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Tom Tom Club — Genius Of Love
Album: Tom Tom Club
Avg rating:
6.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 520









Released: 1981
Length: 6:28
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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(Whatcha gonna do when you get out of jail?)
I'm gonna have some fun
(What do you consider fun?)
Fun, natural fun

I'm in heaven
With my boyfriend, my laughing boyfriend
There's no beginning, and there is no end
Time isn't present in that dimension
He'll take my arm
When we're walking, rolling and rocking
It's one time I'm glad I'm not a man
Feels like I'm dreaming, but I'm not sleeping

I'm in heaven
With the maven of funk mutation
[[George Clinton|Clinton]]'s musicians such as [[Bootsy Collins]]
Raise expectations to a new intention
No one can sing
Quite like Smokey, [[Smokey Robinson]]
Wailin' and skankin' to [[Bob Marley]]
Reggae's expanding with [[Sly & Robbie]]

All the weekend
Boyfriend was missing
I surely miss him
The way he'd hold me in his warm arms
We went insane when we took cocaine

Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon
Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon

Stepping in-a rhythm to-a [[Kurtis Blow]]
Who needs to think when your feet just go?
With a hiditihi, with a hipitiho
Who needs to think when your feet just go?
Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon
Who needs to think when your feet just go?
Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon, Bohannon

[[James Brown]], [[James Brown]]
[[James Brown]], [[James Brown]]

If you see him
Please remind him, unhappy boyfriend
Well, he's the genius of love
He's got a greater depth of feeling
Well, he's the genius of love
He's so deep
Comments (73)add comment
 cavemanleong wrote:
 Haven't heard this in ages! 


same! just heard it on my local NPR station friday coming home from work. sooo fun. i remember when i first heard this in high school. big crowd pleaser at dances.
Posted 9 months ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
 cavemanleong wrote:
 Haven't heard this in ages! 



Same here!  GREAT TUNE!!  Thanx RP!   
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
EXCELLENT!! ...Oops yo momma!
Posted 2 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

This song was a pretty big hit in its day - probably on the Billboard Top 40 and received a lot of play in dance clubs all over the world from 1980-82 or so.  I'm not it sure it would be classified as a "deep cut".
 
To clarify, deep cut is in reference to the greater RP catalog, besides the whole"then vs now" discussion.
Posted 4 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
 Haven't heard this in ages! 
Posted 6 years ago by cavemanleong    [ Reply ]
Album cover really matches the song somehow. 
Posted 6 years ago by cathstewart94    [ Reply ]
I love this tune.  Thanks Bill and Rebecca!  {#Cheesygrin}
Posted 6 years ago by reindeer    [ Reply ]
Perhaps someone can point me to the reference, where I read this story. I can't remember.  It described a period of intense creative differences between Weymouth and Bryne.  Weymouth took a break from Talking Heads and made this amazing fun funky confection.  At the time it outsold any previous Talking Heads album.  Creative balance of power restored. 
 
Posted 6 years ago by jrozzelle    [ Reply ]
 lizardking wrote:
Now that's a deep cut! And about as "Rap and Hip-hop" as it gets here, I think.
I rate a 9, mostly because of the sampling potential this track gave all them DJs.
 
This song was a pretty big hit in its day - probably on the Billboard Top 40 and received a lot of play in dance clubs all over the world from 1980-82 or so.  I'm not it sure it would be classified as a "deep cut".
Posted 6 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 mrtuba9 wrote:
BillG, was this really last played 9 years ago??

 
Haha! Every 9 years is fine with me :o) Gotta love RP!
Posted 6 years ago by MayBaby    [ Reply ]
Too many notes.
Posted 6 years ago by aelfheld    [ Reply ]
Such good memories!!!
Posted 6 years ago by Netsirk97    [ Reply ]
 asilbuch wrote:
{#Jump}Memories!!

 
Memories at the skating rink for me!  FUN {#Bananasplit}
Posted 6 years ago by jen3005545    [ Reply ]
{#Jump}Memories!!
Posted 7 years ago by asilbuch    [ Reply ]

Posted 7 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]
 jbuhl wrote:
All those funky pips and sqeeks and funky guitar sounds is none other than King Crimsons Andrian Belew.

 
Did you see him at the Boulder Theater earlier this year?  He walked up to me at the end of the show, shook my hand, and asked how the sound was.  Floored!!!


Posted 7 years ago by BKardon    [ Reply ]
ahhhh, Tom Tom Club!!! Such an old favorite!
Posted 7 years ago by Gloriastacholy    [ Reply ]
Why? Why make us suffer like this?
Posted 7 years ago by newfor    [ Reply ]
I'm in heaven
With the maven of funk mutation
Posted 7 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
All those funky pips and sqeeks and funky guitar sounds is none other than King Crimsons Andrian Belew.
Posted 7 years ago by jbuhl    [ Reply ]
 lizardking wrote:
Now that's a deep cut! And about as "Rap and Hip-hop" as it gets here, I think.
I rate a 9, mostly because of the sampling potential this track gave all them DJs.

