ZAPP – I Can Make You Dance (1983)

Zapp (also known as the Zapp Band, Zapp & Roger) is an American funk band that emerged from Dayton, Ohio, United States, in 1977. Particularly influential in the electro subgenre of funk, Zapp were known for their trademark use of the talk-box effect. The original line-up consisted of four Troutman brothers—frontman Roger, Larry, Lester and Terry—and non-Troutman family members Bobby Glover, Gregory Jackson, Sherman Fleetwood, Jerome Derrickson, Eddie Barber and Shirley Murdock. Zapp also worked closely with George Clinton and Bootsy Collins of Parliament-Funkadelic during its early stages, their support being a factor in the group gaining a record deal with Warner Bros. Records in 1979.

Zapp released its eponymous debut album in 1980, and achieved mainstream recognition from the single “More Bounce to the Ounce”. The group’s follow-up Zapp II was released in 1982, selling well and becoming certified gold. In the 1990s, Zapp would also be an influence on the regional G-funk sound and the broader cultural scene of West Coast hip-hop itself. The band disbanded in 1999 after the deaths of Roger and Larry Troutman in a murder-suicide apparently carried out by Larry. Zapp reformed briefly in 2003 with the remaining brothers of the Troutman family to produce the album Zapp VI: Back By Popular Demand.

I can make you dance I know the world’s in a real bad way I can make you dance if you want me to But I can make you better, let me show you what it takes baby I can make you dance if you want me to Now I got a thang that’s sure to make ya wanna moooove I can make you dance if you want me to It’s controlled by Roger and it’s right here in this tube I can make you dance if you want me to Now I can set you free from your trouble double time, baby I can make you dance if you want me to Just lend me your ears and let your feet keep time, baby I can make you dance if you want me to And here’s what you’ll find about this music of mine, baby I can make you dance if you want me to Oh yeah-ah-ah It’ll make you dance It’ll make you dance It’ll make you dance It’ll make you dance It’ll make you dance Make you dance Make you dance It’ll make you dance Ooooo Make you dance

I can make you dance I can make you dance I can make you dance I can make you dance Ooooo Baby I can make you dance I can make you dance I can make you dance I can make you dance I can make you dance Cha Cha Cha, Cha Cha Cha, Ahhh

Make you dance Make you dance Make you dance Make you dance Make you dance

Yeah, mama, make you dance Now they can raise the price of the food and the drink I can make you dance if you want me to But what I offer you won’t cost a doggone thing I can make you dance if you want me to You can dance in the morning when you eat your cornflakes I can make you dance if you want me to Cause God gave me rhythm and that’s really all it takes I can make you dance if you want me to I can make you dance You know I can make you dance I can make you dance Forget about your nine to five

I can make you dance I can make you dance I can make you dance Yay-yay-yay-yay-uh I can make you dance Yes I do I can make you dance Make you dance, make you dance, make you dance I can make you dance Gonna make you dance, dance, dance, dance I can make you dance