Geoffrey Deane and David Jaymes formed Modern Romance in 1980, having previously been the mainstays of the punk parody band the Leyton Buzzards which they formed in 1977.
The band split up in 1980 though Deane and Jaymes continued working together, embracing the burgeoning electronic style of dance music that was becoming popular in London clubs at the time. They found a new manager and created a limited company called Business Art Productions, and signed to WEA. In 1980, their first release, eponymously titled "Modern Romance", was unsuccessful. After a second unsuccessful single, "Tonight", the band then opted to lessen the predominantly electronic sound in favour of a Latin-American dance style with emphasis on bass, percussion and brass. They recruited trumpet player John Du Prez into their new line-up. The band released a new single, "Everybody Salsa" in summer 1981, which reached the UK Top 20. However, prior to the release, they recruited a new drummer, Andy Kyriacou, who began promoting the single with the band, and set up their first personal appearance in a club.
They followed this later in the year with similarly themed "Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey", which reached the UK Top 10. Despite these two hits, the band's debut album, Adventures in Clubland, was not a success. However, in the US they scored a number 2 hit on the Billboard Dance chart with "Can You Move", a mostly rap variation of "Everybody Salsa". After further UK Top 40 hits with "Queen of the Rapping Scene" and a cover of the 1955 hit "Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White", Deane departed the band in 1982 to pursue solo projects.
Michael J. Mullins took over the mantle of lead vocalist, and their next release saw the band reach their highest UK chart position with "Best Years of Our Lives" in late 1982. Further hits followed in 1983: "High Life" (UK No. 8), "Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm" (UK No. 14), and the ballad "Walking in the Rain" (UK No. 7). Both "Best Years of Our Lives" and "Walking in the Rain" earned Silver discs. Despite being regularly featured in teen pin-up magazines, the band's commercial hot streak waned and further singles were less successful. The band released a compilation album for the Christmas 1983 market entitled Party Tonight. Though it only peaked at No. 45 in the UK, it became their most successful album and was certified gold for sales in excess of 100,000 copies within six weeks of release.
John Du Prez then left the band, and after disagreements with their record company, WEA, the band signed with RCA in 1984. This brought about a change of image – from bright coloured suits and wedge hairstyles to long hair and leather jackets. The band released a new single, a cover of The Temptations' 1971 hit "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)", but the single was not a success. Modern Romance released a final album, Burn It!, in 1985. The album was received poorly and the band called it quits after releasing the stand-alone single "Tarzan Boy" – a cover of the Baltimora hit from earlier that year – and an anthology mix of their biggest selling songs titled "Best Mix of Our Lives" (also 1985).
After leaving Modern Romance, former lead vocalist Geoff Deane reappeared in 1983 as 'Geoff Deane & The Valley Girls' to release the single "Navy Lark", then again for the solo "What About Romance", and he also wrote "You Think You're A Man" for Divine. Deane later became a scriptwriter and television producer, scripting for television programmes such as Birds of a Feather, Babes in the Wood, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Chef!, Last Man Standing, and A Many-Splintered Thing. In 2005, he wrote the film Kinky Boots starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, and a year later It's a Boy Girl Thing for Elton John's Rocket Pictures.
David Jaymes has since moved into the management and consultancy side of the music industry. He worked as the music supervisor on the film Fascination (2004) starring Jacqueline Bisset and James Naughton. He has also worked again with John Du Prez, composing music for commercials and feature films. Jaymes has managed artists such as Sinéad O'Connor, Justin Adams, Miles Hunt of The Wonder Stuff, Republica and Drum Club. He has also worked as consultant for Harry Nilsson, Jimmy Webb, George Fenton, and Chuck Mangione. In 2010, he worked with a host of musicians on the Haiti earthquake disaster single (a cover version of "I Put a Spell on You"), including Shane MacGowan, Nick Cave, Chrissie Hynde and Johnny Depp.
In 1999, Andy Kyriacou reformed Modern Romance with a new line-up, joining the burgeoning British 1980s revival scene. The new line-up features no original band members (Kyriacou himself had first appeared on the Modern Romance single, "Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey", although he had remained their drummer until the band split in 1985). In 2002, the new line-up released the album Back on Track, which consisted mostly of re-recorded Modern Romance hits. Back on Track was also released as Moves 2 Fast, with a slightly different track listing. Kyriacou's Modern Romance continues to play the 1980s festival circuit and appeared as the opening act at the 2010 Rewind Festival in Henley-on-Thames, which also included Boy George, Rick Astley, Level 42, T'Pau, Kajagoogoo and Heaven 17.
