In the summer of 1976, Gilla followed with "Ich brenne" (I'm Burning), once again also recorded in English as "Help Help". It was a Dutch hit single but fared less well in Germany. Farian remixed the track with his own vocals for inclusion on Boney M.'s Take the Heat Off Me to replace "Baby Do You Wanna Bump" in some territories. In early 1977, Gilla's second album Zieh mich aus (Undress Me) was released. Despite featuring German versions of Boney M.'s hit single "Sunny" and "No Woman No Cry", it fared poorly. Interestingly, the album also included the German version of a future hit for Boney M., "Belfast" which was originally written years earlier for Boney M. member Marcia Barrett.
Gilla's first international album was released in the summer of 1977. Entitled Help Help, it featured her previous English recordings like "Why Don't You Do It" and "Help Help" + their B-sides, as well as English versions of songs from Zieh mich aus. "Gentlemen Callers not Allowed" ("Herrn-Besuche nicht erlaubt") was released as a single and promoted with Boney M.'s charismatic male dancer Bobby Farrell on a few TV shows but it was still only a minor success.
Gilla's 1978 album Bend Me, Shape Me
In January 1978, Gilla released a disco-rock cover of The American Breed's "Bend Me, Shape Me". The single was a #11 hit in Switzerland and it was decided to repackage the Help Help album with the inclusion of the new track and its B-side "The River Sings" ("Der Strom der Zeit") in May, entitled Bend Me, Shape Me. Once again, it was only a minor seller. Singer Bruce Low released a big-selling German cover of Boney M.'s mega-hit "Rivers of Babylon" so Farian decided to have Gilla record a German cover of the follow-up single "Rasputin". Released in November 1978, it was a flop and not even included on the following compilation Star Discothek a few months later.
Trying to repeat the success of "Bend Me, Shape Me", Gilla and her fiancé and co-producer Helmut Rulofs (who was also a recording artist under the name Chris Denning) released another disco-rock cover of The Animals's "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" in March 1979. In 1980, her second English language album Cool Rock'n Roll was released including the title track single and "Go Down Mainstreet". Gilla and Rulofs, however, found bigger success when Farian recorded one of their songs with Boney M. "I See a Boat on the River" being a German Top 10 hit and a European hit single from the million-selling The Magic of Boney M. - 20 Golden Hits, Gilla credited as G. Winger (Winger being an abbreviation of her surname Wuchinger). In October 1981, Gilla's final single "Cigarillo" backed with a cover of "Friday on My Mind" was released before she retired from the music business. She made a brief return with Rulofs as the duo Sweet Mix in 1982 but their single "Susan Don't Cry for Me" came and went without notice. They also contributed the track "Video" for Precious Wilson's album All Coloured in Love that year.
Being largely forgotten in Europe today, Gilla has in recent years performed regularly in Russia where her records are enjoying considerable popularity.
Bend Me Shape Me
Gilla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And baby you know it,
You can make this beggar a king,
A clown or a poet.
I'll give you all that I own.
You got me standing in line
Out in the cold,
Pay me some mind.
Bend me, shape me
Anyway you want me,
As long as you love me, it's all right
Bend me, shape me
Anyway you wnat me,
You got the power to turn on the light.
Everybody tells me I'm wrong
To want you so badly,
But there's a force driving me on,
I follow it gladly.
So let them laugh I don't care,
Cause I got nothing to hide,
All that I want is you by my side.
Bend me, shape me
Anyway you want me,
As long as you love me, it's all right
Bend me, shape me
Anyway you wnat me,
You got the power to turn on the light.
Bend me shape me anyway you want me...
The lyrics to Gilla's song "Bend Me, Shape Me" are about a person who is deeply devoted to their love interest. The singer proclaims that their lover is "all the man" they need and that they have the power to "make this beggar a king, a clown or a poet." The singer is willing to give up everything they own just to be with their lover, and although others may criticize them for their intense passion, the singer is determined to follow their heart and be with their beloved.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of intense love and devotion, with the singer willing to bend and shape themselves in whatever way is necessary to be with their lover. The phrase "bend me, shape me" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the singer's willingness to be molded by their lover. In the end, the lyrics suggest that love has the power to transform a person's life, turning on the light that illuminates their path forward.
Line by Line Meaning
You are all the man that I need,
You are the only person I need in my life.
And baby you know it,
I know that you are aware of your importance in my life.
You can make this beggar a king,
You have the power to change my life from worst to best.
A clown or a poet.
You can make me anything you want me to be.
I'll give you all that I own.
I am willing to sacrifice everything for you.
You got me standing in line
I am ready to wait for you and follow you.
Out in the cold,
I am willing to face any obstacle for you.
Pay me some mind.
Please notice me and my feelings for you.
Bend me, shape me
Mold me into anything you desire.
Anyway you want me,
In any way that makes you happy.
As long as you love me, it's all right
As long as you love me, I am willing to change for you.
You got the power to turn on the light.
You have the power to make my life brighter and better.
Everybody tells me I'm wrong
Everyone thinks that my feelings for you are irrational and misplaced.
To want you so badly,
To have such strong feelings for you.
But there's a force driving me on,
I cannot control my emotions for you.
I follow it gladly.
I am willingly following my heart.
So let them laugh I don't care,
I am not bothered by the opinions of others.
Cause I got nothing to hide,
I am being honest about my feelings for you.
All that I want is you by my side.
All I desire is to be with you.
Writer(s): Scott English, Laurence Weiss
Contributed by Adeline N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@khaladsaad.al-mowallad6532
You are all the woman I need
And baby you know it (know it, know it, know it)
You can make this beggar a king
A clown or a poet (poet, poet, poet)…
Bend Me, Shape Me" is a song written by Scott English and Larry Weiss. It was first recorded by The Outsiders as a track on their album In in 1966.🎷🎸🥁🎶❤️
@joseluiszuazua6472
Gran temazo disco gracias ❤
@juanmaza9474Nodoyuna
Viva Gilla,viva la música disco de los 70 y 80.Nunca habrá una época mejor
@Digysom
Pure Disco!!!! Sensacional!!!!
@mauriciocotapos313
Buen disco...👏👏👏👏
@christophrainer9193
Frank Farian once again his hands in the game 😅 ... thank you
@richardgrootjen3057
Very much so.
@user-wx4po2by8h
Super ❤️🇬🇷😘
@mikewhite1687
Ellada super 😘❤❤❤
@peterpanda1970
It brings me back to my 7 year’s old me…
@lagofranco7197
Grande!!!