During those long summers away from college, the sounds of a college radio station, and in the midst of some silly summer job, I would pretend to catch up to the latest in popular music trends and listened to a contemporary hit station. CHR was still somewhat rock-orientated and the stations would feature a few of the "popular" songs we played during the 3-6pm daypart of my undergraduate radio station, mixed alongside other popular songs that we would never play – mainly what might be considered dance tracks.
I never understood why it was called "dance" music, partly because I never went to a club to see the people sway, churn, grind, and bellow on a dance floor all while a laser show whizzed overhead. That wasn't me. Therefore, up-tempo "dance" music never really appealed to me either. I'm sure I'll get chided for it but every track melted into another, with ridiculous pulsating beats that sent the meek and stupid into convulsions, and featuring some woman singing the easily-identifiable chorus while some guy popped in once or twice during the five-minute track to half-mumble, half-ass-rap some silly lyrics.
One of these dance tracks – that coincidently could be described by my above description – always bothered me because I could never fathom what was being said: Culture Beat's Mr. Vain. To me this was an unnecessary song, coupled with my confusion as to who Mr. Rader was. Who was he and why should we say what he wants is wrong and then call him insane? I actually knew a Mr. James Rader. Yeah, he was a little off his rocker and made some flippant decisions and might be (in the loosest sense of the word) insane – but I doubt this has anything to do with anything. Back then, and even to this day, I can't get his image out my mind when I hear this song.
As for Culture Beat, I don't know much about their insanity either. They are originally from Germany, which is news to me. Evidentially Mr. Vain was the biggest selling single across Europe in 1993, before it trickled across the ocean, crashed into the American subconscious, and then burned out of existence. Surprisingly, Culture Beat is still going strong in Europe, continuing to release music well into 2003; not surprisingly is that the people associated with the song (vocalist Tania Evans, rapper Jay Supreme, Torsten Fenslau and Peter Zweler) have moved on while other musicians have kept the Culture Beat name going strong.
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Mr. Vain
(Juergen "Nosie" Katzmann/Steven Levis/Jay Supreme)
Culture Beat
From the album Serenity
1994
Call him Mr Raider call him Mr Wrong
Call him Mr Vain
Call him Mr Raider call him Mr wrong
Call him insane
He'd say, I know what I want
And I want it now
I want you 'cause I'm Mr Vain
I know what I want and I want it now
I want you 'cause I'm Mr Vain
Call me Raider call me Wrong
Call me insane call me Mr Vain
Call me what ya like
As long as you call me time and again
Feel the presence of the aura of the man
None to compare
Loveless dying
For a chance just to touch a hand
Or a moment to share
Can't deny the urge that makes them
Want to lose themselves to the debonair one
Hold me back the simple fact is
That I'm all that and I'm always near
One sexy can't perplex me now
You know who'raw
As if you didn't know before
I know what I want and I want it now
I want you then I want a little more
Call him Mr Raider call him Mr Wrong
Call him Mr Vain
Call him Mr Raider call him Mr wrong
Call him insane
He'd say, I know what I want
And I want it now
I want you 'cause I'm Mr Vain
I know what I want and I want it now
I want you 'cause I'm Mr Vain
Mr Wrong, Mr Wrong, Mr Raider, Wrong
Girls are all over the world
They hope and pray and die for men
Like me cause I'm the one
Begotten son that breaks the mould
Get a look at male epitome
Style has never seen
That makes you want to grab and hold
And squeeze real tight
Whose gonna be the one to save
You from yourself
When you wanna take a bite
Please oh baby please
You beg you want you say
You got to get some caught
Up in the charm that I laid on thick
And now there's nowhere
To run on the hook of my line
Yeah I keep many females
Longing for a chance to win my heart
Whit s.e.x and plenty
Call him Mr Raider call him Mr Wrong
Call him Mr Vain
Call him Mr Raider call him Mr wrong
Call him insane
He'd say, I know what I want
And I want it now
I want you 'cause I'm Mr Vain
I know what I want and I want it now
I want you 'cause I'm Mr Vain
Call him Mr Raider call him Mr Wrong
Call him Mr Vain
Call him Mr Raider call him Mr wrong
Call him insane
He'd say, I know what I want
And I want it now
I want you 'cause I'm Mr Vain
I know what I want and I want it now
I want you 'cause I'm Mr Vain
Call him Mr Raider call him Mr Wrong
Call him Mr Vain
Call him Mr Raider call him Mr wrong
Call him insane
He'd say, I know what I want
And I want it now
I want you 'cause I'm Mr Vain
I know what I want and I want it now
I want you 'cause I'm Mr Vain
I know what I want and I want it now
I want you 'cause I'm Mr Vain
I know what I want and I want it now
I want you 'cause I'm Mr Vain
