Expert: Bong Santos - 7/28/2006

Question
"Don't disturb this groove"...who sang that? I believe it was an 80's tune.

Answer
Dear Daniel,

You are right, it was an 80s tune. DON'T DISTURB THIS GROOVE was a 1987 hit by the group THE SYSTEM. It is actually a duo made up of MIC MURPHY (vocals, guitars) & DAVID FRANK (keyboards). The band was formed in New York in 1982. They released their first album in 1983 called SWEAT which contained the minor but classic hit YOU ARE IN MY SYSTEM. They hit bigtime when the album DON'T DISTURB THIS GROOVE was released in 1987. The title song peaked at #4 in the Hot 100 Chart on July 18, 1987 as well as #1 on the Hot R & B / Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Chart on May 2, 1987. Failing to match their 1987 success, THE SYSTEM disbanded in 1989 after releasing RHYTHM & ROMANCE only to reunite in 2000 with the album called ESP. DON'T DISTURB THIS GROOVE was sampled by the late rapper 2PAC on his hit LOST SOULS. THE SYSTEM were in demand as musicians as they can be heard playing on a lot of hit songs notably I FEEL FOR YOU by CHAKA KHAN (Hot 100, #3, November 24, 1984). Their last Hot 100 appearance came in 1988 with the title track from the soudtrack of an Eddie Murphy movie, COMING TO AMERICA which scraped the bottom of the charts at #91 on July 23, 1988.

Here's the lyrics:

DON'T DISTURB THIS GROOVE / THE SYSTEM

Pay attention are you listening
You're my favorite girl
Excuse me for the moment
I'm in another world
(On a mountain) by a fountain
Flowers blooming everywhere
With venus and cupid, the picture's very clear
Hang the sign upon the door, say
Don't disturb this groove
Just a way to say that
I'm so into you and the feelings so real
So don't disturb this groove
Erotic whispers for the listener
Let the music fill the air
Excuse me for a moment
I'm at a loss for words
By election sheer perfection
And as if these eyes would care
Your heart is in the right place
So don't you go and change
Baby over and over the passion starts again
You're my lollipops and everything
And a little taste of sin
Causing fire and desire
In this mortal soul to live
Till the angels fall from heaven
And the day the earth stands still
Hang a sign upon the door
Say don't disturb this groove
Just a way to say that
I'm so into you and the feeling's so real
So don't disturb this groove
Just a way to tell you that
I'm so into you
Close your eyes and let the music put you in the groove
Lock the door and turn the phone off, it's time for me and you
Hang the sign upon the door, say don't disturb this groove

Maraming salamat po!

BONG M. SANTOS
Manila, Philippines