Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases two videos of The Pointer Sisters singing "Fire". The first video features Anita Pointer as the lead singer and the second video features Ruth Pointer as the lead.
The Addendum to this post features a video of Bruce Springsteen's performance of "Fire". Bruce Springsteen is the composer of this song. The lyrics for "Fire" are included in that video's summary.
Selected comments from all of those videos' discussion threads are also included in this post, with special attention to the slang uses of the words "hot", "fire", "smokin'" etc.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, etymological, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to The Pointer Sisters and to Bruce Sprinsteen for their musical legacies. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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SHOWCASE VIDEOS & SELECTED COMMENTS
Pancocojams Editor:
Many of the comments below include what I call "hot" slang terms. Examples of those terms are the words "hot", "fire", "on fire", "smokin'" ("smoking"), "smoking hot", "dynamite", "turn up the heat", and "the bomb". Most (if not all) of these slang terms come from African American Vernacular English.
Slang definitions for these terms include someone or something that is very popular, and/or performed very well. Slang definitions for these terms also include someone or something who/that is really energized/energizing, exciting/excited, and exhilarated/exhilarating. Other slang definitions for these terms (excluding "dynamite" and "the bomb") are gorgeous, sensuous, passionate, sexy, and/or someone or something who/that causes a person to be sexually aroused.
Example #1: The Pointer Sisters: Fire - Live on Midnight Special 1979
SafariCreations Uploaded on Jan 14, 2009
http://PointerSistersTribute.com Ruth, Anita & June perform "Fire" live on the Midnight Special in 1979.
-snip-
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread. These comments are numbered for referencing purposes only.
2009
1. tms6279
"First among those notes: This song was written and performed by Bruce Springsteen.
The Sisters truly do it justice."
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2010
2. slunli
"when we kiss oooooh fiiiire!
Lookin for this so long and now I found it!
Great 70s!"
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3. Dave Wollenberg
"Heard 2 custom versions of this in Chicago. 1 for WLS, the other for WE-FM. Hit #2 pop, #14 soul, #21 AC in Billboard. God bless, sisters! RIP, June."
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4. driskoogle
"hmm interesting ... but I heard Springsteen wrote the song for expressly Elvis and gave it to him to sing. Bruce was a big fan. But Elvis died before ever recording it. The song then fell into the Pointer Sisters hands, and it really wasn't a "cover" since nobody before them had recorded it."
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5. driskoogle
"oops! now I did my homework ... Yes, Robert Gordon did record it first, before the Pointer Sisters."
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6. philburrell
"..who is the girl in the black outfit.....I don't recognize her and she doesn't look familiar?"
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Reply
7. SafariCreations
"@philburrell - I have been following the Pointer Sisters since 1973, been to many of their concerts since then and have seen them up close, that is Ruth. Check out some of the early album covers Energy - 1978, Priority - 1979 and Special Things - 1980."
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Reply
8. richard263 [2012]
"@philburrell I have known Ruth since 1979 when we both lived in Marin Country California and I can tell you that it is Ruth."
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9. vegasbaby92
"@philburrell - The one in the black outfit is Ruth Pointer. Anita Pointer is singing lead, and the great June Pointer is on the left side in the gold (design) shirt and blue pants.
They have another sister named Bonnie Pointer. She use to be in the group, but by this time had left for solo career."
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10. Matthew Hardy
"...Ruth is in the suspenders, june in orange, and anita singling lead in the huge polka dots. You know it when Ruth is singing lead cuz her voice is LOOOOOOOW."
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11. vinobody
"when rock meets soul, it can be so very good (see Macy Gray for example)"
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2011
12. Francocaine
"...by far the best VERSION of the song...
Springsteen is the GENIUS behind it, while the Pointer Sisters brought the BEST out of it.
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Reply
13. Julia S
"yes this songs was written by Bruce Springsteen. He wrote a few of their songs before he made it big himself. The song was just covered on Glee....but they covered the Pointer Sisters version, not how Bruce performs it. i looovee this song=)"
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14. B4inSF
"Anita, Ruth and June! Are like FIRE! What a great upload!!!"
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Reply
15. Bill Bass
"@balletluver4eva Bruce Springsteen mentioned he likes the Pointer Sisters singing the song even better than his version singing the song.
Think about that. The man who wrote the song likes the Pointer Sisters version sung of the song better."
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16. 646TB
"June Pointer you are soooooooooooo MISSED. R.I.P"
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17. Herstory4321
"I had this experience with the love of my life - just met, dying to grab him but it was the first date! Fire is right. I have to say I feel the Sisters and the band all felt a geat truth when they sang this song, an essential and beautiful human experience if you are one of the lucky ones. And only a girl would sing these lyrics - grls have to put the brakes on things."
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Reply
18. bendbenn
"@Herstory4321 yes, I agree, but only when sung by a woman ... if by a man, could be construed as harassment? or overaggressive romance?"
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2012
19. agitator263
"FIRE!!!!"
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2013
20. ian gilmore
"Anita Pointer has got a great voice,they can all sing,but I love the way she sings."
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21. Fe Iron
"This song is on fire!"
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22. DemoniacOnDaTrack
"i so love Ruth...shes one of the reasons i love this group so much...every time i see them perform, she just catches my eye every time...i lover her energy and how she just graces the stage with her personality...ive always loved her moves & how she really gets into it
Just Awesome"
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Reply
23. cottagechskitty
"Yes. Ruth is hard to miss. Sang lead on Automatic and Neutron Dance. The other 2 sound somewhat similar. She's not here but Bonnie Pointer is a mixture of the three"
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2014
24. nakia fanner
"Cause when we kiss, ooooooooooooh FIRE...
