Sweat (A La La La La Long)

You know the Jamaican reggae group Inner Circle from "Bad Boys," the theme song to the venerable TV series Cops. The group was around for about 20 years when the show went on the air in 1989, giving them sudden and unexpected exposure in America. They weren't able to capitalize on it until 1993 after Atlantic Records signed the group and released that song as a single in the US with lots of promotional support. It went to #8 and introduced Americans to Inner Circle. "Sweat" was the follow-up single, and it climbed to #16. In America, both songs were included on the Bad Boys album, which went Platinum. The group put out a few more singles over the next few years that nicked the chart in America, but their stronghold remained in Jamaica.

"Sweat" was created for hit potential, smoothing out Inner Circle's reggae sound with a chorus that's so singalong, it was included as a parenthetical subtitle: "Sweat (A La La La La Long)." You probably didn't pay much attention to the lyrics, but the song takes place at a gathering where the singer spots a girl across the room and works up the courage to talk to her. When he does, he comes at her with this line: Girl I want to make you sweat Sweat till you can't sweat no more And if you cry out I'm gonna push it some more We don't know how she responds but for the rest of the song this guy lets her know that he wants to push it a la la la la long long time, and then push it some more.

Like "Bad Boys," "Sweat" was written by Inner Circle's bass player, Ian Lewis.