Crystal Waters and "Gypsy Woman"
Joanne Brooks, Ski Kitten
>Ok, I'll start a discussion here. Question: What is so great
>about Crystal Waters' song "Gypsy Woman"? I've been checking
>the dance charts around town (Washington DC) and it seems that
>this song is becoming one of the best selling/most played song
>around the area. First of all, I'm *NOT* asking this question
>to be nasty or to generate flaming and bitching for everyone.
Well, if you find out, tell me. Rarely do I hear a song start on the radio
and injure myself trying to leap over obstacles to reach the stereo and
change the station, but that song is one. It's boring, droning, and
downright annoying. I listened to the song through the first 2 or 3 times
it played, but I couldn't take anymore. And isn't Crystal Waters from
the DC area? First Anita Ward, and now this.... :-)
jojo
Myrick L. Peacock
>Ok, I'll start a discussion here. Question: What is so great
>about Crystal Waters' song "Gypsy Woman"? I've been checking
>the dance charts around town (Washington DC) and it seems that
>this song is becoming one of the best selling/most played song
>around the area. First of all, I'm *NOT* asking this question
>to be nasty or to generate flaming and bitching for everyone.
I'm addicted to "Gypsy Woman." When I first had on tape, from a
local radio show, I played it at least 8 times back to back. I bought
the record the next Monday (store was closed on Sunday) and recorded
the 4 versions, back to back. It's in my car and I have on demand
"Gypsy Woman."
Why is "Gypsy Woman" so great? Because it's incredibly simple.
It just hits me and my body says, "Yeah, that's nice!" It's easy
to listen and dance to. There aren't a bunch of cluttering samples to
distract you. It's House in one of it's original forms; Drum machine,
keyboard, and maybe vocals. I've always loved House and this is the best
I've heard in almost a year. If you don't like House you'll never get
it. If your idea of House is C+C Music factory, You're Dead Wrong. That's
Pop with a House tempo.
I like Freestyle House like Todd Terry and Tyree but stuff like "Gypsy
Woman" just makes me feel good.
"Gypsy Woman" is probably doing so well because House is getting into
the mainstream and it's on a major label, Mercury, which has mainstream
radio stations and record stores as regular customers. Unlike most or
all of House labels which have to wait to be picked up by the majors
to sell on this level.
I had intended to give an exact reason why I like it so much but I can't
put it into words. Facial expressions, yes. Words, no.
Myrick L. Peacock
Naz Reyes
>
>In article <910524044...@is-next.umd.edu> bro...@is-next.umd.EDU
>(Joanne
>Brooks, Ski Kitten) writes:
>
>Why is "Gypsy Woman" so great? Because it's incredibly simple.
>It just hits me and my body says, "Yeah, that's nice!" It's easy
>to listen and dance to. There aren't a bunch of cluttering samples to
>distract you. It's House in one of it's original forms; Drum machine,
>keyboard, and maybe vocals. I've always loved House and this is the best
My idea of house music is H.O.U.S.E. by DOUG LAZY. Very simple and
very busy. *THAT* is house music. "Gypsy Woman" is masturbation.
>I've heard in almost a year. If you don't like House you'll never get
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You did not read my original posting. I *LOVE* House music and most
forms of DANCE MUSIC. I've been supporting house music probably
before you've even heard of what it was.
>it. If your idea of House is C+C Music factory, You're Dead Wrong. That's
>Pop with a House tempo.
No, C+C Music Factory is *not* house music. It's a combination of pop,
R&B, techno, and rock.
>
>I like Freestyle House like Todd Terry and Tyree but stuff like "Gypsy
Todd Terry is very good. His first album is a classic.
>"Gypsy Woman" is probably doing so well because House is getting into
>the mainstream and it's on a major label, Mercury, which has mainstream
>radio stations and record stores as regular customers. Unlike most or
>all of House labels which have to wait to be picked up by the majors
>to sell on this level.
Ahh, I think you answered my original question. It's on a major label.
>I had intended to give an exact reason why I like it so much but I can't
>put it into words. Facial expressions, yes. Words, no.
>
>
>Myrick L. Peacock
-Naz
Naz Reyes
Brooks, Ski Kitten) says:
>
>
>Well, if you find out, tell me. Rarely do I hear a song start on the radio
>and injure myself trying to leap over obstacles to reach the stereo and
>change the station, but that song is one. It's boring, droning, and
>downright annoying. I listened to the song through the first 2 or 3 times
>it played, but I couldn't take anymore. And isn't Crystal Waters from
>the DC area? First Anita Ward, and now this.... :-)
>
Wait a second there. Give Anita Ward a little credit, eh? After all,
ain't MONIE LOVE sampling a little bit of Ms. Ward's music?
I have a feeling that you're still remembering the "disco scare"
back in the late 70's. It's back so get over it.
-Naz
Naz Reyes
>the DC area? First Anita Ward, and now this.... :-)
>
Ahh, yea, I just found out that Crystal Waters *is* in fact from
the DC area. And, I'm not supporting her in any way.
We do have DOUG LAZY and RAZE. Ever heard of "BASS POWER" by Raze?
That's what I call a real dope groove. And, Doug Lazy has become
the king of hiphouse almost overnight.... :-)
-Naz
Joanne Brooks
Followup-To:
Distribution:
Organization: Comp. Sci. Ctr., Univ. of MD, College Park, MD 20742
Keywords:
N...@auvm.auvm.edu (Naz Reyes) writes:
>bro...@is-next.umd.EDU (Joanne Brooks, Ski Kitten) says:
>>
>>the DC area? First Anita Ward, and now this.... :-)
>> ^^^^^^^^^^^
>Wait a second there. Give Anita Ward a little credit, eh? After all,
>ain't MONIE LOVE sampling a little bit of Ms. Ward's music?
>I have a feeling that you're still remembering the "disco scare"
>back in the late 70's. It's back so get over it.
First, I'm not old enough to truly have appreciated or hated the entire disco
scene. I was only around 13, thoroughly enjoying Parliament, Funkadelic, Led
Zeppelin, the big names from Motown, Lakeside, and some new guy with a
high-pitched voice named Prince :-)
Second, many other bad songs have been sampled, some to get a good hook, others
to just be funny. The sample can also be well done. I don't recall hearing
"Ring My Bell" in a Monie Love's song (then again I could've just missed it),
but if she did, more power to her. Still won't make me like the original,
nor "Gypsy Woman" either. What can I say? I don't like the song.
later daze...
jojo
--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joanne Brooks |Internet: bro...@is-next.umd.edu
"Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam, | bro...@syrinx.umd.edu
and the death of a race is a game..." |**********************************
The Crossjammer
Naz> In article <910524044...@is-next.umd.edu>, bro...@is-next.umd.EDU (Joanne
Naz> Brooks, Ski Kitten) says:
>
>it played, but I couldn't take anymore. And isn't Crystal Waters from
>the DC area? First Anita Ward, and now this.... :-)
>
Naz> Ahh, yea, I just found out that Crystal Waters *is* in fact from
Naz> the DC area. And, I'm not supporting her in any way.
Naz> We do have DOUG LAZY and RAZE. Ever heard of "BASS POWER" by Raze?
Naz> That's what I call a real dope groove. And, Doug Lazy has become
Naz> the king of hiphouse almost overnight.... :-)
"Bass Power" is relatively weak for Doug Lazy and Vaughn Mason. I think
Doug was just doing Vaughn a favor in between albums. Speaking of which,
It's been at least *2 Years* since Doug first hit the scene with "Let It
Roll". Where the hell's the new stuff?. Doug has pretty much abdicated his
throne. Besides which, I'm still listening to Fast Eddie's "Jack to the
Sound" and it kicks the shit out of Doug Lazy's album which I thought was
pretty good.
I believe the Basement Boys, producers of "Gypsy Woman" and "Tonite" and UltraNate, are
from Baltimore originally.
Naz> -Naz
--
They can't come on and play me in prime time, |Crossjammer ...... OUT!
Cause I know the time, cause I'm gettin' mine. |xj...@yew.berkeley.edu
I get on the mix late in the night... <-------------------PUBLIC ENEMY
The Crossjammer
Naz> In article <79...@alvin.mcnc.org>, pea...@mcnc.org (Myrick L. Peacock) says:
>In article <910524044...@is-next.umd.edu> bro...@is-next.umd.EDU
>(Joanne
>Brooks, Ski Kitten) writes:
>
>Why is "Gypsy Woman" so great? Because it's incredibly simple.
