Neutron Dance – Pointer Sisters | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#6); 1985
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
1987’s Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack album included an impressive five hit pop and R&B hit singles by Harold Faltermeyer (Axel F), Glenn Frey (Heat Is On), Patti LaBelle (New Attitude, Stir It Up), and the Pointer Sisters (Neutron Dance).
Neutron Dance first appeared on the real-life sisters’ breakthrough album, Break Out, in 1984 and featured Ruth Pointer on lead. Starting with their first release in 1973, the Pointer Sisters had skillfully navigated their career through classic soul, jazz scat, rock ‘n’ roll, and – with Break Out – successfully mixed the 1980’s synth sound with punchy dance beats.
Neutron Dance was the fourth smash single drawn from Break Out, it’s exposure to the masses enhanced beyond radio and club play through its appearance in the Eddie Murphy crime caper film, Beverly Hills Cop.
Break Out rose to #8 and the original soundtrack release went all the way to #1. At the Grammies Neutron Dance earned the Pointers an award for Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Richard Perry
Lyrics Written by:
- Allee Willis
- Danny Sembello
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).