Rhythm | 3 to 5 BOPS

Rhythm: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 57 (2023), features musical BOPS courtesy of Beyoncé, DeBarge, Katy Perry, MICHELLE, and Peaches & Herb.

Ah, you know what time it is! It’s 3 to 5 BOPS time – WOO! On 3 to 5 BOPS, it’s all about brevity and sweetness… for the most part! There’s a theme/topic, 3, 4, or 5 songs, and a blurb – two paragraphs or less.  3 to 5 BOPS, hence, is a mini playlist that shouldn’t take much time to consume.  In the 57^th edition of 3 to 5 BOPS (2023), we select songs that are associated with RHYTHM in some form or fashion. The BOPS arrive courtesy of 🎙 Beyoncé, 🎙 DeBarge, 🎙 Katy Perry, 🎙 MICHELLE, and 🎙 Peaches & Herb. Okay, let’s get into it!

1. Beyoncé, “Virgo’s Groove”

💿 RENAISSANCE • 🏷 Parkwood Entertainment LLC / Columbia • 🗓 2022 

“Right here, right now / Iced up, bite down / Baby, lock in right now / I want it right here, right now…” Most of the songs on 🎙 Beyoncé’s 🏆 Grammy-winning album, 💿 RENAISSANCE, clock in under four minutes, with a few exceptions. 🎵 “Virgo’s Groove” is one of those exceptions, earning the distinction as the longest song running more than six minutes in duration.  Even though “Virgo’s Groove” is lengthy, it’s well worth every second.  Beyoncé delivers some of her best vocals – those runs and ad-libs – not to mention her sickening artistry and personality: “There’s nothin’ that I want as much as I want you / A psychic hit me, told me we got shit to do / We ain’t got time like we used to / But we still shine like we used to.” Ooh-wee! The production (Beyoncé, 🎛 Leven Kali, and The-Dream) is a big-time selling point with polychromatic synths and a bang-up beat. There’s no doubt that Queen B has the dance floor on her mind 🕺.  Even so, there are still R&B sensibilities, thanks to ultra-sweet, harmonized backing vocals. Also, it’s worth noting that “Virgo’s Groove” was nominated for a 🏆 Grammy for Best R&B Performance though lost to 🎙 Muni Long (🎵 “Hrs & Hrs”).

2. DeBarge, “Rhythm Of The Night”

💿 Rhythm Of The Night • 🏷 Motown • 🗓 1985

“When it feels like the world is on your shoulders / And all of the madness has got you going crazy,” 🎙 El DeBarge sings in the first verse of the huge 🎙 DeBarge classic, 🎵 “Rhythm Of The Night”, written by a then young 🎼 ✍ Diane Warren. He continues singing, with his signature, high tenor, “It’s time to get out, step out into the street / Where all of the action is right there at your feet.” So basically, El DeBarge, and the rest of the DeBarge siblings are telling us to get moving – hit the dance floor! Rather than let life sink us, have some fun – seize the night! “Rhythm Of The Night” is a fitting closing track on the R&B collective’s 1985 album, also titled Closing track from 💿 Rhythm Of The Night.  With its epic, undeniably danceable groove, and those easygoing, fun lyrics, it’s no surprise “Rhythm Of The Night” peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In addition to the enjoyable lyrics, “Rhythm” features terrific production work – refined, slick and funky. As often was the case in the 1980s, the sound is constructed with percussion, programming, and keys/synths. The record embraces the chill, quiet storm R&B vibe that dominated the era.  To reiterate, El DeBarge sounds incredible singing lead with his instrument sounding clear, cool, and easy on the ears.  While the first verse, as well as the second verse are terrific, it is the chorus, which is catchy and feel-good as albeit, that is the centerpiece.

“To the beat of the rhythm of the night

Dance until the morning light

Forget about the worries on your mind

You can leave them all behind

To the beat of the rhythm of the night

Oh, the rhythm of the night.”

Later, the “la-la-la(s)” featured in the outro only accentuates the vibe.  All told, 🎵 “Rhythm Of The Night” is a must-hear 80s classic.  Throwback gold, baby!

Appears in 🔻:

• DeBarge, Rhythm Of The Night: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 106 (2023)

3. MICHELLE, “SYNCOPATE”

💿 AFTER DINNER WE TALK DREAMS • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 2022

“I can’t stop for more than a minute / It’s my body, I need you in it.” Damn! Well, 🎙 MICHELLE, at least you’re being forthright and honest AF on 🎵 “SYNCOPATE”. A brief joint, clocking in at just under two minutes in duration, “SYNCOPATE” packs a mighty, sexy punch.  It appears as the fourth track on the collective’s 2022 album, 💿 AFTER DINNER WE TALK DREAMS.  The sensual, soulful “SYNCOPATE” was penned by members of the sextet 🎼 ✍ Aidan Ludlam, Charlie Kilgore, Julian Kaufman, Layla Ku, and Sofia D’Angelo, with Kilgore and Kaufman handing the production work, superbly.