>It just hits me and my body says, "Yeah, that's nice!" It's easy
>to listen and dance to. There aren't a bunch of cluttering samples to
>distract you. It's House in one of it's original forms; Drum machine,
>keyboard, and maybe vocals. I've always loved House and this is the best
Naz> My idea of house music is H.O.U.S.E. by DOUG LAZY. Very simple and
Naz> very busy. *THAT* is house music. "Gypsy Woman" is masturbation.
"Gypsy Woman" though is almost definitely much closer to what House started
out as then "H.O.U.S.E". It's pure rhythm for rhythm's sake ala "100% of
Disin You" by Armando which is even more monotonous but just as legendary.
While I like Doug Lazy, most of his stuff is a trivial bastardization of
what House was.
>I've heard in almost a year. If you don't like House you'll never get
Naz> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Naz> You did not read my original posting. I *LOVE* House music and most
Naz> forms of DANCE MUSIC. I've been supporting house music probably
Naz> before you've even heard of what it was.
>it. If your idea of House is C+C Music factory, You're Dead Wrong. That's
>Pop with a House tempo.
Naz> No, C+C Music Factory is *not* house music. It's a combination of pop,
Naz> R&B, techno, and rock.
>
>I like Freestyle House like Todd Terry and Tyree but stuff like "Gypsy
Naz> Todd Terry is very good. His first album is a classic.
>"Gypsy Woman" is probably doing so well because House is getting into
>the mainstream and it's on a major label, Mercury, which has mainstream
>radio stations and record stores as regular customers. Unlike most or
>all of House labels which have to wait to be picked up by the majors
>to sell on this level.
>Myrick L. Peacock
Naz> Ahh, I think you answered my original question. It's on a major label.
Naz> -Naz
Ahhhh, but "Gypsy Woman" was slamming on the Underground scene long before
it was even *released* for general purchase. Thus the major label notion
is a red herring. This may be why you hear it on the radio a lot, but the
same went for Snap's "The Power" (on Elektra) and that doesn't invalidate
that song as a classic track. "Gypsy Woman" would have been considered an
essential dance cut for House lovers even if it had never made it to the
airwaves.
I really have no clue as to why the song actually works. I actually like
the instrumental just as much as the vocal, so it's not Crystal Waters
stellar voice ;-> I believe it's just one of those gut type songs, ala
Armando above and a whole host of other House songs. For example, Tech
Nine's "Slam Jam", Fast Eddie's "I Can Dance", Try Yaz's "Esta Loca", and
anything by Pal Joey/Soho (not the Hippychick ones). The song which "Gypsy
Woman" most reminds of is Masters C&J's "Living in the City". Striking me
the most in both songs was the incredible contrast between the song you
were hearing and the subject matter. "Living in the City" had this murky,
dark, raunchy, hypnotic groove backing grim lyrics of the streets and Liz
Torres' sultry vocals. "Gypsy Woman" has this syrupy, tinkly, sound on top
of a rhythm that latches onto the back of your brain along with the killer
"La da de, La du ow" hook. But then you get "Although the fault is not
mine, I ask out why, God why."
Like I said, the song stands by itself and has gotten the House classic
seal of approval from my posse. And that was before anybody knew it had
gone berserk on East Coast radio. I think what some people are suffering
from is typical radio overkill. If you heard Doug Lazy's "Let the Rhythm
Pump" on the hour every hour for a week, you'd puke on that too.
Douglas R. Pitters
|> Ok, I'll start a discussion here. Question: What is so great
|> about Crystal Waters' song "Gypsy Woman"? I've been checking
|> the dance charts around town (Washington DC) and it seems that
|> this song is becoming one of the best selling/most played song
|> around the area. First of all, I'm *NOT* asking this question
|> to be nasty or to generate flaming and bitching for everyone.
|> popular at this time. Personally, I find the song rather boring
|> compared to a lot of the songs they play in the clubs right now.
|> I *LOVE* House music and most other forms of dance music but I
|> just can't see what all the commotion is about Crystal Waters
|> and her song. Anyone care to comment?
|>
|> *********************************************************************
I remember the first time I heard this track. I turned to
one of my partners and said, "this, this IS the SHIT." Now everyone
is hearing this track. To be honest, I really don't know why this song
is so popular. I mean, I know it's good. The sound is in the true
fashion of the Basement Boys. You know the guys who produce Ultra Nate.
