SONG TITLE: CYFMLAY

PERFORMER: TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY

SONGWRITER: TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY / GEORGE CLINTON JR.

YEAR OF RELEASE: 1995

COMMENTS: TTD can be quite the little prankster. Here he teases the object of his affection, gently poking at her insecurities, then re-assuring her of her desirability. He sings the chorus ("Can you feel my love around you?") in a peculiarly affected falsetto, like he's growling playfully out of the side of his mouth. The whole sound of the arrangement comes out so tricked up that you might call it a "novelty" record.

You probably wouldn't call it novelty record, though, because it is way too musically sophisticated and accomplished. Most things called "novelty" records are stupid little nothings with a short shelf life that get over on some little musical gimmick or an off the wall funny lyric. Terence has made a funny record with a weird texture, but it all comes together in a way that will still be worthwhile once the novelty wears off.

The record exudes playful, frolicsome sexuality. It comes out in the catchy little wah-wahed guitar riff, which comes out with a lightly mocking tone. It comes out in all the little extra percussion instruments shuffling alongside the basic drum part, and it comes out in the freaky combinations of saxophone and horns.

The playfulness also comes out in the lyrics. TTD thinks of himself as a poet, and he has the skills with metaphor and rhythm and sound to more than back it up. However, he knows how to bring it all back down to earth. "Would you play with me, and let me eat you like a watermelon rind?" This works beautifully as a sexual metaphor, the juices running down his chin and all, and it works as a cute little racial joke.

Also, he gets a spot of extra credit for being the man -he played all the instruments on this track personally, and playing them all very skillfully.

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