In the early 80s,did you notice that many R&B artists were adding some "new wave" elements to their sound? There was Cameo's "Alligator Woman",Rick James' "Super Freak",The Bar-Kay's "Freaky Behavior",Bill Summers and Summer's Heat "17",to name a few.And of course,Prince was doing the whole punk/funk thing with edgy hits like "Controversy" and "Dirty Mind".Not to be outdone,O'Bryan entered the scene with his own synth-heavy New Wave-styled workout "The Gigolo".This song is fast and fierce,and quickly became a huge hit.O'Bryan would go on to record several other hits that were more in the funk/R&B vein,but nothing can top his debut hit,which featured the catchiest hook of the year.The lyrics are funny,in a way.You gotta feel sorry for poor O'Bryan,as this "gigolo" proceeds to steal his woman...lol...he keeps saying "I don't think she really knows" that he's a gigolo,but more likely,I don't think she really CARES ...lol....

"The Gigolo"

(written by O'Bryan Burnette-Don Cornelius)

He walked into the party
and looked at everybody in the room
she looked into those flaming eyes

She went and stood beside him
I thought she moved just a little too soon
I must admit to my surprise

He would not dance with her
he could not stay,he said
He's got no time to waste
he took her to,he took her to bed

(chorus)
He's just a freak,he don't love nobody
He won't dance,he just wants your body,baby
He's just a gigolo,I don't think she really knows,ooh yeah
He's just a freak,he don't love nobody
He won't dance,he just wants your body,baby
He's just a gigolo,I don't think she really knows

I could not understand it
I don't know why she followed him home
she had not seen this man before

He touched her with his body
and then she could not leave him alone
they left me standing on the floor

He would not dance with her
he could not stay,he said
He's got no time to waste
he took her to,he took her to bed

(chorus)
He's just a freak,he don't love nobody
He won't dance,he just wants your body,baby
He's just a gigolo,I don't think she really knows,oh no

He's just a freak,he don't love nobody
He won't dance,he just wants your body,baby
He's just a gigolo,I don't think she really knows


(instrumental break)

He's just a freak
He won't dance
He's just a gigolo

He's just a freak
He won't dance
He's just a gigolo



Repeat chorus

lol oh lawd i remember this record,

Oh, yeah! But, my favorite O'Bryan joint is "Lovelight".

UptownDeb said:

Love the intro...


"Here we go...one more time....will you please be mine?"

that was a fine chick in the video too

DavidEye said:

Oh, you're really good if you remember the video! I'd love to catch it on VH1 Classic (Soul).

Gosh that was the song back in middle school. Oh wait or was that 5th grade. Now it's in my head. The funny thing about this message board is it doesn't take long for a song to get stuck in my head. Just run through the threads and all of a sudden have a flashback moment or day, or basically partying in the head. Never saw the video, I don't think. I'm sure VH1 Soul or somebody has it.

O'Bryan was a very underappreciated cat. He may not have been a great song writer but he was a great "grove writer" The intro and groove to "I'm Freaky" is classic. "So, Sweet, So Young, So Sweet, So Young, So Sweet, So Youuuung"

intha916 said:

yeah,O'Bryan wasn't a great songwriter,but he could come up with some great grooves."I'm Freaky" was da jam back in early 1983.

UptownDeb said:

co-sign

UptownDeb said:

I vaguely remember the video.O'Bryan and a group of dancers were inside a factory or an electricity plant (since the song is about a "lovelite"...lol),and there was a really cute chick that O'Bryan was singing to.I remember her because she looked just like a girl that I had a crush on...lol...


I'd love to see a bunch of forgotten videos from the 80s like this one.

You guys know that there was a dance out with this record called "the gigolo" in 82 don cha?.....it was an easy dance to do. You twist your body and hands from side to side simultaneously..Patrice Rushen did this dance on her 1982 video "Forget Me Nots"

Man..... these old school memories...really take me back!!!!!

Was there a female version of this dance called "The Gigolette"? Remember the Ozone track with Teena Marie...

"gigolette from side to side....can you dig it?"