell my Finger. Clinton then signed with Sony 550 and released T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M. (The Awesome Power Of A Fully Operational Mothership) in 1996, having reunited with several old members of Parliament and Funkadelic.
In the 1990s, Clinton appeared in films such as Graffiti Bridge (1990), Good Burger (1997) and PCU (1994). Most recently he appeared as the voice of The Funktipus, the DJ of the Bounce FM station in the 2004 video game, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Rapper Dr. Dre sampled most of his beats to create his G-Funk music era.
"You're Thinking Right" - the theme song for The Tracey Ullman Show, was written by Clinton.
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This is not the soundtrack composer George S. Clinton who did Mortal Kombat etc.
Electric Pygmies
GEORGE CLINTON Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chakula kingi
Na wengini wanacheza
Muziki
Utaelekea kulifuata
Barabara hilo fu...
Yo ho!
Yo brother
Do y'all really wanna party?
Check, check, check, check, check it out
Party!
Oh!
The natives are restless tonight
The natives are restless tonight
They be partyin' down
All they do all night and day
Is party down
They just like to party down
All they do all night and day
Is party down
All they do all night and day
Is party down
They just like to party down
Hey Curtis
Yo
What up baby boy
Fresh party time. They just like to party down. Ain't nothing but a party
The natives are restless tonight
DO DANG DO DANG DO DANG DO DANG. DO DANG
DO DANG DO DANG DO DANG DO DANG
DO DANG
Do you wanna party down. Watu wengi
Chakula kingi
No wengini wanacheza
Muziki
Do you wanna party down
Yo
What up baby boy
Hey Curtis
Fresh party time
Can't tell
Word
Word up
Bust this
Yeah got some of this, some of that
Bud, limo, what up
Bud light
You know, can't tell
Must be fresh party
Word
Then bust the move
Word up
What cha waitin' on
Do you wanna party down. Let's go, let's go, let's go. Do you wanna party down
Do you wanna party down
In the jungle y'all
Do you wanna party down
DO DANG DO DANG DO DANG DO DANG
DO DANG
DO DANG DO DANG DO DANG DO DANG. DO DANG DO DANG...
I wanna go
Don't you wanna go
Everybody say, everybody say
Everybody say party
DO DANG DO DANG...
Do you wanna party down...
Do you wanna party...
DO DANG DO DANG...
The lyrics of George Clinton's "Electric Pygmies" allude to a wild party in the jungle. The song starts with a description of a large group of people who are well-fed, dancing to music, and partying down. The chorus repeats the phrase "the natives are restless tonight," emphasizing the wild and uninhibited nature of the party. The lyrics also include call and response sections where someone asks if the listeners want to party down, and everyone responds enthusiastically with "DO DANG DO DANG."
The song reflects Clinton's unique and vivid style, which he developed as the leader of the Parliament-Funkadelic collective. Known for mixing funk, soul, and psychedelic music with a surreal sense of humor, Clinton's lyrics often touch on themes like liberation, sexuality, and social commentary. "Electric Pygmies" is a prime example of his unconventional style, celebrating the joy and freedom of partying without any reservations or inhibitions.
Overall, "Electric Pygmies" is a lively and joyful party anthem that encourages listeners to let loose and have a good time without worrying about the consequences. With its upbeat tempo, catchy chorus, and funky rhythm, the song has become a favorite of fans of Clinton's music and funk music in general.
Line by Line Meaning
Watu wengi
There are many people
Chakula kingi
There is a lot of food
Na wengini wanacheza
And others are dancing
Muziki
To the music
Utaelekea kulifuata
You'll follow them
Barabara hilo fu...
On that road, watch out!
Yo ho!
Hey there!
Yo brother
Hey, friend. How's it going?
Hey sister
Hey, friend. How's it going?
Do y'all really wanna party?
Do you all want to go party?
Check, check, check, check, check it out
Listen up, I have something to say
Party!
Let's party!
Oh!
Wow!
The natives are restless tonight
The local people are excited tonight
They be partyin' down
They are partying nonstop
All they do all night and day
They only think about
Is party down
Partying
They just like to party down
They enjoy partying
Hey Curtis
Hey, Curtis
Yo
Hey there
What up baby boy
How's it going, man?
Fresh party time. They just like to party down. Ain't nothing but a party
It's time to party. They love to party and there's nothing else to do
DO DANG DO DANG DO DANG DO DANG. DO DANG
DO DANG DO DANG DO DANG DO DANG
DO DANG
This is a rhythm or beat
Do you wanna party down. Watu wengi
Chakula kingi
No wengini wanacheza
Muziki
Do you want to party? There are a lot of people, lots of food, and others are dancing to the music
Hey Curtis
Hey, Curtis
Fresh party time
Time to start the party
Can't tell
Not sure, hard to say
Word
Yes, I understand
Word up
Yes, I understand
Bust this
Listen to this
Yeah got some of this, some of that
There's a variety of things here
Bud, limo, what up
Bud light
These are different kinds of drinks
You know, can't tell
Not sure, hard to say
Must be fresh party
The party has just started
What cha waitin' on
What are you waiting for?
Do you wanna party down. Let's go, let's go, let's go. Do you wanna party down
Do you want to go partying? Let's go, let's go!
Do you wanna party down
Do you want to go partying?
In the jungle y'all
We are partying in a wild place
DO DANG DO DANG DO DANG DO DANG
DO DANG
DO DANG DO DANG DO DANG DO DANG. DO DANG DO DANG...
This is the rhythm or beat of the music
I wanna go
I want to go
Don't you wanna go
Don't you want to go?
Everybody say, everybody say
Everyone is saying, everyone is saying
Everybody say party
Everyone is saying 'party'
DO DANG DO DANG...
This is the rhythm or beat of the music
Do you wanna party down...
Do you want to go partying?
Do you wanna party...
Do you want to go partying?
DO DANG DO DANG...
This is the rhythm or beat of the music
Contributed by Caroline A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jeff Maxwell
Man I remember when this record came out and I was playing it non stop. Hate to burst your bubble Harry, I keep my money in a sack.
Thomas Nighbor
YESSSSS ! ! ! ! !
Hevy G
must be fresh party!
Mike Linneman
My stepdaughter listens to that crap that passes for cultural music give me a fucking break this is the real shit we knew how to party back then......
Mabus Carrington
Muthaland Muzac!
Paul Haythorne
electric Chairs have a song same title,weird
chris edwards
p funk one long strange trip from 1967 to now