1) British Dance-… Read Full Bio ↴There are 2 artists/bands under the name of Mel & Kim:
1) British Dance-pop duo
2) Mel Smith and& Kim Wilde
(1) British Dance-pop duo who worked with Stock Aitken Waterman and had hits in the 1980's with the singles "Respectable", "Showing Out", "F.L.M." and "That's The Way It Is".
Mel & Kim were born to British and Jamaican parents. In 1985, Mel recorded two demos solo, under Alan Whitehead's management. Soon after, her sister Kim joined her and they performed as a duo, recording some demos. The demos got them signed with Supreme Records, and Nick East - president of Supreme - put them in touch with eminent producers Stock Aitken Waterman.
"System" was intended as their first single, but they and the producers were unhappy with it, and it became the "B-side" of their first release "Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)", which reached number three on the UK Singles Chart in 1986, number 78 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs. Their next single "Respectable" reached number one in Britain and became one of the year's biggest hits. This song also reached number 1 on the U.S.They became well-known celebrities, particularly in Britain, and were known for their visual style which combined urban street wear with high fashion (prior to their music career Mel had worked as a glamour model). Their third single "F.L.M." reached number seven in the UK, while their final single "That's the Way It Is" reached number ten, giving them an unbroken run of top ten hits.
In December 1985, prior to the duo's rise to fame, Mel was treated for malignant paraganglioma, a form of cancer, on her liver. By January 1987, Mel was experiencing back problems, delaying the filming of the Respectable music video. During a promotional visit to Japan in June 1987, the severity of Mel's back problem became apparent. Upon returning to the UK, she was diagnosed with a recurrence of the cancer in her spine. The sisters withdrew from publicity while Mel underwent treatment, and footage from their Montreux Festival performance was used to compile the "F.L.M." music video. While the media speculated that Mel was terminally ill, both sisters categorically denied this, stating that Mel had suffered a debilitating back injury.
Eventually, it was confirmed that Mel had been diagnosed with cancer, following the release of "That's the Way it Is" in February 1988. Mel discharged herself from hospital to record the vocals for the track. Work on a second album was not continued, due to Mel's illness. Both sisters appeared on the Wogan show in April 1988 while Mel was still undergoing treatment, as part of European Cancer Week. She died of pneumonia on 18 January 1990, after contracting a cold; her immune system weakened by chemotherapy.
With the aid of her then boyfriend, ex-Bros bassist Craig Logan, Kim launched a solo career with much of her debut solo album composed of songs co-written with Mel, for what was intended to be the next "Mel and Kim" album. The album, Kim Appleby, contained her debut solo single "Don't Worry", which reached number two on the British charts in November 1990. A follow-up single "G.L.A.D" was also a 10 hit on the UK Singles Chart. Subsequent singles from her debut album were "Mama" [#19] and "If You Cared" [#44]. Kim's second album Breakaway was not a commercial success and had a limited release. She released three further singles, "Light of the World" [#41, 1993], "Breakaway" [#56, 1993], and "Free Spirit" [#51, 1994]. A download-only single called "High" was released in 2007.
(2) Mel Smith and Kim Wilde.
In 1987, Comedian Mel Smith (Half of comedy duo Smith and Jones) recorded a single with Kim Wilde for Comic Relief: a cover of the Christmas song "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" with some extra comedy lines written by Smith and Jones. It reached number 3 in the UK Single Chart..
Respectable
Mel & Kim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey man (hey man), Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, Hey man (hey man)
Tay, tay, tay, tay, t-t-t-tay-tay, tay, tay
It's our occupation, we're a dancin' natio-ion
We keep the pressure on every night
Explanations are complicatio-ions
We don't need to know the where or why
Takin' chances, bold advance-e-es, Don't care if you think we're out of line
Conversation is interrigatio-ion, Get out of here, we just don't have the time
Tay, tay, tay, tay, t-t-t-tay-tay, tay, tay
Take or leave us only please believe us
We are never gonna be respectable (respectable)
Like us, hate us, but you'll never change us
We are never gonna be respectable (respectable, respectable, respectable, respectable)
Hesitation is just frustratio-ion, Give us the music and we're alright
On each occasion for your informatio-ion, We can look after ourselves alright
Tay, tay, tay, tay, t-t-t-tay-tay, tay, tay
Fascination is our sensatio-ion, We like to put ourselves on the line
Recreation is our destinatio-ion, so don't wait up for us tonight
Tay, tay, tay, tay, t-t-t-tay-tay, tay, tay
Take or leave us, only please believe us
We are never gonna be respectable (respectable)
Like us, hate us, but you'll never change us
We are never going to be respectable (respectable, respectable, respectable, respectable)
Ha-ha, ha-ha-ha ......
Hey man (hey man), Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, Hey man (hey man)
Tay, tay, tay, tay, t-t-t-tay-tay, tay, tay
Take or leave us, only please believe us
We are never gonna be respectable (respectable)
Like us, hate us, but you'll never change us
We are never gonna be respectable (respectable)
Take or leave
The song "Respectable" by Mel & Kim, released in 1987, is a declaration of independence and self-assurance. The lyrics speak of the duo's refusal to conform to societal expectations and the rejection of the notion that they have to be "respectable." According to them, their job is to dance, and that is precisely what they intend to do. They do not care what others think about them, and they will not be interrogated or pressured into changing.
The chorus of the song, "Take or leave us, only please believe us. We are never gonna be respectable,” repeats throughout the song, emphasizing this message of resilience and independence. The verses go on to explain that they do not need explanations for their behavior as dancers, and they are not afraid to take risks or face criticism. They live their lives for the thrill of the dance and enjoy putting themselves on the line for it.
In short, "Respectable" is an anthem for individuality, freedom, and unapologetic self-expression, which Mel & Kim fully embrace through their music and dance.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes Ha-ha, ha-ha-ha ......
Starting the song with laughter and cheerful mood
Hey man (hey man), Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, Hey man (hey man)
Addressing someone in a friendly and humorous way
Tay, tay, tay, tay, t-t-t-tay-tay, tay, tay
Filling the gaps between lyrics with meaningless yet catchy sounds
It's our occupation, we're a dancin' natio-ion
Dancing is our profession and passion
We keep the pressure on every night
We perform to the best of our abilities each night
Explanations are complicatio-ions
We don't bother explaining ourselves as it only creates confusion
We don't need to know the where or why
We don't need to understand the reasons behind our actions
Takin' chances, bold advance-e-es, Don't care if you think we're out of line
We take risks and make daring moves without worrying about criticism
Conversation is interrigatio-ion, Get out of here, we just don't have the time
We don't have patience for pointless conversations and would rather focus on our goals
Take or leave us only please believe us
You can accept or reject us, but please trust that we are being true to ourselves
We are never gonna be respectable (respectable)
We don't seek approval from society's standards of respectability
Like us, hate us, but you'll never change us
Our personalities and ways of life are fixed and unchanging
Hesitation is just frustratio-ion, Give us the music and we're alright
Delaying or doubting our actions only leads to frustration, but good music keeps us going
On each occasion for your informatio-ion, We can look after ourselves alright
We are self-sufficient and capable of taking care of ourselves
Fascination is our sensatio-ion, We like to put ourselves on the line
We find excitement in taking risks and challenging ourselves
Recreation is our destinatio-ion, so don't wait up for us tonight
Having fun and enjoying life is our ultimate goal, so don't expect us to come home early
Take or leave us, only please believe us
Our individuality is not up for negotiation, but we hope you can trust and respect us
We are never gonna be respectable (respectable)
Our refusal to conform to societal norms of respectability is a conscious choice
Ha-ha, ha-ha-ha ......
Ending the song on a light-hearted and humorous note
Hey man (hey man), Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, Hey man (hey man)
Repeating the friendly and playful opening lines
Tay, tay, tay, tay, t-t-t-tay-tay, tay, tay
Finishing the song with the same catchy sounds as the beginning
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MATT AITKEN, MIKE STOCK, PETER WATERMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind