The group was originally founded in Munich by producers and songwriters Sylvester Levay and Michael Kunze. "Silver" is actually Sylvester Levay's nickname. Using female session vocalists for their first recordings, they scored a hit single in the United Kingdom in 1974 with the song "Save Me", and realised they would need to find a public face for what was at the time only a studio group.
They recruited vocalists Linda Thompson (real name Linda Übelherr, who would be billed on her solo records as Linda G. Thompson), Penny McLean (real name Gertrude Wirschinger) and Ramona Wulf (real name Ramona Kraft). As "Silver Convention" they scored two major U.S. hit singles. "Fly, Robin, Fly" whose complete lyrics consisted of only six words, spent three weeks at number 1 in 1975, and won the group a Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance. Their follow-up hit "Get Up and Boogie" spent three weeks at number 2 in 1976. Michael Kunze actually wrote the lyrics on the two first albums under the pseudonym Stephan Prager. During this time the three singers released their own solo work. McLean and Thompson achieved hit singles with "Lady Bump" and "Ooh What a Night" respectively. Wulf's solo effort was only a moderate success.
Silver Convention represented Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977 with a song entitled "Telegram", finishing 8th, just after Dream Express. The entry had only English lyrics, but was allowed to enter in spite of the language rule being reintroduced this year, because the song was chosen to represent Germany before the reintroduction was announced.
With a new producer (John Davis) and a revised line-up of singers (Suzie McClosky aka Zenda Jacks, Rhonda Heath and Ramona Wulf) Silver Convention hit it big in the clubs in 1978 with the LP "Love in a Sleeper". The 12" single release from the LP was "Spend the Night With Me" backed with "Mission to Venus".
The further singles released by the trio attempted to duplicate the sound that had made them briefly successful, but the singles "Tiger Baby" and "No No Joe" were only minor hits.
Levay also worked with Giorgio Moroder, and Kunze went on to work with Jim Steinman. The solo careers of the three singers faded quickly and they left the music business.
Voodoo Woman
Silver Convention Lyrics
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Set my baby free
Voodoo, voodoo woman
Let him stay with me
She's a voodoo woman
I knew it from the start
She's a voodoo woman
She's a voodoo woman
She made a puppet man
It's just like my baby
To soothe her evil plan
Voodoo, voodoo woman
Set my baby free
Voodoo, voodoo woman
Let him stay with me
Voodoo woman
My baby made her cry
She couldn't get his loving
Now she wants him to die
She's a voodoo woman
I know her evil plan
She'll take a sliver needle
And pierce a puppet man
Voodoo, voodoo woman
Set my baby free
Voodoo, voodoo woman
Let him stay with me
Voodoo, voodoo woman
Voodoo, voodoo woman
Voodoo, voodoo woman
Set my baby free
Voodoo, voodoo woman
Let him stay with me
She's a voodoo woman
I knew it from the start
She's a voodoo woman
She's gonna break my heart
Voodoo, voodoo woman
Set my baby free
Voodoo, voodoo woman
Let him stay with me
Voodoo, voodoo woman
Set my baby free
Voodoo, voodoo woman
Let him stay with me
Voodoo, voodoo woman
Set my baby free
Voodoo, voodoo woman
Let him stay with me
The lyrics to Silver Convention's song "Voodoo Woman" are about a woman who practices voodoo and has put a spell on the singer's lover. The singer is pleading with the voodoo woman to release her lover from the spell and let him stay with her. The singer is aware of the voodoo woman's evil plan and fears that she will break her heart by taking her lover away from her. The voodoo woman has created a puppet man to replace the singer's lover and is willing to do whatever it takes to make him hers. The singer is desperate to get her lover back and is determined to fight the voodoo woman's spell with all her might.
The song is an interesting exploration of the concept of voodoo, which is a spiritual practice commonly associated with Africa and the Caribbean. Voodoo involves the use of magical spells, charms, and rituals to achieve various goals, such as healing, protection, and love. The song portrays voodoo as a dangerous and evil practice, which is in line with popular stereotypes and misconceptions about the religion. However, the song also acknowledges the power of voodoo and the fear it can elicit in people who do not understand it.
Line by Line Meaning
Voodoo, voodoo woman
The singer sings about the voodoo woman and repeats her name as if to show fear and respect.
Set my baby free
The singer pleads with the voodoo woman to release control over their lover.
Let him stay with me
The singer emphasizes they want to keep their lover with them and not let the voodoo woman take them away.
She's a voodoo woman
The artist describes the voodoo woman as someone who practices magic and has control over their lover.
I knew it from the start
The artist implies that they had doubts and suspicions about the voodoo woman from the beginning.
She's gonna break my heart
The singer predicts that the voodoo woman's actions will lead to their lover leaving them, causing heartbreak.
She made a puppet man
The singer suggests that the voodoo woman created a puppet doll resembling their lover, which she can manipulate and control.
It's just like my baby to soothe her evil plan
The artist is aware that their lover is easily manipulated by the voodoo woman, which is part of her plan to break them apart.
My baby made her cry
The artist's lover rejected the voodoo woman's advances, causing her to feel hurt and rejected.
She couldn't get his loving, now she wants him to die
The artist implies that the voodoo woman is so obsessed with their lover that if she can't have their love, she'd rather see them dead.
I know her evil plan
The singer is aware of the voodoo woman's intention to tear them apart and is wary of her actions.
She'll take a sliver needle, and pierce a puppet man
The artist describes how the voodoo woman intends to harm their lover through voodoo magic by sticking a needle into the puppet that represents them.
Contributed by Levi T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.