Freestyle Friday: Laissez Faire - 'In Paradise' (35th Anniversary Version)

 

Freestyle Friday Throwback: Shana - 'You Can't Get Away'

 

Happy Freestyle Friday! If you were anywhere near a dance floor in the late '80s, chances are Shana's "You Can't Get Away" found its way into your weekend soundtrack.

There's something about this song that instantly transports me back to the golden age of freestyle music. The beat kicks in, the synths start pulsing, and suddenly it's impossible not to remember the clubs, roller rinks, school dances, and cruising around with friends while the radio blasted our favorite songs.

Shana may not have become a household name like Exposé, Lisa Lisa, or Stevie B, but "You Can't Get Away" remains one of those hidden gems that freestyle fans never forgot. Released in 1988, the song perfectly captured everything that made the genre so addictive. It combined emotional lyrics about trying to escape a love that just won't let go with an irresistible dance beat. That's always been one of freestyle's greatest strengths—it could make you want to dance while simultaneously tugging at your heart.

I always loved how freestyle music embraced big emotions without ever taking itself too seriously. These songs were filled with longing, heartbreak, hope, and determination, all wrapped inside catchy hooks that stayed with you for days. "You Can't Get Away" is a perfect example of that formula working beautifully.

Even today, when I hear the opening notes, I'm immediately reminded of just how vibrant the freestyle scene was. While it may not have received the same mainstream recognition as pop or rock, it created an incredibly loyal fanbase that's still going strong decades later. Just look at the packed Freestyle Explosion concerts happening around the country. Fans continue to show up because these songs aren't just music, they're memories.

That's one of my favorite things about revisiting tracks like this every Freestyle Friday. They remind us of a time when music brought people together on crowded dance floors, when every weekend seemed to have its own soundtrack, and when all you needed was a great beat and a catchy chorus to make the night unforgettable.

So today I'm turning up Shana's "You Can't Get Away" and letting it take me right back to the late '80s. If you're a longtime freestyle fan, I bet you know every word. And if you've never heard it before, give it a listen, you just might discover your next favorite old-school classic.

What's your favorite underrated freestyle song? I'd love to hear which hidden gems still make your playlist.

Freestyle Friday Throwback: Exposé - 'Exposed To Love'

 

Happy Freestyle Friday!

If you grew up in the '80s like I did, chances are Exposé was a huge part of your soundtrack. This week, I'm throwing it back to one of my favorite tracks from the group's debut album, Exposure, "Exposed to Love."

Before the song climbed the charts in 1987, Exposé had already started making waves with hits like "Point of No Return" and "Come Go with Me." But there was something about "Exposed to Love" that perfectly captured everything that made the group special. The infectious beat, soaring harmonies, and that unmistakable Miami freestyle sound made it impossible not to turn the volume up.

What I always loved about Exposé was that they weren't just another girl group. Jeanette Jurado, Ann Curless, and Gioia Bruno brought powerful vocals and genuine personality to every song they recorded. Their music was danceable, emotional, and endlessly fun. Whether you were hearing them at a club, on the radio, or blasting from a friend's cassette deck, Exposé always delivered.

Their debut album, Exposure, was a massive success and became one of the defining freestyle albums of the decade. It spawned multiple Top 10 hits and helped bring freestyle music into the mainstream at a time when the genre was exploding in popularity. Even today, songs from that album instantly transport me back to cruising around town, hanging out with friends, and living for the weekend.

One of the best things about Exposé is that they never truly disappeared. While many acts from the freestyle era faded away, Exposé continues to perform and connect with fans who have loved their music for decades. If you've never seen them live, you're in luck. They still appear at Freestyle Explosion shows and other retro concert events across the country, bringing all those classic hits back to life for audiences who know every word.

And honestly? That's the magic of great music. Nearly 40 years later, songs like "Exposed to Love" still make people smile, dance, and remember exactly where they were when they first heard them.

So for this Freestyle Friday, crank up "Exposed to Love," sing along, and celebrate one of the greatest girl groups ever to come out of the freestyle era.

80s Throwback: Nayobe- 'Please Don't Go'

Friday has always felt exciting, right? It’s the beginning of the weekend. Back when we were kids, Friday meant freedom, cartoons, the mall, hanging out with friends, staying outside until the streetlights came on. Friday was the start of the party.

So to me, there’s nothing more perfect than Freestyle Friday here at DailyBOOM.

Back in the 1980s, Latin freestyle exploded out of New York City and spread through places like Miami and Philadelphia before catching fire across the country. But honestly, the East Coast will always feel like the true home of freestyle music.

One of the very first songs to really break through was Please Don't Go by Nayobe in 1984. It’s considered one of the songs that introduced Latin freestyle to a wider audience.

To me, Nayobe was the ultimate boardwalk artist. If you grew up on the East Coast and spent summers “down the shore” at the Jersey Shore, you know exactly what I mean. Music blasted from every little shop along the boardwalk, and in the summer of 1984, “Please Don’t Go” was everywhere. The beat, the energy, the feeling, it instantly made you want to dance.

So for this Freestyle Friday, we’re throwing it back to Nayobe. And if you don’t remember this one, turn it up loud, because you’re probably about to love it.

Daily Boom 80's Throwback: Sweet Sensation - 'Sincerely Yours'

"Dear I write you this letter

To show you how much your love means to me

I wish we could be together

I need you in my life oh can't you see

You promised we would be together

But you still haven't answered my letter

Oh, oh, I'm sincerely yours

The one my heart beats for, the one I adore

Oh, oh, I'm sincerely yours

The love that you gave I've never felt before."

Latin freestyle seems to go hand in hand with Friday, at least in my mind. If Friday is really the day to celebrate the weekend ahead then that means club songs, freestyle and old school house music are the very best way to kick it all off. Let me take you back to 1988 when Betty Dee and her girls stepped out from the shadow of Expose` and The Cover Girls and made their own mark in the dance world. 

Sweet Sensation had the hair, the clothes, and all the moves. But they seemed like the chicks down the street. This was the girl group that you really could have gone to school with or partied with. And their music rivaled other dance floor anthems. Songs like "Take It While It's Hot" and "Hooked On You" were featured on Open House Party and Dance Party USA, making the ladies a pretty hot commodity leading up to their number one single, "If Wishes Came True". 

Betty Dee, Jenae Colon, and Belle Ritter reunited a few years ago and on any given weekend you're likely to find Sweet Sensation hitting the stage somewhere on the east coast. "Sincerely Yours" remains one of their most popular hits. Check out the video below.

Currently Booming: NEW Corina- 'Don't Take Your Love'

Daily Boom's Freestyle Friday: George LaMond- 'Where Does That Leave Love'

Daily Boom 80's Throwback: Shannon- 'Let the Music Play'

"So we started dancing

And love put us into the groove

As soon as we started to move

As soon as we started to move

Love said

Let the music play

He won't get away

Just keep the groove

And then he'll come back to you again

(Let it play)"

I was always a disco kid. My first 45 single was Disco Duck, followed by Chic's "Le Freak" and Regina Ward's "Ring My Bell".  My dad would let me choose the last song that he played on his stereo every night and for years it was disco, until Pat Benatar came along, anyway.  Disco died a pretty fast death but in 1983 along came Shannon to remind us all that dance music was still cool. 

"Let the Music Play" has the coolest syth and drum machine beat and it drives the song all the way through. Decades later, this is considered one of the first freestyle songs ever made. What I know for sure is that when it comes on now, 32-years after first hitting the charts, everyone still gets up to dance. It's legendary.

As for Shannon, well, she's still out there doing her thing. She is still performing those songs that made her a household name and a whole new generation of freestyle fans have embraced her. More often than not Shannon is seen performing in a Freestyle Explosion show that features a whole roster of popular 80's acts like Expose`, The Cover Girls, Nu Shooz and more. 

Check out "Let the Music Play" the video that launched Shannon's career:

Currently Booming: Freestyle Friday- Corina - Full Set (Watch)

Freestyle Friday: Expose`- 'Seasons Change'

Daily Boom 80's Throwback: Expose`- 'December'

"Now, the time of the year

Is finally here

It's the time when I spend

All my hours in fear

Emptiness just comes and goes

Hopefully, it doesn't show

Voices calling my name

Deep inside of my brain

They don't stop 'cause

They're trying to drive me insane

I don't know why you went away

Ooh, the memories will never fade

December once again"

It's absolutely impossible to creep into the month of December without doing a very obvious daily 80's throwback. "December" is a track off of Expose`'s debut album, Exposure that never really got the credit that it deserves. Way back in 1987 Arista was marketing this trio as a dance or freestyle group and perhaps didn't realize just how well some of their ballads would eventually do. "Come Go With Me" was the lead single off of the album and "December" actually ended up being its' B-side.

