Bonnie Pointer and June Pointer first formed a secular singing duo in the late '60s and began performing in clubs around the San Francisco Bay area; Anita Pointer and Ruth Pointer later joined them. The Pointer Sisters hooked up with David Rubinson who was a record producer affiliated with Bill Graham. They would perform onstage with the flamboyant Sylvester of The Cockettes, and they'd done some work as background singers on recordings by Elvin Bishop, Boz Scaggs, Cold Blood and other San Francisco Bay Area groups.
Their big breakthrough was a cover of an Allen Toussaint composition originally recorded in 1970 by Lee Dorsey, the song was "Yes We Can Can" released by The Pointer Sisters in March 1973. The girls' voices were added over funky backing tracks laid down with the help of Rubinson's contacts like Tower of Power guitarist Willie Fulton. They sang live around a single mic, with Anita handling lead, and upon release the record soon hit Number 11 on Billboard's pop chart and Number 12 on the R&B chart. In 1974 the group surprised white audiences when they broke the color barrier in at The Grand Ol' Opry when performing their Country Grammy award winning country song "Fairytale" in Nashville. "How Long (Betcha Got A Chick On The Side)" was a 1975 #1 R&B hit from their Steppin LP, with classic funky keys of Herbie Hancock on clavinet & wicked guitar stylings of Wah Wah Watson...
Bonnie Pointer left the group in 1977 for a solo career, and in 1978, the remaining sisters switched labels to Planet & production duties went to Richard Perry who modernized their sound away from a nostalgia based act into a more contemporary look & sound for the 1980's.
They produced the album Energy, with a classic country flavored updates of Sly Stone's "Everybody Is A Star", and a rendition of another Allen Toussaint song called "Happiness". The Perry streak included 1984's Break Out, which did exactly that going triple platinum and winning two Grammys for the singles Automatic and "Jump (for My Love)". This period in the early 80's ostensibly represents the group's commercial peak as a charting act. Their last big hit was Neutron Dance from the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack.
As the '80s wound down, June Pointer recorded two solo albums, and later left the trio by 2001. Anita also did some solo project work, and had a minor hit with a song called, "Overnight Success."
Anita and Ruth still perform concerts under the group's name. Ruth's daughter, Issa Pointer, is the trio's newest member. June suffered a stroke on February 27, 2006. While hospitalized, she was diagnosed with cancer, which had metastasized in her breast, colon, liver and bones. She died at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California on April 11, 2006 at the age of 52.
Neutron Dance
The Pointer Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll just stay here locked behind the door
Just no time to stop and get away
'Cause I work so hard to make it every day
Woo-hoo
Woo-hoo
'Cause a man took my heart and robbed me blind
Someone stole my brand new Chevrolet
And the rent is due, I got no place to stay
Woo-hoo (ooh)
Woo-hoo (ooh)
And it's hard to say
Just how some things never change
And it's hard to find
Any strength to draw the line
Oh, I'm just burning doin' the neutron dance
I'm just burning doin' the neutron dance
Industry don't pay a price that's fair
All the common people breathing filthy air (Lord have mercy)
Roof caved in on all the simple dreams
And to get ahead your heart starts pumping schemes
And it's hard to say
Just how some things never change (yeah)
And it's hard to find
Any strength to draw the line (whoa)
I'm just burning doin' the neutron dance
I'm just burning doin' the neutron dance
Woo-hoo
Woo-hoo
I'm on fire, yeah
Well, I'm on fire, yeah
And it's hard to say
Just how some things never change
And it's hard to find
Any strength to draw the line (well, well, well, oh)
I'm just burning doin' the neutron dance
(I'm) I'm just burning doin' the neutron dance
I know there's a pot of gold for me
All I got to do is just believe
Oh, I'm so happy doin' the neutron dance
And I'm just burning doin' the neutron dance
I'm so happy (it's in my hands)
Doin' the neutron dance (well)
I'm just burning (it's in my feet)
Doin' the neutron dance (well, well, well, well)
Woo-hoo (it is all over me)
Woo-hoo (inside hands, ooh-wee)
Oh, I'm so happy doin' the neutron dance (it's all over me)
I'm just burning (can you feel it?)
Doin' the neutron dance (yeah, yeah)
Woo-hoo (woo, woo)
Woo-hoo (woo, woo)
Oh, I'm so happy (it's in my hands)
I'm just burning (it's in my feet)
I'm so happy (it's all over me)
I'm just burning (I can't help myself)
I'm so happy (yeah, yeah)
I'm just burning (oh, yeah)
I'm so happy (oh, yeah)
I'm just burning (I'm just burning)
I'm so happy (oh, yeah)
I'm just burning (oh, well, well, well, well)
I'm so happy (it's in my hands)
I'm just burning (it's in my feet)
I'm so happy (I can't help myself)
I'm just burning
The Pointer Sisters' song Neutron Dance is a high-energy anthem about perseverance in the face of adversity. The song opens with the singer feeling trapped and overwhelmed, with no time or resources to escape their situation. They then go on to list the challenges they face, including financial struggles, a broken heart, a stolen car, and an inability to afford rent. Despite these setbacks, the singer refuses to give up, acknowledging that some things never change and it's hard to draw the line. Instead, they decide to keep pushing forward, "burning" with determination as they do the "neutron dance." The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer believing that there's a pot of gold waiting for them if only they believe.
The lyrics to Neutron Dance can be interpreted in a number of ways, but one possible reading is that the song is about the struggles of working-class Americans in the 1980s. The references to financial hardship, air pollution, and the collapse of the American dream all suggest a society in crisis. However, despite these challenges, the singer refuses to give up hope, instead choosing to focus on the joy of dancing and the possibility of a better future.
Overall, Neutron Dance is a song that celebrates resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. It's a reminder that even when everything seems to be working against us, we have the power to keep moving forward and striving for a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want to take it anymore
The singer is tired of the difficult circumstances and wants a change.
I'll just stay here locked behind the door
The singer feels trapped and unable to escape her situation.
Just no time to stop and get away
The singer is too busy working to have any leisure time.
'Cause I work so hard to make it every day
The singer is dedicated and puts in a lot of effort to succeed.
There's no money falling from the sky
Money is not easily acquired and requires hard work and dedication.
'Cause a man took my heart and robbed me blind
The singer was betrayed in a romantic relationship and left with nothing.
Someone stole my brand new Chevrolet
The singer lost something valuable and important to her.
And the rent is due, I got no place to stay
The singer is struggling to make ends meet and is facing homelessness.
And it's hard to say
The situation is complex and not easily explained.
Just how some things never change
Despite efforts to improve the situation, some things remain the same.
And it's hard to find
The cause for change is elusive and difficult to discover.
Any strength to draw the line
Finding the courage to take a stand is challenging.
Oh, I'm just burning doin' the neutron dance
The singer is driven and energized by her persistence and hard work.
Industry don't pay a price that's fair
The music industry is exploitative and does not compensate artists fairly.
All the common people breathing filthy air (Lord have mercy)
The general public is struggling and facing difficult circumstances.
Roof caved in on all the simple dreams
People's hopes and aspirations are being crushed by difficult circumstances.
And to get ahead your heart starts pumping schemes
People resort to dishonest tactics in order to succeed and get ahead.
I know there's a pot of gold for me
The singer believes in her own abilities and eventual success.
All I got to do is just believe
The singer believes that positivity and hopefulness will lead to success.
I'm so happy doin' the neutron dance
The singer is optimistic and energized by her own hard work and persistence.
And I'm just burning doin' the neutron dance
The singer is driven and energized by her own hard work and persistence.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Allee Willis, Danny Sembello
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@janedow1319
I'm 75 years young and I'm dancing to this song this Saturday morning, November 12, 2022. Lord have mercy!!
@johnflaherty4232
💃🕺 I'm with ya Darlin.
@clubsof7
cool
@liveandmore
I love it. Keep on dancing, Jane!
@cindyhanmer62
Dance like no one is watching!
@jopablaro90
God Bless You
@dawnlee866
I know Anita Pointer dancing in heaven. RIP❣🙏🏽
@TheArtezful
Dear harmonies are amazing
@stephensanders6898
THIS IS WHY I LOVE THE 80's
@SheriFromDetroit
80's were everything