In 1972, the Stewart family (which consisted of his parents, Jermaine, his sisters Norma, Sondra, Leandra, and Leanna, and finally his brother Gene) moved to Chicago, Illinois. He took his first steps towards a career in entertainment there. Stints on both American Bandstand and later Soul Train as a dancer helped to fuel his ambition.
Soon, Jermaine became a backup singer and dancer for several artists such as The Chi-Lites, The Staple Singers and Shalamar while recording backup vocals for such artists as Culture Club. He was featured prominently on the group's 1983 album Colour by Numbers and as a result the group used their influence to help him land a solo recording deal with Arista Records.
The 1986 Frantic Romantic album with the hit single "We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off" quickly went on to become a million seller, and a second single, "Jody" was released, the inspiration of the song being Jody Watley of Shalamar. A modest success, "Jody" reached both the U.K. and U.S. top 50. Another U.K. only single "Don't Ever Leave Me" was released, reaching number 76 on the British charts. The song was a ballad, and indicative of Jermaine's versatility in any musical style.
Jermaine's third album was probably his most successful internationally. Entitled Say It Again, the production was handled largely by André Cymone who had previously worked with Prince and Jody Watley. The result was an almost flawless collection of pop and dance funk tracks, of which almost any song could have been a successful single.
Supported by international live dates with his band, "The Party", the title track became Jermaine's second U.S. top 40 Billboard hit and also reached the R&B top 10. In the U.K., it made it all the way to number 7, helping the album into the top 40.
The next three singles all received the remix treatment from the production company behind such hits as "You Spin Me Round" by Dead Or Alive and Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up." "Get Lucky," "Don't Talk Dirty To Me" and "Is It Really Love" found considerable European success, particularly Germany, where "Don't Talk Dirty To Me" was one of the biggest selling records of 1988, making the top 5.
At this point, Jermaine was highly focused on the mainstream pop market. His fourth and final album under his contract with Arista Records, What Becomes a Legend Most?, was filled with radio friendly catchy pop tunes. The first single "Tren De Amor" reached number 76 in the UK charts, while the follow-up, "Every Woman Wants To," didn't fared as well, only making it to number 95. Commercial success eluded this album, and a label change followed.
In 1992, Jermaine teamed up with Chicago producer Jesse Saunders for his last recorded work, an album for Reprise Records. Entitled Set Me Free, the album marked a return to the dance funk style of Say It Again. The title track was released as a single in the U.S., but found little success. The album remains unreleased.
He died in 1997 of liver cancer, caused by AIDS. Ironically, his hit "We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off" gained popularity as it was referring to the AIDS scare of the 1980s. In 2003, the song was placed by VH1 in its 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders list.
In 2005, a compilation CD celebrating Jermaine's underrated contribution to '80s R&B which included several of his hits and a few previously unreleased tracks was released by BGF Records, an Ohio record label ran by Jermaine's brother.
I Like It
Jermaine Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everything you told me to, oh
I never loved no one quite as much
Only you have that magic touch
But seasons go, you don't believe me
When I tell you I'm under your spell
This is not a question
This is not a love song
You got me right where you want me
I'm not going anywhere
My heart is pounding, my pulse is jumping
(My pulse is jumping)
I'm getting dizzy and I like it, hey
Maybe I'm taking it too serious
At last I can speak my mind
Won't you follow your woman's intuiton
Don't leave me standing right behind you
It appears to be that you just trust me
I'm feeling like a puppet on a string
This is not a shakedown
This is not a notion
This is not my alibi
You got me right where you want me
I'm not going, no, anywhere
My heart is pounding, my pulse is jumping
(My pulse is jumping)
I'm getting dizzy and I like it
You got me right where you want me
Where you want me, where you want me
I like it right where you want me
Where you want me, I like it
Oh, I like it, yeah
I like it
You got me right where you want me
I'm not going, no, anywhere
My heart is pounding, my pulse is jumping
(My pulse is jumping)
I'm getting dizzy and I like it
You got me right where you want me
Where you want me, where you want me
I like it right where you want me
Where you want me, where you want me
I like it right here, where you want me
(Oh, yeah! Ooh, yeah!)
