Saddler's family migrated to the United States, and he grew up in the Bronx. He became involved in the earliest Queensbridge, New York DJ scene, attending parties set up by early luminaries. Learning from Pete Jones and Kool Herc, he used duplicate copies of a single record and two turntables but added a dextrous manual edit with a mixer to promote the break (a point of isolated drum rhythm) - the ordinary playing of the record would be interrupted to overlay the break, the break could be repeated by using the mixer to switch channels while the second record was spun back. The speed and dexterity needed showed why Saddler was called Flash, although he got the nickname in school due to the fact that he hung around with another guy named Gordon (from Flash Gordon). He also invented the technique initially called cutting, which was developed by Grand Wizard Theodore into scratching (AMG).
Flash played illegal parties and also worked with rappers such as Kurtis Blow and Lovebug Starski. He formed his own group in the late 1970s, after promptings from Ray Chandler. The initial members were Cowboy (Keith Wiggins), Melle Mel (Melvin Glover) and Kid(d) Creole (Nathaniel Glover) making Grandmaster Flash & the 3 MCs. Two other rappers briefly joined, but they were replaced more permanently by Rahiem (Guy Todd Williams, previously in the Funky Four) and Scorpio (Eddie Morris, also used the name Mr. Ness) to create Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five. Soon gaining recognition for their skillful raps, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five pioneered MCing, freestyle battles, and invented some of the staple phrases in MCing. They performed at Disco Fever in the Bronx beginning in 1978.
Signed to Sugar Hill Records in 1980 by Joe Robinson, they released numerous singles, gaining a gold disc for "Freedom," and also toured. The classic "The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel," released in 1981 was the best display of their skills (combining elements of Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust", Chic's "Good Times" and samples from Blondie's Rapture), but it was their least successful single at the time. The group's most significant hit was "The Message" (1982), which was produced by in-house Sugar Hill producer Clifton "Jiggs" Chase and went platinum in less than a month. Flash sued Sugar Hill in 1983 over the non-payment of royalties, and in 1984 the group split between Flash and Mel before disintegrating entirely. Flash, Kid Creole and Rahiem signed to Elektra Records while the others continued as "Grandmaster Melle Mel & the Furious Five." (Mel notably appeared on Chaka Khan's I Feel for You). They reformed in 1987 for a charity concert, to release one album and then fell apart again. There was another reunion, of a kind, in 1994, although Cowboy died in 1989 from a drug overdose due to the effects of his crack cocaine addiction.
Dreamin'
Grandmaster Flash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see birds in paradise, cherry blossoms and moonlight, you're the joy of all mankind.
That's why (That's why). When we dream of you (Dreamin').
We beleive anything that we see.
That's why (That's why). It's because of you (Of you).
We would like your dreams (My dreams). Turn to reality (Reality).
Taking walks in the park, getting closer to your heart, is all I want to do (All I want to do).
Someone sure likes you up above, because you're living the life we love, and you know it's true (You know it, you know it).
Whoa Stevie, that's why (That's why). When we dream of you (Dreamin').
We believe anything that you see.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, that's why (That's why). It's because of you (Of you).
We would like your dreams (Our dreams). Turn to reality (Reality).
Dreamin' (Dreamin) is so mellow (Mellow), when I (Dreamin' about you) about you (Stevie), Dream about you.
Dreamin' (Dreamin) is so mellow (Mellow), when I dream about you Stevie, (When we dream about you, yeah).
# Hey Flash.
~ Yo wassup ness?
# Do you think we'll ever meet Stevie?
~ I hope so man. Don't worry fellas, sooner or later, sooner or later.
Taking walks in the park, getting closer to your heart, is all we want to do (All we want to do).
Someone sure likes you up above, because you're living the life we love, and you know it's true (You know it, you know it).
Stevie, Stevie, that's why (That's why). When we dream of you (Dreamin').
We believe anything that you see.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, that's why (That's why). It's because of you (Of you).
We would like your dreams (Our dreams). Turn to reality (Reality).
