The project soon developed into a production and writing duo with colombian songwriter Ivan Benavides, and has since become a full live band. The two began to write together, producing the future club classic and sidestepper’s first vocal tune - Logozo in 1997. Two years later, the band signed with Chris Blackwell’s Palm Pictures. Again Ivan co-wrote and produced and ‘More Grip‘ was released in 2000, a homage to a salsa night out in Bogotá.
Sidestepper began to play live for the first time, playing gigs in the UK and across Europe, at Glastonbury and Roskilde amongst many others, and Richard continued to DJ in the UK and US. Their shows became legendary, they guaranteed a great party that starts on stage and resulted in a collective and euphoric experience, genuinely contagious. Meanwhile, writing work had begun on 3am (In Beats We Trust), as Richard travelled between London and NY where Ivan was living. The two recorded the core of the album in Bogota in 2002, some eventually unused sessions in Jamaica, with Cuban singer Ronald Infante in Havana, and MC’s Rubi Dan and Juxsi D in London. The mix was done in autumnal London, and 3AM was released to critical acclaim in 2003.
Richard returned to Bogota to form a live band that would be based in Colombia; and between old hands like Janio Coronado and Teto Ocampo, and a then new talent Erika Muñoz, a special magic emerged with this incarnation of Sidestepper, which vowed audiences in Colombia, Mexico and the US for the few years.
After touring extensively with the band, Ivan and Richard wanted to make a record written specifically for each member. The writing and original tracking were done at a farm outside Bogota, and mixing was done at a studio in the city. ‘Continental’ was released in July 2006.
Today, Sidestepper sound had expanded far beyond its original fusion of classic salsa and club beats to take in everything from deep Colombian folk influences to hip hop via cumbia, dancehall reggae, dub and afrobeat, layering infectious melodies and crisp harmonies on top of rock solid beats.
In the process, Sidestepper has helped transform the Colombian music scene, inspiring a new generation of young beat scientists to marry latin music with cutting edge beats. The originator that kick started the new wave of electro acoustic colombian music.
A lot of great talents have passed through the group, many of whom have gone on to great success with their own bands, like Goyo from ChocQuibTown, Pernett, and Sergio Arias from Malalma.
Sidestepper is now conformed as an 8-piece band, and are currently in the studio making a new record for release in the spring of 2010.
The current line up is
Janio Coronado, Edgardo Garcés and Erika Muñoz, on vocals
Teto Ocampo, on guitars
Pedro Ojeda, on drums
Juan Carlos Cuello "El Chongo", on Percussion
Iván Benavides, words and melody
Richard Blair, on bass and beats
www.sidestepper.net.
Logozo
Sidestepper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
After all
Grab all they can
After all
The handshake
Seals the contract
From the contract
The turning point
Of a career
In Korea
Being insincere
The holiday
Was fun packed
The contract
Still intact
The grabbing hands
Grab all they can
All for themselves
After all
The grabbing hands
Grab all they can
All for themselves
After all
It's a competitive world
Everything counts in large amounts
The graph
On the wall
Tells the story
Of it all
Picture it now
See just how
The lies and deceit
Gained a little more power
Confidence
Taken in
By a sun tan
And a grin
The grabbing hands
Grab all they can
All for themselves
After all
The grabbing hands
Grab all they can
All for themselves
After all
It's a competitive world
Everything counts in large amounts
Everything counts in large amounts
The grabbing hands
Grab all they can
Everything counts in large amounts
The grabbing hands
Grab all they can
Everything counts in large amounts
The grabbing hands
Grab all they can
Everything counts in large amounts
The grabbing hands
Grab all they can
Everything counts in large amounts
Everything counts in large amounts
The grabbing hands
Grab all they can
Everything counts in large amounts
The grabbing hands
Grab all they can
Everything counts in large amounts
Everything counts in large amounts
The grabbing hands
Grab all they can
Everything counts in large amounts
The grabbing hands
Grab all they can
Everything counts in large amounts
The grabbing hands
Grab all they can
Everything counts in large amounts
The lyrics of Sidestepper's "Logozo" are focused on the theme of greed and competition. The first stanza repeats the phrase "grab all they can," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the song. The second stanza introduces the idea of contracts and the importance of not going back on one's word. The line "the turning point of a career, in Korea, being insincere" suggests that one's reputation and success in their career can be affected by their level of honesty.
The next stanza describes a fun-packed holiday, but the contract is still intact, reinforcing the notion that everything must be taken advantage of in order to succeed. The lines "the grabbing hands, grab all they can, all for themselves, after all" are repeated in the chorus, emphasizing the selfishness inherent in a competitive world.
The last stanza introduces the idea of deceit and how it can lead to power. The line "confidence taken in by a sun tan and a grin" suggests that people can be easily charmed and deceived by appearances. The song ends with the repeated phrase "everything counts in large amounts," driving home the idea that in a competitive world, every action matters.
Line by Line Meaning
Grab all they can
People are taking as much as they can.
After all
It's understandable why everyone is taking what they can.
The handshake
The deal is sealed by a handshake, showing an agreement has been made.
Seals the contract
The person who shakes hands is making a contract and accepting the agreement.
From the contract
Once the contract is made, it's a done deal.
There's no turning back
Once the deal is done, there's no way to go back on it.
The turning point
This event is the turning point for what happens next.
Of a career
This event is significant for that person's career.
In Korea
This specific event is happening in Korea.
Being insincere
Their career took off because they weren't honest.
The holiday
The vacation was fun-filled.
Was fun packed
The vacation was full of exciting activities.
Still intact
The deal is still active and working as is.
The grabbing hands
People are taking as much as they can for themselves.
All for themselves
People are only taking for their own benefit.
It's a competitive world
The world is competitive and people are always trying to come out ahead.
Everything counts in large amounts
Every little bit that people take adds up and can make a big difference.
The graph
The chart on the wall denotes something significant.
On the wall
The chart is displayed on the wall.
Tells the story
The graph shows what's been happening.
Of it all
The graph displays everything that has happened.
Picture it now
Imagine the events happening now.
See just how
Notice how everything is working out.
The lies and deceit
People are being dishonest and manipulating things.
Gained a little more power
Dishonesty is helping some people gain more control and influence.
Confidence
People are being taken in by someone's self-assuredness.
Taken in
People are being fooled by appearances.
By a sun tan
Someone's appearing confident because they have a sun tan.
And a grin
Someone is appearing confident because they're smiling.
Everything counts in large amounts
All the little bits people take add up to make a big difference.
Writer(s): Ivan A. Benavides Copyright: Music Corp. Of America Inc., Lento Pero Despacio, Gross Potential Inc.
Contributed by Elliot V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MARSHALL1235
Gran Cancion, grandes recuerdos.
@mosoffer
Great music well done
@richardricart8140
De qué país cantan esa canción porque dice cruza la frontera