Together with a fourth brother, Vernon, the group performed gospel music until Vernon's death a few years after its formation. After moving to the New York City area in the late 1950s, the group had their first successes during these early years, first coming to prominence in 1959 with their fourth single, "Shout", written by the three brothers. Initially a modest charted single, the song eventually sold over a million copies. In the 1960s, the group recorded songs for a variety of labels, including the top 20 single "Twist and Shout" and the Motown single "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)", before recording and issuing the Grammy Award-winning hit "It's Your Thing" on their own label, T-Neck Records.
Influenced by gospel and doo-wop music, the group began experimenting with different musical styles incorporating elements of rock and funk as well as pop balladry. The inclusion of younger brothers Ernie Isley (lead guitar, drums) and Marvin Isley (bass guitar), and Rudolph's brother-in-law Chris Jasper (keyboards, synthesizers), in 1973 turned the original vocal trio into a complete band and reached the height of their success. For the next full decade, they recorded a string of top-selling albums from 3 + 3 to Between the Sheets, including the number one album The Heat Is On.
The six-member band splintered in 1983, with Ernie, Marvin, and Chris Jasper forming the short-lived spinoff group Isley-Jasper-Isley. The oldest member, O'Kelly, died in 1986 and Rudolph and Ronald released a pair of albums as a duo before Rudolph retired to a life in the Christian ministry in 1989. Ronald reconvened the group two years later in 1991 with Ernie and Marvin; five years later, in 1996, Marvin Isley left the group due to complications of diabetes. The remaining duo of Ronald and Ernie achieved mainstream success with the albums Mission to Please (1996), Eternal (2001) and Body Kiss (2003). Eternal spawned the top twenty hit "Contagious". As of 2019, the Isley Brothers continue to perform under the lineup of Ronald and Ernie.
The Isley Brothers have sold over 18 million units in the United States alone. They have had several hit songs including four Top 10 singles on the United States Billboard chart. With their first major hit charting in 1959 ("Shout"), and their last one in 2001 ("Contagious"), they are among the few groups ever to have hit the Billboard Hot 100 with new music in five different decades. Sixteen of their albums charted in the Top 40 and thirteen of those albums have been certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum by the RIAA. The brothers have been honored by several musical institutions, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which inducted them in 1992. Five years later, they were added to Hollywood's Rockwalk, and in 2003 they were inducted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. They received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Isley_Brothers
Studio albums
Shout! (1959)
Twist & Shout (1962)
Twisting and Shouting (1963)
This Old Heart of Mine (1966)
Soul on the Rocks (1967)
It's Our Thing (1969)
The Brothers: Isley (1969)
Get into Something (1970)
Givin' It Back (1971)
Brother, Brother, Brother (1972)
3 + 3 (1973)
Live It Up (1974)
The Heat Is On (1975)
Harvest for the World (1976)
Go for Your Guns (1977)
Showdown (1978)
Winner Takes All (1979)
Go All the Way (1980)
Grand Slam (1981)
Inside You (1981)
The Real Deal (1982)
Between the Sheets (1983)
Masterpiece (1985)
Smooth Sailin' (1987)
Spend the Night (1989)
Tracks of Life (1992)
Mission to Please (1996)
Eternal (2001)
Body Kiss (2003)
Baby Makin' Music (2006)
Power of Peace (2017)
Pop That Thang
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bang, bang, bang
Pop that thang
Bang, bang, bang
Ting a ling a ling
I hook it on up
Get on down
Come on
Pop that thang
Bang, bang, bang
Pop that thang
Bang, bang, bang
If you can't do it right
Don't you try it again
Look at that rooster
Runnin' after that hen
Come on
Pop that thang
Bang, bang, bang
Pop that thang
Bang, bang, bang
Sister Rosaline
Ting a ling a ling
Look at that child
Popping that thang
Hitch up to my wagon
And get ready to roll
But don't get on board
If you can't carry the load
If balloon goes down
I fill it up with wind
If the record stops
Start it over again
Pop that thang
Bang, bang, bang
Pop that thang
Bang, bang, bang
Ting a ling a ling
Hook it on up
Get on down
And do your own stuff
Pop that thang
Bang, bang, bang
Pop that thang
Bang, bang, bang
If you can't do it right
Don't you try it again
Look at that rooster
Running after that hen
Come on and pop it
Pop it, pop it, pop it
Come on and pop it
Pop it, pop it, pop it
Come on and pop it
The Isley Brothers' song "Pop That Thang" is an upbeat and catchy track that encourages people to let loose and have a good time. The song's lyrics use metaphors to describe dancing and emphasize the importance of doing things right. The repeated lines "Pop that thang" and "Bang, bang, bang" evoke a feeling of energy and excitement, encouraging listeners to dance and have fun.
The song also references various characters and situations, such as a rooster chasing a hen and the need to carry one's load. These references add depth to the song's lyrics, providing a narrative that listeners can relate to and enjoy. The use of the phrases "ting a ling a ling" and "do your stuff" also creates a sense of community and shared experience, connecting listeners to the larger world of dance and music.
Overall, "Pop That Thang" is a fun and engaging song that encourages people to let loose and embrace their inner dancer. Its catchy lyrics, upbeat tempo, and relatable references make it a classic track that continues to inspire people to get up and dance.
Line by Line Meaning
Pop that thang
Dance sensually and provocatively
Bang, bang, bang
Emphasize the beat and intensity of the dance
Ting a ling a ling
Make a sound, possibly with a bell or cymbal
I hook it on up
Initiate the connection or start the music
Get on down
Start dancing
Now do your stuff
Show your individual style and moves
If you can't do it right
If you can't dance well
Don't you try it again
Don't attempt to dance again
Look at that rooster
Observe the confident and assertive man
Runnin' after that hen
Chasing after a woman
Sister Rosaline
Addressing a woman named Rosaline
Look at that child
Observe the young person dancing provocatively
Hitch up to my wagon
Join my movement or cause
And get ready to roll
Prepare to take action or make progress
But don't get on board
Don't join unless you can handle the responsibility or commitment
If you can't carry the load
If you can't handle the work or pressure
If balloon goes down
If things go wrong or fail
I fill it up with wind
Stay optimistic or keep trying
If the record stops
If the music or rhythm ceases
Start it over again
Begin again and continue the dance
And do your own stuff
Express yourself in your unique way
Come on and pop it
Join in and dance provocatively
Pop it, pop it, pop it
Keep dancing in a sensual way
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, APM MUSIC ASSOCIATED PRODUCTION MUSIC
Written by: CLYDE LOVERN OTIS, HERMAN KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind