Vocalist Rob Birch and DJ)/producer Nick Hallam founded their Gee Street recording studio and record label with money they were given to leave their London flat and, dispensing with using a backing band, travelled to early gigs on public transport.
They recorded their debut album, 33-45-78 in 1989 on a shoestring budget, with DJ Cesare, drummer Owen If and backing vocalist Cath Coffey. In 1990, "Elevate My Mind" became first British hip hop single to reach the United States R&B record chart. However, in the emerging UK alternative dance scene, it took an alliance with the Jungle Brothers to ensure chart success for Supernatural. Remix work for U2, PM Dawn, Queen Latifah, The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Monie Love and Electronic followed.
Their live band included singers Andrea Bedassie and Verona Davis, and they were one of the few hip hop acts to play at rock music festivals at the time. Stereo MCs' mainstream breakthrough came in 1992 with the album Connected, which contained the hit singles "Connected", "Step It Up", "Creation", and "Ground Level", and also won them the BRIT Awards for Best Group and Best Album.
The follow-up to Connected did not appear for almost a decade. Further remix duties for Madonna and the Jungle Brothers in 1998 kept the Stereo MCs' name in the limelight. Madonna went on to use the Stereo MCs remix of "Frozen" as the basis of the live arrangement of the song on her 2001 Drowned World Tour.
2001 saw the release of Deep Down & Dirty, followed by a tour including slots opening for the recently re-united Jane's Addiction. Their sixth studio album, Double Bubble, was released in July 2008, followed by their seventh album, Emperor's Nightingale, in August 2011.
Step It Up
Stereo MC's Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Step it up step it up it's alright
To the left to the right
Check the new ride out it's alright
Silence ain't in season
'Cause there ain't no good in grief
Can't stop my mouth from breathin'
Curves with destinations
Poetic symmetry
Ya cause an inflammation
In my anatomy - don't you see
Yeah yeah yeah - you can send a forget-me-not
Yeah yeah yeah - but I'll still rise up to the top
Yeah yeah yeah - until the last day that I drop
Yeah yeah yeah - this is something you can't stop
From infancy I grown
The message that I'm givin'
You don't have to be alone - no you don't
'Cause days may come and go
You'll see no sight or sound
But when your mind is willing
You'll find that I'll be around
Hear me sayin' hear me sayin'
Yeah yeah yeah - you can send a forget-me-not
Yeah yeah yeah - but I'll still rise up to the top
Yeah yeah yeah - until the last day that I drop
Yeah yeah yeah
To the left to the right
Keep it goin' keep it goin' it's alright
To the left to the right
Step it up step it up it's alright
We want flesh
We want flesh
We want flesh
Ah ah ah
All you gotta do is bounce it
To see jus' what goes where
There ain't no way around it
So I have come well prepared
Don't you know
I'm in you from the outset
Hip to hip and dome to dome
We reach the outer limits
Bring the boogie boogie home
Back home
Yeah yeah yeah - you can send a forget-me-not
Yeah yeah yeah - but I'll still rise up to the top
Yeah yeah yeah - until the last day that I drop
Yeah yeah yeah
To the left to the right
Step it up step it up it's alright
To the left to the right
Check the new ride out it's alright
See how we are livin'
See how we are livin'
See how we are livin'
See how we are livin'
See how we are livin'
See how we are livin'
See how we are livin'
You'll hear me sayin'
Yeah yeah yeah - you can send a forget-me-not
Yeah yeah yeah - but I'll still rise up to the top
Yeah yeah yeah - until the last day that I drop
Yeah yeah yeah - this is Something you can't stop
Yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah
To the left to the right
Keep it goin' keep it goin' it's alright
To the left to the right
Step it up step it up it's alright
Alright
Alright
The song Step It Up by Stereo MC's is an upbeat dance track that encourages listeners to shake off their worries and just dance. The lyrics repeat phrases like "to the left to the right, step it up step it up it's alright" and "yeah yeah yeah - you can send a forget-me-not but I'll still rise up to the top" to convey a sense of freedom and defiance. The singer declares that silence is not an option and that they will keep dancing until their last day. They also suggest that life is better when it's shared and encourage others not to be alone.
The lyrics contain a few metaphors and allusions. For example, "curves with destinations poetic symmetry" suggests that life is like a road trip, filled with twists and turns that lead to a satisfying destination. The line "we want flesh" could be interpreted in many ways, but is likely a reference to the desire for human connection and physical touch. The line "bring the boogie boogie home" is a nod to the origins of disco music in African American and LGBTQ+ communities.
Overall, the song's message is one of resilience and joy. Despite life's hardships and challenges, the singer insists that dancing and connection are powerful tools for overcoming adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
To the left to the right
Dancing or moving in any direction is accepted and encouraged
Step it up step it up it's alright
Encouraging others to make their moves more lively and energetic
Check the new ride out it's alright
Asking people to check out their music and join the fun
Silence ain't in season
Speaking up and being heard is encouraged regardless of the situation
'Cause there ain't no good in grief
Being bogged down by sadness does not help anyone's situation
Can't stop my mouth from breathin'
Voicing opinions and ideas is important and unstoppable
Or seein' what I see
Individual perspectives are unique and valuable to society
Curves with destinations
Life's journey is filled with twists and turns with each experience leading to new places
Poetic symmetry
The beauty of life can be found in the symmetry and balance of its many elements
Ya cause an inflammation
The person being addressed inspires passion or excitement in the artist
In my anatomy - don't you see
The excitement or passion felt is deep-rooted and affects the singer's entire being
Yeah yeah yeah - you can send a forget-me-not
Others can try to bring the artist down or be forgotten, but they will not succeed
But I'll still rise up to the top
Regardless of what happens, the singer will continue to strive for success
Until the last day that I drop
The singer's determination to succeed is unwavering and will continue until the very end
This is something you can't stop
The singer's passion and determination cannot be stopped by outside forces
From infancy I grown
The artist has been developing their message and ideas since they were young
The message that I'm givin'
The artist has an important message to share with the world
You don't have to be alone - no you don't
Support is available to those who need it, and no one has to go through life alone
'Cause days may come and go
Life is full of both good and bad days
You'll see no sight or sound
During tough times, it may seem like there is no light at the end of the tunnel
But when your mind is willing
However, with the right mindset and determination, anything is possible
You'll find that I'll be around
Support and guidance will always be available to those who seek it out
Hear me sayin' hear me sayin'
The singer is emphasizing the importance of their message and wants it to be heard
Keep it goin' keep it goin' it's alright
Encouraging people to keep dancing and having fun
We want flesh
The singer craves physical energy and excitement from those around them
Ah ah ah
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm
All you gotta do is bounce it
The singer is giving instructions on how to dance
To see jus' what goes where
By following these instructions, the dancer can see how the different dance moves fit together
There ain't no way around it
In order to see results, one must actively participate in the activity
So I have come well prepared
The singer is confident in their abilities and ready to dance
Don't you know
Emphasizing the importance of what the singer is about to say
I'm in you from the outset
The artist's message has been a part of the listener's life from the beginning
Hip to hip and dome to dome
The artist's message reaches all aspects of the listener's life
We reach the outer limits
The artist's message goes beyond what is normally expected or accepted
Bring the boogie boogie home
Encouraging everyone to continue dancing and having fun
See how we are livin'
The artist is proud of the lifestyle they have created and wants others to see it
You'll hear me sayin'
The singer's message is important and will continue to be heard
Alright
Expressing that everything is going well and there is nothing to worry about
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NICHOLAS EDWARD JAMES HALLAM, ROBERT BIRCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind