Thomas August Darnell Browder (aka August Darnell, aka Kid Creole) was born in Montreal, Canada, on 12 August 1950, the son of a French Canadian mother and a father from the Caribbean island of Dominica, but was raised in the New York City borough of the Bronx.
Darnell began his career in a band named The In-Laws with his half-brother in 1965, which disbanded so August could pursue a career as an English teacher. He obtained a masters degree, but in 1974 again formed a band with his half-brother under the name Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band. They played to some initial success, reaching a gold and Top 40-charting album with their debut release, but could not match this on subsequent releases.
Darnell began producing for other artists before adopting the name Kid Creole (from the Elvis Presley film King Creole) in 1980, and forming The Coconuts, a trio of female backing vocalist/dancers, including his wife Adriana Kaegi, and a band including vibraphone player Andy Hernandez aka Coati Mundi. Cheryl Poirier joined that year as lead vocalist of the Coconuts, followed by Taryn Hagey as "Coconut #3" on background vocals in 1981. This line-up remained in place throughout the band's heyday. Hagey left the group in 1985 and was replaced by Janique Svedberg.
Their debut album was the heavily disco-influenced Off the Coast of Me, which was critically well-received but not successful commercially. The sophomore release Fresh Fruit in Foreign Places was a concept album matched with a New York Public Theatre stage production; it received rave reviews, and Darnell was recognized as a clever lyricist and astute composer, arranger and producer. The album charted briefly, and subsequently Coati Mundi's "Me No Pop I", though not originally on the album, became a Top 40 UK hit single. Their breakthrough came with 1982's Tropical Gangsters, which hit #3 in the UK and spun off three Top 10 hits with "Stool Pigeon", "Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy" and "I'm a Wonderful Thing, Baby". "Dear Addy" also made the Top 40. In the US the album was retitled Wise Guy and reached #145, and "I'm a Wonderful Thing, Baby" flirted with the R&B charts. 1983's Doppelganger was a relative commercial disappointment, despite the single "There's Something Wrong in Paradise" reaching the Top 40.
Kid Creole and the Coconuts were a spectacular live act, complete with lavish set designs with a tropical motif, wild costumes and intricate choreography by the Coconuts (provided by Kaegi). On stage they infused an energy, rhythm and playfulness in their music that drove audiences wild. Though Kid Creole never achieved mainstream success in the US, the band was hugely popular in major cities (especially its hometown NYC) and hit pop superstar status in England and Europe, where its eclecticism and sophistication were much more appreciated.
Darnell and Kaegi divorced in 1985, though she remained with the band. She and Cheryl Poirier also formed their own group, Boomerang, with Perri Lister, which released an album on the Atlantic label in 1986. Darnell continued Kid Creole and the Coconuts and in the mid to late 1980s contributed to various film soundtracks and other such projects. He appeared at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1986 and in this period released the albums In Praise of Older Women and Other Crimes and I, Too, Have Seen the Woods, neither of which charted despite the hit "Endicott". 1990's Private Waters in the Great Divide had a hit with single "The Sex of It", a song written by Prince and recorded at Paisley Park Studios with Sheila E. It reached Top 40 in the US and UK and is to date one of his most well-known songs.
Darnell now lives in London (and occasionally Sweden and Denmark), and still tours with the Coconuts occasionally. He is currently collaborating with writer/producer Peter Schott on a Contemporary Opera, to be produced by Son Of Kong Productions.The project features vocals/guitar by former Creole band member and rising star Mark Anthony Jones.
Through 1997 to 2008 Kid Creole toured the UK whilst starring in the stage show Oh! What a Night, a disco musical produced by Random Concerts.
The Kid is currently working with Younger and Lord highOwl, from audio-visual electronica project 'Picture Book' (www.myspace.com/picturebookaregreat), on new material, due in the new year.
I'm A Wonderful Thing Baby
Kid Creole & The Coconuts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Guess who's gonna ring your chimes
That's right, give me a big hug
You know I'll treat you right
Oh, girl, make it a quick one
I'm only here tonight
I know, sadder but wiser
I'm still the same old guy
See, I couldn't look no better
Girl, I'm at the peak
And that's a fact, that's a fact
Take a part of me
You know it couldn't feel no better
Take it all with ease
Before you break your back
Or get a heart attack
I'm a wonderful thing, baby
Such a, such a
(Wonderful)
I'm a wonderful thing, baby
Such a, such a
Goodbye, sorry I can't stay
But I don't have much time
I've got a dozen or more babes
To see before I fly
Hot stuff, beggin' to see me
Why should they be deprived?
Come on, give me your blessin'
You're still the first in line
Take a look at me
See, I couldn't look no better
Girl, I'm at my peak
And that's a fact, that's a fact
Take a part of me
You know it couldn't feel no better
Make sure that you breathe
Before you break your back
Or get a heart attack
I'm a wonderful thing, baby
Such a, such a
(Wonderful)
I'm a wonderful thing, baby
Such a, such a
That's right, I got a lady
In every foreign port
Somewhere I even got me
A stranger by the shore
I know I'm going crazy
'Cause I want more and more
Sometimes I don't remember
Just who I'm looking for
Ha, ha, ha
I'm a wonderful thing, baby
(Wonderful)
I'm a wonderful thing, baby, baby
(Wonderful)
I'm a wonderful thing, baby
Such a, such a
Such a wonderful thing
Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute, okay
Alright, hold it, hold it, hold it
Let's just, let's just start with the A's
I just wanna show you something
Let's just start with the A's, alright?
Now, there's Ada, right? Anna, right?
Anita, Anita too
Addy, you remember Addy, Addy
There's Abby, Abby Long
Abby Long up on, up on, uh, Southern Boulevard, heh, heh
You remember Abby Long, right?
And there's Amanda, Amanda Blue
Amanda Blue, my Amanda Blue
How many is that?
I ain't countin'
There's more, there's more
There's Sophie
Ho-ho-hold it, ho-ho-hold it
Who's Sophie?
I thought you were talking about the A's
I'm a wonderful thing, baby
Hold it, hold it, hold it
I'm a wonderful thing, baby
Hey, you want me to move on to the B's?
Ha, ha, ha
The B's (I'm a wonderful thing, baby)
Bonnie, Becca
Becca! Ha, ha, ha
The song "I'm A Wonderful Thing Baby" by Kid Creole & The Coconuts is an upbeat and playful tune about a man who believes he is a fantastic catch and loves to share that opinion with everyone. He sings about his desirability and how he has many women in different parts of the world. The tone of the song is light and carefree, with the singer enjoying his life and his status as a "wonderful thing." Despite his smooth-talking claims, he still acknowledges that his time with the person he is singing to is limited, and he has to move on to other women soon.
As the song progresses, the singer gives a humorous account of some of the women he has been involved with, going through their names alphabetically. He seems to have had relationships with women from all over the world and is proud of his exploits. However, the playful tone of the song implies that it is more of a boastful exaggeration than actual fact.
The song's overall message is that the singer knows he is an attractive and desirable person, and he doesn't mind sharing his positive attitude with others. The song is a lively celebration of confidence and the joy of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello, open the door up
Greetings! Please let me in.
Guess who's gonna ring your chimes
Can you guess who's here to excite you?
That's right, give me a big hug
Yes, that's correct, please embrace me.
You know I'll treat you right
Don't worry, I will always show you how special you are.
Oh, girl, make it a quick one
We don't have much time, let's hurry.
I'm only here tonight
I can only stay for a limited time.
I know, sadder but wiser
I'm more experienced and mature now.
I'm still the same old guy
Despite maturing, I remain fundamentally the same person.
Take a look at me
Look at how great I am.
See, I couldn't look no better
I am in peak physical condition.
Girl, I'm at the peak
I am at the pinnacle of my abilities.
And that's a fact, that's a fact
I am stating an indisputable truth.
Take a part of me
Experience my greatness.
You know it couldn't feel no better
You won't regret it, it will be amazing.
Take it all with ease
Don't worry, enjoy it without stress.
Before you break your back
Don't overexert yourself.
Or get a heart attack
Don't let yourself get too stressed and have a heart attack.
I'm a wonderful thing, baby
I am amazing.
Such a, such a
Yes, it's true.
(Wonderful)
I am expressing admiration.
Goodbye, sorry I can't stay
I have to go now, but it was nice being here.
But I don't have much time
Unfortunately, I have a lot of other things to do.
I've got a dozen or more babes
I have many romantic interests.
To see before I fly
I have to attend to them before I leave town.
Hot stuff, beggin' to see me
Many attractive people are interested in me.
Why should they be deprived?
Why shouldn't I enjoy their company?
Come on, give me your blessin'
Please approve of my lifestyle.
You're still the first in line
But you are still the most important to me.
That's right, I got a lady
Yes, indeed, I have many women.
In every foreign port
I have romantic partners all over the world.
Somewhere I even got me
I may even have romantic interests I've forgotten.
A stranger by the shore
I may have a romantic interest I've yet to meet.
I know I'm going crazy
I realize my lifestyle is somewhat unconventional.
'Cause I want more and more
I am greedy for romantic partners.
Sometimes I don't remember
I admit I can't keep track of all my romantic partners.
Just who I'm looking for
I may occasionally forget the names of my romantic interests.
Hold it, hold it, hold it
Hang on, let's take a moment.
Let's just, let's just start with the A's
Let's begin alphabetically with the A names.
I just wanna show you something
I want to share something with you.
Now, there's Ada, right? Anna, right?
Let's start with Ada and Anna.
Anita, Anita too
And don't forget Anita.
Addy, you remember Addy, Addy
Oh, yes, Addy, do you remember her?
There's Abby, Abby Long
And of course, Abby Long.
Abby Long up on, up on, uh, Southern Boulevard, heh, heh
You know, Abby Long who lives on Southern Boulevard?
You remember Abby Long, right?
You remember Abby Long, don't you?
And there's Amanda, Amanda Blue
Finally, there is Amanda Blue.
My Amanda Blue
She is extra special to me.
How many is that?
How many partners did I just list?
I ain't countin'
I don't feel the need to keep count of my partners.
There's more, there's more
There are still more to come.
Hold it, hold it, hold it
Wait, let's pause and regroup.
Hey, you want me to move on to the B's?
Is it time to move onto the next letter of the alphabet?
Bonnie, Becca
Let's start with Bonnie and Becca.
Becca! Ha, ha, ha
Oh, Becca, what a character.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, SCHOTT IN THE DARK MUSIC
Written by: August Darnell, Peter Schott
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@edvaldooliveiraoliveira3146
Grande momento na vida de muita gente.
O ínicio dos anos 80 foi FANTÁSTICO!
PENA QUE TUDO ACABOU.
Forte abraço para toda galera do FLASH BACK ANOS 70 e 80.
Toco Vila Matilde,Contra Mão,Scorpius Itaim Paulista,Pop Corn Vila Maria e muitas outras casas que agitaram os embalos dos anos 70 e 80.
MUITA SAUDADE!
Deixe o seu comentário.
EDVALDO OLIVEIRA - ITAIM PAULISTA - ZONA LESTE DE SÃO PAULO.
HOJE SOMENTE SAUDADES,mas,para quem curtiu essa maravilhosa época,sabe muito bem o que estou falando!
@hkgeldean
I am 47 years old. This is the first time I have heard this song. OMG... What have I been missing?!
@craigdixon3051
I love this song, summer 82. I was 18 & everything was WONDERFUL!
@IronMan-tk8uc
For someone who didn't lived through that time, the late 70s/early 80s really do have something wonderful in them, that sadly can't be replicated...
@terrymck216
This track reminds me of 1982 a glorious era and banging year for top quality music !!!! This is a brilliant disco stomper from the very talented kid Creole who was a very unique classic artist from new York USA he was very very popular in the UK than his home country !!! The 80s was just the best the music industry then was massive with all genres of music disco dance funk soul pop hip hop rap !!!!
@IronMan-tk8uc
It seems that Europeans have a much wider mind, musically speaking, than Americans. Many Yankee artists found more success and recognition in the Old World than at home. Very strange.
@maxkazzora4234
This music is so ahead of its time that it will never grow old and stale. Great band, great tune, great albumn.
@paulmcmc4005
Timeless track - still sounds good in 2019!
@andyhinds542
And fast forward to 2021...!!
@johanbruel1234
2022 too .
@1517528
Sounding good in 2022💃🏻💃🏻