As an unapologetic Expose`fan, I have to say that this is one of my very favorite songs by them. Gioia Bruno leads "December" with Jeanette Jurado and Ann Curless backing her up and the end result might just be one of the best ballads of the '80s never to be released as a single. It makes sense that "December" was a B-side because it certainly deserved play, but the ladies team obviously underestimated the wide range that these ladies actually have. This was several months before "Seasons Change" was released and everyone fell in love with the group so "December" was a risky bet. Had it been on a follow-up album it might have been a single. itself.

If you've never listened to this song, here's your chance. It's a nice reminder of just how amazing Bruno's voice really is.

Daily Boom 90's Nostalgia- Laissez Faire- 'In Paradise'

You are the sun, I am the sky
Together we'll live in paradise
Our hopes and dreams will come alive
In paradise

Do you remember Laissez Faire?  Gina, Marlo and Jennifer first got together in 1989 and eventually put out an album under Metropolitan Records. While Hands Off didn't do as well on the charts as they may have wanted, the ladies did develop a strong fan base within the freestyle community. "In Paradise" the groups' first single did do quite well on the dance charts and brought Laissez Faire enough clout to open for the then-huge Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch.

This song is Laissez Faire's signature jam and they are still performing it. The ladies recently reunited for the first time in 15 years and pop up occasionally to perform at live events.

Daily Boom Freestyle Friday: Pajama Party on Dance Party USA- 'Yo No Se'

Daily Boom Exclusive Interview: Betty Dee of Sweet Sensation

(Photo: Sweet Sensation's Official Facebook)

A DailyBOOM flashback ICYMI:

So, there was this one Saturday WAY back in 1989 that I can remember like it was yesterday because I had perfect timing (a rarity). I had arrived for a taping of Dance Party USA and the energy was crazy because one of the guests for that days' taping was Sweet Sensation. I loved them. I mean, we ALL loved them. If you were even slightly a freestyle fan than the opening to "Take It While It's Hot" probably made your heart race. Betty Dee put on one hell of a show even then. Sure she was all sparkles, leather, ripped jeans, and big hair but even more so, she was a performer.

When DailyBOOM first launched in the summer of 2015, I had a bucket list of people that I wanted to interview and Betty was on it. At the time Sweet Sensation was on hiatus but as luck would have it, they returned to the stage by summers' end. In the last few years, the ladies have crisscrossed the country, performing for freestyle fans that still know all of the lyrics to their string of hits.

I finally had a chance to chat with Betty this week and the only thing bigger than her laugh is her heart. I wish that everyone could experience a bit of time with her because Betty is one of those rarities that leaves people better than she first finds them. Well, unless she's really mad then you better start running! Seriously though, Betty is equal parts crazy, outgoing Latina and introverted cat lady. She is also ALL parts love, joy, positivity, and acceptance. The woman you see on stage is exactly who she really is, and that's a gift to all of us.

Cate Meighan: Can you believe that Sweet Sensation has been around for more than thirty years?

Betty Dee:  Sweet Sensation has obviously had personnel changes over the years. Since 1991 it has been me, Jenae Colon, and Belle Ritter. I've jumped in and out of the group a few times. The last time that we faded into the music background my dad was really sick and I was dealing with a bunch of other personal things. So I decided to step away from the spotlight and just live my life. In August of 2015, we got back together. I received a call from K7 of TKA, my work husband (laughing) asking me to come back. He said that we needed to return to the stage and start doing shows again. I couldn't believe there was interest but he has been my best friend for thirty years, and so I listened to him. I called the girls and just like that, we got back together. The first thing we did was meet for rehearsals and I can remember thinking, oh my god, I'm going to have to go and by lashes again (laughing)!

CM: How do the logistics work now that you're all older and juggling other responsibilities?

Betty Dee: We all live in different parts of the country. I work a crazy, very demanding, but fulfilling day job during the week, and then on weekends, I get to perform. My week is busy. I'm a mom to my kitties and my dog and I do the things that I need to do at home. Then on the weekend, I get to put on lashes, make my hair shiny (laughing), and then hop on stage and perform with my friends. I mix the two lifestyles and they're easy for me to balance because I'm a good multitasker. I need to be busy and performing is something that I really love to do.

If we are in NY for a show then we travel into the city and gather at one location for a quick rehearsal. We'll get ready there, do the show and on Sunday we'll go our separate ways again until the next weekend. If we go out of town and have to really travel then it becomes more work but I love it and I wouldn't have it any other way.

CM.: How was it coming back this time around?

Betty Dee: Coming back this time has been so different. We're older and we appreciate things more. I feel better now at 50 than I did at 30 (laughing). I'm more energized and I want to keep giving the fans more. I mean, there's a mortality thing of- okay how much longer can we really keep doing this? If I'm going to do it now then I'm going to give 1000% and I've got to give it my absolute all. I think other freestyle artists think the same way.