Where you want me, where you want me
I like it right where you want me
Where you want me, where you want me
I like it
The lyrics of Jermaine Stewart's "I Like It" express the singer's devotion to a lover who seems to hold all the power in the relationship. He admits to being under their spell and following their every command, even as he longs for them to believe in his love. Stewart sings of feeling like a puppet on a string, controlled by the object of his affection, but ultimately succumbing to their power and enjoying every dizzying, pounding moment.
Despite the power dynamic at play, there is a sense of agency in the lyrics, as Stewart encourages his lover to trust his intuition and follow him. This could be interpreted as a plea for the lover to trust him and the strength of their love, or as a warning that their fear and control may push him away. Regardless, the lyrics paint a picture of a love that is intense and all-consuming, with both passion and vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
You always said that you make me do
You held power over me and made me do what you wanted
Everything you told me to, oh
I followed your orders obediently and without question
I never loved no one quite as much
I have never loved anyone as much as I love you
Only you have that magic touch
You have a certain something that no one else has
But seasons go, you don't believe me
Time passes, yet you don't trust me
When I tell you I'm under your spell
When I explain that I am enchanted by you
This is not a question
I am not asking for anything
This is not a love song
This is not a typical love song
This is not solitaire
This is not a game of solitaire
You got me right where you want me
You have complete control over me
I'm not going anywhere
I have no desire to leave your grasp
My heart is pounding, my pulse is jumping
I am experiencing intense physical reactions to your presence
(My pulse is jumping)
My heart rate is increasing
I'm getting dizzy and I like it, hey
I am feeling lightheaded and enjoying it
Maybe I'm taking it too serious
I might be taking our relationship too seriously
At last I can speak my mind
Finally, I am able to express my thoughts openly
Won't you follow your woman's intuition
Can't you trust my feminine intuition?
Don't leave me standing right behind you
Please don't ignore me when I am right behind you
It appears to be that you just trust me
It seems like you don't trust me at all
I'm feeling like a puppet on a string
I feel like I am being controlled by you
This is not a shakedown
I am not trying to force anything out of you
This is not a notion
This is not just an idea
This is not my alibi
I am not providing an excuse for anything
You got me right where you want me
You are still in complete control
Where you want me, where you want me
Exactly where you want me to be
I like it right where you want me
I enjoy being under your control
Oh, I like it, yeah
Yes, I love it
You got me right where you want me
You have total power over me
Where you want me, where you want me
Precisely where you desire me to be
I like it right where you want me
I delight in being in your grasp
Where you want me, where you want me
Directly where you tell me to be
You got me right where you want me
You are still in control
I'm not going, no, anywhere
I'm not leaving your side
My heart is pounding, my pulse is jumping
My body is reacting strongly to you
(My pulse is jumping)
My heartbeat is increasing
I'm getting dizzy and I like it
I am experiencing lightheadedness and enjoyment
You got me right where you want me
You have complete power over me
Where you want me, where you want me
Exactly where you desire me to be
I like it right where you want me
I am pleased to be under your control
Where you want me, where you want me
Directly where you tell me to be
I like it right here, where you want me
I enjoy being in your grasp, right here and now
(Oh, yeah! Ooh, yeah!)
Yes, I definitely enjoy it
Where you want me, where you want me
Exactly where you desire me to be
I like it right where you want me
I delight in being under your control, where you want me, right now
Contributed by Lily C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
andromedastar
I love this guy. He was truly unique, one of a kind, and so adorable and sweet too, what a cutie. See you in another life, Jermaine.
keishuareid
I love this song! I love Jermaine Stewart!
Christine Womack
keishuareid me too.
Francois-Marie Arouet
Love it!
Demilovelylife
I love this song rip I miss u
Chad Byers
I like it....I miss u Jermaine....
ගුප්ත අඩවිය
fucking underrated song why why?????damn..this tune make me feel wow..
Seneca Nicholson
He was terribly underrated. He faced one particular artist, Michael Jackson. That's why he didn't get as much praise as he should have . I think as he was one of the best ever. Grace, flair, style, genesequoi, and presence. He was art. Sincerely said by me and written. He is dancing gracefully and elegantly in heaven now.
Samuel Maud
dilraj hettiarachchi , Jermaine Stewart was a real great artist ! RIP Jermaine !!
Alexander Teuman
Dito, i have some records from him & this video is magic. Many secrets , who were the women; i don't think so: Sade, Cindy Lauper, Madonna or Jody Watley. Maybe he want to make a big joke to us. He is for me a musicdancevideo-legend, one of the top.