Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Buffalo Stance

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Released
  
28 November 1988

Label
  
Virgin

Recorded
  
1988

Genre
  
Hip hop, dance-pop, freestyle

Length
  
5:42 (full-length version) 4:07 (7" edit)

Writer(s)
  
Neneh Cherry, Cameron McVey, Jamie Morgan, Phillip Ramacon

“Buffalo Stance” is a 1988 single recorded by Neneh Cherry, which she released on her debut album, Raw Like Sushi. The song peaked at #3 on both the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Contents

History

An early version of the song appeared as the B-side on the 1986 Stock, Aitken, and Waterman-produced single "Looking Good Diving" by duo Morgan-McVey, which was made up of Jamie Morgan and Cherry's future husband, Cameron McVey. The song, titled "Looking Good Diving with the Wild Bunch," was sung by Cherry.

Background and context

The song title refers to “Buffalo”, a group of photographers, models, musicians, hair and makeup artists, etc. formed by fashion stylist Ray Petri, of which group Cherry, Morgan, and McVey were all members. Such a "stance" would be to stand like such a person who is, or such a group of people who are, posing for a photo shoot in a London fashion magazine.

The song's title is also a reference to Malcolm McLaren's 1983 song "Buffalo Gals," which "Buffalo Stance" samples. Other samples came from Rock Steady Crew's "Are You Ready?", and the saxophone break is from the band Miami's 1974 song "Chicken Yellow."

Tim Simenon, also called "Bomb the Bass," was asked to help with the reworking of the song. Cherry pays homage to Simenon during the song's breaks with "Yeah, Timmy! Tell it like it is!" and "Bomb the Bass, rock this place!"

Cherry notably performed the song live on Top of the Pops while seven months pregnant. When asked by a reporter if it was safe for her to go up on stage performing, Cherry answered, "Yes, of course! It's not an illness."

Track listing

"Buffalo Stance" was released on both 3-inch CD single, and 5-inch CD single.

  1. "Buffalo Stance (Extended Mix)" – 5:43
  2. "Buffalo Stance (Scratchapella)" – 1:38
  3. "Buffalo Stance (Electro Ski)" – 3:38
  4. "Give Me a Muthufucking Break Beat (Sukka Mix)" – 5:19

Charts

This song, as well as being her debut hit, was Cherry's international breakthrough, reaching #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #3 on the UK Singles Chart, and #1 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Original versions

  • 7" Mix (Mark Saunders, Tim Simenon) – 4:07
  • 12" Mix – 5:43

    • Remixes and covers

  • Give Me A Muthufucking Break Beat/Sukka Mix – 5:19
  • There's Nothing Wrong Mix/ Sukka Mix II (The Dynamik Duo & DJ Mushroom) – 5:30
  • Electro Ski Mix (Mark Saunders, Tim Simenon) – 3:35
  • Extended Mix
  • Scratchapella – 1:41
  • 1/2 Way 2 House Mix (Arthur Baker) – 7:44
  • Nearly Neuebeat (Arthur Baker) – 7:06
  • Kevin Saunderson's Techno Stance Mix I (Kevin Saunderson) – 6:41
  • Kevin Saunderson's Techno Stance Mix II (Kevin Saunderson) – 5:17
  • Instrumental – 5:41
  • Fast Pop Mix (Arthur Baker) – 5:41
  • Cosmic Re-Edit 2004 – 3:35
  • Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See N. Cherry vs Busta Rhymes (Pop Chop) – 4:26
  • Buffalo Stance vs Brimful Of Asha N. Cherry vs Cornershop (Soulwax)
  • DJ Rock Your Buffalo Body N. Cherry vs Justin Timberlake (DJ Jonny Moiree)

    • The song was also featured on the soundtrack of the videogame Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City. Westlife performed the song on the medley part of their Where the Dreams Come True Tour. It was featured in the movie Slaves of New York, which starred Bernadette Peters and was directed by James Ivory. Swedish electroclash group Alice in Videoland covered the track on their 2011 album, A Million Thoughts and They're All About You.

    The song is the theme for Jamie Oliver's 15 Minute Meals television show.

    References

    Buffalo Stance Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA