Though their run was short, Queen City Kids left an indelible mark on the face of Canadian rock. Forged from no-nonsense crunching bar-room beats, QCK emerged from Regina in the late '70's by founding members Alex Chuaqui on vocals and guitars, Jeffrey Germain on drums, John Donnelly on bass and guitarist Kevin Fyhn.
While paying their dues on the unpaven back roads of the prairies, they were noticed by Capitol Records. Impressed by their low-production but straight-shooting demo, they signed the group to a deal and the self-titled debut came out in the summer of '81. Recorded at Winnipeg's Century 21 Studios, the same studio the majority of Streetheart's music was made. With Gene Martynec behind the controls, the band had an experienced producer at the helm, whose previous works had included Rough Trade, Doug & The Slugs, BB Gabor and Edward Bear.
The record had a straight-ahead punch. No mistaking the intention of "Carrying The Stick", it's driving beat pounding in your head. Going-nowhere guitar solo aside, just give me a brick wall baby ... "Kids World" and "Follow You There" showed the true versatility of the group, giving a hint of something special, their eclectic side coming out most in "Secret Smoke" and "Down Again", complete with layered harmonies. Regional tours followed, seeing them in bars and small gigs all across the western provinces and into the States. The loyal following helped push the debut to gold status.
The Kids came back a year and a half later with BLACK BOX. More tight guitar trade-offs between Fyhn and Chuaqui with Donnelly and Germain holding the backbeat was the concept. With Rob Freeman as producer, the "just gotta make your feet move" single "Dance" and the title track helped circulate the group's message of straight-forward rock and roll. "Girls" was also heavy on the FM playlists that summer as the third single helped break new ground, showing they were capable of the tender power ballad as well as the guitar crunching sound paved with the first record. Their second straight gold record was the result, and another extensive tour ensued, this time taking the group to eastern Canada and deeper in the US.
Feeling the band wasn't headed in the right direction, Capitol Records pulled the plug on QCK after BLACK BOX , opting not to extend their contract. Nonetheless, the group carried on for a bit until going their seperate ways in late '82. Post QCK, Chuaqui formed a group called Straw Dogs, while Donnelly joined Babyface, a group out of Vancouver which enjoyed success with the independant "In The Night" in 1985. THE BEST OF QCK was released in 1989 and is required material if you're going to pass Canadian Headbanging 101. The band reunited in 2000 for a series of shows - prompting a full-fledged reunion to this day. Still driving home their message the old fashioned way (with the amps turned up to 11), they've recently gone back into the studios and a new album is expected in the near future.
dance
Queen City Kids Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come on baby and DANCE!
She got the moves
She shakes her things
She moves her ass
She's keepin' time with the beat
She got total control
She's got a thounsand volts
She's got to dance, yeah
(Ooooh ooooh)
She got something seductive
(Ooooh ooooh)
She can get the one man
(Ooooh ooooh)
Yes she's somethin' in motion
(Ooooh ooooh)
Yes she's like a machine
DANCE! shake it up ooooh ahhhh
Come on baby DANCE! shake it up ooooh ahhhh
Come on girl DANCE! shake it up ooooh ahhhh
Ooooh yeah
She's taking the floor
She's gonna shake some more
You know there ain't no girl
She's got to dance, yeah
She is dynamite, an amazing rhythm
Never gonna quit just watch her dance
Watch her shake it, yeah
(Ooooh ooooh)
She got that bad beat yeah
(Ooooh ooooh)
She got some rhythm and blues
(Ooooh ooooh)
She got some rock and roll
(Ooooh ooooh)
Yeah she got abnormal moves
DANCE! shake it up ooooh ahhhh
Come on baby DANCE! shake it up ooooh ahhhh
DANCE! shake it up ooooh ahhhh
Come on girl DANCE! shake it up ooooh ahhhh
DANCE!
DANCE! shake it up ooooh ahhhh
Come on baby DANCE! shake it up ooooh ahhhh
DANCE! shake it up ooooh ahhhh
Come on girl DANCE! shake it up ooooh ahhhh
Come on baby DANCE!
Come on girl
Come on baby DANCE!
The song "Dance" by Queen City Kids is a fast-paced rock song that encourages listeners to dance along with the beat. The lyrics focus on a woman who is an incredible dancer and has complete control over her movements. She is described as having abnormal dance moves and being like a machine, with a thousand volts of energy. The song repeatedly calls for listeners to dance and shake it up.
The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who is in complete control of her body and her movements, captivating those around her with her seductive and powerful rhythms. The song's energetic tempo and catchy chorus make it a perfect dance anthem, encouraging listeners to let loose and move their bodies to the music. "Dance" is a testament to the power of music to inspire and unite people, regardless of their backgrounds or differences.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on baby and DANCE!
The singer is inviting someone to dance.
She got the moves
The person being invited to dance is a skilled dancer.
She shakes her things
The dancer is moving her body in an entertaining way.
She moves her ass
The dancer is emphasizing her hip movements.
She's keepin' time with the beat
The dancer is coordinating her movements with the rhythm of the music.
She got total control
The dancer is confident in her abilities and movements.
She's got a thousand volts
The dancer is energetic and lively.
She moves it in and out
The dancer is changing her movements and gestures while dancing.
She's got to dance, yeah
The dancer is passionate about dancing.
(Ooooh ooooh) She got something seductive
The dancer's movements are attractive and alluring.
(Ooooh ooooh) She can get the one man
The dancer is captivating and can draw attention from men.
(Ooooh ooooh) Yes she's somethin' in motion
The dancer's movements are fluid and graceful.
(Ooooh ooooh) Yes she's like a machine
The dancer has precise movements like those of a machine.
DANCE! shake it up ooooh ahhhh
The singer is encouraging the dancer to keep dancing and entertaining the audience.
She's taking the floor
The dancer is taking the stage.
She's gonna shake some more
The dancer is going to keep moving and entertaining the audience.
You know there ain't no girl
The dancer is unique and special.
She is dynamite, an amazing rhythm
The dancer is explosive and has a captivating rhythm.
Never gonna quit just watch her dance
The dancer is highly passionate about dancing and will continue to perform.
She got that bad beat yeah
The dancer has a distinctive and impressive rhythm.
She got some rhythm and blues
The dancer has a style that blends rhythm and blues music genres.
She got some rock and roll
The dancer has a style that blends rock and roll music genres.
Yeah she got abnormal moves
The dancer has unique and impressive movements that are not typical.
Come on baby DANCE!
The singer is encouraging the person to keep dancing and entertaining the audience.
Come on girl
The singer is addressing a female dancer.
Contributed by Elizabeth P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@raidercan
One of Canada's great hair bands of the 80's. Man does this bring back memories!
@busternbear
wow this song still rocks!!
@didibolter9362
It sure does, and this is the first time that I have heard it, a new friend just told me about it and I thank you Blair, the song is awesome like you said! I hear a lot of Def Leppard in this sound, cool!! 🤗🖒👏👣👣👣👣
@bobwirth9256
This song rocks the ground to it's core 🔊🔊
@jetshull
yeah this song filled the dance floor.
@freakshow771
this is awesome canadian 80's rock!!!!!!!!!!! Canada rocks baby
@ThePlanetnewbs
I insisted we do this song in every cover band I was in, in the 80s. Packed the dance floor every time.
@didibolter9362
I can understand why! 🤗🤗
@HUTINAK
Memories of a Winnipeg summer cruisiing St Vital Park holy crap!
@burstyn70
Ditto, same park! 😛😊🎵👍