Buffalo Stance is a song by Swedish singer-songwriter Neneh Cherry, released in November 1988 by Circa and Virgin as the first single from the singer’s debut album, Raw Like Sushi (1989). The song peaked at No. 3 on both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100, and it reached No. 1 in the Netherlands and in Cherry’s native Sweden. 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.
Morgan says the B-side was written using elements from the single’s A-side, most notably Phil Ramacon’s distinctive ascending keyboard hook, with Cherry writing the rap, while he supplied lyrics for the sung chorus. He says that no one working on the track recognised its hit potential, which was only reconsidered after his chance encounter at The Wag nightclub with DJ Tim Simenon, who expressed interest in reworking the song.
The song title refers to “Buffalo”, a group of photographers, models, musicians, hair and makeup artists, etc. formed by fashion stylist Ray Petri, of which group Cherry, Morgan, and McVey were all members. A buffalo stance is, Cherry told The New York Times, “an attitude you have to have in order to get by. It’s not about fashion but about survival in inner cities and elsewhere.” The song’s title is also a reference to the Malcolm McLaren song “Buffalo Gals” (1982), which “Buffalo Stance” samples. Other samples came from Rock Steady Crew’s “Hey You”, and the saxophone break is from the band Miami’s song “Chicken Yellow” (1974).
Neneh Cherry performed the song live on Top of the Pops whilst seven months pregnant. When asked by a reporter if it was safe for her to go on stage and perform, Cherry answered: “Yes, of course! It’s not an illness.”
Buffalo Stance Lyrics (1989)
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?
Who’s looking good today?
Who’s looking good in every way?
No style rookie
You better watch don’t mess with me
No money man could 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 shows 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
Who’s looking good today?
Who’s looking good in every way?
No style rookie
You better watch don’t mess with me
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 anyway?
Yo’ man what do you expect the guy’s a gigolo man
You know I mean?
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
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
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.
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
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