They were only the third artist ever to have their first three releases go to number one on the UK singles chart, a feat they achieved between July and December 1989. The previous bands to do so were Gerry & The Pacemakers and Frankie Goes to Hollywood. They also went to number one in several other countries around the world.
Jive Bunny's three number ones were "Swing the Mood", "That's What I Like" and "Let's Party". All three songs used sampling and synthesisers to combine pop music from the early rock and roll era together into a medley. The results were somewhat like Jaap Eggermont's Stars on 45, although he had hired "sound-alike" singers and musicians to recreate the music from scratch.
Each song used a sampled instrumental theme to join the old songs together, in much the same way as dance music megamixes. "Swing the Mood" began with Glenn Miller's famous "In the Mood" (a recording dating back to 1939), followed immediately by rhythmic re-editing of Bill Haley and His Comets' "Rock Around the Clock", Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti," and the Everly Brothers' "Wake Up, Little Susie." "Swing the Mood" was #1 for five weeks on the UK singles chart in 1989, and quickly caught on in America.
"That's What I Like" featured the theme music from the television police drama Hawaii Five-O, with overlaid excerpts from rock hits like Chubby Checker's "The Twist" and Ernie Maresca's "Shout, Shout (Knock Yourself Out)". "Let's Party" (released originally in the US as "March of the Mods") used "March of the Mods" (also known as the Finnjenka Dance), interpolating Del Shannon's "Runaway" and The Wrens' "Come Back My Love," among others.
The original European medleys featured the original recordings by the original artists. Legalities prevented certain of the original recordings to be reused in America, so the American Jive Bunny releases substituted later re-recordings of the same tunes by Bill Haley, Del Shannon, and others.
The original idea for the project came from Les Hemstock on the DJ-only Mastermix DJ service. Andy Pickles then become the front man largely on his own. John Pickles (his father) was strictly speaking never in the band, but the owner of the label and effectively the manager. Rebecca Male, a relation of John Pickles, was and is heavily involved in the production of the records.
Andy Pickles later went on to found hard house record label Tidy Trax with fellow DJ Amadeus Mozart.
I Want You Back
Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers Lyrics
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I didn't want you around
Those pretty faces always made you
Stand out in a crowd
But someone picked you from the bunch
One glance was all it took
Now it's much too late for me
To take second look
Oh baby give me one more chance
To show you that I love you
Won't you please send me back in your heart
Oh darlin' I was blind to let you go
But now since I see you in his arms
I want you back
Yes I do now
I want you back
Ooh ooh baby
Yeah yeah, naw
Trying to live without your love
Is one long sleepless night
Let me show you girl
That I know wrong from right
Every street you walk on
I leave tear stains on the ground
Following the girl
I didn't even want around
Oh baby give me one more chance
To show you that I love you
Won't you please send me back in your heart
Abuh buh buh buh
All I want!
Abuh buh buh buh
All I need!
Abuh buh buh buh
The lyrics of "I Want You Back" by Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers express the regret and longing of a person who realizes too late that they took their partner for granted. The singer reflects on a time when they had their partner to themselves but didn't appreciate them fully, feeling indifferent towards their presence. They acknowledge that others noticed the value of their partner, and it took just one look for someone else to snatch them away. The regret of not recognizing their worth sooner is palpable as the singer laments that it's now too late to have a second chance.
The plea for reconciliation and a second chance is a central theme in the lyrics, as the singer begs for another opportunity to prove their love and make amends. They express sorrow for being blind to the importance of their partner and now witnessing them in the arms of someone else. Despite the pain of seeing their partner with another, the singer declares their desire to have them back in their life, emphasizing their genuine feelings and longing for reconciliation. The emotional turmoil and realization of their mistakes are evident in the heartfelt words of the singer.
The lyrics also convey the struggle of living without the love of their partner, describing it as one long sleepless night. The singer is willing to make changes and demonstrate their understanding of right and wrong to win back their partner's affection. They acknowledge the emotional turmoil they are going through in trying to cope with the absence of their loved one, emphasizing the profound impact the breakup has had on their life. The loneliness and heartache are portrayed vividly, reinforcing the depth of their feelings and the importance of their partner in their life.
The repetitive phrases at the end of the lyrics, such as "Abuh buh buh buh, All I want!" and "Abuh buh buh buh, All I need!" serve as a desperate plea from the singer, emphasizing the simplicity of their desires and their overwhelming need to have their partner back. These expressions highlight the raw emotions and vulnerability of the singer as they express their yearning and longing for reconciliation. Overall, the lyrics of "I Want You Back" capture the complexities of love, regret, and the longing for a second chance to make things right in a heartfelt and emotionally resonant manner.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, Deke Richards, Berry Gordy Jr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind