The Kids from Fame was the group name of several cast members from the 1980… Read Full Bio ↴The Kids from Fame was the group name of several cast members from the 1980s television series "Fame" who had a number of hit singles and albums at the height of the show's success.

The main vocalists of the group were Debbie Allen, Valerie Landsburg, Erica Gimpel, Carlo Imperato, Gene Anthony Ray, Lee Curreri, Lori Singer and P.R. Paul. Another vocalist, Irene Cara, did not appear in the TV series but sang the "Fame" theme song and played Coco in the original motion picture. The song catapulted Irene Cara to stardom. It won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Golden Globe Award, and was a UK number one.

The US television series was originally produced between 1982 and 1987 and was based on the 1980 motion picture of the same name. Using a mixture of drama and music, it followed the lives of the students and faculty at the New York City High School for the Performing Arts. Although fictional, it was based heavily on the actual Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York. Most interior scenes were filmed in Hollywood, California. In Seasons 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 the show filmed several exterior scenes on location in New York City.

In 2012 a campaign was launched to get the complete Kids From Fame back catalogue released on CD https://www.facebook.com/GetTheKidsFromFameOnCd and in 2013 Cherry Pop Records http://www.cherryred.co.uk/cherrypop.asp sought to license 'Fame' albums, despite previously unsuccessful attempts.

We Got the Power
The Kids From Fame Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't need nobody else
To tell me how to be
I'm not gonna play no game
With me, you get just what you see

(I got the power)
Always have to be
(I got the power)

Everything I can be
(I got the power)
It's gonna set me free
(I got the power)

I got what I need inside
For all I want to do
I don't need a place to hide
As long as I can count on you

(We got the power)
Baby, can't you see
(We got the power)
Every time it's you and me
(We got the power)
Power just to be
(We got the power)

We got the power to be
Everything we can be
(We got the power to be)
Gonna set us free

(We got the power to be
Everything we can be
We got the power to be
Gonna set us free
We got the power to be)
(We got the power)
(Right inside of you and me
We got the power to be
Gonna set us free)
(We got the power)
(We got the power to be)
(We got the power)
(Everything we can be
We got the power to be
Gonna set us free)

(We got the
We got the
We got the)

(We)
(We got the power to be)
Oh, yeah
(Got the power)
(Everything we can be)
(We)
(We got the power to be
Gonna set us free)
Yeah, yeah
(Got the power
We)
(We got the power to be)
Got the power
(Got the power)
(Right inside of you and me)
(We)
(We got the power to be
Gonna set us free)
(Got the power)
Power
(We)
(We got the power to be)
Got the power
(Got the power)
(Everything we can be)
Yeah
(We)
(We got the power to be
Gonna set us free)
(Got the power)
Yeah
(We)
(We got the power to be)
(Got the power)
Got the power, got the power
(Right inside of you and me)
(We)
(We got the power to be
Gonna set us free)
(Got the)

(We got the

We got the
We got the power to be).

Overall Meaning

The Kids From Fame's song We Got the Power is a powerful anthem that inspires listeners to believe in themselves and to embrace their power within. The opening lines of the song make it clear that the singer is confident and self-assured, asserting that they do not need anybody else to tell them how to be or to play any games. Instead, they declare that with them, what you see is what you get. This is a testament to their authenticity and willingness to stay true to themselves, no matter what.

The chorus is the most memorable part of the song, featuring the repeated refrain "We got the power." It is an empowering message that encourages us to believe in ourselves and our abilities to achieve anything we set our minds to. The singer declares that they already have everything they need inside of them and do not need a place to hide, as long as they can count on the person they are addressing, likely a romantic partner or close friend. The song ends with a powerful, upbeat crescendo that echoes the sentiment that we can accomplish anything if we believe in ourselves.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't need nobody else To tell me how to be I'm not gonna play no game With me, you get just what you see
I am an independent person and do not require guidance on how to live my life. I won't pretend to be someone I'm not, and what you see is what you get.

(I got the power) Always have to be (I got the power) Everything I can be (I got the power) It's gonna set me free (I got the power)
I possess the capability to achieve all the goals I set for myself. I am determined to become my best self, and this will lead to liberation.