The sound is very very underfground, very dark, almost sweaty.
If you like most underground sounding tracks; tracks like "Drink on Me" by
Teule, "Untrue Affection" by Blue Jean Regime, and the last summer sizzler,
"Love So Special" by Ceybil, then you will see the appeal to this one. The
problem is, commercial America is *not* into this sound. There into more
standard sounding stuff like C&C Music Factory, and Black Box. So
to answer your question, I have NO idea why this track is doing so well.
I almost feel better when people say they don't like it.
Come to think of it, I remember one gig I did for this very stuffy group
of people. I was playing the standard fare, (you dj's would know, the stuff
you have to play if you want them to sign the check), and I wanted to clear
the dancefloor, cuz it was late and I wanted to shut down. I played this
song, thinking that by the way it sounded, no one in the room would like
it except me. AND THE FLOOR PACKED!!! I couldn't believe it. I almost
felt like I was dreaming. So I played Hot Music, and the floor promptly
cleared, and I felt like I was in the real world again ;-)
.... and you don't stop.
DJ Mr. Doug Nice
The Saint
"... and while one day throwing visciously down on his box, Jack rose
and boldly declared, 'LET THERE BE HOUSE'; and house music was born...."
Douglas R. Pitters
|> In article <79...@alvin.mcnc.org>, pea...@mcnc.org (Myrick L. Peacock) says:
|> >
|> >In article <910524044...@is-next.umd.edu> bro...@is-next.umd.EDU
|> >(Joanne
|> >Brooks, Ski Kitten) writes:
|> >
|> >Why is "Gypsy Woman" so great? Because it's incredibly simple.
|> >It just hits me and my body says, "Yeah, that's nice!" It's easy
|> >to listen and dance to. There aren't a bunch of cluttering samples to
|> >distract you. It's House in one of it's original forms; Drum machine,
|> >keyboard, and maybe vocals. I've always loved House and this is the best
|>
|> My idea of house music is H.O.U.S.E. by DOUG LAZY. Very simple and
Actually, H.O.U.S.E. is Hip-House, while Gypsy Woman is
more like standard underground house. You seem to be annoyed mostly because
the track is doing well commercially, and you hate it when *everyone* likes
a track that only a select few would usually like.
|>
|> >I've heard in almost a year. If you don't like House you'll never get
|> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|> You did not read my original posting. I *LOVE* House music and most
|> forms of DANCE MUSIC. I've been supporting house music probably
|> before you've even heard of what it was.
|>
|> >it. If your idea of House is C+C Music factory, You're Dead Wrong. That's
|> >Pop with a House tempo.
|>
|> No, C+C Music Factory is *not* house music. It's a combination of pop,
|> R&B, techno, and rock.
I always considered it a combination of Freestyle, the stuff
C&C used to do when they were 2 Puerto Ricans, a Black Man and a Dominican,
and Hip-Hop. Of course they do produce House Music, and have been for a
long time. Rob Civilles & David Cole are not new to the scene, but I know
you already know that :-)
|> >
|> >I like Freestyle House like Todd Terry and Tyree but stuff like "Gypsy
|>
|> Todd Terry is very good. His first album is a classic.
|>
|> >"Gypsy Woman" is probably doing so well because House is getting into
|> >the mainstream and it's on a major label, Mercury, which has mainstream
|> >radio stations and record stores as regular customers. Unlike most or
|> >all of House labels which have to wait to be picked up by the majors
|> >to sell on this level.
|>
|> Ahh, I think you answered my original question. It's on a major label.
Well, Love So Special was on a major label, Atlantic, and didn't have
the same amount of success as this one. No, I don't think the major label
argument cut's it on this one. I think it's just good. I mean it had
the clubs in New York JUMPING _long_ *before* Mercury picked it up. Had
Mercury not picked it up, it would have enjoyed the successful, yet normal
life of a "Luv Dancin", a "Scandal", and a "Love So Special".
|>
|> >Myrick L. Peacock
|>
|> -Naz
I like this debate, but I don't think it will get anywhere. To be able
to answer this question is to be able to understand the criteria of
what makes music good. If I knew the answer to that, I'd be trading
my computer for a drum machine and a keyboard :-).
