The 1980s File Feature
Square Biz
Teena Marie Keeps It Real on Square Biz Picture the summer of 1981: funk and soul are thriving, their irresistible grooves and soulful vocals dominating danc…
01 The Story
Teena Marie Keeps It Real on "Square Biz"
Picture the summer of 1981: funk and soul are thriving, their irresistible grooves and soulful vocals dominating dance floors and radio. Among the most distinctive and gifted artists of the era was Teena Marie, a singer and songwriter of remarkable talent whose soulful voice and funky sensibility had made her a beloved figure. "Square Biz" was one of her signature songs, a funky, infectious track that showcased her vocal gifts, her songwriting, and her irresistible personality.
A Singular Talent
Teena Marie was a remarkable and distinctive artist, a singer, songwriter, and producer of exceptional talent whose soulful voice and funky sensibility had earned her enormous respect and a devoted following. She was known for her genuine musical gifts, her songwriting, and her deep roots in funk and soul, as well as for her close association with the funk legend Rick James. "Square Biz" was one of her signature songs, a funky, infectious track that showcased her vocal power, her songwriting craft, and the irresistible personality that made her so beloved. It found her at her funky, soulful best.
Funk, Soul, and Personality
The recording is built on an irresistible funk groove, framing Teena Marie's powerful, soulful vocal and her engaging personality. The song's title refers to keeping it real, to being genuine and straightforward, and the track radiates that authentic, confident energy. Marie's vocal is dynamic and soulful, her performance full of personality and charm. The funky groove and the infectious energy make the song irresistibly danceable, while her vocal gifts and songwriting give it real substance. It is funk and soul delivered with genuine talent and irresistible personality, a showcase for one of the era's most distinctive artists.
A Run on the Hot 100
The single entered the Billboard Hot 100 on July 25, 1981, and reached its peak of number 50 on September 12, 1981, logging 13 weeks on the chart. While more modest on the pop chart, the song was a significant hit on the R&B chart and became one of Teena Marie's signature songs, beloved by her devoted fans. Its strong R&B presence reflected her standing as a major figure in funk and soul. Its roughly 32 million YouTube views reflect the lasting love for this funky, soulful classic and the remarkable artist who created it.
A Beloved Funk and Soul Figure
Teena Marie earned a lasting place as one of the most gifted and beloved artists in funk and soul, her remarkable talent and distinctive personality winning her enduring respect and devotion. "Square Biz" stands as one of her signature songs, a funky, soulful track that showcases her vocal gifts and irresistible energy. The recording captures the genuine talent and engaging personality that made her so beloved. Its enduring popularity reflects the lasting love for Teena Marie among fans of funk and soul.
Authenticity and Genuine Talent
What made Teena Marie and "Square Biz" so beloved was her combination of genuine musical talent, soulful authenticity, and irresistible personality. In an era full of talented artists, Teena Marie stood out for the depth of her gifts, she was a genuinely exceptional singer, a skilled songwriter, and a capable producer, with deep, authentic roots in funk and soul. The title of "Square Biz," referring to keeping it real and being genuine, reflected the authenticity that was central to her appeal. She was no manufactured pop star but a real artist of substance and soul, and that authenticity came through in everything she did. Her powerful, soulful voice, her songwriting craft, and her funky sensibility were matched by a genuine, engaging personality that made audiences love her. That combination of real talent and authentic personality gave her music a depth and warmth that connected deeply with her devoted fans. "Square Biz" showcases all of those qualities, a funky, soulful track that radiates authenticity, talent, and irresistible energy. In a music world that often prized image over substance, Teena Marie offered the real thing, genuine musical gifts and soulful authenticity, and that is a large part of why she earned such lasting respect and devotion. "Square Biz" captures that authenticity, a song whose funky energy and soulful talent reflect the genuine artistry that made Teena Marie one of the most beloved figures in funk and soul, and that combination of real talent and authentic personality is exactly why the song and the artist remain so cherished.
Press play and feel that soul; this is funky, authentic soul from one of the genre's most gifted and beloved artists.
"Square Biz" — Teena Marie's singular moment on the 1980s charts.
02 Song Meaning
The Authentic Soul of "Square Biz" by Teena Marie
This is a song about keeping it real, about authenticity and being genuine, delivered with funky energy and soulful conviction. "Square Biz" lives in that spirit of authenticity, and its meaning rests in the celebration of being genuine, straightforward, and true to oneself.
Keeping It Real
The song's title and central theme refer to keeping it real, being genuine and straightforward. To talk square business is to speak honestly and directly, without pretense or deception. The song radiates that authentic, no-nonsense energy, a celebration of being genuine and true. That commitment to authenticity, to being real rather than fake, is the spirited heart of the song, an assertion of honesty and genuineness that reflects the artist's own authentic spirit.
Confidence and Self-Assurance
The song expresses its authenticity through confident, self-assured energy. Teena Marie delivers the celebration of keeping it real with dynamic, soulful confidence, her powerful vocal and engaging personality radiating self-assurance. That confidence reflects the strength of being genuine, the security that comes from being true to oneself rather than putting on a false front. The song's confident energy embodies the empowerment of authenticity, the strength and freedom of being real.
Funk as the Vehicle of Authenticity
The song's funky groove is itself an expression of its authentic spirit. Funk has always been music of genuine feeling and irresistible groove, and the funky, soulful sound carries the song's message of authenticity. The irresistible groove and soulful vocal radiate genuine talent and feeling, embodying the realness that the lyric celebrates. In this way the music itself expresses the song's theme, the authentic funk and soul carrying the message of keeping it real, genuineness expressed through genuine musical talent and groove.
Why Its Authenticity Resonates
The song connects because the value it celebrates, authenticity and being true to oneself, is universally admired. People respond to genuineness, to artists and individuals who are real rather than fake, and Teena Marie embodied that authenticity in both her music and her persona. The song gives that value a funky, soulful, confident expression, celebrating the strength and freedom of being genuine. Teena Marie delivered it with real talent and irresistible personality, embodying the authenticity she sang about. "Square Biz" lasts because it celebrates the value of keeping it real, of being genuine and true to oneself, delivered with funky energy and soulful authenticity, and that celebration of genuineness, embodied by a genuinely gifted artist, is exactly why the song remains beloved. That celebration of genuineness, delivered with funky energy and real talent, is exactly why the song and the artist remain so cherished.
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