“Love it when you teasing me / Put it down easily / Making my knees so weak / Panting like a dog in heat / Sweat taste extra sweet.”  WOO – it’s getting hot in here, MICHELLE!  The first verse indeed titillates yet does so without getting too raunchy. Nudity is mentioned in the second verse, but it’s in the name of love: “You’re stripping me bare down to my favorite fear / What can we take off next?” It’s double entendre, mind you, but it hits different.  Of course, what we all care about the most is syncopation, right? “There’s no way we’re turning this around,” they sing in the chorus, adding, “It’s far too late / Just when I begin to keep the time / We syncopate.” Think about the brilliance of those lyrics, particularly if you have a music background.  Keeping time! Syncopation! The connection between beat, rhythm, and tempo! Used in a sexual context! 🎵 “SYNCOPATE” is a relatively safe for work Midnight Heat 🕛 🔥 experience! Most importantly, it’s a bop – a surefire vibe!

Appears in 🔻:

• MICHELLE, SYNCOPATE: Midnight Heat 🕛 🔥 53 (2023)

4. Katy Perry, “Chained To The Rhythm” (Ft. Skip Marley)

💿 Witness • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2017

“Are we crazy? / Living our lives through a lens / Trapped in our white picket fence / Like ornaments.” 🎵 “Chained to the Rhythm” ranks among the elite moments from 💿 Witness – it’s the crème de la crème.  🏆 Grammy-nominated pop singer 🎙 Katy Perry needed this moment obviously, given the meh nature of the album overall. The groove is infectious, while the production (🎛 Max Martin and Ali Payami) successfully blends urban- and tropical-pop.

Lyrically, “Chained to the Rhythm” is catchy and thought-provoking.  The verses are socially and politically relevant. 🎙 Skip Marley (grandson of the legendary reggae icon, 🎙 Bob Marley, btw) only plays a small role, never overshadowing Perry. The chorus propels “Chained to the Rhythm” to the next level. 

Appears in 🔻:

• Chains ⛓… 5ive Songs No. 20 (2020)
• 11 Intriguing Songs Associated with Chains ⛓ (2021)

5. Peaches & Herb, “Shake Your Groove Thing”

💿 2 Hot! • 🏷 UMG Recordings, Inc. • 🗓 1978

“Shake your groove thing / Shake your groove thing / Yeah, yeah / Show ‘em how we do it now.” Ooh wee! 🎙 Peaches & Herb experienced their most pop success with their 1978 album, 💿 2 Hot!.  Notably, with the duo, Herb was actually Herb (🎙 Herb Fame), while Peaches was various people 🤯. On 2 Hot!, which yielded both 🎵 “Reunited” and the song at hand, 🎵 “Shake Your Groove Thing”, 🎙 Linda Greene was Peaches. “Shake Your Groove Thing,” the second track from the album, was written by 🎼 ✍ Dino Fekaris and Freddie Perren. In addition to his writing credit, Perren serves as the producer.  Ultimately, with the writing of Fekaris and Perren, and the incredible chemistry and voices of Fame and Greene, “Shake Your Groove Thing” would peak at no. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, second only to hitting no. 1 with 🎵 “Reunited”.

The production work on “Shake Your Groove Thing” is bright and exuberant. The percussive groove is epic, instantly making your body move.  Specifically, the keyboard work is awesome, while the orchestration is marvelous – those strings and winds!  Of course, when it comes to the writing and most memorable moment, it’s none other than the infectious chorus, excerpted above in its simplistic glory.  The verses are fun too, also maintaining a sense of simplicity – not doing too much or going too deep. “Let’s show the world we can dance / Bad enough to strut our stuff,” the duo sings, continuing, “The music gives us a chance / We do more out on the floor.” Word! Of course, other fun lyrical moments include “Funky sounds / Wall to wall / We’re bumping booties / Having us a ball, y’all,” and, of course, the aforementioned “Feel that beat, never stop / Oh, hold me tight, spin me like a top.” To reiterate, the vocal chemistry allows this joint to be hella successful, making “Shake Your Groove Thing” one of those timeless, feel good soul classics.  All told, 🎵 “Shake Your Groove Thing” is an incredibly fun six minutes of 70s disco/funk/soul.

Appears in 🔻:

• Peaches & Herb, Shake Your Groove Thing: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 105 (2023)

Rhythm: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 57 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Atlantic, Capitol, Motown, Parkwood Entertainment LLC / Columbia, UMG Recordings, Inc.; cottonbro studio from Pexels]