Expert: Bong Santos - 1/8/2007

Question
Hello!

My sisters and their friends grew up with the 80's music too. They say that it's the best and i agree with them.

They were arguing about this "metallic gigolo" one said that it's a song itself while another said that it was just what the trend was called but the title of the song is different.  

Anyway, i found out from you that it is really a song.  Do you have the lyrics to this song.  It doesn't have to be the whole song, some parts or just the chorus will do. It might jog their memory if they read the lyrics.

thanks do much!

Answer
Dear Chaerin,

Sorry for the rather late reply.

Before I answer your question, I presumed you are a Filipino so you won't have a hard time understanding my reply.

Your sister and her friends are both correct. METALLIC GIGOLO both was a song and a "trend" brought about by the popularity of the METALLIC GIGOLO dance contest back in 1981.

However, that fact can only be said here in the Philippines. Here's how: The then-WEA RECORDS released a compilation album called METALLIC GIGOLO under Atlantic Records. Its first single was the dance hit PARADISE by the US-Italian band CHANGE. WEA RECORDS decided to ride on the popularity of the fad and re-titled the song METALLIC GIGOLO (PARADISE) (In the past, I mistakenly credited HIGH FREQUENCY as the band who sang it, HIGH FREQUENCY is another disco band who had a hit called MODERN ROMANCE). Internationally, the song was still known as PARADISE. There you go.

For the record, CHANGE was a disco band formed by producers JACQUES FRED PETRUS and MAURO MALAVASI. CHANGE and another hit from the compilation album, HOLD TIGHT was from their 1981 album MIRACLES. Before recording MIRACLES, the late LUTHER VANDROSS was their lead vocalist. When LUTHER left for a solo career in 1980, JAMES ROBINSON was tapped to do lead vocal chores. PARADISE only peaked at a low #80 on the Hot 100 Chart while HOLD TIGHT stopped at #89. PARADISE, however, was a #1 Hot Dance Hit. Another hit from the album was GINO SOCCIO's TRY IT OUT.

Here's how PARADISE goes:

PARADISE / CHANGE

If you touch me with desire
I’ll take you to paradise
I can make it worth your while
I’ll take you to paradise, come.

Houses made of ecstasy around the room
So picture us together
(Picture us together now)
Feeling all our dreams are free
Romantic thoughts and not letting them fade away, oh no.

Chorus:
Reach for the sky
I want you, I want you more
I’ll be nearby
Come with me, I’ll take you there.
(Repeat)

All through the night the feelin’s high
So come on to paradise
You’ll be safe with me, so try
Livin’ in the paradise, oh yeah.

I can share my space with you
After all, this is how it should be
(I want your love, I need your love)
Just some tender words alone
Let me know that this is how it ought to be, oh yeah.
(Repeat Chorus)
(Instrumental)
(Repeat 1st stanza 2X)
Repeat Chorus 2X, fade)


Maraming salamat po!!

BONG M. SANTOS
Manila, Philippines