Althea & Donna – Uptown Top Ranking

• 0
  Translation:See me in my heels and things (or all, that, stuff, etc...)
  They look (and) say we're hip and all
  True, they don't know and all
  We've got them all excited and all
  No, pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae
  No, pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae
  
  You see me on the road, I hear you call out to me
  True, you see me wearing pants and all
  See me in a halter top
  You say I give you a heart attack
  Play me a little base guitar, make me do a slow, sexy twist dance
  Uptown Top Ranking (Looking really good/top class)
  
  See me in my Mercedes Benz and all
  Driving through the Constant Spring neighborhood of Kingston. Jamaica
  Those who check me out say I came from Cosmopolitan magazine's spring fashion pages
  But true, they don't know and all
  Those who don't know say we're top class
  Uptown Top Ranking (Looking really good)
  
  You should see me and the most popular guy
  Check how we're dancing (getting down) and all
  Love is all I bring, in my khaki-colored leisure suit and all (a la Bob Marley)
  No, pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae
  No, pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae
  
  Watch how we dance so energetically
  In our khaki suits and all
  Love is all I bring, in my khaki suit and all
  No, pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae
  No, pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae
  
  Love in your heart screams out for me
  When you see me in pants and all
  See me in a halter top
  You say I give you a heart attack
  Play me a little base guitar, make me do a slow, sexy twist dance
  Uptown Top Ranking (Looking really good)
  
  You see me on the road, I hear you call out to me
  True, you see me in my pants and all
  See me in a halter top
  You say I give you a heart attack
  Play me a little base guitar, make me do a slow, sexy twist dance
  Play me a little base guitar, make me do a slow, sexy twist dance
  Love is all I bring, in my khaki suit and all
  Pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae
  Pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae
  
  You should see me and the most popular guy
  Check how we're dancing (getting down) and all
  Love is all I bring, in my khaki-colored suit and all
  No, pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae
  No, pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae

  Flagged irieirieon April 28, 2012   Link

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      There was an error.
    0

    Thinking it over, "Gimme likkle bass" could mean "Give me a little stout-type beer brewed by the Britain-based Bass company and popular in Jamaica and other Caribbean islands of the British Commonwealth".
    
    What would most likely make her do a slow, sexy, hip-winding dance? Bass beer or a bass guitar riff? Both? Your choice.
    
    Also, by way of explanation, "ranking dread" refers to the alpha, most popular (ranking), dreadlock-wearing male (dread).

    Flag irieirieon April 28, 2012  

    0

    Except Bass, the beer, rhymes with er, ass, or class. Bass the sound rhymes with "ace!" or place.
    
    Not sure a lass of such class would be seen drinking Bass.
    

    Flag greenaumon February 02, 2013  
• -1
  General Comment:Whatever they're doing, it's probably not teaching English... from the looks of these gobbeldigook lyrics, I don't think either of the girls ever owned a dictionary!

  Flagged peanutisminton February 21, 2009   Link

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    0

    what, i think they would make excellet english teachers.
    ;)

    Flag annieannon June 19, 2009  

    +1

    It's not English they're singing, it's patois.
    
    Check it:
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…

    Flagged youaresowrongon July 24, 2009  

    0

    youaresowrong's observation is spot on!
    
    I actually asked the owner of a Kingston record shop what the song
    was all about and he gave me a rough translation which made complete sense.
    
    "See me in me heels and ting" is a reference to a woman going out all
    dressed to impress (high heels and things!). Similarly "see mi in a 'alter back, Sey mi gi' you heart attack" translates to "see me in a halter back (dress) will give you a heart attack!" (and so on).
    
    Part of the allure of any popular record depends on the listener's (in)ability
    to "solve" or familiarise the content. The lyrics here are so obscure that
    half the fun of listening is trying to guess the translation. Its a real
    pity that Babel Fish doesn't have a plugin for Jamaican patios or we could
    all follow and understand this wonderful song in all its glory.
    
    (We could all go to Jamaica of course and look for an obliging record shop
    owner ;-)

    Flagged martinlangleyon April 23, 2012  
• 0
  General Comment:gimme the cervaza?

  Flag elcidoon May 27, 2008   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:whatever they're doing now, i'm sure they're still uptown top ranking. :)

  Flag omfgmattyon April 14, 2007   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:I love this song. I wonder what they're doing now?

  Flag CalmGon June 24, 2006   Link

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