 
The most sampled song ever
Posted 7 years ago by jbuhl    [ Reply ]
Now that's a deep cut! And about as "Rap and Hip-hop" as it gets here, I think.
I rate a 9, mostly because of the sampling potential this track gave all them DJs.
Posted 7 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
"... steppin' in the rhythm of a Curtis Blowe.. " that hooked me {#Roflol}
Posted 7 years ago by rmaple53    [ Reply ]
"who needs to think when your feet just go"
Posted 7 years ago by eroz    [ Reply ]
Yes please. Thank you please. 
Posted 7 years ago by bhallmark    [ Reply ]
Got this on 12" vinyl somewhere.  This inspires me to dig it out...
Posted 9 years ago by boileymon    [ Reply ]
Well, that's freaky, I heard Talking Heads two songs back and started reading about Talking Heads, then bassist Tina Weymouth's side project Tom Tom Club and I vaguely remember "Genius Of Love" from way back.  Close the page, forget about it, then a minute later Genius Of Love pops up on the playlist.

That's pretty sneaky, Bill.
Posted 9 years ago by timmus    [ Reply ]
Old house, floor bouncing slightly as 20 kids crowd into the living room and groove to the TomTomClub. Memories....
Posted 9 years ago by squidish    [ Reply ]
What a pleasant surprise! Speaks to the range of music played on RP. 
Posted 9 years ago by Falcon    [ Reply ]
 Stingray wrote:
KINDER-GARBAGE!

 
But yet you are unable to name any other song that has EVER been more sampled than this most amazing, fun, uplifting and very moving song! This song made history unlike almost any other song has!

Certainly THE best dance band I've ever seen in concert! 
Posted 9 years ago by SoundThinker    [ Reply ]
KINDER-GARBAGE!
Posted 9 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
OMG!!! A dozen years of listening to RP and this is the very first time that I have heard this song on RP!

I've seen the Tom Tom Club six times, not counting when they were also with the Talking Heads! Saw them once at CBGB's and the "No Talking, Just Heads" at the NightClub 930.

Last time I saw the Tom Tom Club was last year in Denver.

GOD! I LOVE THIS BAND!

I remember when this album first came out and I was working at Peaches Records and Tapes. We would constantly play this album and sell the crap outta it!

Thanks Bill! 

The original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfvx4l7Mc2g 
Posted 9 years ago by SoundThinker    [ Reply ]
 Yurnudaddy wrote:
{#Devil_pimp} Anybody out there know the name of the song or group who did the remix to genius of love that goes like this "you gotta have alot of heart, to live in New York, You gotta have alot soul, to live in New York, you gotta have strong lungs, to live in New York."  I remember it having a yellow face on the album, I thought that was there name too?  If you fo' real old school and know that 411 drop it like it's hott for yo mans one time. Need that song for my collection. Need a music video?, a movie? holla at cha boy EdHighPro@gmail.com 

 
You're probably thinking of "Genius Rap"  by Dr Jeckyll & Mr Hyde.  I haven't heard this tune in years; good song.
Posted 9 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]

