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).
Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm
Modern Romance Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
just wait and see
Get up close and don't look around
Keep up and stick with me
I see a light, look where (look there)
It's closer all the time
Let's stay, let's play and make this moment
Yours and mine.
Don't stop, Don't stop, Don't stop
that crazy rhythm.
Don't stop, Don't stop, Don't stop
that crazy beat.
Next time you think
you've got that happy feeling
Don't stop that rhythm
Getting to your feet.
We're kissing, dancing
Just a touch romancing
Tomorrow never comes
Well so it's said
The taste of honey
No-one thinks of chancing
Next time don't think, don't talk
Let's do the things we read.
Don't stop, Don't stop, Don't stop
that crazy rhythm.
Don't stop, Don't stop, Don't stop
that crazy beat.
Next time you think
you've got that happy feeling
Don't stop that rhythm
Getting to your feet.
You mama says it's time for bed
But you got that music in your head
Don't stop, Don't stop, Don't stop
that crazy beat.
Don't stop, Don't stop, Don't stop
that crazy rhythm.
Don't stop, Don't stop, Don't stop
that crazy beat.
Next time you think
you've got that happy feeling
Don't stop that rhythm
Getting to your feet.
In Modern Romance's hit song "Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm," the lyrics convey a message of living in the moment and not letting go of a good feeling. The singer urges the listener to stay close and keep up with the beat as the music gets closer. The refrain, "Don't stop that crazy rhythm, don't stop that crazy beat," becomes an anthem encouraging listeners to cherish the moment and let the music move them.
The lyrics also suggest a longing for romance and excitement, as the singer mentions kissing, dancing, and romancing. They suggest taking chances and not overthinking things. This message is reinforced by lines like "Tomorrow never comes, well so it's said" and "Let's do the things we read." Ultimately, the song is about letting go of inhibitions and allowing the music to take control.
Line by Line Meaning
The music's getting closer stay around,
Come closer, the music is getting better and we should stick together and wait to see what happens
just wait and see
Let's not rush, but patiently enjoy this experience
Get up close and don't look around
Get closer and let's focus on each other without distractions
Keep up and stick with me
Let's keep pace with each other and not lose the moment
I see a light, look where (look there)
I see an opportunity, let's take a closer look at it
It's closer all the time
The opportunity is becoming more and more accessible
Let's stay, let's play and make this moment
Let's not end this experience and instead make more of it
Yours and mine
We can both enjoy this experience together
Don't stop, Don't stop, Don't stop
Let's keep going and not slow down
that crazy rhythm.
Let's keep moving to the unconventional but amazing music rhythm
Don't stop, Don't stop, Don't stop
Let's not stop or give up
that crazy beat.
Let's keep dancing and enjoying the fantastic rhythm
Next time you think
Don't hesitate the next time
you've got that happy feeling
When you are feeling happy and enjoying the moment
Don't stop that rhythm
Keep the music going and don't let it end
Getting to your feet.
Let's not just enjoy the music, but also dance to it
We're kissing, dancing
We are in the moment and enjoying ourselves with a kiss and dance
Just a touch romancing
We are in a romantic moment with a touch of love
Tomorrow never comes
Let's not worry about the future and enjoy the present moment
Well so it's said
People say that tomorrow never comes
The taste of honey
We are experiencing something sweet and delightful
No-one thinks of chancing
Let's not think about taking any risks, but instead let's enjoy the moment
Next time don't think, don't talk
The next time we find ourselves in a special moment, let's not question it but fully embrace it
Let's do the things we read.
Let's not just think about doing things, but let's actually do them
You mama says it's time for bed
Despite what others might say or think, let's keep the music going
But you got that music in your head
We are so immersed in the music that it has become a part of us
Don't stop, Don't stop, Don't stop
Let's keep the beat going strong
that crazy beat.
Let's not let anything stop the infectious beat
Next time you think
The next time you offer yourself to this moment, remember what I'm about to say
you've got that happy feeling
When you're feeling good, don't let negative thoughts take over
Don't stop that rhythm
Live in the present, don't overthink, and use the energy of the rhythm to move you
Getting to your feet.
This is a time to let free and feel the music in your body to live to the fullest.
Contributed by Joseph J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Retro Lovers
great song , im downloading now cdripped
andym209
best years of our lives and they was
Yosieposie Jones
Guilty pleasure!
Mark Parry
Has anybody ever realised the beat is like an Adam And The Ants drum-beat? And there is a Jungle Book type vibe there as well.
ノムラrei
日本の洋楽カバーの先駆者である亡き西城秀樹さんの歌も是非聴いて下さい❗秀樹は時代を先取りしていたので世間が追いついて行けなかったと思うのです。日本では最高のアーティストです❤なにしろかっこ良いです。両方共❗
Anaël Honings
I guess it was inspired by the likes of Benny Goodman :-)
Stephen V. O'Rourke
Groovy great....F Scott Fitzgerald...would be proud...:D
Eadwig
I will try to find some time and do that :-)