...and you don't stop.
DJ. Mr. Doug Nice, and you don't stop.
Andrew Thomas
> I remember the first time I heard this track. I turned to
>one of my partners and said, "this, this IS the SHIT." Now everyone
>is hearing this track. To be honest, I really don't know why this song
>is so popular.
I think I can supply the answer to this one, and it's certainly not obvious
from listening to the record. I speak from the other side of the decks (ie. a
compulsive dancer as opposed to the mainly DJ orientated postings of this
newsgroup) and I can tell you that one of the absolute joys of life is dancing
to "Gypsy Woman". It's a purely emotional response. That's what this newsgroup
should really be about. Don't rationalise it. Don't intellectualise it. It's
a joy.
Andrew Thomas
eeth...@pyr.swan.ac.uk
Douglas R. Pitters
Yeah Andy, I agree with you.
I think the point that some of us were discussing is WHY this track
in particular, is so popular, as opposed to other tracks like
DV8, and Slam Jam, and others are not, when they are almost as good.
Why didn't "Love So Special" and "Drink On Me" not sell as much
You realise that Gypsy Woman was one of the most bought single in
Tower Records here in Boston, a title usually held by more commercial
tracks. I guess my main point here is "Why did the commercial stations play
it so much?"
People who like Crystal Waters should check out other tracks that were
done by the Basement Boys, particularly Ultra Nate.
Naz Reyes
(Douglas R. Pitters) says:
>
>In article <25...@cybaswan.UUCP>, eeth...@cybaswan.UUCP (Andrew Thomas)
>writes:
>|> In article <1991May24....@athena.mit.edu> mad...@athena.mit.edu
>(Douglas R. Pitters) writes:
>|> > I remember the first time I heard this track. I turned to
>|> >one of my partners and said, "this, this IS the SHIT." Now everyone
>|> >is hearing this track. To be honest, I really don't know why this song
>|> >is so popular.
>|>
>|> I think I can supply the answer to this one, and it's certainly not obvious
>|> from listening to the record. I speak from the other side of the decks (ie.a
>|> compulsive dancer as opposed to the mainly DJ orientated postings of this
I'm an ULTRA-compulsive dancer and I've yet to discover what is so
great about this song. The song is OK, though.
>|> newsgroup) and I can tell you that one of the absolute joys of life is
>dancing
>|> to "Gypsy Woman". It's a purely emotional response. That's what this
>newsgroup
>|> should really be about. Don't rationalise it. Don't intellectualise it.
I agree with u. Dance music usually deals with a "gut emotion"
and feeling as opposed to intellectual subjects. Intellectualizing
dance music almost means nothing to me.
>It's
>|> a joy.
>|>
>|> Andrew Thomas
>|> eeth...@pyr.swan.ac.uk
>
> Yeah Andy, I agree with you.
>I think the point that some of us were discussing is WHY this track
>in particular, is so popular, as opposed to other tracks like
>DV8, and Slam Jam, and others are not, when they are almost as good.
>Why didn't "Love So Special" and "Drink On Me" not sell as much
>You realise that Gypsy Woman was one of the most bought single in
>Tower Records here in Boston, a title usually held by more commercial
>tracks. I guess my main point here is "Why did the commercial stations play^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>it so much?"
^^^^^^^^^^
Now, *THAT* is the question that I wanted to ask in the beginning of
this posting. The song does not not sound commercial at all.
It's very simple (nothing wrong with that) and a very straighforward
track. It sounds more like a jam session as opposed to a song mixed
and remixed and remixed and redone and then finally released as a
single. Hell, I listened to the song 3 times and then tried
sequencing this song with my synth/sequencer/drum machine and I
came very close to the original sound of the arrangement in less than
ONE HOUR!!!
There is no doubt about it. This song is *VERY COMMERCIAL* at this
moment. At the rate this song is going, it may even be a number
one DANCE TRACK OF THE YEAR, a NUMBER ONE POP SINGLE, and it
may even win her the BEST NEW ARTIST AWARD. This is *not* an
exaggeration. The song is selling like HOTCAKES. Now, that's
mind-boggling.
-Naz