Got to love it !!!!!"
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25. Kelly Cannon (The Take Action WAHM)
"I love that they don't look like "rock stars" - they actually look more like 3 moms up doing (really, really awesome) karaoke. So cool :)"
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Reply
26. Pete AndClyde (2015)
"Ruth and Anita were both moms in 1979 when this Midnight Special was performed. Ruth was 33 and Anita 31. June, the baby, was 26. These ladies were the consummate "performers". No need for fancy clothes or costumes, although they had plenty of both. And they were always sexy. No need to be naked to be hot. Check out their video "Jump". Fully clothed and Junie singing lead is Smokin hot :)"
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Reply
27. alfonso marisol (2015)
"+Pete AndClyde No need for fancy clothes or costumes, ...see pointed sisters in France 1985!!! excellent...with fancy clothes...and sounds even better"
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Reply
28. Pete AndClyde (2015)
"You are correct! The Pointer Sisters had a huge collection of clothes and costumes they performed in. They always looked awesome(to me anyway) I was just pointing out that "fancy clothes and costumes" are irrelevant to how they "sound while singing". That said, even their most outrageous costumes back in the 80s' would be quite modest today.
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2015
29. Michael Harrison
"these lady's were hot and still are"
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Lori Romano
30. "Lead singer is strong. Despite keyboard going out of key at times, she remains in key throughout the song. Pointer Sisters Fire is hot."
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31. mike curt
"Great tune!! I love this version best but I haven't heard a version that I didn't like. Bruce writes great songs!: )."
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32. John Sight
"Im riding in ur car...... U turned on da radio.....
Ur pullin close......."
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Reply
33. mike curt
"+John Sight A sexy scene indeed!"
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2016
34. susan goryan
"LOVE these ladies...Seen them in Vegas BEFORE they had their own show...and then a few years later when they were ON FIRE at Universal City!"
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35. Psychokitten113
"pointer sisters best 70's / 80's act by far"
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Fred Scheetz
36. "fire indeed"
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37. Ashley Downey
"And to think this was originally a Bruce Springsteen song."
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Example #2: "Fire" The Pointer Sisters at The Attic 1981
videoman909 Published on Jan 9, 2013
Unedited live recording. January 27, 1981. Attic Night Club, Greenville, NC. [Jake's Video Collection]
-snip-
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread. These comments are numbered for referencing purposes only.
2013
1. quickstanger
"WOW, OMG!!! Greenville, N.C had a heat wave that night!!"
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2014
2. bernetta88
"This audience was on fire! What a performance! Amazing! Powerful Pointer Sisters!"
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3. bender138
"When those girls got through with that song there just wasn't anything left of it for anybody else to sing."
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4. DL Butler
"that must have been a magical night"
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Reply
5. TOM LEWIS (2016)
+DL Butler, you have no idea just how magical; burned forever in the memories of over 600 people, who relive it often to this day.
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2015
6. drewper73
"The Pointer Sisters were the bomb-diggity! For a while back in the day, they had hit after hit."
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2016
7. TOM LEWIS
"The Pointer Sisters were recently voted the #2 Female Group of all time. The Supremes took the top spot. Watch this video and you'll see there is an argument that they deserved the top spot."
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8. Melissa T
"this song is so hot, it knocked out my internet connection ! right in the middle of the song too"
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9. Sarah Silva
"a few babies were conceived that night!! LOVE THIS VERSION!"
ps:Anita:Luv That Dress!!
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10. raoul diblasi
"Smokin' girls! Thanks for the heat on this bitter cold night!"
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ADDENDUM - Bruce Springsteen - Fire (rare)
imotka, Uploaded on Aug 23, 2006
A very hot song from Bruce. It's not "I'm on fire" ... it's FIRE! And live of course!
Lyrics:
Im driving in my car, I turn on the radio
Im pulling you close, you just say no
You say you dont like it, but girl I know youre a liar
`cause when we kiss, fire
Late at night Im takin you home
I say I wanna stay, you say you wanna be alone
You say you dont love me, girl you cant hide your desire
`cause when we kiss, fire
You had a hold on me, right from the start
A grip so tight I couldnt tear it apart
My nerves all jumpin actin like a fool
Well your kisses they burn but your heart stays cool
Romeo and juliet, samson and delilah
Baby you can bet their love they didnt deny
Your words say split but your words they lie
`cause when we kiss, fire
-snip-
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread. These comments are numbered for referencing purposes only.
2016
1. Kele Redmond
"where is this concert? and when?"
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Reply
2. Ryan Wakley
"Bridge School Benefit 1986"
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3. Sir Winston Lennon
"Why are they booing at the start thing?"
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Reply
4. TheSpiritOfTheTimes
"Bruuuuuce can sound an awful lot like Booooo when there's thousands of people yelling at the same time."
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5. Gunvor Edling
"So very hot and sexy I am really on FIRE"
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6. Denise Smith
"he's on fire with this one...oh my"
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7. Vicki Marlowe
"Ahhh, YES, great song; sexy and ...yeah"
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8. Linda Ellis
"This is goimg into my favorites. .. I wanted to sing this at karaoke. .so I YouTubed Pointer Sisters..OMG!!! Imma do this version. .my poor boyfriend is gon fall of his seat!!"
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9. Monica Arnesen
"Bruce Springsteen is HOT!!!!"
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Reply
10. Angel Jasmyn silva
"+Monica Arnesen really hot"
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11. Brad Ozarko
"this is a song of PURE PASSION! an accordion, really? sorry bruce you wrote this song but the Pointer Sisters OWN it!"
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