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.
Shame
The Pointer Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Burning, you keep my whole body yearning
You got me so confused
It's a shame
Sometimes I think I'm going insane
But still I want to stay
Wrapped in your arms
If want to be, want to be
Wrapped in your arms
That's my high, my high
Shame, ooh
My mother says you're playing a game
And what you do to me is a
Shame
Ooh, gonna love you just the same
Mama just don't understand
Wrapped in your arms
Is where I want to be
I want to be, want to be
Wrapped in your arms
That's my high, my high
I can't get enough, ooh baby
Enough of that magic touch
Love is in my heart
Tearing the rules apart
So, why should I be ashamed
Only love can be to blame
If we lose our love
It's a shame
Ooh, I wouldn't want to live with the pain
Gonna stay forever
Wrapped in your arms
Is where I want to be
I want to be, want to be
Wrapped in your arms
That's my high, my high
Only love can be to blame
If we lose our love
It's a shame
Ooh, I wouldn't want to live with the pain
Gonna stay forever
Oh, it's a shame
Shame (etc.)
The Pointer Sisters' song "Shame" expresses the conflict and confusion of a woman in love with a man of whom she knows is hurting her. The lyrics say burning, yearning, confusion as Shame is described as something that is negatively affecting her. The woman is aware of the problem, but she can't help herself as she is drawn to the man like a moth to a flame. She is so much in love, and she knows that something terrible will happen or has happened, yet she can't help herself; she's addicted to the man's charms, and she longs for him.
This woman is receiving counsel from her mother, who warns her that the man is playing a game, but she still can't help herself. She wants to be wrapped up in his arms, and she describes it as her "high." She refuses to be ashamed of loving and desires this man even though it may lead to the shame and pain that her mother predicted. The woman's love is tearing down the walls of her heart and breaking her rules. Still, she is willing to bear the shame and pain, and she wouldn't want to live without the man. The song concludes with the idea that love is to blame for any pain or shame that may arise, and once again, the woman wants nothing more than to be enveloped by the man's embrace.
Line by Line Meaning
Burning, you keep my whole body yearning
You ignite a fiery passion within me that consumes my entire being
You got me so confused
I'm perplexed by my feelings for you
Sometimes I think I'm going insane
Your effect on me is so intense that I fear it's driving me crazy
But still I want to stay
Despite my confusion and fears, I desire to remain with you
Wrapped in your arms / If Is where I want to be / If want to be, want to be
I crave the safety and passion of being held in your embrace - it's where I belong
That's my high, my high
Being with you is my ultimate high and brings me intense pleasure
My mother says you're playing a game / And what you do to me is a / Shame / Ooh, gonna love you just the same
My mother thinks you're toying with my emotions, but despite any doubts or fears, I'll continue to love you
Mama just don't understand
My mother can't comprehend the depth of my feelings for you
Love is in my heart / Tearing the rules apart / So, why should I be ashamed / Only love can be to blame
Love is powerful and causes me to break societal norms - there's no reason to feel guilty about it because love is the root cause
If we lose our love / It's a shame / Ooh, I wouldn't want to live with the pain / Gonna stay forever
If we were to lose our love, it would be a tragedy because I cannot imagine living without you - I'll be with you forever
Oh, it's a shame / Shame (etc.)
It's unfortunate that society often frowns upon unconventional love, but we'll embrace it anyway - shame on them
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN H. FITCH, JOHN H. FITCH JR., REUBEN CROSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jerrymunroe4089
When I first heard this I was 22 years old. Next month I will be 65 years old. It's a low down dirty shame how fast time has passed.
@michaelgaynor6866
Jerry Munroe,It is! Turning 65 years old in January,Stay Strong and Stay Well from Philadelphia
@AswinApoLLo69
Im 22 now enjoying each and every moment of life because i know im gonna miss them later
@jerrymunroe4089
@@AswinApoLLo69 Yes I did too. My Mom used to tell me how fast her life went by telling me You are 20, 40, 60 and you are near the end. When you are young you have nothing to compare the real span of time to except maybe a few years back when you were a child or adolescent. I wish you a Happy youth. I promise you it will be gone before you know it
@lolabunny1157
God bless you!
@maryannsmith4160
Hi,I'm 65,too.. song brings me back to brighter days. I was in nursing school and 40 years later still going strong!!!! Take care my friend and stay safe I hope you have a better 2021!!!💖👏😂💖👏😂💖👏😂
@1derfullBeast
Evelyn was discovered singing while cleaning a bathroom(she was working as a cleaning woman) thank God she was heard by a person with a good ear for voices and talent!
@garrywillie713
Best music Gwillie 8 6 2020
@JazzMaestra
And Evelyn “Champagne” King remains a kind-hearted, earthy Sister!!!
@ronniejamesdio3540
She is fantastic, I love her, she has alot of soul.