Express Yourself
Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
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Express Yourself! Express Yourself! You don't ever need help from nobody else. All you got to do now: Express Yourself! What ever you do, do it good. What ever you do, do it good. All right... It's not what you look like, when you're doin´ what you're doin´. It's what you're doin´ when you're doin´ what you look like you're doin´! Express Yourself! Express Yourself! They're doin´it on the moon, yeah... In the jungle too. Everybody on the floor, now. Jumpin´ like a kangaroo. So let the horns do the thing they do, yo... Some people have everything, and other people don't. But everything don't mean a thing if it ain´t the thing you want. Express Yourself! Express Yourself! O, do it! O, do it. Do it to it. Go on and do it. Yo, do it. Give. Express Yourself! Express Yourself
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Written by: Charles W. Wright
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Background and Composition"Express Yourself" is a funk song that was written and recorded by American musician Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band. The song became an anthem of the civil rights and black power movements in the 1960s and 1970s.
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Release and PerformanceIt was released on the band's 1970 album, "Express Yourself," and also as a single. The song quickly became their signature tune and reached No.12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No.3 in the R&B charts.
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CompositionThe song is known for its catchy rhythm and its empowering lyrics that encourage listeners to express themselves freely and authentically. It features a memorable bass line and has a running duration of approximately three and a half minutes.
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Interpretation and InfluenceThe song's message of self-empowerment and freedom of expression have made it a popular and enduring piece of music, and it has been covered by numerous artists and used in several television commercials and films.
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SamplingThe song's instrumental break has been sampled in many songs, most notably in N.W.A's "Express Yourself," and in Madonna's song of the same name, both released in 1989.
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Live PerformancesCharles Wright and his band frequently performed this song live, often stretching it out to lengthier jam sessions with improvised solos and lyrics by Wright.
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Grammy Hall of FameIn 2019, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, indicating its lasting significance and enduring popularity in the music industry.
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Use in MediaThe song is frequently used in media to present a mood or emphasize a moment of personal liberation. It is featured in films such as "Remember the Titans," "Cheaper by the Dozen," and "Mr. & Mrs. Smith."
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Singer BackgroundCharles Wright, the primary singer and instrumentalist on "Express Yourself," was part of several Los Angeles-based soul and funk groups before forming the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band in the late 1960s.
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Album PerformanceThe song's connecting album, also titled "Express Yourself", peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard R&B albums chart, cementing the band's relevancy during their active years.
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Social SignificanceThe song continues to be celebrated for its timeless message of personal freedom and self-expression, particularly relevant to periods of social unrest and movements advocating for civil rights and equality.
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Citation
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"Express Yourself Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/2671231/Charles+Wright+%26+the+Watts+103rd+Street+Rhythm+Band/Express+Yourself>.
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