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).
Everybody Salsa
Modern Romance Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now what's that crazy rhythm coming from the street
The sound of people moving to that Latin beat
Now this ain't Puerto Rico this is London E18
Everybody's welcome to my own dream
Chorus
Everybody Salsa, Everybody Salsa
Everybody Salsa, Everybody Salsa
Everybody Salsa, Everybody Salsa
Everybody Salsa, Salsa Hey Salsa
Verse 2
Carnival is moving, music in the air
Everybody's grooving, dancing everywhere
Spirit not location is the essence of our theme
Why not come and join us in our own dream
Chorus
Verse 3
Now see the pretty ladies, moving all around
Looking super sexy, all around the town
Their smiles are so enticing
Makes you wonder what they mean
Everyone's entitled to their own dream
Chorus
Modern Romance's song "Everybody Salsa" is an upbeat and infectious dance tune that celebrates the power of music to bring people of all backgrounds together. The song's opening lines set the scene for a bustling street scene, with a "crazy rhythm" emanating from the Latin beats that are drawing people into the fray. The lyrics convey a sense of excitement and joy as the crowd begins to move to the music, with the singer celebrating the diversity of the dancing throng in his own corner of London.
The second verse reinforces the theme of unity, with the "spirit not location" being the defining factor in the shared experience of the carnival atmosphere. The invitation is extended to all who want to join in the fun, with the idea of being transported to a shared dream world. In the final verse, the focus shifts to the beauty of the women on the dance floor, who captivate the attention of all with their alluring smiles and movements. The chorus repeats the refrain "Everybody Salsa" with increasing urgency, encouraging everyone to keep the party going and lose themselves in the music.
Line by Line Meaning
Now what's that crazy rhythm coming from the street
There's a unique and captivating rhythm coming from the street.
The sound of people moving to that Latin beat
People are moving their bodies to the beat of Latin music.
Now this ain't Puerto Rico this is London E18
Although this music originated from Puerto Rico, it's being played in London E18.
Everybody's welcome to my own dream
Everyone is welcome to participate in my vision.
Carnival is moving, music in the air
The festival atmosphere is alive and the music is all around.
Everybody's grooving, dancing everywhere
Everyone is dancing, and it's happening all around.
Spirit not location is the essence of our theme
Our theme is not based on location, but the spirit within our gathering.
Why not come and join us in our own dream
Why not participate in our vision?
Now see the pretty ladies, moving all around
Observe the attractive women moving and grooving.
Looking super sexy, all around the town
These women are attracting attention all over town with their fashionable looks.
Their smiles are so enticing
Their smiles are extremely attractive and hard to resist.
Makes you wonder what they mean
It's intriguing to think about what these women are feeling or thinking.
Everyone's entitled to their own dream
Each person has the right to dream and aspire for themselves.
Everybody Salsa, Everybody Salsa
Everyone is invited to the Salsa dance party.
Salsa Hey Salsa
Let's dance to the Salsa rhythm.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEOFF DEANE, DAVID JAYMES, KENNY REYES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hectorcifras5605
LA VEO UNA Y OTRA VEZ Y CREO QUE ESTOY EN MI TIEMPO PASADO QUE RECUERDOS CUANDO HERAMOS FELICES Y COMO LO PASÁBAMOS TAN BIEN QUE REGRESEN LOS 80 POR DIOS
@martavargas5972
❤😊❤
@jorgeporto8172
1981 new York city disco buenos Aires Argentina 🇦🇷, unforgettable times !!!!!!
@paulcrisp9861
I just know there is somebody partying to this funky tune in july 2021,let's join in and party all day and night. 😎😎👍👍😎😎🇬🇧
@PabloPerez-ed9gp
😂😂😂😎
@rhianjones1319
This rhythm is the perfect mix to dance at the disco and parties 🎊
@bethaniagutierrez4152
La mejor temporada...!! Los 80'..
@Mikeyp1054
Ho soul boy haircut, the fringe and wedge. Long live the early 80s
@josegregoriogimenes9570
Eran principios de los ochenta, busque mucho está canción
@martavargas5972
❤😊❤