Living in San Francisco in the 1960s, he performed in a musical production called Women of the Blues, then joined a short-lived group of transvestite performance artists called The Cockettes in the early 70's (famed transvestite Divine was a member of the group as well). Sylvester can be seen in The Cockettes' outrageous short film Tricia's Wedding, lampooning the wedding of President Nixon's daughter Tricia, and in an eponymous 2002 documentary about the group.
In 1972, Sylvester supplied two cuts to Lights Out San Francisco, an album complied by the KSAN radio station and released on the Blue Thumb label. In 1973, Sylvester & his Hot Band released two rock-oriented albums on Blue Thumb (their self-titled debut was also known as "Scratch My Flower," due to a gardenia-shaped scratch-and-sniff sticker adhered to the cover). Signed a solo act to Fantasy Records in 1977, and working with the production talents of legendary Motown producer Harvey Fuqua. Sylvester later alleged that Fuqua cheated him out of millions of dollars.
Sylvester soon met his frequent collaborator Patrick Cowley. Cowley's synthesizer and Sylvester's voice proved to be a magical combination, and pushed Sylvester's sound in an increasingly dance-oriented direction; his second solo album - Step II (1978) - unleashed two disco classics: "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)," and "Dance (Disco Heat)." By this time both his live shows and recordings also recognizably featured the back-up vocals of Two Tons O' Fun: future Weather Girls Martha Wash and Izora Rhodes. 1979 brought three Billboard awards and an appearance in the movie, The Rose, starring Bette Midler.
Moving to Megatone Records in 1982, Sylvester quickly landed a Hi-NRG classic with "Do You Wanna Funk." He was close friends with other Megatone artists Linda Imperial and Jeanie Tracy. Sylvester was also very close to the legendary Patti LaBelle.
Later pressure from the label to "butch up" his image would result in him attending meetings in full-on drag. A drag photo shoot, which he staged and presented to label heads as a gag (calling it his "new album cover") would later grace the cover of Immortal after Sylvester died; it was the label's way of paying tribute to his spirit. In 1985, one of his dreams came true as he was summoned to sing back-up for Aretha Franklin on her Who's Zoomin' Who comeback album. His sole Warner Bros. album was Mutual Attraction in 1986; a single from the album, "Someone Like You," featured original cover art by Keith Haring.
Sylvester died of complications from AIDS on December 16, 1988. His good friend Jeanie Tracy took care of Sylvester during his last days.
In the late 1990's, performance artist Djola Branner (co-founder of the highly influential Pomo Afro Homos troupe) created his acclaimed solo piece and CD Mighty Real around the life of Sylvester.
On September 20, 2004 Sylvester's anthem record, You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real), was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame. A year later, on September 19, 2005, Sylvester himself was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for his achievement as an artist.
In 2005, a biography written by Joshua Gamson and titled The Fabulous Sylvester: The Legend, The music, The 70s in San Francisco was published.
2. Sylvester (Sylvester Larsen , born 1973) is a danish artist, who has released 4 albums. He is the son of Kim Larsen. See www.sylvesterlarsen.dk
I Want to Take You Higher
Sylvester Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
Music gettin' longer, too.
Music is a-flashin' me.
I want ta, I want ta,
I want ta take you ((higher.))
I wanna take you ((higher.))
Baby, baby, baby, light my ((fire.))
Yeah-eah, Ha!
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-ooga-boom.
(Hey, hey, hey, hey!)
Feeling nitty-gritty.
Sound is in your city, too.
Music's still flashin' me.
Don't'cha, don't'cha,
Don't, don't'cha, don't cha wanna get ((higher?))
Ugh! Don't'cha wanna get ((higher?))
Baby, baby, baby, light my ((fire.))
Whoo! Wanna take you ((higher.))
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-ooga-boom.
(Hey, hey, hey, hey!)
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka,
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka,
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka,
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka,
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka,
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka,
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka,
Higher! Higher! Higher! Higher! Higher!
Come light my fire. (Higher!)
Whoo! God. (Higher!)
Ha! Wanna take you higher. (Higher!)
(Hey, hey, hey, hey!)
Beat is there to make you moo-hoove.
Sounds is there to help you groove.
Music still flashin' me.
Take your places, I wanna take you ((higher.))
