THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

735-Teena Marie-Behind the Groove.

1980-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 1.09. Many artists, including Olivia Newton John, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Rush, and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, have sang of the delights of ‘Xanadu,’ but only Teena Marie made it ‘Funky.’

Teena Marie was born Mary Christine Brockert, on March 5th, 1956, in Santa Monica, California, United States. In 2004 while sleeping in a hotel room, a large picture frame fell and struck her on the head, the blow caused a serious concussion, that resulted in momentary seizures for the rest of her life. On December 26th, 2010, Teena Marie was found dead at her home by her daughter Alia Rose, an autopsy was performed which found no signs of apparent trauma, or a discernible cause of death, and concluded she had died from natural causes. She had suffered a generalised tonic–clonic seizure a month before. Teena Marie was 54 years old at the time of her death.

Teena Marie first found success when signing with the ‘Gordy’ record label, a subsidiary of ‘Motown’ records. Her first Album for the label, ‘Wild and Peaceful,’ in 1979 was produced by fellow ‘Motown’ artist Rick James, (1948-2004) (see also best songs 418) and because her picture didn’t appear on the Album’s cover, many believed that she was an African-American. It wasn’t until she appeared on the American music show ‘Soul Train’ in 1979, becoming the show’s first white female performer, that the myth was finally disproved. Teena would appear on ‘Soul Train’ on a further eight occasions, more than any other white act. It was during her childhood that she acquired the nickname ‘Tina,’ and it was after taking the stage name ‘Teena Marie,’ that she was given the nickname ‘Lady T,’ by her friend and collaborator Rick James.

The discography of Teena Marie includes 14 studio Albums released between 1979-2013, and 35 singles issued between 1979-2012, there are also 13 official compilation Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, two of her tracks have reached the top 40, with ‘Lovergirl’ from 1984, peaking the highest at Number 4. ‘Behind the Groove’ has never charted, but did reach Number 21 on the Billboard ‘Hot R&B’ songs chart, where she also had a further 14 entries, including the 1988 Number 1 ‘Ooo La La La.’ In the UK, she has had two top 40 entries, with the other being ‘I Need Your Lovin” reaching Number 28 in 1980.

‘Behind the Groove’ was co-written by Teena Marie, and Richard Rudolph, (see also best songs 503) with the production being by Rudolph, and was the second of three singles released from Teena Marie’s second studio Album ‘Lady T,’ from February 1980. With Rick James not being available at the time, Teena Marie turned to Richard Rudolph, who was born on October 27th, 1946, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Richard Rudolph’s career as a music producer had begun when he and Stevie Wonder jointly produced Minnie Riperton’s second Album, ‘Perfect Angel,’ in 1974, included on the Album was the song, ‘Lovin’ You,’ (Billboard Number 1 & UK Number 2-1975) written by Rudolph and Minnie Riperton, who was his wife. Minnie Ripperton died of cancer in 1979, at the age of 31. Richard Rudolph has written in excess of 200 songs, which have been recorded by several artists, including Chaka Khan, The Temptations, and The Rotary Connection, and he has contributed to worldwide sales in excess of 30 million Albums. Richard Rudolph has also supervised the production of music for several feature films, including, ‘Cocoon,’ ‘Running Scared,’ and ‘Black Rain, Flatliners,.’

‘Behind the Groove’ encourages the listener to embrace the groove, and be carefree, as it could lead to the fulfilment of your dreams, and the finding of love. The lyrics suggest that the listener can find happiness and remove any fear they may have by getting ‘Behind the Groove,’ and opening their eyes to the possibilities in life. Teena Marie sings that ‘Xanadu’ is behind the groove. In the 1797 poem ‘Kubla Khan, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, (1772-1834) which was first published in 1816, ‘Xanadu’ is a metaphor for opulence, or an idyllic place, based upon the description of ‘Shangdu,’ in the poem.

‘Hey, baby. Oh, yeah. Let me take you to Xanadu. Where is that? Behind the groove, well, alright. Behind the groove, there’s another side inside of you. Behind the groove, you can make your wildest dreams come true.’