Midi, Maxi & Efti was a Swedish musical group with African influences from … Read Full Bio ↴Midi, Maxi & Efti was a Swedish musical group with African influences from the early 1990's. Their two biggest hits were "Bad Bad Boys" and "Ragga Steady".

The band consisted of the two twin sisters Midi and Maxi Berhanu and their friend Freweyni "Efti" Teclehaimanot, all of them born in 1976. Midi and Maxi were refugees from Ethiopia and came to Sweden with their parents in 1985. Efti was born in a refugee camp in Eritrea and also arrived in Sweden in 1985. The three girls finally met in the Stockholm suburb of Akalla.

Their self-titled album was released in 1991 and spawned three singles, "Bad Bad Boys", "Ragga Steady" and "Masenko". Although the girls contributed lyrics, most of the Africa-inspired songs were in fact composed and produced by the men behind Army of Lovers – Alexander Bard, Anders Wollbeck and Per Adebratt, assisted by E-type and Stakka Bo. Styling was done by Jean-Pierre Barda and Camilla Thulin.

In 1992, the album was released in the U.S. by Columbia Records, and a video was made for "Ragga Steady", directed by Frank Sacramento. The band split up after a few short tours of the U.S., South Africa and France.

Their songs have been featured in the TV series Beavis and Butthead and the movie For Love or Money (starring Michael J. Fox). The members have since recorded songs separately, but nothing has been released.

Ragga Steady Dub
Midi Maxi & Efti Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Let′s go, let's go, Ragga steady,
Everybody Ragga steady go.
Let′s go, let's go, Ragga steady,
Everybody Ragga steady go.

You know I want to tell you something, before you ask who I am.
When I want at least, that they call me and i'm here
I grew up and became a girl of life

I′m a girly of sixteen
Every boy I meet me tell me
Tell me I′m a girl they want
And I say
Yeah... ahaaa... yeahh aaha ahaaa

Let's go, let′s go, Ragga steady,
Everybody Ragga steady go.
Let's go, let′s go, Ragga steady,
Everybody Ragga steady go.

Mostly woman like to go to on their parties dancing, singing, have fun.
(We like music all the time)

When I fancy there you know,
I'm feeling very high (Where)
On the dancing floor
But don′t turn off the music,
I'm a girl who dance all night long (Singing)
Yeah... ahaaa... yeahh aaha ahaaa

Let's go, let′s go, Ragga steady,
Everybody Ragga steady go.
Let′s go, let's go, Ragga steady,
Everybody Ragga steady go.

Let′s go, let's go, Ragga steady,
Everybody Ragga steady go.
Let′s go, let's go, Ragga steady,
Everybody Ragga steady go.

Let′s go, let's go, Ragga steady,
Everybody Ragga steady go.

Let's go, let′s go, Ragga steady,
Everybody Ragga steady go.

Overall Meaning

The song "Ragga Steady Dub" by Midi Maxi & Efti is an upbeat and energetic song that celebrates the joy of dancing and having fun. The lyrics invite listeners to join in and "Ragga steady," a term that refers to a particular style of dance that involves moving to the beat of the music in a steady rhythm. The repetition of the phrase "Let's go, let's go, Ragga steady" throughout the song reinforces the idea of unity and encourages everyone to come together and enjoy themselves.

The song also touches upon themes of youth and freedom. The singer describes herself as a "girly of sixteen" and talks about how every boy she meets wants her. Despite this attention, she asserts her own agency and independence by saying "Yeah... ahaaa... yeahh aaha ahaaa." The lyrics suggest that dancing and enjoying oneself is a way to express this youthful vitality and freedom.

Line by Line Meaning

Let's go, let's go, Ragga steady,
Encouraging people to participate in a steady, rhythmic style of music called Ragga

Everybody Ragga steady go.
Asking everyone to continue participating in the Ragga music style

You know I want to tell you something, before you ask who I am.
Introducing oneself before others can ask, implying a desire to be recognized and respected

When I want at least, that they call me and i'm here
Being available and willing when called upon

I grew up and became a girl of life
Matured and gained experience in life

I'm a girly of sixteen
Young and youthful

Every boy I meet me tell me
Receiving admiration and compliments from boys

Tell me I'm a girl they want
Being seen as attractive and desirable

And I say, Yeah... ahaaa... yeahh aaha ahaaa
Reveling in the attention and flattery received from boys

Mostly woman like to go to on their parties dancing, singing, have fun.
Explaining that women enjoy socializing and having fun with music, singing and dance

(We like music all the time)
Expressing love for music

When I fancy there you know,
When feeling in the mood

I'm feeling very high (Where)
Getting excited and enthusiastic

On the dancing floor
Participating in dance performances

But don't turn off the music,
Requesting not to stop the music that one is enjoying

I'm a girl who dance all night long (Singing)
Asserting the capacity to dance to the music all night long

Writer(s): M. Berhanu, F. Teclehaimanot, A. Bard, A. Wollbeck

Contributed by Xavier R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS