Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Wilson brothers began singing and playing in their father's Pentecostal church, and it was also mandatory they practice their music lessons at home as well. They learned various instruments, which primarily included lots of playing the piano. As much as they despised the lessons at the time, it proved to be a value tool for all three. With Ronnie being the oldest, he established his own band when he was just a fourteen-year-old.
Charlie, a few years younger, joined a rival band a couple of years later. One particular night, the two bands were performing just across the street from one another. Ronnie stopped by to check out Charlie grooving on the organ. While there, Ronnie asked Charlie to join his band for $50 over what he was making. Though Charlie's band-mates doubled his offer, he joined his brother's band as fate would have it
At a gig not too long after the two had joined forces, the group's bass player quit; Ronnie and Charlie summoned their younger brother Robert, barely fourteen himself, to the group to play bass. For a short while, the group performed without a name. Musician Carlton Morales, co-writer of Julian Lennon's pop hit "Vallotte" played with the band shortly after leaving the outfit The Mighty Majors. Finally, the Wilson brothers began calling their outfit the "Greenwood, Archer and Pine Streets Band". As such a name proved too long for music posters, the band shortened their name to the "G.A.P. Street Band". Due to a typographical error, the group was actually advertised as "Gap Band" and "The Gap Band". That title stuck.
They performed at various venues around the Tulsa area, including country & western joints, tennis clubs, rock clubs, and wherever else called on their services. However, by the middle of the 70s, Charlie became interested in Los Angeles, California and left Tulsa to explore his possibilities; the country's big cities were in the middle of a soul music boom, and he wanted in.. A short time later, Charlie convinced his brothers to join him. The group floundered about L.A.; hitting and missing on record deals, gigs, and the like, the guys had a lot of talent but needed guidance. Still maintaining their interest in major label work, the group met entertainment businessman Lonnie Simmons through a friend, a musician D.J. Rogers, and their destiny was set. Simmons owned a nightclub called "The Total Experience" on Crenshaw Blvd and a recording studio at the time, and he signed the group to his company, which was called "Total Experience Records". Simmons would later start up a record label, also co-songwriting the Gap Band's tunes at times.
The Top Five single "Shake" followed in 1979, along with "Steppin' Out" (number ten) and "I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops, Up Side Your Head)" (number four) in 1980. The latter was inspired at a concert in Pittsburgh where some kids were chanting the groove and the Gap Band picked up on it. In December of 1980, the trio dropped its first number one single with "Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)" and followed it with the Top Five ballad "Yearning for Your Love" (1981).
The group went on to score three more number one songs ("Early in the Morning" and "Outstanding" in 1982 and "All of My Love" in 1989), three more number two songs ("You Dropped a Bomb on Me" in 1982, "Beep a Freak" in 1984, and "Going in Circles" in 1986) and a horde of Top Ten hits. They also did the soundtracks for Leon Isaac Kennedy's Penitentiary III and Keena Ivory Waynans' I'm Gonna Get You Sucker. The group was given only 24 hours notice to complete the title song.
In 1984 Ronnie became a born-again Christian and started pastoring. He joined Melba Moore and David Peaston in the touring play Mama, I'm Sorry. Charlie went through rough times fighting a cocaine addiction until finally rehabilitating a few years later. Charlie has been one of most sought-after vocalists in the music industry. He has worked with Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Eurythmics, Snoop Dogg, and scores of others. The Gap Band has recorded for various labels, including Mercury and Capitol Records. The group remained together for quite song time, enduring the good with the bad, and kept on touring into the new millennium.
The death of Robert Wilson, at the age of 53, on August 15, 2010 changed everything. Mourned by fans of the group across the world, many musicians cited his role in creating the band's funky soul sound. Numerous singles such as "Outstanding" and "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" remain radio classics to this day.
Outstanding
The Gap Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You got it every day, girl
Wish that I could love you now
In a special way
You light my fire
I feel alive with you, baby
You blow my mind
Outstanding (So outstanding, yeah)
Girl, you knock me out
Excited (I'm so excited, baby)
It makes me want to shout (Baby)
Gee, I feel so lucky, girl
To have you all alone
I really love the way you love me
Forever I'll be yours
You blow my mind, baby
I'm so alive with you, baby
You blow my mind, baby
You blow my mind, baby, baby
You light my fire {You light my fire}
I feel alive with you, baby { I feel alive}
You blow my mind {You blow my mind}
I'm satisfied {I'm satisfied}
Outstanding (You?re so outstanding, yeah)
Girl, you knock me out (Dooby dooby dooby dooby dooby you knock me out)
Excited (So excited, baby)
It makes me want to shout (Girl, you know, you know, you know you knock me out)
Outstanding (I really love the way you knock me out)
Girl, you knock me out (Girl, you know, you know, you know you knock me out)
(Shooby dooby dooby doo doo dooby)
(Girl, you knock me out)
The lyrics of The Gap Band's song "Outstanding" express admiration and affection towards a woman. The singer's fascination with her is visible from the very beginning when he compliments her looks: "Girl, you're looking sweeter now / You got it every day, girl." He goes on to express his desire to love her in a special way, but it is not clear whether this love is romantic or platonic.
The chorus of the song simply consists of the word "outstanding," which is repeated three times. The singer uses this word to describe the woman he is addressing, saying, "Girl, you knock me out / Excited, it makes me want to shout." He feels lucky to have her around and appreciates the way she loves him: "I really love the way you love me / Forever I'll be yours."
Overall, the lyrics of "Outstanding" are simple and straightforward. The song is essentially a tribute to a woman who has captured the singer's heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl, you're looking sweeter now
The person is complimenting the girl and saying that she looks even more attractive now
You got it every day, girl
The girl is beautiful every day, not just sporadically
Wish that I could love you now
The singer is currently unable to pursue the relationship they want with the girl
In a special way
The artist wants to have a unique and meaningful relationship with the girl
You light my fire
The girl ignites a passion in the artist
I feel alive with you, baby
The singer feels invigorated and excited when they're around the girl
You blow my mind
The girl amazes the singer and exceeds their expectations
I'm satisfied
The artist is content with their relationship with the girl
Outstanding (So outstanding, yeah)
The girl is amazing in every way
Girl, you knock me out
The girl has a powerful impact on the artist
Excited (I'm so excited, baby)
The singer is thrilled to be with the girl
It makes me want to shout (Baby)
The artist is so happy they want to express it loudly
Gee, I feel so lucky, girl
The singer feels fortunate to have the girl in their life
To have you all alone
The singer enjoys having quality one-on-one time with the girl
I really love the way you love me
The singer appreciates how the girl shows her love
Forever I'll be yours
The artist plans to remain committed to the girl
Outstanding (You're so outstanding, yeah)
The girl is so remarkable and impressive
Girl, you knock me out (Dooby dooby dooby dooby dooby you knock me out)
The girl has an overwhelming effect on the singer
Excited (So excited, baby)
The singer is filled with enthusiasm about their relationship with the girl
It makes me want to shout (Girl, you know, you know, you know you knock me out)
The artist is so ecstatic about the girl that they want to acknowledge it loudly
Outstanding (I really love the way you knock me out)
The artist admires the girl's powerful impact on them
Girl, you knock me out (Girl, you know, you know, you know you knock me out)
The girl's impact on the artist is intense and significant
(Shooby dooby dooby doo doo dooby)
N/A
(Girl, you knock me out)
The girl's impact on the artist is powerful and unforgettable
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RAYMOND JAMES CALHOUN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind