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.
Taste
The Pointer Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't look surprised when you
Know you got me ready for you
Got me ready for you baby
Temperature's risin', you know I'm hungry for ya
Just close your eyes and give me
Just a taste of your love
Just a taste of your love baby
Don't make me think I'm spending my
Time just for nothing
Oh, baby please, give me just a taste
Of your love, ooh.
I need a taste of your love
Give me just a taste of your love, oh
A taste of love, give me just a taste of your love
I need a taste of love, every single day,
It's your love
You start me up, don't ever quit
I need a taste, give just a little bit
My spirit's high and my pulse is steady baby
You can't deny that you know you
Got me ready for you
Got me ready for you baby
Ain't nothing taxing, I'll make it easy on you
Just try relaxing
Give me just a taste of your love baby
You've been saying that your love
Is more that passion
I'm tired of listening
Now you know I want some action
Oh, baby please give me just a taste of your love
I need a taste of your love
Don't be afraid of my love
A taste of love, give me just a taste of your love
I need a taste of love,
Every single day, it's your love
You wind me up, I must admit
I need a taste, give just a little bit
I've been waiting such a long time for your loving
Don't make me think I'm spending
My time just for nothing
Oh, baby please, give just a taste
Of your love, ooh
In “Taste,” the Pointer Sisters sing about their desire for a taste of their lover's love. They describe the sensations they experience when thinking about their love interest, saying their body's hot and their palms are sweaty. They express a need for their partner to give them just a taste of their love to satisfy their longing. The sisters emphasize how long they've been waiting for their lover's affection and how they don't want to feel like they're wasting their time. They plead for their partner to give them the love and attention they crave, painting a picture of anticipation and desire.
The song's theme of longing for love is timeless and universal, and indicative of the music of the era when the song was released (1983). The lyrics are straightforward and evoke a sense of yearning and desire. The catchy melody and upbeat rhythm add to the song's appeal, making it a popular dance hit. The Pointer Sisters' signature harmonies shine through in "Taste," adding another layer of interest to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
My body's hot and my palms are sweaty baby
I am physically aroused and experiencing heightened excitement.
Don't look surprised when you
You know exactly what effect you have on me.
Know you got me ready for you
You have successfully prepared me for your affection.
Temperature's risin', you know I'm hungry for ya
My passion is increasing, and my desire for you is palpable.
Just close your eyes and give me
Focus on me, and share my excitement.
Just a taste of your love
I want to experience your affection briefly, but intensely.
I've been waiting such a long time for your lovin'
I have yearned for your love for an extended period of time.
Don't make me think I'm spending my
Please do not waste my time or allow me to think so.
Time just for nothing
Minutes and seconds are a precious commodity, and we should not squander them.
Oh, baby please, give me just a taste
Please share with me a brief but passionate moment of intimacy.
Of your love, ooh.
Your love is the object of my desire.
I need a taste of your love
I crave intimacy with you.
Give me just a taste of your love, oh
Please allow me to savor the taste of your affection.
A taste of love, give me just a taste of your love
I yearn for an introduction to the bittersweet flavor of love.
I need a taste of love, every single day, It's your love
Love is a daily requirement, and I desire yours above all others.
You start me up, don't ever quit
You ignite my passion, and I never want to lose it.
I need a taste, give just a little bit
My desire is for a small amount of intimacy, not anything excessive.
My spirit's high and my pulse is steady baby
I am emotionally and physically prepared for your affections.
You can't deny that you know you
You are aware of the urge and passion that you inspire within me.
Got me ready for you
I am fully primed for your affection.
Ain't nothing taxing, I'll make it easy on you
My love is not a burden, and I will be a considerate and thoughtful partner.
Just try relaxing
Do not feel the need to be stressed. Just relax and enjoy me.
Give me just a taste of your love baby
Allow me to experience the sensation of your affection briefly
You've been saying that your love
You have previously talked about the nature of your emotions with me.
Is more that passion
Your feelings are deeper than simple physical attraction.
I'm tired of listening
I do not want to hear about your feelings anymore, I want to experience them.
Now you know I want some action
You are now fully aware that I desire a more physical expression of your love.
Don't be afraid of my love
Do not be scared of how intensely I feel about you.
Every single day, it's your love
Your love is an essential component of my daily life.
You wind me up, I must admit
You stimulate my senses, and I acknowledge it as a fact.
Give just a little bit
I only request a small amount of affection from you.
Oh, baby please, give just a taste
Please share with me a brief but passionate moment of intimacy.
Of your love, ooh
Your love is the object of my desire.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID SWANSON, SIEDAH GARRETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind