Our Top 10 C+C Music Factory Songs list takes a look at a popular house and dance group from the late 80s. The group was formed by David Cole and Rob Clivilles. They had guest vocalists singing/rapping with them. They are known for their hit singles “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now),” “Things That Make You Go Hmmm..,” “Here We Go (Let’s Rock & Roll),” “Just a Touch of Love” and “Keep It Comin’.” The group stopped recording in 1996 because David Cole passed away. While they were together, they won about 35 awards. They won Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, MTV Video Awards, as well as other awards. This is an amazing feat for the group.
David Cole and Rob Clivilles became friends when they performed at a club in the 80s. They formed a group in 1987 called 2 Puerto Ricans, a Blackman and a Dominican. The group included members David Morales and Chep Nunez. They released some songs while they were together. The songs were “Do It Properly, ” “So Many Ways” and “Scandalous.” The group ended up breaking up in 1989. David Cole and Rob Clivilles stayed together and recorded under the name The 28th Street Crew. They released one album called I Need a Rhythm. The album peaked at number three on the dance charts.
David Cole and Rob Clivilles formed C+C Music Factory in 1989. They added rapper Freedom Williams and model Zelma Davis to the group. The group did face controversy because singer Martha Wash sued them because she wasn’t given credit for her vocals on their tracks. The group used her vocals, but had Zelma Davis performing Martha Wash’s vocals. Martha Wash wanted credit on the album as well as royalties. She didn’t receive it. She sued the group as well as the label for fraud. They eventually settled out of court. The record label made sure to add her name to the video crediting her for her vocals.
They released Gonna Make You Sweat in 1990. The album peaked at number two on Billboard 200 and number 11 on the r&b charts. It features the singles “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now),” “Here We Go (Let’s Rock & Roll),” “Things That Make You Go Hmmm…” and “Just a Touch of Love.” The album sold an impressive five million copies.
Anything Goes! was released in 1994. It peaked at 39 on the r&b charts and number 106 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Do You Wanna Get Funky,” “Take a Tote” and “I Found Love.” They released their eponymous album in 1995. This was released after David Cole passed away. It features the single “I’ll Always Be Around.”
C+C Music Factory didn’t release that many albums, but they did have a lot of hit singles. They dealt with controversy, but they made it through it. They also had to deal with the death of David Cole which ended the group. They produced great music for themselves as well as other artists. They worked with the groups and artists Seduction, Grace Jones, The Cover Girls, New Kids On The Block, Stacey Q, Mariah Carey as well as other artists. This Top 10 C+C Music Factory Songs list will feature their best songs.
# 10 – A Deeper Love
The first song on our Top 10 C+C Music Factory Songs list is “A Deeper Love” from A Greatest Remix Vol. 1 album. The song has a dance beat. The party anthem is about having love in your heart and taking pride in yourself. The lyrics are inspirational and cathartic. You wouldn’t think that a dance song would be inspirational, but this is. It is relatable for anyone who works hard and doesn’t feel appreciated.
The lyrics teach you to have pride in yourself and not to take handouts. This is a message everyone needs to hear. The upbeat song has a gospel influence to it. It sends a positive message to their fans without losing their style of music. Lyrically C+C Music Factory is out of their wheelhouse, but musically they are right at home. The beat is excellent for the club scene. You will get a workout dancing to this one.
The music consists of the drums and synthesizers. It has the perfect 90s beat without sounding too dated. As soon as the music starts, you are in for a treat. This song was considered one of the greatest dance songs of all time and it’s easy to see why. It’s very dance friendly. Singer Deborah Cooper takes the lead on this track. Her vocals are soulful and rich. You can tell she has a gospel background. She sounds like Martha Wash and Aretha Franklin. Deborah Cooper holds little notes and runs in the track. She surprised listeners by holding notes and runs in this track. You wouldn’t expect to hear either one of these in a song like this. Aretha Franklin also covered this track.
# 9 – Keep It Comin’ (Dance Til You Can’t Dance No More) ft. Q-Unique and Deborah Cooper
The next song on our Top 10 C+C Music Factory Songs List is “Keep It Comin’ (Dance Til You Can’t Dance No More)” from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer soundtrack. The song has a house beat. This vibrant song is about dancing and feeling free. If you love to dance and feel free, this is the song for you. The song doesn’t have a deep meaning. The song is simply about dancing and feeling free. The lyrics tell you what you need to do. It tells you to dance and that’s what you will do when you hear the song.
This track is for hardcore dance fans. If you aren’t a hardcore dance fan, you may become one after hearing this song. The song was written for the movie Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but it doesn’t really fit for the movie. It can be a standalone track. You don’t have to watch the movie to get the song. The music is pleasing and energetic. It will get you out of your seat. The melody of the song is similar to their hit “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now).”
