Phats & Small appeared on the scene in 1998 with "Turn Around", a track that featured sampled Toney Lee's "Reach Up" and Change's "The Glow of Love". The song debuted at number three in the UK Singles Chart, before climbing to number two, with career sales of this hit amassing them £5,000 in total due to their recording contract. Singer Ben Ofoedu appears in the video for the track miming to the vocals. Future releases featured his voice but "Turn Around" featured Lee's voice. However, Ofoedu has been known to perform the track live. In 1999, they also released their first album, Now Phats What I Small Music, a play on their name and the compilation series Now That's What I Call Music!. Ofoedu sang on two tracks, "Feel Good" and "Tonite", which were also released as singles. In 1999, Phats & Small also achieved notoriety for remixing the Earth, Wind & Fire track, "September" and Simply Red's "Ain't That a Lot of Love". Other remixes around the same time included PJ "Happy Days", Space Raiders "I Need The Disko Doktor", High Steppers "I Will Follow" and pop group A1's single "Be the First to Believe".
Ofoedu left the group to pursue a solo career as singer, songwriter and producer, and his backing vocalist Tony Thompson, was promoted to main vocalist. He sang on most tracks in Phats & Small's second album, This Time Around, released in 2001, which featured an eponymous single, as well as "Change" and "Respect The Cock" (which was supposed to feature the phrase uttered by Tom Cruise in the film Magnolia).[citation needed] The second album was co-produced by Jimmy Gomez.
After a few years away from the recording studio, Phats & Small returned in 2005 with a new vocalist, Ryan Molloy, and a new album, Soundtrack to Our Lives, featuring the single "Sun Comes Out", this track sung by a returning Ofoedu and a new female vocalist, Carrie Luer.
In 2016, a new version of "Turn Around" was made featuring new vocals from Ofoedu.
Small is also one half of the production team The Freemasons, along with James Wiltshire (Jimmy Gómez) who was a co-producer for Phats & Small.
Small is a Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. fan after being taken to games as a youngster by his uncle.
Their song "Turn Around" was on the CD of the computer game K.S.-n-Kickin.
Tonite
Phats & Small Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
make you feel so fine - if you ready
so pack your bags and come with me
I'll take you on a ride I know you're waiting
Cause the power in the music brings you far enough
And the beat that's in your heart will take control of you
It's the music of the night battles up that day - yeah
People of the world unite
If you feel it then you know it's alright
Makes no difference if you're black or white
The rhythm ?s gonna get you tonight
The rhythm ?s gonna get you tonight
The rhythm ?s gonna get you tonight
(The rhythm ?s gonna get you tonight) ? Ioohh yeah,
Repetition
Don't you know
Don't you know
Don't you know(The rhythm ?s gonna get you tonight) ? I
(The rhythm ?s gonna get you tonight) ? I
(The rhythm ?s gonna get you tonight) ? I
The song "Tonite" by Phats & Small is an upbeat dance song that invites people to join together and feel the power of music. The lyrics begin by describing a place where the singer can take someone to make them feel "so fine", as long as they are ready to pack their bags and go on a ride. The power of the music and the beat that is in one's heart takes control and can help battle any struggles that have occurred during the day. It is as if the night is a canvas for the music to paint itself onto, and the beat is what keeps the party going.
The chorus repeats the phrase "the rhythm is gonna get you tonight" with variations in emphasis and rhythm, representing the belief that people from all walks of life can come together despite differences in race or ethnicity and be united through the power of music. The repetition adds to the catchiness of the song and creates a sense of excitement and energy.
Overall, "Tonite" is an uplifting song that celebrates the unifying power of music, bringing people together and creating a sense of community that transcends differences in ethnicity or background.
Line by Line Meaning
I know a place where I can I take you
I have knowledge of a location where we can go together
make you feel so fine - if you ready
If you're prepared, I can take you to a place where you'll feel great
so pack your bags and come with me
Bring your belongings and accompany me on this adventure
I'll take you on a ride I know you're waiting
I have a journey I want to take you on that I'm sure you're anticipating
Cause the power in the music brings you far enough
The magic of music has the capacity to transport you to distant locations
And the beat that's in your heart will take control of you
Once your heart is entranced by the rhythm, you will be under its control
It's the music of the night battles up that day - yeah
The night's melody competes with the stress of the day
Tonight
On this very evening
People of the world unite
All the individuals of the world should come together
If you feel it then you know it's alright
If you experience the rhythm, you understand that everything is good
Makes no difference if you're black or white
It is irrelevant whether you are black or white
The rhythm ?s gonna get you tonight
The beat is going to affect you tonight
The rhythm ?s gonna get you tonight
The beat is going to affect you tonight
The rhythm ?s gonna get you tonight
The beat is going to affect you tonight
(The rhythm ?s gonna get you tonight) ? Ioohh yeah,
The beat will definitely have an impact tonight, yes!
Don't you know
Aren't you aware
Don't you know
Aren't you aware
Don't you know(The rhythm ?s gonna get you tonight) ? I
Aren't you aware that the rhythm will have an impact tonight
(The rhythm ?s gonna get you tonight) ? I
The beat will undoubtedly impact you tonight
(The rhythm ?s gonna get you tonight) ? I
The beat will undoubtedly impact you tonight
Contributed by Skyler T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tiene M
I know a place where I can I take you
make you feel so fine - if you ready
so pack your bags and come with me
I'll take you on a ride I know you're waiting
Cause the power in the music brings you far enough
And the beat that's in your heart will take control of you
It's the music of the night battles up that day - yeah
Tonight
People of the world unite
If you feel it then you know it's alright
Makes no difference if you're black or white
The rhythm'sgonna get you tonight
The rhythm's gonna get you tonight
The rhythm's gonna get you tonight
(The rhythm's gonna get you tonight)oohh yeah,
Repeat
Don't you know
Don't you know
Don't you know(The rhythm's gonna get you tonight)
(The rhythm's gonna get you tonight)
(The rhythm's gonna get you tonight)
Repeat
Tintoycar
20 years old still beats like never before!
LiangHuBBB
after all the years I finally found this masterpiece again :)
Super Amario64
I miss the late 90s early 2000s. Great times, great music.
Ryan Darko
Wish we could go back life was a lot simpler back than
Super Amario64
@Ryan Darko indeed bud...indeed.
Ale Cuenca
Eran sonidos de sorpresas... Una bomba al corazon
Patrick EVONGOLE KING
Que de bons souvenirs. MCM FOREVER ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Ricardo Henriquez
Real house music. Before it was called EDM. When djs had to buy vinyl and know how to beat match.
skurinski
EDM doesnt mean house, it means "electronic dance music", aka dance music/electronica. It includes all dance genres, from house, techno, trance, garage, drum & bass, ambient, dubstep, etc
Ricardo Henriquez
andreskizzo I am very well aware. I was referring to the way it is referred to nowadays. 10 years ago the term EDM was used rarely. Check wikipedia for a more detailed explanation. :)