Shalamar's first single, the 1977 Motown medley "Uptown Festival," featured a bevy of faceless studio musicians; once it became a hit, Griffey decided to form a performing group under the name Shalamar. Through Soul Train, Griffey found Jody Watley, Jeffrey Daniel, and Gerald Brown, the three vocalists that became Shalamar; Brown was quickly replaced by Howard Hewitt in 1978.
Shalamar's string of poppy dance-soul hits began in 1979 with "Take That to the Bank"; later that year, "The Second Time Around" hit the Top Ten. Throughout the early '80s the group were favorites on the U.S. R&B scene, as well as scoring a number of British hit singles (the two biggest being "A Night To Remember" and "There It Is" in 1982). Watley and Daniel left the group in 1982 and were replaced by Delisa Davis and Micki Free in 1984; Watley went on to stardom as a solo act. Daniel released an album "Skinny Boy in 1990 and choreographed Michael Jackson's Bad and Smooth Criminal videos. He is also credited with teaching Michael the Moonwalk.
The following year Shalamar won a Grammy award for "Don't Get Stopped in Beverly Hills," which was featured in Beverly Hills Cop. Hewitt left for a solo career in 1986, signaling the end of the band's career as hit-makers. Sidney Justin replaced Hewitt and the group recorded 1987's Circumstantial Evidence, which was a commercial disappointment. The group faded away soon after the release of 1990's Wake Up.
Jeffrey, Howard Hewett and Carolyn Griffey (Solar Records Dick Griffeys daughter) reformed Shalamar in the late nineties and played two UK Arena tours in 1999 and 2003. In 2005 Shalamar appeared on the primetime TV show Hit Me Baby One More Time and have been touring globally ever since.
In October 2009, the reconstituted Shalamar of Hewett, Daniel, and Griffey, performed as a part of "The Ultimate Boogie Nights Disco Concert Series", at IndigO2, within the O2 Arena Entertainment Avenue in London. This prompted their return to the UK in April 2010 for a tour. Shalamar returned to IndigO2 in October 2011, December 2012, December 2013 and December 2014. Shalamar performed a series of eight UK tour dates in April 2015 and another tour of four UK dates in July 2015.
http://shalamar.info/
Don't Try to Change Me
Shalamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or rearrange me (don't try it)
Accept me for the way that I am
You know I love you, oh how I love you
But you′ve got to understand that I am what I am
I see you look at me with those wondering eyes
You seem to ask yourself why
Oh, I can see to get trough to you
So don't try to change me
Or rearrange me (don't try it)
Respect me for the things that I do
You know I love you (no one above you)
But you′ve got to understand that I am what I am
We′ve been together, bringing tonight
We stuck and sing to get it right
Love is upside down, let's bring it right back around
But don′t please those things to try and hold me down
Don't try to change
Or rearrange me (don′t try it)
Accept me for the way that I am
You know I love you, oh how I love you
But you've got to understand that I am what I am
Don′t try to change me (ohh), don't try it (don't try it)
Ooh, respect the things that I do
You know I love you, no one above you
But you′ve got to understand that I am what I am
Being together this way feels right,
Boy I can tell when you hold me tight
Loving is giving, but we got to be more giving
And let me do what I feel it′s right
Don't try to change (no, no, no)
Don′t try it (don't try it)
Got to respect the way that I am (Oh how I love you)
But you′ve got to understand
Don't try to change me (don′t try it)
The things that I do
No one above you, but you've got to understand
Don't try to change (don′t try it)
The way that I am (oh how I love you)
But you′ve got to understand
Don't try to change me (no, never)
Or rearrange me, the things that I do
You know I love you, no one above you
But you′ve got to understand that I am what I am
Don't try to change me (no, you can′t deny it) (don't try it)
So don′t you try to fight it, you know you can't hide it
So won't you just face it?
Don′t try to change me, or rearrange me (don′t try it)
Respect me for the things I do
You know I love you, there ain't no one above you
But you′ve got to understand that I am what I am
Don't try to change me (no)
Or rearrange me (don′t try it)
Accept me for the way that I am
You know what I do, cause baby I do
(But you've got to understand...)
The lyrics of Shalamar's song "Don't Try to Change Me" is about the desire of the singer to be accepted for who they are, without any attempt to change or rearrange them. The singer affirms their love but also explains that their partner needs to understand that they are what they are, and they cannot be molded into someone else. The lyrics also suggest that the singer's partner might have been trying to change the singer or hold them down, and the singer is asking them to respect their choices and not fight it.
