It was Frank unmistakable talent for captivating an audience that first caught Gus’ eye. A late night jam session lead to their first joint composition, ‘Confessions of a Rooftop Killer’, and the song-writing partnership was born.
Their passion for song writing became all consuming over the next few years and they practically lived in their makeshift home studio (named ‘The Zudio’) recording and re-recording their songs. The duo would occasionally go to various open mic nights and play under the simple name of Gus & Frank. Over the next year they entertained punters from the Village Bell in St. Kilda to the Barley Corn in Collingwood. It was at one of these open mic nights that the duo caught the attention of Dick Vines, a man with a very real talent for being able to “sell ice to the Eskimos”. He urged the guys to “ditch the drum machine and get a ‘real’ band together,” and soon became the band’s manager.
Since then the 5-piece band (still named Gus and Frank) have invaded the music scene with an extraordinary mix of pulsing bass riffs, catchy melodies and mischievous vocals. Frank takes his audience on a mesmerising journey of “twisted tales of love gone wrong, psychotic serial killers and deviate fairytale characters.”
Gus and Frank’s cult following, which has been growing since their days at open mic nights, propelled their first single ‘So Entertaining’ to the top of request shows and music charts across the country including Triple J and Nova 100. The unusual support of an unsigned band brought a sell out tour and live performances on Channel Ten’s ‘The Panel’ and Channel V, among others. The band’s next three singles also achieved radio success and their album ‘Confessions of a Rooftop Killer’ became one of the highest selling independent releases of 2003. This success propelled ‘So Entertaining’ into Triple J’s Hottest 100.
In 2004 Gus and Frank released their second album ‘I’d Rather Be a Bass Player’. This album has the same fun attitude that fans have come to expect, but it also has a progression is sound that took the band to the next level The first single from the album, ‘Wonderful Life’ hit radio stations in march, leading to another successful national tour.
Late Night Cha Cha
Gus And Frank Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Late nights.shimmy shimmy
Red light yellow light green light go
Sick and tired of playing tic-tac-toe
Shimmy shimmy through the all night bars
Gotta get a little late night cha cha
Sick and tired of playing tic-tac-toe
Shimmy shimmy through the all night bars
Gotta get a little late night cha cha
Ooh it started in New York
lookin' for a good sort
I was feelin' groovy
like I'm starin' in a Motown Movie
Red light yellow light green light go
Sick and tired of playing tic-tac-toe
Shimmy shimmy through the all night bars
Gotta get a little late night cha cha
Red light yellow light green light go
Sick and tired of playing tic-tac-toe
Shimmy shimmy through the all night bars
Gotta get a little late night cha cha
Ooh I'm dancin' like a rocket
I don't know how to stop it
but I don't want to baby I only wanna dance with you
Red light yellow light green light go
Sick and tired of playing tic-tac-toe
Shimmy shimmy through the all night bars
Gotta get a little late night cha cha
Red light yellow light green light go
Sick and tired of playing tic-tac-toe
Shimmy shimmy through the all night bars
Gotta get a little late night cha cha
and now it's gettin' so I can't stay home
it's like I'm livin' in a Twilight Zone
with the zombies and the cheap cigars
I'm going crazy for the Late Night Cha Cha
Red light yellow light
Oh red light yellow light
Red light yellow light green light go
Sick and tired of playing tic-tac-toe
Shimmy shimmy through the all night bars
Gotta get a little late night cha cha
Red light yellow light green light go
Sick and tired of playing tic-tac-toe
Shimmy shimmy through the all night bars
Gotta get a little late night cha cha
Cha cha
Late night cha cha
Cha cha
Late night cha cha
You gotta get a little late night cha cha
The lyrics of "Late Night Cha Cha" by Gus And Frank describe the need for a break from the monotony of life by indulging in a late-night dance routine. The chorus "Red light yellow light green light go, Sick and tired of playing tic-tac-toe, Shimmy shimmy through the all-night bars, Gotta get a little late night cha cha" indicates the need to break free from the routine of life and the desire to let loose and dance away the night. The verses narrate the story of how the urge to dance and let loose took over the singer's life, and he could not resist it.
The narrative also tells about the singer's search for a partner to dance with, and how the dance makes him feel alive, as if he's "dancing like a rocket." The lyrics contain metaphors that allude to the zombies and cheap cigars that plague the singer's life, and the dance is the only savior he needs. The lyrics express a desire for release, and how music and dance can provide that for people.
Line by Line Meaning
Late nights.shimmy shimmy
The night is young, and the dancing must go on.
Red light yellow light green light go Sick and tired of playing tic-tac-toe Shimmy shimmy through the all night bars Gotta get a little late night cha cha
Life is too short to keep playing the same old games, so let's hit the dancefloor and have a good time.
Ooh it started in New York lookin' for a good sort I was feelin' groovy like I'm starin' in a Motown Movie
The journey of the Late Night Cha Cha began in the city that never sleeps, with a dash of nostalgia for the golden era of music.
Ooh I'm dancin' like a rocket I don't know how to stop it but I don't want to baby I only wanna dance with you
The music has taken over the body, and all we want to do is dance with that special someone in our lives.
and now it's gettin' so I can't stay home it's like I'm livin' in a Twilight Zone with the zombies and the cheap cigars I'm going crazy for the Late Night Cha Cha
The world outside feels like an apocalyptic wasteland, so we seek refuge in the Late Night Cha Cha to forget our worries and let loose.
Cha cha Late night cha cha Cha cha Late night cha cha You gotta get a little late night cha cha
The Late Night Cha Cha is not just a dance, it's a way of life that we must all embrace and enjoy.
Contributed by Adam F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.