Patrick Cowley, Menergy | Bangerz N Bopz 🔥

In the 76^th edition of Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 (2024), we highlight “Menergy” performed by Patrick Cowley.

Bring on the bold, fierce songs! Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 serves up background info and insight into songs of various styles, especially songs that raise eyebrows and stir the pot.  Featured records can be classic or brand new. In the 76^th edition of Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 (2024), we break down “Menergy” performed by Patrick Cowley.

“Menergy, menergy, menergy.” What did the late Patrick Cowley have a lot of? “Menergy”, of course! “Menergy” is the third track from Cowley’s 1981 album, Megatron Man.  It also appears on Menergy – The Fusion Album (1981). The lyrics are gay, gay, gay 🏳️‍🌈, and who would have it any other way? Before diving into the lyrics of this nearly nine-minute juggernaut, the music deserves a huge shout-out.  “Menergy” is groovy AF from the onset, filled with – wait for it – ENERGY. The synths are electrifying – colorful, rhythmic, and ear-catching.  Cowley is a master behind the boards, concocting plenty of imaginative sounds.  ‘80s to the core, “Menergy” still sounds fresh three decades after its arrival.  Notably, following Cowley’s untimely death, a version of “Menergy” features the vocals of another late, great musician, Sylvester. The Sylvester version is much shorter, running five-and-a-half minutes in duration. In 2021, German producer Purple Disco Machine delivered an awesome remix (also features Sylvester’s vocals).

“The boys in the bathroom living it up / Shootin’ off menergy.” Shootin’ off, huh? With the kickass instrumental acknowledged, the lyrics and vocals deserve acknowledgment too. The vocals feature effects (vocoder), fitting given the dance/electronic style.  Again, thematically, the lyrics are intentionally G-A-Y. Cowley was gay and collaborated with other gay artists including Sylvester before his death from AIDS 😢.  Gay music for a gay audience? Perfection. What other things do the boys do to show off their menergy? “The boys in the back room laughin’ it up / Shootin’ off energy,” and, expectedly, “The boys in the bedroom lovin’ it up / Shootin’ off menergy.” Boys enjoy the pleasure of sex. Can you blame them? It’s part of their – wait for it – MENERGY! Gay, groovy, and great, “Menergy” is the sugar honey iced tea.  R.I.P. a musical genius in Patrick Cowley!

Patrick Cowley // Megatron Man // Unidisc Music Inc. // 1981

Patrick Cowley, Menergy: Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 No. 76 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Unidisc Music Inc.; cottonbro studio, Harry Shelton, Kool Shooters, Lucas Pazeta, Mavluda Tashbaeva, Teddy Yang, Wesley Souza from Pexels]