The Freestyle Thread!

[CellarDweller]

I'll come back later for some of the male performers who were popular, but right now, we'll skip ahead.

While no longer the darling of radio and clubs like in the 80s, freestyle is being made today.

Here are three songs that were recorded last year by a new artist in the genre, and is starting to break through, performing at a number of shows in clubs. Her name is Jill Tirrell.

[CarGuy65]

Oh Chuck, A man after my musical heart!! If only I knew how to link videos. Anything Stevie B, Will To Power, Linear, GT, and the artist name escapes me at the moment (age thing) who sang Boy Iv'e Been Told. I remember seeing Stevie B, Will To Power, and the Cover Girls at a freestyle concert back in the day (wow I'm old) when I had a mullet with a red streak from front to back down through my 3 foot long tail (hope that never comes back!). The original Point Of No Return was the better version. Great thread and great music! Thanks!

[CellarDweller]

The original Point Of No Return was the better version. Great thread and great music!

There's an idea. LOL

Which version of Point of No Return to you think is better. The second version by the reformed Exposé was above.

Here is the original, as recorded by Exposé when they were Laurie, Alé, and Sandeé (in that order in the picture).

[CarGuy65]

That's the one!! Something with her voice to me is better than the later version. I bought the 12 inch of the first version when it first came out.

[CellarDweller]

When it comes to male groups in freestyle, there were not as many as women, but a few did become very successful.

One of the groups was Information Society. Though they didn't consider themselves 'freestyle', their songs fit into the freestyle genre, and topped the dance charts along with other freestyle songs.

[CellarDweller]

One of the biggest "Boy Bands" from freestyle was TKA (Tony, Kayel, Aby).

They've recorded three freestyle albums, and a greatest hits album.

While they didn't cross over to the Top 40 charts, their songs were huge hits on the club and dance singles charts, and they still perform in clubs today.

*note - early pics show a female member in them, she wasn't an actual member, didn't perform with them. Her name was India and she was on background vocals. She later went on to record her own freestyle songs.*

[CellarDweller]

Voice In Fashion was a male group/band that was signed by Lewis Martinee, the same mane responsible for bringing us Exposé.

They're based in the Miami area, but their songs became popular in clubs across the country.

Still performing today, the first video is of them performing in 2011 at a club appearance.

[CellarDweller]

A slight detour from freestyle acts to other acts that wanted to borrow the freestyle sound for themselves. To do that, they went to producer Lewis Martinee, the man responsible for producing the music by Voice In Fashion and Exposé. You should remember or be familiar with the three artists below. Think of their usual sounds, and then listen to these songs, and you'll recognize the freestyle sound with each of them.

80s pop star Debbie Gibson turned to Lewis Martinee when her debut album was being recorded, and they produced the song Play The Field.




The Pet Shop Boys were a hugely successful duo who scored a number of hits on their own, including "West End Girls", "What Have I Done To Deserve This", "Always On My Mind" and many others.

Intrigued by the freestyle sound, they turned to Lewis Martinee, and together they produced the hit "Domino Dancing".





Dead or Alive gained fame with their Hi-NRG songs, and are best known for the smash "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)". However, they've had other hits on the dance charts. "My Heart Goes Bang", and "Brand New Lover".

Coming to the US in the late 80s, they (like the Pet Shop Boys) were intrigued by the freestyle sound, and contacted Lewis Martinee. Together they gave Dead Or Alive another hit, "Come Home With Me Baby".

[kjames]

It was all about TRINERE!!! I still have all my 12 inch mixes on vinyl.
Other artists to consider:
Sa-fire
Nocera
Nice & Wild
Nuance
Ale
Monet
Bose
Bardeux
Kopper
Company B
Giggles
Sequel
Promise Circle
Pretty Poison
The Skeme
Tolga
Stevie B
Dino
Jaya

[kjames]

There was also a group called "Freestyle" with "The Party Has Just Begun" and "Don't Stop the Rock"