I got what I need inside For all I want to do I don't need a place to hide As long as I can count on you
I have all the necessary tools within me to achieve my aspirations. I do not need to conceal my true self as long as I have the support of others.

(We got the power) Baby, can't you see (We got the power) Every time it's you and me (We got the power) Power just to be (We got the power)
Collectively, we hold significant power. When we operate together, we provide each other with strength, and this leads to a sense of empowerment.

We got the power to be Everything we can be (We got the power to be) Gonna set us free
Together, we can achieve everything we hope for while also freeing ourselves from the constraints that weigh us down.

(We got the power to be Everything we can be We got the power to be Gonna set us free We got the power to be) (We got the power) (Right inside of you and me We got the power to be Gonna set us free) (We got the power) (We got the power to be) (We got the power) (Everything we can be We got the power to be Gonna set us free)
As a collective, we possess the power to overcome obstacles and achieve greatness. It lives within each of us, and through collective action, we can harness that power to be liberated and reach our full potential.

(We) (We got the power to be) Oh, yeah (Got the power) (Everything we can be) (We) (We got the power to be Gonna set us free) Yeah, yeah (Got the power We) (We got the power to be) Got the power (Got the power) (Right inside of you and me) (We) (We got the power to be Gonna set us free) (Got the power)
Our collective power gives us the capability to be whatever we desire. Each of us holds the power within ourselves, and we can achieve great things once we harness our ability to work together.

Power (We) (We got the power to be) Got the power (Got the power) (Everything we can be) Yeah (We) (We got the power to be Gonna set us free) (Got the power) Yeah (We) (We got the power to be) (Got the power) Got the power, got the power (Right inside of you and me) (We) (We got the power to be Gonna set us free)
Our power extends to the capability of being our best selves, while also being liberated from societal constraints. This power exists within each of us and must be harnessed collectively to be fully realized.

(We got the We got the We got the power to be)
Our collective power enables us to achieve whatever we aspire to be.

Contributed by Sophie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Comments from YouTube:

@rhythm2mysoul.

6y↑4

We got the power to be.....Back in Love with these songs and people.. Thanks for sharing.Must buy the DVDs and watch all over again.

@jonathangoeldner3560

4y↑5

the dancing in this is ace !!

@salliemae7476

4y↑3

GAR like no other and was so naturally gifted as someone who didn’t come from a classical trained background but still was able to make anything work is truly a gift!! I remember when this originally aired in my first year of college back in 81/82 in Columbia, Missouri. We would all sit around in the main dining room and watched the big TV/ONLY ONE in the dormitory. We enjoyed the show and it originally premiered on NBC before it was cancelled and through a petition or a second chance ended up on the FOX NETWORK.

Jasmine Guy is dancing next to GAR at the beginning when he was on stage, she is on his left side.

@originaltommy

Agreed!

@chrisengelke1371

1y↑1

Erica and Valerie always had the best voices!

@user-dh7hu3yi8n

32w

I agree. And Gene was the best dancer, after Debbie, of course

@mommak10

15y↑7

I love when Leroy and Debbie Allen dance together! It's so cute! You can tell he has a crush on her.

@simonanders5676

Er...sorry to burst your bubble love....you do realise he was gay yea?

@mrdavidurquhart

@@simonanders5676 maybe his character wasn’t gay - did they ever hint at the gayness in the show?

@simonanders5676

@@mrdavidurquhart you're correct. The character was presumably heterosexual. I was referring to the actor.

@gargio2767

25w

... seems like Dirty Dancing choreography!

@leighburton832

3y↑4

RIP, Mr. Crandall, who died before the second season premiered!

@bluerosekrystal625

5y↑6

I miss this guy, what a shame he had to go so sooonnnnnnn!! :(

@marlenegreenman841

4y↑3

Love Leroy

@buttse12

13y↑3

I love when Debby Allen dance and Leroy, I cant think of his real name from the top of my head.

@suewalsh1883

4y↑1

Erica Simone Gene Anthony Ray 🙂

@geowyn

14y↑3

Debbie Allen was always the best dancer in the show

@ALucas73

10y↑10

This is the Glee of the 80's but without the Auto-tune and covers.

@SuperSimonuk

Aaron Lucas or choreography!!??

