Rocktrospectiva: The Emotive And Strenght "Raw Like Sushi" Turns 35

 

Released on 5 June 1989, "Raw Like Sushi" was the debut studio album by Swedish musician Neneh Cherry, released under Virgin Records, the album spawned the hit single "Buffalo Stance", and the others "Manchild", "Kisses On The Wind", "Heart" & "Inna City Mama". 

 

According to musician, it wasn't a femininst album, but one about the feminine strenght, the power of women and a heavy feminine attitude, the hit single "Buffalo Stance", originally a B-side of Morgan McVey showcased Neneh Cherry charming blend of urban styles, street sweetness and pride for being mother and women, indeed the record is distinctive for its eclectic mix of genres, incorporating influences for 1980s pop music trends, rapa and diverse sounds including pianos, synthesizers, brass instruments, guitars and percussions earning some comparisons as Madonna and Prince. 

The musician always considered her a nomad, travel since her childhood along with her mother the Swedish artist Moki and the trumpetist Don Cherry her stepfather, spent a brief time with the Sliths and the came back to London in 1980 to play with Rip, Rig & Panic. Many subjects are mentioned here, "Heart" and "Phony Ladies" are raw and critical about the voluptibility and social distortion, "Inna City Mama" is a matter of genre concern, and "The Next Generation" plays an hommage to her mother and the strong and independent women. 

 

"Buffalo Stance" was an international hit single reaching No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 3 on Billboard Hot 100, "Kisses In The Wind" reached the No. 8 in the US and No. 20 in the UK, and "Manchild" hit the No. 5 in the UK., the record credited artists such a Booga Bear, Robert Del Naja, Andrew Vowles, Gilly G. 

 

The critics praised the album as a sort of record you can rarely buy, a pop record with a proper individual worldwide could have made, due its unconventional song structures, the sounds and lyrics are intelligente and mature, yet provoking, a sort of manifesto from a brand new pop diva, and the proper record also for any contemporary dance music fan back then. The album sold over two and a half million copies. 

 

Raw Like Sushi Track List:

 

1. Buffalo Stance

2. Manchild

3. Kissed On The Wind

4. Inna City Mamma

5. The Next Generation

6. Love Ghetto

7. Heart

8. Phoney Ladies

9. Outré Risqué Locomotive

10. So Here I Come