Cameo, Single Life | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 138^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “Single Life” by the funk collective, Cameo.  

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 138^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2023), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Single Life”, performed by 🎙 Cameo.

“Every little thing you do / Makes me smile / And if I had my way, baby / I’d tie you up for a while.” Woo, 🎙 Cameo! The funk collective delivers up surefire funky vibes on 🎵 “Single Life”. “Single Life” is the second track from their 1985 album, fittingly titled, 💿 Single Life. Simply put, front man/lead singer 🎙 Larry Blackmon is “…living the single, single, single / Life / The single, single, single / Life.”  Yessir! Although it failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 (bummer 👎), “Single Life” peaked at no. 2 on the R&B songs chart 👍.

The original from the album runs six-and-a- half minutes in duration.  However, the single version runs four-and-a-half minutes. The sound is idiomatic of the 1980s through and through, with the big, boxy drums carrying a sick groove that you simply can’t resist tapping your foot too.  Furthermore, that robust bass line helps to anchor things down – construct the F-U-N-K! Larry Blackmon sounds terrific vocally, though it should be noted that the instrumental backing him is equally compelling. Vocal layering is another selling point of “Single Life.” Also, throw in the playful lyrics, which in some cases, are truly not that innocent, Britney!

“Just like a car I’ll drive you

Out of your mind

It’s always the first step

In us having a good time.”

Judging by 🎵 “Single Life”, living the single life is indeed lots of fun!

🎙 Cameo • 💿 Single Life • 🏷 The Island Def Jam Music Group • 📅 1985

Cameo, Single Life: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 138 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; The Island Def Jam Music Group; John Alan Sperry, PIRO via  Pixabay]