Song#: 3553
Date: 06/18/1988
Debut: 85
Peak: 49
Weeks: 14
Genre: Dance-Pop, Freestyle
Pop Bits: This project headed up by Bob Rosenberg first reached the charts in '87 with the single "Dreamin'." Epic Records picked up the tune for national distribution and it got to #50 Pop and #15 Dance. The label was encouraged by the result and asked for a full album. Rosenberg got right to work on more material mainly working with session musicians. A self-titled debut album would be released in March of '88, but this second single wouldn't get pushed out until May. Despite the long delay, the song was greeted well in clubs and the track would end up topping the Dance chart. It would cross over to Pop, but would only get one notch higher than their first single. The lack of a more mainstream hit left the album floundering, but that would change after the release of a third single.
ReduxReview: I guess with "Dreamin'" doing fairly well, Epic perhaps tossed Rosenberg some money as the production on this track is much better. The song is a bit better too, but not by much. The refrain of the tune, which is basically a take on the old childhood taunt "na-na-na-na-na-na," is both catchy and a irritating. It was also nearly the same as the chorus to The Jets' "Cross My Broken Heart." The recycled taunt made for a memorable chorus and that along with the freestyle beat helped the song top the Dance chart. However, there was nothing else meaty or interesting with the track. Compared to some of the other freestyle tracks hitting around this time, this still sounded a little simplistic and not quite right for mass consumption.
ReduxRating: 5/10
Trivia: Before branching out to making his own music, Bob Rosenberg was a popular mix DJ for the Miami radio station WHQT (Hot 105) along with being a DJ for events. In 1985, the TV show Miami Vice was reaching its peak of popularity. Rosenberg got the idea to create a rap record that was inspired by the show and its theme. At the time, Miami Vice was getting known for its use of popular songs. It's theme song by Jan Hammer would even become a #1 hit. Whether or not Rosenberg developed the track hoping it might get picked up by the show is unknown, but he got it recorded. He co-produced the track with Lewis A. Martineé, who was just about to make it big with the female vocal trio Exposé. The single "Miami Vice" was issued out and credited to Vigilante. It seems like it sold a few copies and gained some local fans, and apparently MCA Records (the TV show's soundtrack label) came calling. Unfortunately, it wasn't in a good way. It seems copyright infringement was bantered about and that pretty much squashed the Vigilante single. Despite that, you can still find posts of the single up to hear on YouTube.
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