@KatMusic2009

2y↑1

@@SuperSimonuk Debbie Allen choreographed the show.

@crazysingingchick

13y↑2

Okay, I have THIS one on vinyl!!! Woot!

@chercherry1968

We do have the power .. stay strong all though this time.. xox

@susanmowbray4669

9y↑16

always better than glee great series great music

@thewayneflyinghigh9128

Susan Mowbray and fame did not have any confessed child pornographers in their cast either, unlike glee. Sad becuase child pornography is bad and I used to like the tv show glee. Wayne from Sydney, Australia.

@maevab2923

@@thewayneflyinghigh9128 wtf? It's not glee's fault... No need to compare the shows, they're both great

@rhythm2mysoul.

6y↑1

Thanks for posting.

@kindredvampyre

13y

TV show NOT 1980 movie musical drama series that aired on NBC for its first two seasons and in syndication for another four seasons main vocalists: Debbie Allen, Valerie Landsburg, Erica Gimpel, Carlo Imperato, Gene Anthony Ray (<- leroy), Lee Curreri, Lori Singer (<-- footloose) and P.R. Paul. Irene Cara, did not appear in the TV series

@thewayneflyinghigh9128

9y↑2

Susan, Glee is just as good as fame.

Wayne Holmes from Sydney, Australia.

@cuddlylittlelamby

LOVE IT, maybe we can stand out to our power cooperations that we HAVE that power?

@lialammas

15y↑3

where all these actors and dancers now??? They made a very good tv show. I love to watch they dancing. When he jumps at the table is looks so easy... nice !

@suewalsh1883

4y↑1

Gene Anthony Ray has sadly passed away but the others are alive and well and doing their own things.🙂

@classydancer84

16y↑2

Jasmine guy is also in this.. wow, she is good!

@austinklein1172

6y↑2

I Miss this show

@alainb68

5y↑2

I miss this show all the time and it will remain engraved in my heart forever ☺

@thewayneflyinghigh9128

I hate the theme song to fame, however that aside, fame is way better than most of the rubbish tv shows that are on now ( re keeping up with the kardashians, married at first sight, etc). Wayne from Sydney, Australia.

@JhomasE

14y↑1

@chardaemoore AMEN to that!

@VTheRealOne

15y↑1

Ok, I see that's what I thought though I wasn't sure, that's why I said "unless you mistyped it" but that was the case, yeah you're right he was damn sexy too

@porterhouse1974

14y

Jasmine Guy is in this..

@CocoaChaos13

13y

@Kotou3 Can you narrow that down? There were no dogs in this show (black, white, yellow, or blue and green with pink and purple dots) they ALL looked good. However you are most likely talking about Gene Anthony Ray.

@ZarynScribbles

13y

@YoMecanica Cause they were good at what they did

@kidsfromfamemedia7917

2y↑1

Join the Fameily at Fame U.K. Reunion September 8th - 11th for 3 concerts and a convention. Buy Tickets:
https://www.fameukreunion.co.uk/tickets-22
Also the Be My Music Concert and Lunch in Liverpool August 28th and 29th. Lunch Tickets: https://buytickets.at/fameukreunion/735728
Buy Concert Tickets: https://www.fameukreunion.co.uk/be-my-music

@JhomasE

Thanks! I was there!!

@missshygirl101

13y

Leroy's girfriend in the yellow. What's her real name?

@iheartkevinjonas2

15y↑9

Coco and Bruno should've gotten together.

@taylorbrizee

12y

@YoMecanica Skinny Legs hahaha

@MagiKungen

13y

@buttse12 Gene Anthony Ray! =)

@mrdavidurquhart

The only thing I find more amazing than his talent was the songwriting and arranging. But isn’t his singing really great for ‘a dancer’.

@VTheRealOne

15y↑1

What do you mean "he can't dance"? Can't you see he's the best dancer ever? Unless you mistyped it...

@chrmedbabygirl

14y

I don't think Jasmine Guy was ever in Fame.

@mca1218

Jasmine Guy was in the first 10 episodes of FAME in the group scenes of the dance department, and is in this number as one of the two girls who begin to dance with Leroy at 00:14. She is in the red top, Stephanie is in yellow.

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