This is mainly a rap song with a dance beat. Q-Unique does a great job with his flow. He replaced Freedom Williams as the rapper. Q-Unique’s rhymes are just as good as Freedom Williams’ rhymes. Q-Unique’s rhymes are similar to Ice Cube’s. Deborah Cooper sings the chorus. She doesn’t appear in the song long, but when she does, she makes an impact. The group dealt with member changes, but it didn’t stop them from creating another gem.
# 8 – Just a Touch of Love
The romantic song is from the Gonna Make You Sweat album. The song has a dance beat. The elegant song is about feeling someone’s touch. It is a love song. Lyrically this is out of C+C Music Factory’s wheelhouse, but they are right at home with the music. This is one of the few songs on our Top 10 C+C Music Factory Songs list that doesn’t feature rap vocals.
The music is bouncy and upbeat. The melody is similar to Madonna’s “Vogue.” You can really hear it in the drumbeat. There is no way to sit still while listening to the thumping drumbeat. It is very catchy. The group suffered from controversy because they didn’t give Marth Wash credit for her vocals in their videos. The group had Zelma Davis lip syncing to Martha Wash’s voice in their videos. This song gives the audience a chance to hear Zelma Davis using her own voice.
Her vocals aren’t as strong as Martha Wash’s or Deborah Cooper’s, but she does have a good voice. Zelma Davis sings in a deeper pitch than the other two artists. The group should have had more faith in her vocals because she isn’t a bad singer. Their fans may not recognize the song without the rap being featured, but they proved they could broaden their horizons by doing different types of music.
# 7 – Do You Wanna Get Funky ft. Martha Wash, Zelma Davis and Trilogy
The sleek song is from the album Anything Goes!. The song has a dance, house and hip-hop beat. This crowd-pleasing song is about having a party. This is a novelty song because it is about partying and having fun. This song is lyrically in C+C Music Factory’s wheelhouse because this is the kind of song they are known for singing. The group had big shoes to fill because they were fresh off the success of their first album Gonna Make You Sweat. This is the lead single from their sophomore album so they had something to prove to the audience.
They are musically out of their wheelhouse because the tempo isn’t as fast. This is a midtempo song instead of a hardcore dance song. You can still dance to it, but it’s not as fast. This song is more suitable for a house party than a club. This song gives the listeners a chance to hear Martha Wash and Zelma Davis sing together on a track. It was interesting to have them singing together after the controversy over Martha Wash’s voice. The ladies sing very well together. They vocally challenge each other as they go back and forth throughout the song.
They both belt and hold notes throughout the song. The winner of the vocal battle are the fans because they get to hear the ladies pour their hearts out in the song. Trilogy does a great job with their rhymes. They rap in time with the music. They aren’t as good as Freedom Williams or Q-Unique, but they are enjoyable. With that said, the ladies do sell the song. Their vocals stand out the most and make the song catchy.
# 6 – Share That Beat of Love
The grateful song is from the Anything Goes! album. The song has an r&b and dance beat. The refreshing song is about losing and finding love. She is grateful to have the new love in her life after going through issues with the first love. This song can be about losing someone and finding someone new. If you take the romantic elements out of the song, it could be about a friendship. It all depends on how you interpret the song.
This song is relatable to anyone who has lost someone they loved and then found love again. It teaches you not to give up on love because you will find love again. C+C Music Factory slows things down with this track. This isn’t their usual club or house music. The music has a cool vibe. It’s something you can hear at the cookout. The melody of the song is similar to Zhane’s “Hey Mr. DJ.” The song samples Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You.” In fact, the title of the song is a lyric from “Rock With You.”
The group used a new singer for this track. Audrey Wheeler takes the lead on this song. She sounds like Shanice Wilson. Audrey Wheeler has a powerful voice like Shanice Wilson. She performs amazing runs throughout the song. She also belts towards the end of the song. She holds a note towards the fadeout that could have been a little longer, but she does an impressive job. She was the best vocalist to sing this song. This song isn’t one of C+C Music Factory’s signature songs, but it is worth a listen.
# 5 – Take a Tote
The next song on our Top 10 C+C Music Factory Songs list is “Take a Tote” from the Anything Goes! album. The song has an r&b beat. The metaphoric song is about comparing love to drugs. It’s a strange comparison to compare love to drugs, but the group makes it work. If you can get past the drug comparison, the group make the lyrics sound romantic.
This is another song that is out of C+C Music Factory’s wheelhouse. They tried their hand at a ballad instead of a dance song. This is also the first song on our list that doesn’t feature a female vocalist. The group Trilogy takes the lead on the vocals. They don’t rap in this song like they did in “Do You Wanna Get Funky.” They show off their singing talent. They serenade you with their sexy voices. Their voices are smooth like velvet. They sing in time with all the beat changes. Their voices sound like Color Me Badd. All the members in the group get a chance to sing lead, which is a good thing because they all do a great job with their vocals.
