neneh cherry 1988

COVER vs ORIGINAL: ‘Buffalo Stance’

The song, “Buffalo Stance”, was originally recorded by Morgan-McVey in 1986

Part pop, part hip-hop, part dance, the song “Buffalo Stance” was written by Cameron McVey (b.1957), Jamie ‘J’ Morgan (b.1958) and a Swedish songwriter and singer by the name of Neneh Cherry (b.1964) and was recorded by Cameron and Jamie as the short-lived duo of Morgan-McVey in 1986. The song was featured as the B side to the debut single, “Looking Good Diving”, which was produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, but was not successful and the duo parted company soon after.

Cherry didn’t let it go and recorded the song for herself and released it in December 1988 as the lead single from her debut album, “Raw Like Sushi“. This version was produced by Tim ‘Bomb The Bass’ Simenon and became her breakout hit, peaking at No.3 in the UK and the US, as well as topping the US dance chart and making the top five across Europe. The song reached number one on the singles sales charts in Canada and The Netherlands as well as her home country.

In 2022, another Swedish singer, Robyn, recorded a new version of “Buffalo Stance” along with fellow Swedish-American singer, Jacqueline ‘Mapei’ Cummings. This version retains much of Cherry’s rap vocals (performed by Mapei) but with a much stripped back musical backdrop layered with Robyn’s lush vocals. See what you think…

But which version is the best? MORGAN-McVEY’s original, NENEH CHERRY’s recording or ROBYN and MAPEI’s cover?