Buffalo Stance

"Buffalo Stance"
File:Neneh Cherry Buffalo Stance cover.jpg
Single by Neneh Cherry
from the album Raw Like Sushi
Released	28 November 1988
Recorded	1988
Genre	Hip hop, dance-pop, freestyle
Length	5:42 (full-length version) 4:07 (7" edit)
Label	Virgin
Writer(s)	Neneh Cherry, Cameron McVey, Jamie Morgan, Phillip Ramacon
Producer(s)	Tim Simenon ("Bomb the Bass") and Mark Saunders
Neneh Cherry singles chronology
"Buffalo Stance" (1988) "Manchild" (1989)

"Buffalo Stance" is the title of a 1988 single recorded by Neneh Cherry, from her debut album, Raw Like Sushi. The song peaked at #3 on both the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

History

An early version of the song appeared as the B-side on the 1986 Stock, Aitken, and Waterman-produced single "Looking Good Diving" by duo Morgan-McVey, which was made up of Jamie Morgan and Cherry's future husband, Cameron McVey. The song, titled "Looking Good Diving with the Wild Bunch," was sung by Cherry.

Background and context

The song title refers to Buffalo, a group of photographers, models, musicians, hair and makeup artists, etc. formed by fashion stylist Ray Petri, of whom Cherry, Morgan and McVey were all members. Such a "stance" would be to stand like a person or group of people that are posing for a photo shoot in a London fashion magazine.

The song's name is also a reference to Malcolm McLaren's 1983 song "Buffalo Gals," which "Buffalo Stance" samples. Other samples came from Rock Steady Crew's "Are You Ready?", and the saxophone break is from the band Miami's 1974 song "Chicken Yellow."

The song was written and composed for Cherry's boyfriend at the time, Esteban Caudillo. Cherry gave him the nickname "Che" because he frequently quoted Che Guevara and talked constantly about revolutionary topics. Thus, Cherry's original lyrics were:
"Who's looking good today? Che's looking good in every way."
After their breakup, she removed this reference to him.

The reference to "his crocodile feet" was Cherry's teasing reference to Che's ever present Lacoste tennis shoes, which he even wore with business suits and tuxedoes.

The following lyrics were from a Valentine's Day poem Che wrote for Cherry:
"Wind on my face, sound in my ears
Water from my eyes, and you on my mind
As I sink, diving down deep deeper into your soul."

The two eventually split due to Cherry's belief that Che was too materialistic and loved money more than her, which was the inspiration for the lyrics:
"No moneyman can win my love
It's sweetness that I'm thinking of."

Tim Simenon, also called "Bomb the Bass," was asked to help with the reworking of the song. Cherry pays homage to Simenon during the song's breaks with "Yeah, Timmy! Tell it like it is!" and "Bomb the Bass, rock this place!"

Cherry notably performed the song live on Top of the Pops while seven months pregnant. When asked by a reporter if it was safe for her to go up on stage performing, Cherry answered, "Yes, of course! It's not an illness."

Track listing

"Buffalo Stance" was released on both 3-inch CD single, and 5-inch CD single.

1. "Buffalo Stance (Extended Mix)" – 5:43
2. "Buffalo Stance (Scratchapella)" – 1:38
3. "Buffalo Stance (Electro Ski)" – 3:38
4. "Give Me a Muthufucking Break Beat (Sukka Mix)" – 5:19

Charts

This song, as well as being her debut hit, was Cherry's international breakthrough, reaching #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #3 on the UK Singles Chart, and #1 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Chart	Peak position
Australia (ARIA Singles Chart)	21
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)	7
Canadian Top Singles (RPM)	3
Canadian Dance/Urban Singles (RPM)	1
Germany (Official German Charts)	2
Ireland (Irish Singles Chart)	7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)	1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	14
Norway (VG-lista)	3
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	2
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)	3
US Billboard Hot 100	3
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)	1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	30

Year-end charts

Chart (1989)	Position
Australia (ARIA Singles Chart)	92

Original versions

• 7" Mix (Mark Saunders, Tim Simenon) – 4:07
• 12" Mix – 5:43

Remixes and covers

• Give Me A Muthufucking Break Beat/Sukka Mix – 5:19
• There's Nothing Wrong Mix/ Sukka Mix II (The Dynamik Duo & DJ Mushroom) – 5:30
• Electro Ski Mix (Mark Saunders, Tim Simenon) – 3:35
• Extended Mix
• Scratchapella – 1:41
• 1/2 Way 2 House Mix (Arthur Baker) – 7:44
• Nearly Neuebeat (Arthur Baker) – 7:06
• Kevin Saunderson's Techno Stance Mix I (Kevin Saunderson) – 6:41
• Kevin Saunderson's Techno Stance Mix II (Kevin Saunderson) – 5:17
• Instrumental – 5:41
• Fast Pop Mix (Arthur Baker) – 5:41
• Cosmic Re-Edit 2004 – 3:35
• Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See N. Cherry vs Busta Rhymes (Pop Chop) – 4:26
• Buffalo Stance vs Brimful Of Asha N. Cherry vs Cornershop (Soulwax)
• DJ Rock Your Buffalo Body N. Cherry vs Justin Timberlake (DJ Jonny Moiree)

The song was also featured on the soundtrack of the videogame Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City. Westlife performed the song on the medley part of their Where the Dreams Come True Tour. It was featured in the movie Slaves of New York, which starred Bernadette Peters and directed by James Ivory. Swedish electroclash group Alice in Videoland covered the track on their 2011 album, A Million Thoughts and They're All About You.

The song is the theme for Jamie Oliver's 15 Minute Meals television show.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Preceded by "Like a Prayer" by Madonna

Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single April 29, 1989

Succeeded by "Real Love" by Jody Watley