The Time, Jungle Love | Throwback Vibez

In the 201st edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Jungle Love” by Minneapolis funk band, The Time. 

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 they’re ancient – no fossils ! All genres of music are welcome. In the 201^st edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Jungle Love” performed by The Time.

“Oh! (Oh-we-oh-we-oh) / I think I wanna know ya (know ya) / Oh, jungle love, yeah (Oh-we-oh-we-oh) / Uhm, girl, I’d like to show ya (Show ya).” Ooh-wee, child! The Time arrived on the funk scene in the 1980s. One of the Minneapolis band’s best-known songs is “Jungle Love”, the fourth track on their 1984 album, Ice Cream Castle.  One of the writers credited to the song is an icon: Prince (1958 – 2016). Prince and The Time lead singer Morris Day attended high school together and were bandmates in the band, Grand Central. Day, Jesse Johnson, and Martika Marrero are also credited as writers of “Jungle Love.”  Day, Johnson, and Prince produced it. “Jungle Love” was a success on the pop charts, peaking at no. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.  “Oh-we-oh-we-oh” indeed!

“Jungle Love” exemplifies the 1980s funk sound. The groove grooves hard, the synthesizers synth, and the riffs, well, they riff something fierce! Love – well sex – is the modus operandi, period! “Said I, I’m a little dangerous,” Day sings in the first verse, adding, “Girl, I’d like to show ya.” Oh, I bet you would, Morris! In the second verse, the sexual innuendo is pronounced: “You, you’ve got a pretty car / I think I wanna drive it / I ain’t playin’, said I, drive a little dangerous / Take you to my crib, rip you off.” Oh, snap, he ain’t lying when he says it’s “Jungle Love!” In the third verse, he’s holding her captive – “Lock you up and hide the key /… if you’re hungry, take a bite of me.” The sound and tenor of the song match Prince being prince – erotic-minded.  Of course, “Jungle Love” should be taken with a grain of salt. Ultimately, it’s a fun, infectious funk cut that never grows old. Morris Day is a dynamic lead vocalist, infusing plenty of personality into his performance. Notably, Prince’s rendition of “Jungle Love” appeared in his posthumously released Originals album (2019).

The Time // Ice Cream Castle // Warner // 1984

The Time, Jungle Love: Throwback Vibez No. 201 (2024) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Warner; OpenClipart-Vectors, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Speedy McVroom from Pixabay]