Posted 9 years ago by gigikent    [ Reply ]
This is the sort of song that you could either love or hate bigtime, depending on person, mood and memories. I doubt that there are many middle opinions. I vaguely remember this from the 80s and thought it was quite cute at the time, and still do. Sweet :o)
Posted 9 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
BillG, was this really last played 9 years ago??
Posted 9 years ago by mrtuba9    [ Reply ]
Bill - can we get this song back in play, pls???!!!!!??
Posted 15 years ago by etcarroll    [ Reply ]
{#Devil_pimp} Anybody out there know the name of the song or group who did the remix to genius of love that goes like this "you gotta have alot of heart, to live in New York, You gotta have alot soul, to live in New York, you gotta have strong lungs, to live in New York."  I remember it having a yellow face on the album, I thought that was there name too?  If you fo' real old school and know that 411 drop it like it's hott for yo mans one time. Need that song for my collection. Need a music video?, a movie? holla at cha boy EdHighPro@gmail.com 
Posted 16 years ago by Yurnudaddy    [ Reply ]
Fun Natural Fun
Posted 16 years ago by lettucelove    [ Reply ]
dingleberry wrote:
Always liked this song. Don't know why.
I know why, it is a GREAT song, not for stuffed "intelectuals"
Posted 20 years ago by masterhead    [ Reply ]
Please make it go away! :verysorry:
Posted 20 years ago by JCEntMan    [ Reply ]
shayde wrote:
Ung. I hate to say it, this one ranks my first '1' on RP. I never go extremes, but I can find nothing even remotely enjoyable about this track. *bleah!*
I disagree, I find this song nothing BUT enjoyable
Posted 20 years ago by 4Finger    [ Reply ]
Ung. I hate to say it, this one ranks my first '1' on RP. I never go extremes, but I can find nothing even remotely enjoyable about this track. *bleah!*
Posted 20 years ago by shayde    [ Reply ]
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunuky time
Posted 20 years ago by 4Finger    [ Reply ]
UNCLE! UNCLE!
Posted 20 years ago by stevebeaver    [ Reply ]
This is the part of Stop Making Sense where I hit "next track" and await David Byrne's return
Posted 20 years ago by BoFiS    [ Reply ]
Always liked this song. Don't know why.
Posted 20 years ago by dingleberry    [ Reply ]
geogeek wrote:
I cringe when this comes on...
Amen. Creative doesn't necessarily mean good or listenable.
Posted 20 years ago by Enrique    [ Reply ]
steeler wrote:
Chris Frantz was also in this band. He and Tina are talents in their own right; just overshadowed by David Byrne. This one always had a hypnotic effect on me. Really creative stuff.
Kickin' rhythm section they are, with Heads or here. This is a classic.
Posted 20 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
I cringe when this comes on...
Posted 20 years ago by geogeek    [ Reply ]
All they need is a red guitar, two chords, and some weed-inspired rambling about boyfriends
Posted 20 years ago by -relayer-    [ Reply ]
I'll never forgive Mariah for butchering a perfectly decent tune like this. Then again, I still haven't forgiven her for consuming perfectly good oxygen.
Posted 20 years ago by drover    [ Reply ]
mrselfdestruct wrote:
Forever ruined. Nice work, Mariah.
don't give her that much credit. this song will still be rocking long after her albums are cluttering the shelves of Salvation Army stores world-wide...
Posted 20 years ago by rah    [ Reply ]
Forever ruined. Nice work, Mariah.
Posted 20 years ago by mrselfdestruct    [ Reply ]
Crap
Posted 20 years ago by KevinM    [ Reply ]
I just remember when this album came out and all the amazing discoveries while listening to it...
Posted 20 years ago by masterhead    [ Reply ]
best Mariah Carey song ever!!
Posted 20 years ago by JokesandJokesandJokes    [ Reply ]
4Finger wrote:
Man, the first 10 seconds of the song I thought, what a piece of crap.... But at the eleventh second, I realised this song was way to cool.... Thank u RP
i had the same reaction.
Posted 20 years ago by PattonFever    [ Reply ]
smillersmiller wrote:
- the lyrics have an edge in spite of the sugary sweet music.
To wit: We went insane when we took cocaine
Posted 20 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
And you can bet your last money, it's all gonna be a stone gas, honey... on Sooooouull Train!
Posted 20 years ago by drH    [ Reply ]
From the opening bar, I can't help but think "James Browwwn, James Browwwn" Always fun to hear TTC. (credit where due, though, Bill...this is a remix, not the orignal)
Posted 20 years ago by Roverfish    [ Reply ]
Man, the first 10 seconds of the song I thought, what a piece of crap.... But at the eleventh second, I realised this song was way to cool.... Thank u RP
Posted 20 years ago by 4Finger    [ Reply ]
It's Funk-a-delicious!!! You've got to love the surprises on RP. Is George Clinton on the horizon Except the original version of this song is a bit better then this remix.
Posted 20 years ago by GaryW    [ Reply ]
Oh this song takes me back. Not so sure I agree with the posted release date of the album. I remember this from early high school (or even before that!).
Posted 20 years ago by McGroovy    [ Reply ]
Spliff wrote:
The last two songs are the reasons why I am listening to other radio stations. It seems to be happening a lot lately. "Call some place paradise - kiss it goodbye." Later - hopefully!
Chill dude - this one is supposed to be fun.
Posted 20 years ago by UncleRemus    [ Reply ]
You should just do a block of obscure songs that were sampled into hits. This is basically the background music to one of Mariah Carey's big hits.
Posted 20 years ago by Roto    [ Reply ]
I'm thrilled that this song is now in the RP rotation! Tom Tom Club was a fantastic but nearly forgotten nugget of creativity - great goofy rhythms and sly lyrics. Takes me right back to freshman year of college... love it!
Posted 20 years ago by skindy    [ Reply ]
The last two songs are the reasons why I am listening to other radio stations. It seems to be happening a lot lately. "Call some place paradise - kiss it goodbye." Later - hopefully!
Posted 20 years ago by Spliff    [ Reply ]
Keegs wrote:
Great Song. Tina Weymouth (sp?), the bass player from the talking heads and her sister were in this band.
Chris Frantz was also in this band. He and Tina are talents in their own right; just overshadowed by David Byrne. This one always had a hypnotic effect on me. Really creative stuff.
Posted 20 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
Saw this live at a Talking Heads show....they converted to Tom Tom CLub in the middle of the concert for a few numbers!!
Posted 20 years ago by Peyote    [ Reply ]
Great Song. Tina Weymouth (sp?), the bass player from the talking heads and her sister were in this band.
Posted 20 years ago by Keegs    [ Reply ]
Posted 20 years ago by R_P    [ Reply ]
I had to write kia.com after hearing that Kia commercial a few dozen times and having this song implant itself in my head (the one documenting the woman going through several "boyfriends" but a single car). Turns out they used the most innocent part of the song for the commercial - the lyrics have an edge in spite of the sugary sweet music.
Posted 22 years ago by smillersmiller    [ Reply ]