Saâda Bonaire is the fantastic disco/world music project duo out of Bremen,… Read Full Bio ↴Saâda Bonaire is the fantastic disco/world music project duo out of Bremen, Germany that was never meant to be.

Formed by Bremen DJ Ralf Behrendt in 1982, Saâda Bonaire was a unique concept band centered around two sultry female vocalists (Stefanie Lange and Claudia Hossfeld) who would be joined by dozens of Kurdish musicians recruited from the local immigration centre.

Originally signed to EMI in 1982, their first and only single, “You Could Be More As You Are” was produced in Kraftwerk’s studio by legendary Matumbi, Slits and Pop Group producer Dennis Bovell. There they were joined by jazz icon Charlie Mariano (previous collaborations include Gong, Stan Kenton and Charles Mingus) who lent his talents on saxophone. The resulting sound was a unique fusion of husky female vocals, Eastern instruments, dub and African music aesthetics, drum computers and synthesizers.

1984. Just as the “would-be” hit single was due for release, a scandal struck at the EMI office. Saâda Bonaire’s A&R man, notoriously famous for exceeding his budget, was in a constant tug of war with the EMI finance department. He had previously exceeded his budget 5 times over on Tina Turner’s “Private Dancer” and was more than 3 times over budget for Saâda Bonaire; this was the last straw. Fed up, EMI released “You Could Be More As You Are”, but pulled the plug on all further promotional support for Saâda Bonaire. The group disappeared from public eye soon after.

November 2013 saw the release of an eponymous compilation album, featuring tracks from the 1984 single and previously unreleased material.

Invitation
Saâda Bonaire Lyrics

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Invitation

Invitation

I'm sitting by my window watching the lights down the road
I always do that when the day fades away and night comes on
Somehow I got to realize this strange
Feeling; a different atmosphere I don't know

As if this night wouldn't be like all the others
I feel so tense
It's worth the expectation of things to come
What's going on
Footsteps are calling me

Invitation

It's this strange song that makes me listen attentively
Soft vibrations caress my skin and I fear the reaction of my body
What happens outside?

Invitation

Through the window I get a view that almost stops my heart
The night is more than dark
But this Arabian queen is waving at me
I feel it
She's covered by a wrap down to her feet
Those eyes arise and catching mine
A lash of passion I cannot explain
She's talking to me and her lips are turned to stone
What has she got to say? I cannot understand

Invitation

Say what?
Oh no I can't
No I don't dare
Why have you chosen me?
Oh come on - it's not true
I believe you
I see
You got me
Oh you got me
I'll try

Invitation

Overall Meaning

The song 'Invitation' by Saâda Bonaire begins with the vocalist sitting by her window, watching the lights down the road as the day.fade away and the night comes on. She mentions that she always does this and a strange feeling washes over her. She gets a different atmosphere, unlike all the others. The vocalist says she feels so tense, worth the expectation of things to come, and wonders what's going on. Suddenly her attention is called by footsteps and the 'invitation' she's been waiting for.

The singer of the song is captivated by a strange song that makes her listen attentively. Soft vibrations caress her skin, and she fears the reaction of her body. She can't figure out what's happening outside but through the window, she gets a view of an Arabian queen waving at her. The singer feels a lash of passion she cannot explain as she makes eye contact with the enigmatic figure. The queen is covered from head to toe, and the singer cannot understand what she's saying. Despite this, the singer feels compelled to answer the queen's invitation and says, "Oh you got me, I'll try."

In summary, 'Invitation' is a haunting, atmospheric song that evokes a sense of tension and uncertainty. The singer is intrigued by a strange feeling that seems to forecast something different from all the other nights. As the song progresses and the queen makes her appearance, the singer feels compelled to follow her invitation, even though she cannot grasp what it's all about.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm sitting by my window watching the lights down the road
I am alone and observing streetlights, passing time as day turns to night.

I always do that when the day fades away and night comes on
It's my usual routine to watch the sunset and notice the shift in the atmosphere.

Somehow I got to realize this strange feeling;
Suddenly I am aware of an unusual sentiment stirring within me.

a different atmosphere I don't know
There's something noticeable in the air that I can't pinpoint.

As if this night wouldn't be like all the others
This evening feels unique from all the previous ones.

I feel so tense
I am anxious and on edge without clear reasoning.

It's worth the expectation of things to come
Even with the stress, I anticipate good experiences ahead.

What's going on
I ask myself what is happening to me and my surroundings.

Footsteps are calling me
I can sense an pull or a call towards something outside.

It's this strange song that makes me listen attentively
I am drawn to the unfamiliar melody and listen closely to it.

Soft vibrations caress my skin and I fear the reaction of my body
The music resonates with me, but I worry how my body will respond.

What happens outside?
I wonder what events are happening externally beyond my windowpane.

Through the window I get a view that almost stops my heart
When looking outside, I am so astonished that my heart nearly skips a beat.

The night is more than dark
The darkness outside is so intense that it's darker than usual.

But this Arabian queen is waving at me
I see a woman dressed in traditional clothing from the Middle East and she's acknowledging me.

I feel it
I get a sense that something profound is happening between the lady and me.

She's covered by a wrap down to her feet
The lady's dress has a veil that obscures her face and covers her up to her feet.

Those eyes arise and catching mine
My eyes meet with the lady's eyes and I am held by them.

A lash of passion I cannot explain
I feel growing attraction and have inexplicable emotions.

She's talking to me and her lips are turned to stone
The lady is speaking to me, but it's difficult to understand her with her veil and turned away face.

What has she got to say? I cannot understand
I am unable to discern the message that the lady wants to convey.

Say what?
I want to tell the lady to speak clearer or repeat her words.

Oh no I can't
I feel timid and unable to communicate with her as I wish.

No I don't dare
I am hesitant and lack the courage to assert myself.

Why have you chosen me?
I am bewildered as to why the lady is interacting with me and not someone else.

Oh come on - it's not true
I deny the idea that I could be special or interesting enough to merit the lady's attention.

I believe you
I start to have faith in the lady's assertion that something is happening between us.

You got me
I realize that the lady has enchanted me and left an impression on me.

Oh you got me
I emphasize my newfound realization and how I am unable to ignore it.

I'll try
I am prepared to make an effort or reach out to the lady in some way.

Writer(s): Ralph Von Richthoven, Stephanie Lange

Contributed by Natalie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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