Neneh Cherry: "Buffalo Stance" (1988)

"Buffalo Stance" is a 1988 song that peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart recorded by Neneh Cherry from her album Raw Like Sushi, produced by Tim Simenon (from Bomb The Bass) and Mark Saunders.

An early version of the song appeared as the B-side on the 1986 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 and was produced by Stock Aitken & Waterman. Cherry also appears in the video of the song, playing guitar.

The 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. Thus the meaning is to stand like you are posing for a photo-shoot in a London fashion magazine in the 1980s. The song's name is also a reference to Malcolm McLaren's song "Buffalo Gals", which is sampled in "Buffalo Stance".

Cherry notably performed the song live on Top of the Pops while 8 months pregnant.

The song was also featured on the soundtrack of Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City. Also, Westlife performed the song on the medley part of their Where the Dreams Come True Tour. It was also featured in the movie Slaves of New York which stars Bernadette Peters and directed by James Ivory.


- Lyrics:

Who's that gigolo on the street
With his hands in his pockets and his crocodile feet
Hanging off the curb, looking all disturbed
At the boys from home. They all came running
They were making noise, manhandling toys
That's the girls on the block with the nasty curls
Wearing padded bras sucking beers through straws
Dropping down their drawers, where did you get yours?

Gigolo, Huh, sukka?
Gigolo. Gigolo, Huh, sukka?

Chorus 1:

Who's looking good today?
Who's looking good in every way?
No style rookie
You better watch don't mess with me

Chorus 2:

No moneyman can win my love
It's sweetness that I'm thinking of.
We always hang in a Buffalo Stance
We do the dive every time we dance
I'll give you love baby not romance
I'll make a move nothing left to chance
So don't you get fresh with me

Get funky. Yeah Timmy.
Tell it like it is. Check out this DJ.

So you say you wanted money but you know it's never funny
When your shoes worn through and there's a rumble in your tummy
But you had to have style get a gold tooth smile
Put a girl on the corner so you can make a pile
Committed a crime and went inside
It was coming your way but you had to survive
When you lost your babe, you lost the race
Now you're looking at me to take her place.

Chorus 1

Smokin.' Not cokin.' Get funky sax.
Looking good, hanging with the wild bunch.
Looking good in a Buffalo Stance.
Looking good when it comes to the crunch
Looking good's a state of mind
State of mind don't look behind you
State of mind or you'll be dead
State of mind may I remind you
Bomb the Bass...rock this place!
What is he like? What's he like anway?
Yo' man what do you expect the guy's a gigolo man
You know I mean?

Chorus 2 (twice)

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.

Chorus 2 ...