CM: Freestyle fans are like no other. No matter where the venue is, it really is like a family at the shows.

Betty Dee: The fans are the fuel. They're the gasoline that lights the fire for us. If we went out there and didn't have the support it would be totally different because that's what drives us. I speak for my work husband, my work wives, and all of the people that we do shows with. We see each other so often that we really are a family and we really do get together and talk about how amazing it is that we can still do this thing that we love so much. It's valuable to me and not just as an artist. I listen to them perform and it takes me back- like thirty years!

I remember what I was doing when Noel's "Silent Morning" came on KTU in NYC! We sang about love and dancing and heartbreak. I can't find a freestyle song that's not about one of those things (laughing). It's all about love and tears and that music created a bond 30 years ago and it's still there now. We all share that same bond now and I'm humbled by it. Understanding the genre and growing up with the people that listened to it, I totally get it. We hold on to this music and the time in our lives that it takes us back to until it's ingrained in our DNA. It's literally who we are.

CM: You look like you're in the best shape of your life right now and I've gotta ask, what's your secret?

Betty Dee: I had spent years depriving myself of calories and running around like crazy until my metabolism slowed down. It was in starvation mode and so I was gaining weight instead of losing it. I was trying to stay in shape and I wasn't eating fatty foods and it just wasn't working so I decided to experiment and cut out leafy greens. I would eat more meat and some cheese instead. I also started to work out differently. Instead of being on the elliptical for like, ten hours a day, I started lifting weights and dancing. I was doing that and eating full meals throughout the day because the food was giving me fuel.

Once I started switching things around and feeding my body, it did me the service of getting really lean. So no more measuring and weighing food for nothing. Now I eat everything in moderation, including the healthy stuff. I have more energy and I don't feel sick every day. Here's the thing, you have to figure out what works best for you because there's not one set cure-all program

CM: You're one of the happiest people that I think I've ever met. Where does the joy come from?

Betty Dee: We're on borrowed time and we all end up in the same place so don't take life too seriously. Do the things that make you happy and do them 1000%. Life is short and at some point, we lose each other so make the most of it. Be happy and make others happy too. That's where I'm at in my life and if that means going out on stage wearing sparkles and singing songs, then it's what I'm going to do.

Listen to Sweet Sensation:

 

Currently Booming: Freestyle Friday- TKA - 'Tears May Fall'

Freestyle Friday: Soave- 'Crying Over You' (Live in Atlantic City 10-14-22)

Freestyle Friday: Judy Torres- 'Come Into My Arms' (Live in Atlantic City 10-14-22)

Daily Boom: Freestyle Friday- Corina- 'Whispers'

Freestyle Friday: Sweet Sensation - 'Never Let You Go'

"You are the earth and I am the sea

The world together, forever, I'll be all that you need

You and I were always meant to be

If you should leave and go your own way

I'll still love, I will survive but every night I pray

That you will find your way right back to me

I'll, I'll never let you go

I'll keep you on my heart"

I love Freestyle Friday here at Boom because it's one of my very favorite genres of old school music. Back in the fall of 1988 glam rock was everywhere and it almost made some of the dance tracks even more appealing since they were so completely different from the likes of, well, "Welcome To The Jungle".  Sweet Sensation was one of several girl groups (Expose`, The Cover Girls, JJ Fad, etc.) that were doing battle on Billboard's charts. "Never Let You Go" was their first break out hit and after it hit number one on the dance charts mainstream radio also embraced the girls.

Betty Dee Lebron is the main voice behind the group and back in the 80's they had some of the best choreography around. The original line up of Lebron and sisters Mari and Margie Fernandez grew up together on NYC's lower east side and by 1988 Shelia Vega replaced Mari. Together the trio performed all over the world, bringing their Latin freestyle sound with them.

Sweet Sensation was one of those groups that helped convince me to take a break from the hair bands every now and then. My friends and I also figured out how to mix the huge headbanger hair with biker shorts, crop tops, and little ruffled skirts so that we could pay homage to both genres at the same time.

Betty Dee also performs the Sweet Sensation catalog regularly with Belle Ritter and Jenae Colon. Both ladies joined Sweet Sensation back in 1991 and have stuck with its' original lead singer ever since. The great news for freestyle fans (especially in the NYC area) is that you can still catch the ladies performing all of their classics live!

Freestyle Friday: Freestyle Extravaganza (Live 4-23-22)