Yeah, yeah, (Higher!) yeah, yeah,
Wanna take you ((higher.)) (Higher!)
Baby, baby, baby, light my fire. (Higher!)
Whoo! (Higher!)
I wanna take you (Higher!) hi-hi-hi-hi-,
(Higher!)-hi-hi-hi-high.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-ooga-boom.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
(Higher!)
Gonna take you... (Higher!)
Do you wanna go... (Higher!)
That made me... (Higher!)
That you do... (Higher!)
That make my fire... (Higher!)
Whoo! God. (Higher!)
Would make you higher. (Higher!)
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
(Higher!)
I feel it. (Higher!)
Yeeaaaahhhhh! (Higher!) (Higher!) (Higher!)
Do you wanna go higher? (Higher!)
Whoo! (Higher!)
I wanna take ya (Higher!) higher, yeah, yeah.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
(Hey, hey, hey, hey.)/Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
(Higher!)
I'll wait for the sniffer. (Higher!)
Welcome back the sniffer. (Higher!)
Ahhh! (Higher!) Ha! (Higher!)
I wanna take it higher. (Higher!)
Yeah, yeah. (Higher!)
Well, I got that money, yeah. (Higher!) (Higher!)
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
(Hey, hey, hey, hey.)/Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Boom laka-laka-laka. Boom laka-laka-laka.
Everybody, higher, higher, higher, higher,
Higher, Higher, higher, higher
The lyrics to "I Want to Take You Higher" by Sylvester convey a powerful and energetic message through an infectious beat and dynamic language. The repetition of phrases like "wanna take you higher" and "light my fire" creates a sense of urgency and desire for elevation and transcendence. The singer expresses a yearning to enhance their experience and connection with the music and the listener, wanting to elevate the energy and intensity to a higher level through the music.
The lyrics suggest a feeling of being swept up in the music, with the beat getting stronger and the music getting longer, leading to an exhilarating and captivating experience. The use of onomatopoeic phrases like "Boom laka-laka-laka" and "ooga-boom" adds a playful and rhythmic element to the song, enhancing the sense of movement and excitement. The repetition of these phrases throughout the song creates a sense of building anticipation and momentum, propelling the listener towards a higher state of being.
The imagery of flashing lights and the invitation to "light my fire" evoke a sense of passion, intensity, and illumination. The repetition of the phrase "I wanna take you higher" reinforces the singer's desire to connect on a deeper level and elevate the experience to something transcendent and transformative. The call and response structure in the lyrics, such as "Don't'cha wanna get higher?" and "Boom laka-laka-laka," invites participation and engagement, creating a sense of shared energy and upliftment.
Overall, "I Want to Take You Higher" conveys a sense of celebration, joy, and liberation through its infectious rhythm, vibrant language, and spirited delivery. The lyrics express a desire to elevate the music and the listener to a higher plane of existence, encouraging a sense of freedom, release, and connection through the power of music. The repetition of the word "higher" and the energetic chorus of voices joining in to chant "higher, higher, higher" at the end of the song further emphasize the collective desire for elevation and transcendence, creating a unifying and uplifting experience for all involved.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sylvester Stewart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-ip9yu7lp1q
Feeling's gettin' stronger
Music's gettin' longer too
Music is flashin' me
I want to take you higher
Baby, baby, baby light my fire
I wanna take you higher
Boom laka-laka-laka, boom laka-laka-laka boom
Feeling's nitty-gritty
Sound is in the city too
Music's still flashin' me
Don't ya, don't ya, don't don't don't ya want to get higher
Feeling that should make you move
Sounds that should help you groove
Music still flashin' me
Take your places
...
@markkraft6719
Sly and the family stone were Way ahead of their time. Their music is awesome! Sylvester Stewart was a musical genius!
@alessandrazeni8874
1:07
@markkraft6719
@@alessandrazeni8874 I wanna take you higher! 😊
@andyandcallie
THIS song is the epitome of funk. Brilliant.
@mikesawyer4707
At 66 years young I am still rocking sly and the family stone.
@markallred190
He'll yell bro man
@Pgnchld
Same
@cmralph...
67 here and going strong. ❤🧡💛💚💙💜
@pjef1956
Same here ....
@nicidevine6670
Same here