℗ 1985 Hansa Records 207 100 620
On this album, Frank Farian abandoned the lush sounds and adventurous arrangements that had characterized past Boney M albums to make a straightforward album of electronic dance-pop. Sadly, this decision works against the album because it robs the group's sound of much of its personality. For example, "Todos Buenos" cries out for a lush Latin arrangement but is forced to settle for a monotonous synthesizer-heavy sound that is tarted up with a few flamenco guitar flourishes. Another problem is inconsistent songwriting. For instance, "Give It Up" is the kind of lame, faceless breakup song that could have been performed by any dance-pop group. Eye Dance is further weighed down by a dreadful pair of covers: "My Cherie Amour" is a given a lightweight, easy listening treatment that fails to reach the yearning romanticism of the Stevie Wonder original, and the group's cover of 10cc's "Dreadlock Holiday" misses out on both the reggae flavor and the ironic humor of the original version. However, a few bright spots manage to shine through on the album: "Chica Da Silva" is a compelling story song about a beautiful female spy who becomes a martyred heroine to her country, and "Bang Bang Lulu" is a bubblegum-styled singalong tune in the vein of "Brown Girl in the Ring." Despite these likable moments, Eye Dance never is able to triumph over its threadbare sound and is further hurt by its inconsistent songwriting. Even the most enthusiastic Boney M fans may want to think twice before picking this album up. — Donald A. Guarisco. |
bonus:
(Farian — Applegate — Rayen)
Hey, Jane's my name and love's my game, I just turned eighteen yesterday. I'm blond, I'm tall, I'm full of fun, Give me a call and I'll show you some. Frank met Jane now, and Jane met Eddie - on the radio show. Who wants to have fun, who's hot and ready? - For the radio show. Call up the station, have a go, get the phone in your hand. Friends and lovers, give a call, take a chance on a voice if you can. Y-O-U-N-G F-R- double E, a-a-and single, sss-single. Y-O-U-N-G F-R- double E, a-a-and single, sss-single. A-a-and single, sss-single. Hey Jane, oh Jane, a voice supreme, I hear myself a living dream, I'll tell you where, I'll tell you how, Hang up that phone, we'll meet right now. Young, free and single - who wants to take a dare? Young, free and single - looking for affairs. Young, free and single - always for a game. Young, free and single - voices bring you fame. What's your name now, call in a chance - on the radio show. Playing roulette and you might get a blank - or you might have a go. Love on the airwave and it's yours, pick the heart of your choice. Friends and lovers, give a call, make a match - by the sound of a voice. Y-O-U-N-G F-R- double E, a-a-and single, sss-single. Y-O-U-N-G F-R- double E, a-a-and single, sss-single. Y-O-U-N-G F-R- double E, a-a-and single, sss-single. Y-O-U-N-G F-R- double E, a-a-and single, sss-single.
(Dietrich — Grabowski — Simons)
You come home late at night You tell me it's all right But something must be wrong I wanna hold you close But your reaction shows You keep me hanging on I'm tired of all your lies Your silly alibies Don't wanna play that game If you don't know the rules I'll send you back to school You put a man to shame Give it up, give it up I just wanna make it stop, make it stop I know I'm not the only one, only one Maybe you're the lonely one, lonely one Give it up, give it up I just wanna make it stop, make it stop 'cause I know you bring me down, bring me down The lover of my life What happened to our plans We've got a one night stand You'd better let it be If there's another man I'll do the best I can To bring you back to me Give it up, give it up I just wanna make it stop, make it stop I know I'm not the only one, only one Maybe you're the lonely one, lonely one Give it up, give it up I just wanna make it stop, make it stop 'cause I know you bring me down, bring me down The lover of my life Give it up, give it up I just wanna make it stop, make it stop I know I'm not the only one, only one Maybe you're the lonely one, lonely one Give it up, give it up I just wanna make it stop, make it stop 'cause I know you bring me down, bring me down The lover of my life Give it up, give it up I just wanna make it stop, make it stop I know I'm not the only one, only one Maybe you're the lonely one, lonely one Give it up, give it up I just wanna make it stop, make it stop 'cause I know you bring me down, bring me down The lover of my life
(Ehrhardt — Farian)
Computer on the move Gonna' make your body groove Gonna' hold you tight and lift you to the top If your feeling kind of low Press the trigger in you go And you better never wanna' make it stop Sample City Sounds so pretty If they bit is feeding human touch Sample City More than pretty Apparently it turns you too whatever it does so much Your feeling like a clown If you enter sample town All the finest songs are hidden in a chip With the funny noise around Is it music is it sound So you travel on a psychedelic trip Sample City Sounds so pretty If they bit is feeding human touch Sample City More than pretty Apparently it turns you too whatever it does so much Sample City Sounds so pretty If they bit is feeding human touch Sample City More than pretty Apparently it turns you too whatever it does so much
(Cosby — Moy — Wonder)
La la la la la la, la la la la la la My Cherie Amour, lovely as a summer day My Cherie Amour, distant as the milky way My Cherie Amour, pretty little one that I adore You're the only one my heart beats for How I wish that you were mine In a cafe or sometimes on a crowded street I've been near you, but you never noticed me My Cherie Amour, won't you tell me how could you ignore That behind that little smile I wore How I wish that you were mine La la la la la la, la la la la la la la La la la la la la, la la la la la la Maybe someday you'll see my face among the crowd Maybe someday I'll share your little distant cloud Oh Cherie Amour, pretty little one that I adore You're the only girl my heart beats for How I wish that you were mine My Cherie Amour, lovely as a summer day My Cherie Amour, distant as the milky way My Cherie Amour, pretty little one that I adore You're the only one my heart beats for How I wish that you were mine La la la la la la, la la la la la la la La la la la la la, la la la la la la La la la la la la, la la la la la la la La la la la la la, la la la la la la La la la la la la
