Today’s song of the day, “Turn the Beat Around” by Gloria Estefan, was initially released by Vicki Rue Robinson for her album Never Gonna Let You Go in 1976. Gloria Estefan’s version of “Turn the Beat Around” was released on September 23, 1994, through the Epic record label. The song is part of the singer’s Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me album, and features Estefan’s signature conga style and beat. Gloria Estefan’s version was initially recorded to be featured in the film The Specialist, starring Sylvester Stallone. It reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. 

Fun Facts

• The lyrics for “Turn the Beat Around” were written by the brothers Gerald and Peter Jackson. The two are members of an American soul music group founded in 1975.
• Vickie Sue Robinson first released the song on February 1976 through the RCA Victor record label. Laura Branigan released a cover version of the song in 1990 through the Atlantic record label.
• Finally, Gloria Estefan released her cover version of the song for her album Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me album. It was released on September 23, 1994. Gloria released her version of the song through the Epic record label.
• Gloria Estefan’s version of “Turn the Beat Around” was recorded for the film The Specialist. The movie starred acclaimed actor and filmmaker Sylvester Stallone and Sharon Jone, an actor and former model.
• The album Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me was released on September 3, 1994.
• “Turn the Beat Around” reached numbers 8 and 18 in New Zealand and Australia’s charts.

Lyrics 

Turn the beat around

Love to hear the percussion

Turn it upside down

Love to hear the percussion

Love to hear it

Blow horns you sure sound pretty

Your violins keep movin’ to the nitty gritty

When you hear the scratch of the guitars scratchin’

Then you’ll know that rhythm carries all the action

Woah yeah

Turn the beat around (turn it around)

Love to hear the percussion (yeah yeah yeah)

Turn it upside down

Love to hear the percussion

Love to hear it (got to hear it)

Turn the beat around

Love to hear the percussion

Turn it upside down (hey yeah)

Love to hear the percussion

Love to hear it

Flute player play your flute ’cause

I know that you want to get your thing off

But you see I’ve made up my mind about it

It’s got to be the rhythm, no doubt about it, woah woah

‘Cause when the guitar player start playing

With the syncopated rhythm, with the scratch, scratch, scratch

Makes me want to move my body yeah, yeah, yeah

And when the drummer starts beating that beat

He nails that beat with the syncopated rhythm

With the rat, tat, tat, tat, tat, tat on the drums, hey

Turn the beat around (I’m talking about the beat)

Love to hear the percussion

Turn it upside down

Love to hear the percussion (love to hear the beat now)

Love to hear it

Love to hear it

Love to hear it

Love to hear it

Turn the beat around

Love to hear the percussion

Yeah

Turn it upside down

Love to hear the percussion

Woah

Love to hear it

Turn the beat around, ooh

Love to hear the percussion (got to hear it)

Turn it upside down

Love to hear the percussion

Turn the beat around

Love to hear the percussion (love to hear it)

Turn it upside down

Love to hear the percussion

Turn the beat around