The beginning verses of the song imply that the singer understands that their partner might not understand the reasons behind the singer's choices, and they seem to be trying to get through to them. The song also implies that the two have been together for some time and have been trying to make their relationship work. However, the singer is still worried that their partner cannot accept them for who they are and might still try to change them. The chorus reinforces the message of the song, as the singer repeats the plea to be accepted for who they are.
Overall, "Don't Try to Change Me" is a song about accepting each other in a relationship and not trying to mold someone into what we want them to be. It is a plea for understanding and respect, and a reminder that each individual is unique and should be allowed to express themselves in their own way.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't try to change me
I am who I am and I cannot be changed by anyone else's desires.
Or rearrange me (don't try it)
Don't try to manipulate me into anything that I am not comfortable with.
Accept me for the way that I am
Love and appreciate me for who I am and what I stand for.
You know I love you, oh how I love you
My love for you is second to none and unwavering.
But you′ve got to understand that I am what I am
It is important for you to grasp that I cannot be changed and accept me for who I am instead.
I see you look at me with those wondering eyes
I notice you observing me, trying to make sense of my behavior.
You seem to ask yourself why
You appear to be curious about my unconventional ways.
I do the things, the things that I do
I carry out my actions and decisions with purpose and intention.
Oh, I can see to get trough to you
I understand that it is not easy for you to comprehend me, but I hope to get through to you.
Respect me for the things that I do
I request that you acknowledge and honor my actions and choices instead of trying to change them.
Love is upside down, let's bring it right back around
Our relationship might be facing some difficulties, but we can work together to make it work.
But don′t please those things to try and hold me down
However, please do not hinder my beliefs and actions in any way.
Being together this way feels right
This non-traditional way of being together feels right to me and I hope it does for you too.
Boy I can tell when you hold me tight
The way you hold me feels like we belong together.
Loving is giving, but we got to be more giving
Love sometimes requires us to put in extra effort to make it work.
And let me do what I feel it′s right
Please let me perform my actions based on my instincts and judgment.
Got to respect the way that I am (Oh how I love you)
It is imperative for you to value and adore me for who I am as a person.
But you′ve got to understand
It is important for you to comprehend and appreciate my uniqueness.
Don't try to change me (no, no, no)
I am unchangeable and unyielding to any pressure to transform me.
No one above you, but you've got to understand
I care for you deeply, but it is still vital for you to comprehend who I am as a person.
So don′t you try to fight it, you know you can't hide it
It is futile to resist or ignore my true self because it's who I am.
So won't you just face it?
It would be easier if you understood and accepted me for who I am instead of trying to change me.
Accept me for the way that I am
Please embrace and love me in my entirety without any attempts to mold me into something I am not.
You know what I do, cause baby I do
You are familiar with my actions since I have been consistent with them.
(But you've got to understand...)
(It is still crucial to comprehend who I am.)
Contributed by Molly F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sctaber56
Don’t Try to Change Me Lyrics
Don't try to change me
Or rearrange me
Don't try it
Accept me for the way that I am
You know I love you
Oh, how I love you
But you got to understand
That I am what I am
I see you look at me
With those wonderin' eyes
You seem to ask yourself why
I do the things the things that I do
Oh, I can't seem to get through to you
Rich Greedy 'Leveling Up' (Live Performance) | Open Mic
So don't try to change me
Or rearrange me
Don't try it
Respect me for the things that I do
You know I love you
No one above you
But you got to understand
That I am what I am
We've been together
Three years tonight
We still can't seem to get it right
Love's ups and downs
Can bring you right back around
But don't use those things
To try and hold me down
Don't try to change me
Or rearrange me
Don't try it
Accept me for the way that I am
You know I love you
Oh, how I love you
But you got to understand
That I am what I am
@MHH_71
Magnifique son des années 80 , shalamar c'est de la bombe ! 👍❤
@MrBarrywes
When I heard this song I knew she could do a solo career
@persiancat19
I think my 12 year old self was a wise girl to like this and lived by the words since :-p
@GeminiLeo6
I love shalamar since 80s ❤️
@AndriaaLeoLove
My Baby Just Said, "Don't Try To Change Me" And I Immediately Thought Of This Song! Loved This Song. And Those Times! Andri AA 1/28/2023
@chrisgyang
Great Song. My best of Shalamar
@adamjensen8702
"Dont try to change me or rearrange me"
Producers: 😏
@marvindhaby4893
Quel son ,c'est du pur funk
@icyblue2614
I have the CD man this is good stuff listen to playing to win
@SafaAlkan
Awesome!