(Applegate — Baierl — Farian — Rayen)
Got cha, got cha loco loco Got cha, got cha loco Got cha, got cha loco loco Got cha, got cha loco People laughin' They got time to relax They all say hello They don't worry They don't mind They're OK Happy kind of loco They don't worry They don't mind They're OK Happy kind of loco Too much work and Too much of everything Can make it for a man That's all alone Let things go You'll find out What crazy means of madness Of life is everywhere you go Got cha, got cha loco loco Got cha, got cha loco Got cha, got cha loco loco Got cha, got cha loco Got cha, got cha loco loco Got cha, got cha loco Got cha, got cha loco loco Got cha, got cha loco Everybody needs a chance Life is here Learn to let things go What's your hurry Who's to blame Right is bright When you're playing loco What's your hurry Who's to blame Right is bright When you're playing loco So you're down You end up a lonely man You're looking for a friend But they're all gone Let things go You'll find out What crazy means of madness Of life Is everywhere you go Got cha, got cha loco loco Got cha, got cha loco Got cha, got cha loco loco Got cha, got cha loco Got cha, got cha loco loco Got cha, got cha loco Got cha, got cha loco loco Got cha, got cha loco
(Gouldman — Stewart)
I was walkin' down the street Concentratin' on truckin' right I heard a dark voice beside of me And i looked 'round in a state of fright I saw four faces one mad a brother from the gutter They looked me up and down a bit and turned to each other (I say) I don't like cricket a-oh no I love it a-Yeah I don't like cricket a-oh no I love it a-Yeah Don't you walk through my words you got to show some respect Don't you walk through my words 'cause you ain't heard me out yet Well he looked down at my silver chain He said "i'll give you one dollar" I said "you've got to be joking man It was a present from me mother" He said "I like it I wan' it I'll take it off your hands An' you'll be sorry you'd crossed me You'd better understand that you're a long, a long way from home" (I say) I don't like cricket a oh no I love it a-yeah I don't like cricket a oh no I love it a-yeah Don't you cramp me style don't you queer me pitch Don't you walk through my words 'cause you Ain't heard me out yet I hurried back to the swimming pool Sinkin' pina colada I heard a dark voice beside me say "Would you like something hotter" She said "I've got it you wan' it my harvest is the best And if you try it you'll like it and wallow in the Dreadlock holiday, dreadlock holiday, dreadlock holiday" (And I say) don't like jamaica oh no I love her hey Don't like jamaica oh no I love her oh yeah Don't you walk through my words you got to show some respect Don't you walk through my words 'cause you ain't heard me out yet I don't like cricket a-oh no I love it a-dreadlock holiday I don't like reggae a-oh no I love it a-dreadlock holiday Don't like jamaica hey I love her dreadlock holiday I don't like cricket a-oh no I love it a-dreadlock holiday I don't like reggae
(Courage — Farian — Reyam)
On the first day of spring They heard the news The word spread like fire That she had fallen The fields of that day Were watered with tears Tears that were cried For Chica Da Silva Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da Silva Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da Silva Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da Silva Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da Silva She was young and brave The prime of her life Fought for her country Became a spy And men told the secrets Once looked in her eyes They laid in the arms Of Chica Da Silva The game that she played Couldn't last very long Luck she relied on When they had all gone Her hands tied together Back on the wall They shot the life From Chica Da Silva Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da Silva Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da Silva Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da Silva Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da Silva On the first day of spring They heard the news The word spread like fire That she had fallen The fields of that day Were watered with tears Tears that were cried For Chica Da Silva She was young and brave The prime of her life Fought for her country Became a spy And men told the secrets Once looked in her eyes They laid in the arms Of Chica Da Silva Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da Silva Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da Silva Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da Silva Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da Silva Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da Silva Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da, Chica Da Silva
(Farian)
Bang Bang Lulu Lulu's going away Lu is going to bang bang Now Lulu's going away Lulu had a boyfriend He could not get enough She could never stop him He was hooked on makin' Bang Bang Lulu Lulu's going away Lu is going to bang bang Now Lulu's going away Bang Bang Lulu Lulu's going away Lu is going to bang bang Now Lulu's going away Lulu had a red dress When she put it on Every man that she passed by Thought she must be Bang Bang Lulu Lulu's going away Lu is going to bang bang Now Lulu's going away Lulu joined the army She was fighting in a war Stood in front of the enemy Their weapons hit them Bang Bang Lulu Lulu's going away Lu is going to bang bang Now Lulu's going away Bang Bang Lulu Lulu's going away Lu is going to bang bang Now Lulu's going away Lulu knew a singer He had so many hits She loved his voice But she hated the way He kept grabbin' her Bang Bang Lulu Lulu's going away Lu is going to bang bang Now Lulu's going away Bang Bang Lulu Lulu's going away Lu is going to bang bang Now Lulu's going away Lulu had a boyfriend He just couldn't get enough She could never stop him He was hooked on makin' Bang Bang Lulu Lulu's going away Lu is going to bang bang Now Lulu's going away Bang Bang Lulu Lulu's going away Lu is going to bang bang Now Lulu's going away Bang Bang Lulu Lulu's going away Lu is going to bang bang Now Lulu's going away