2012 saw the band play Let's Rock the Moor!, a boutique festival in Cookham, Berkshire, with other 1980s acts including Go West, Toyah, Nick Heyward and Billy Ocean. During their set they aired one of their new songs, "Rhythm Is My Lover", from the forthcoming album The 7th Day (penned by Kyriacou and guitarist Peter J Pinto).
Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey
Modern Romance Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now When I Hear Those Trumpets And Congas Start To Play
My Heart It Starts A Dancing Down That Argentina Way
I See Carmen Miranda, She's Shuffling On Her Feet
She's Just Another Lover Of That Saucy Salsa Beat
Chorus
Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey, Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey,
Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey, Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey,
Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey, To Help Me Through The Day
Verse 2
We're Flying Down To Rio, Havana Bound Are We
We're Gonna Dance The Mumbo We're A Happy Family
My Best Girl's Dressed In Latin, From Head Down To Her Feet
She's Just Another Lover Of That Saucy Salsa Beat
Chorus
Trumpet Solo
Verse 3
So Why Not Be Like Moosey When The Band Begins To Play
The Conga's Getting Longer As We Dance The Night Away
So Hit Those Old Timbales And Shake That Tambourine
Become Another Lover Of That Saucy Salsa Scene
Chorus
The lyrics of Modern Romance's song Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey are a celebration of Latin American music and dance culture. The singer of the song confesses his love for the saucy salsa beat that moves his body and makes his heart dance. The song describes the singer's experience of hearing the trumpets and congas playing and feeling the urge to dance to the beat down "that Argentina way". He imagines being in the company of famous Latin American singer and dancer Carmen Miranda, who also loves the salsa beat.
The second verse tells us that the singer is flying down to Rio and is now Havana bound with his family. He and his best girl are dressed like Latin Americans from head to their feet and are happy to be a part of the saucy salsa beat. The message of the song is simple; the singer wants the listener to immerse themselves in the music when they hear the old timbales, shake a tambourine and become another lover of the saucy salsa scene.
Overall, the lyrics of the song are uplifting, offering for the listener a chance to escape into the energy and blissful joy found on a dance floor of Latin American music.
Line by Line Meaning
Now When I Hear Those Trumpets And Congas Start To Play
The singer gets excited and starts to dance when they listen to the trumpet and conga music.
My Heart It Starts A Dancing Down That Argentina Way
The singer's heart starts to dance with joy and they imagine themselves in Argentina.
I See Carmen Miranda, She's Shuffling On Her Feet
The singer sees Carmen Miranda, an iconic Latin American dancer, dancing to the music.
She's Just Another Lover Of That Saucy Salsa Beat
The artist thinks that Carmen Miranda enjoys this type of music too.
Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey, Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey,
Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey, To Help Me Through The Day
The artist finds joy and happiness in listening to this music, and it helps them to get through the day.
We're Flying Down To Rio, Havana Bound Are We
We're Gonna Dance The Mumbo We're A Happy Family
The singer and their family are excited to go to Rio and Havana, where they plan to dance to the music and have fun.
My Best Girl's Dressed In Latin, From Head Down To Her Feet
The singer's girlfriend is wearing Latin-inspired clothing from head to toe.
She's Just Another Lover Of That Saucy Salsa Beat
The artist's girlfriend also loves this type of music.
So Why Not Be Like Moosey When The Band Begins To Play
The artist encourages others to enjoy the music and dance like Moosey.
The Conga's Getting Longer As We Dance The Night Away
The artist and others are dancing the Conga and having a great time.
So Hit Those Old Timbales And Shake That Tambourine
Become Another Lover Of That Saucy Salsa Scene
The singer encourages people to play the timbales and tambourine and become fans of salsa music.
Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey, Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey,
Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey, To Help Me Through The Day
The artist once again expresses how much joy this music brings them and how it helps them get through the day.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GEOFFREY DEANE, DAVID JAYMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind