Charlie and Gordon have wide-ranging tastes in popular music and a fondness for something just that bit different. Paul Hardcastle’s 19 was one of their earlier successes. Having worked together on the Dreamcatcher project, the trio conceived a new concept based around largely instrumental jazz-based tunes with an ‘economical’ use of lyrics — quite unconventional by today’s chart standards.
Influences for the project ranged from The Champs’ Tequila and Mongo Santamaria’s Watermelon Man to Louis Armstrong’s Dippermouth Blues. Within a few days, Dave had put together Would You…? using a sampled vocal clip and trumpet jazz licks played by James Lynch, over a Latin rhythm.
Released in October 1998, Would You…? reached number 3 in the UK charts, remained in the top ten for a month and subsequently became a hit all over Europe and many other parts of the world. The single sold half a million copies worldwide, and was included on literally hundreds of compilations whose total sales exceed ten million copies.
Touch And Go’s album, I Find You Very Attractive followed up the success of Would You…? and included three more singles Straight To Number One, So Hot, and Tango In Harlem, all of which are widely played on radio throughout Europe, especially in Eastern Europe where Touch and Go is one of the UK’s best-known acts.
About The Performers
Vanessa Lancaster, Vocalist
Vanessa Lancaster began ballet classes at the age of 4, gaining success in exams at the Royal Academy of Ballet in London. Shortly afterwards she began drama lessons in her free time and auditioned successfully for the Corona Stage School in London where she was educated until the age of 16. Vanessa completed her education at the Lucy Clayton Finishing School in London which was followed by 8 months working in the USA.
In London, Vanessa has worked as a voice-over artist for numerous UK TV commercials and has modelled both on the catwalk and for beauty products. Her other television credits include Emu’s World for ITV and the James Bond movie Octopussy.
Vanessa began singing professionally at the age of 15 when she teamed up with brother Shaz to form a band called Boys Behaving Badly whose drummer later became a member of Jamiroquai. Vanessa was, of course, the only girl member of the group! Once her vocal talents were discovered, Vanessa became a much in-demand singer on the London recording session scene, which led to a world tour with Urban Species.
Having sung on numerous jingles for producer and songwriter David Lowe, Vanessa was invited to collaborate on a new project Dave was working on which became Touch And Go, whose records have now become hits all over the world. Vanessa co-wrote the Touch And Go songs Straight To Number One, Big Beat and So Hot.
James Lynch, , Trumpet
London-based trumpeter James Lynch was educated at the City Of Leeds College of Music where he gained a first-class degree in Jazz & Contemporary Music and won prizes for Outstanding Performance, Brass and Arranging. As a former member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, Jim won the Newman Cup at the age of 17 for Most Improved Player.
On moving to London he joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Great Britain eventually becoming their lead trumpet player. Jim began his professional career with society dance bands in London’s Mayfair district before moving into the freelance areas of work such as musical theatre and recording. He has played in many of London’s West End musicals including Chicago, Starlight Express, Jesus Christ Superstar, Saturday Night Fever, and My Fair Lady.
In the world of pop music Jim has played in the big bands of Robbie Williams and for Babybird, Embrace, The Freestylers, Beverly Knight and also Missy Elliot. He has also played for Shirley Bassey and Michael Ball. Jim was brass arranger and first trumpet for the Spice Girls on their last UK tour, which was broadcast live on Sky TV from London’s Earls Court Arena. Recent clients include the Matthew Herbert Big Band, London rapper Dizzy Rascal, Engelbert Humperdink and opera singer Lesley Garrett.
Jim has played on many TV shows in the UK and abroad and his trumpet can be heard on many theme tunes and TV commercials too. Recently he played on the soundtrack and wrote four arrangements for the Kevin Spacey film Beyond The Sea. He has worked with composer and producer David Lowe for a number of years and can still be heard on the theme for BBC's Cash In The Attic. He was invited by Dave to collaborate on a new project, which eventually became Touch And Go. James co-wrote the Touch And Go songs Would You…?, So Hot and Life’s A Beach.
www.touch-and-go.net
Tango in Harlem
Touch and Go Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i just got home
one evening
and i um
i was just walking home
and it was really horrible
snowing
cause I lived on riverside drive
in harlem
in harlem
i had this dream to become a dancer
in harlem
and nobody was there and nobody was nowhere
it was really horrible
snowing
in harlem
in harlem
i come to my flat
and i stand in front of the door
and all of a sudden
somebody points a knife at my throat
and then it was like ,whoops', you know
i had only fifty dollars to survive because I was so poor
in harlem
in harlem
i was just actually like thinking about my fifty dollars
all i had to survive
in harlem
in harlem
and then i was like, you know,
fuck you
The lyrics to Touch and Go's song "Tango in Harlem" describe the experience of the singer coming home to his flat in Harlem, New York City. The song starts with him recounting his walk home which he describes as horrible due to the snowing weather. As he reminisces about his dream of becoming a dancer in Harlem, he realizes that nobody was there and nowhere to be found, which adds to the sense of loneliness and despair in the lyrics.
As he arrives at his flat, he stands in front of the door when suddenly someone points a knife at his throat. He then recalls that he only had fifty dollars to survive, making him extremely poor. The lyrics are quite introspective as he admits to thinking about his fifty dollars, wondering how he was going to survive, and feeling vulnerable and helpless due to his financial situation.
The final line of the song is "Fuck you", possibly indicating the singer's resolve to overcome the difficulties he has faced and his determination to succeed. Overall, the lyrics depict a bleak picture of life in Harlem, with its harsh weather, poverty, and danger, but they also reveal the singer's resilience and the strength of his spirit to keep going.
Line by Line Meaning
now i just
At this moment, I am currently
i just got home
I have recently arrived at my residence
one evening
During a specific night
and i um
I hesitated before speaking
i was just walking home
I was simply strolling back to my residence
and it was really horrible
The weather conditions were unpleasant
snowing
Precipitation in the form of snow was falling
cause I lived on riverside drive
As a resident of the area, my living quarters were situated on a street known as Riverside Drive
in harlem
This location was within the Harlem district of New York City
in harlem
This location was within the Harlem district of New York City
in harlem
This location was within the Harlem district of New York City
i had this dream to become a dancer
I once had aspirations of becoming a professional dancer
in harlem
This is where my dreams of becoming a dancer took place
and nobody was there and nobody was nowhere
There was a lack of people present at that time and location
it was really horrible
The situation was distressing
snowing
Precipitation in the form of snow was falling
in harlem
This location was within the Harlem district of New York City
in harlem
This location was within the Harlem district of New York City
i come to my flat
I arrived at the entrance of my living quarters
and i stand in front of the door
I positioned myself near the entrance of my living quarters
and all of a sudden
Unexpectedly
somebody points a knife at my throat
An individual threatened me with a sharp object near my neck
and then it was like ,whoops', you know
There was a sudden shift in the situation
i had only fifty dollars to survive because I was so poor
As a result of my financial situation, I possessed only fifty dollars to support myself
in harlem
This experience occurred within the Harlem district of New York City
in harlem
This experience occurred within the Harlem district of New York City
i was just actually like thinking about my fifty dollars
My thoughts were focused on the small amount of money I had for survival
all i had to survive
The fifty dollars was my only means of support
in harlem
This experience occurred within the Harlem district of New York City
in harlem
This experience occurred within the Harlem district of New York City
and then i was like, you know,
My thoughts shifted to a feeling of disdain
fuck you
I expressed my negative emotions towards the situation and the individuals involved
Contributed by Madison V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@androidmy68
This is one from the best songs of my life,
close the eyes and listen
@andreipopa9281
Exactly! I listen to it whenever i remember!
@yvindiversen9414
@@andreipopa9281 listen now
@laurenzsutter5309
SHIT LIFE
@user-bn8jl4ii4v
Sign...aqvilla
@Romeo-vt8hq
Реклама Славутич, боже, сколько ностальгии...
@Lexu95
am ascultat melodia prima oara cand aveam 4 ani, acum am 28 si o ascult cu aceasi placere pe care am avut-o atunci cand am ascultat prima oara. misto rau melodia
@alexandrudirvaru
Super melodie!
@giovannamartinelli5494
Splendido pezzo
@pastryman7324
Cred că e român