(Stevie. You make me wonder. I dream about you Stevie. Dreamin' about you).
(Stevie. You make me wonder. I dream about you Stevie. Dreamin' about you).
When I dream about you.
(Stevie.) Awwhow, Stevie, Stevie, Stevie, man. (You make me wonder).
(I dream about you Stevie. Dreamin' about you). When I dream about you.
(Stevie.) Ooooohoooo, ooh, whoa, whoa, whoa, no, oh.. (You make me wonder).
(I dream about you Stevie. Dreamin' about you). When I dream about you, Stevie.
(Stevie. You make me wonder.)
It's all about you, it's all about you! You, you, ooh, whoa.
(I dream about you Stevie. Dreamin' about you).
Yooooooohh, ooooh, ooooh.
[BEGIN Freestyle vocals]
(Dreamin')
Bun din din din din din din din dun dun.
(Dreamin')
Bun din duga duga bun dun a doo doo doo doo.
(Dreamin')
(Dreamin')
(Dreamin')
(Dreamin')
Woahoa! Just dreamin' about you, just thinkin' about dreamin'.
(Dreamin')
(Dreamin')
Thinkin' about you Steeeevayy.
The lyrics to Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's song "Dreamin'" describe the singer's vivid dreams of a distant lover, someone they long to be with but cannot. The imagery is imbued with an idyllic quality, with flowers, birds and moonlight creating a paradise-like atmosphere. The singer is mellow and seems at peace while dreaming about their loved one. The chorus emphasizes the power of dreams and the hope that they can be turned into reality. The song ends with a touching dedication to Stevie Wonder, who is seemingly a hero or a muse to the singers, with their dreams of meeting him signifying their yearning for a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
As I think of you I hear, precious moments crystal clear, lying in my mind.
When I think of you, I remember precious moments that are vivid and clear as if it's happening right now in my mind.
I see birds in paradise, cherry blossoms and moonlight, you're the joy of all mankind.
When I think of you, I imagine a paradise with beautiful birds, moonlight and cherry blossoms, and I know that you bring joy to everyone.
That's why (That's why). When we dream of you (Dreamin').
We beleive anything that we see.
That's why we believe anything we see when we dream of you.
That's why (That's why). It's because of you (Of you).
We would like your dreams (My dreams). Turn to reality (Reality).
That's why we want your dreams to become reality, because it's all because of you.
Taking walks in the park, getting closer to your heart, is all I want to do (All I want to do).
I want to take walks in the park with you and get closer to your heart. That's all I want to do.
Someone sure likes you up above, because you're living the life we love, and you know it's true (You know it, you know it).
Someone up there definitely loves you because you're living the life we all dream of, and you know it's true.
Whoa Stevie, that's why (That's why). When we dream of you (Dreamin').
We believe anything that you see.
That's why we believe anything that you see when we dream of you, Stevie.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, that's why (That's why). It's because of you (Of you).
We would like your dreams (Our dreams). Turn to reality (Reality).
That's why we want our dreams to become reality because it's all because of you, Stevie.
Dreamin' (Dreamin) is so mellow (Mellow), when I (Dreamin' about you) about you (Stevie), Dream about you.
Dreaming about you is so relaxed and peaceful that when I dream about you, Stevie, it feels like a pleasant experience.
Dreamin' (Dreamin) is so mellow (Mellow), when I dream about you Stevie, (When we dream about you, yeah).
Dreaming about you, Stevie, is a very calming and relaxing experience, especially when we all dream about you.
Taking walks in the park, getting closer to your heart, is all we want to do (All we want to do).
We all want to take walks in the park with you and get closer to your heart. That's all we want to do.
Stevie, Stevie, that's why (That's why). When we dream of you (Dreamin').
We believe anything that you see.
That's why we believe anything that you see when we all dream of you, Stevie.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, that's why (That's why). It's because of you (Of you).
We would like your dreams (Our dreams). Turn to reality (Reality).
That's why we want our dreams to become reality because it's all because of you, Stevie.
Contributed by Juliana O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.