The music is soft and sensual. It is perfect for the bedroom. Fans of the group may be used to C+C Music Factory’s dance and house music, but you may enjoy this sound as well. They wanted to change their style and it worked. It gives the audience a chance to hear something different.
# 4 – I’ll Always Be Around
This tender song is from their eponymous album. The song has an r&b beat. The appealing song is about always being there for someone who needs them. This song was released after David Cole passed away. This is another midtempo song by the group to make our list. It doesn’t have their signature dance beat, but you can move around to the music. It has the classic 90s r&b sound. The music is a little dated, but it is still enjoyable. The music has orchestral swells which isn’t usually in a C+C Music Factory song. The drums give the song tempo which will allow you to move around to the music. A.S.K.M.E. are the featured artists singing in this track.
They sound similar to the r&b 90s group BlackGirl. Their voices sound like angels. You can tell the singers have a church background. They utilize their gospel roots to the best of their ability. They perform runs at the end of the song that are worth checking out. This isn’t one of their signature songs, but it is a good song. This song is different from the songs they have recorded in the past, but it’s just as good.
You can tell something is missing since David Cole isn’t a part of the track, but it’s still a pretty good song. It’s a shame that A.S.K.M.E. didn’t become bigger stars because they are very talented singers. It would have been nice to hear them sing other songs, but you will get a chance to hear their lovely voices in this song.
# 3 – Things That Make You Go Hmmm…
The questionable song is from the Gonna Make You Sweat album. The song has a dance beat. The dramatic song is about a couple who play games with each other. She sets him up to see if he is cheating on her only to find out that she is cheating too. She has a baby who looks like his best friend. The song was inspired by Arsenio Hall. The title of this song was a running gag on his show. It became a popular catchphrase.
If you like a lot of drama in a song, this is the song for you. It has a soap opera feel to it with all the cheating that is going on in the song. The music is great for dancing. It has a classic 90s vibe. It sounds similar to Rob Base’s “It Takes Two.” The music will have you on the dance floor. This song is in their wheelhouse because it has a dance beat. It has a thumping drumbeat. It has a hard baseline that drives the song. Freedom Williams performs the rap in the song. He races through his lines. You might have to read the lyrics in order to understand what he is saying.
His rhymes are similar to Ice-T. He sounds very passionate as he performs his rhymes. Zelma Davis sings the chorus. We dare you not to sing along with her. The chorus is easy to remember because all she does is sing the title. The chorus will stay in your head long after the song is done.
# 2 – Here We Go (Let’s Rock & Roll)
The anthemic song is from the Gonna Make You Sweat album. The song has an electronic, rock, dance pop beat. The party song is about dancing. This is another novelty song on our Top 10 C+C Music Factory Songs list because it is about partying and having fun. This is another track that isn’t meant to have deep and meaningful lyrics. It is simply a song about dancing and having fun. This is not to be taken seriously. This song is strictly for the club scene.
It has a classic club beat. It mixes house, hip-hop and rock music. There is something in it for everyone. Fans of all genres can appreciate this song. There is an electric guitar intro that is not to be missed. The music will get you energized and pumped up. This is a jam you can listen to while you are hanging out with your friends. You all will have fun dancing to the beat. Freedom Williams raps in time with the music.
His voice is a little deeper in this track. He does his classic speed rapping in this song. You will have to read the lyrics in order to understand what he is saying. Zelma Davis sings the hook. She does a great job with her vocals. She invites you to sing along with her as she belts out the hook. It’s too bad her part wasn’t bigger in the song. She gives us a taste of her vocal abilities and teases us enough to make you want to hear more from her.
# 1 – Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)
The number one song on our Top 10 C+C Music Factory Songs list is “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” from the Gonna Make You Sweat album. The song has a dance beat. The fun song is about dancing until you sweat. This is another novelty song on our list. This is the song that introduced the world to C+C Music Factory. This is their biggest hit single. Here is some trivia about the song. Martha Wash was asked to be a part of the group, but she turned them down to focus on r&b music.
They wanted Jocelyn Brown to sing the hook on the song. She turned them down. Martha Wash would go on to sing the hook. The group thought Martha Wash didn’t fit the look they were going for and replaced her with Zelma Davis in the video. The music is stellar and has a classic dance beat. It is impossible to sit still while you are listening to this song. It is tailor made for dancing. Freedom Williams’ rap is deep and inviting. He sells every lyric to the song wonderfully.
The standout performance belongs to Martha Wash. She brings passions to the track. She pours her heart and soul out in the vocals. She mixes gospel with her r&b roots, which sound fabulous. She belts towards the end of the song which is a showstopper. This song is excellent and deserves to be number one on our Top 10 C+C Music Factory Songs list.
Feature Photo: Columbia Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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