In the dense and neon-lit soundscape of the late 1980s, where pop music was often polished to a slick, sterile gleam and image meant everything, a singular blast of energy, confidence, and authenticity shattered the mold. That blast came in the form of “Buffalo Stance” by Neneh Cherry. Released in 1988, the song wasn’t just a hit single—it was an act of cultural rebellion disguised as a dancefloor anthem. It was a song that fused genres, smashed expectations, and introduced the world to an artist whose very existence challenged what pop music, and pop stars, were supposed to be.
Neneh Cherry wasn’t new to music when “Buffalo Stance” erupted onto radio waves and into music charts. Born in Sweden and raised in a musically and politically conscious household, she had already carved out a niche for herself in the UK’s post-punk underground, especially as part of the avant-garde group Rip Rig + Panic. But nothing in her eclectic and experimental past hinted that she would suddenly rewrite the rules of mainstream pop with a track that sounded like little else at the time. “Buffalo Stance” arrived with swagger and intelligence, blending elements of hip-hop, electro, dance-pop, and funk in a way that felt both grounded in the streets and elevated by high-concept art and fashion.
The roots of the track are as unconventional as the finished product. The song evolved from a reworked B-side of a relatively obscure pop single by the duo Morgan-McVey, who themselves had connections to the hip-hop scene and the world of high fashion. That original song, “Looking Good Diving,” wasn’t much more than a curiosity, but when Neneh Cherry added her fierce rap vocals to a remix version, something sparked. With the help of Tim Simenon, the brains behind Bomb the Bass, and producer Mark Saunders, the retooled track was transformed into “Buffalo Stance”—a brash, boundary-pushing anthem that defied simple categorization.
The term “Buffalo stance” itself referred to more than just a pose or an attitude. It was a direct nod to the Buffalo collective, a group of artists, musicians, models, and stylists in London led by Ray Petri. This collective was known for championing a raw, multicultural, gender-fluid aesthetic that stood in direct opposition to the glossy, sanitized image of pop culture during that era. Neneh Cherry, with her androgynous fashion, her fierce independence, and her refusal to play to the industry’s expectations, was already a natural extension of that ethos. The song became her platform to articulate it clearly.
“Buffalo Stance” opens with turntable scratches and an unforgettable bassline that sounds as though it was beamed in from a block party deep in the Bronx. Cherry doesn’t ease the listener in—she pounces: “Who’s that gigolo on the street / With his hands in his pockets and his crocodile feet?” From the first lines, it’s clear this is a song about power dynamics, gender politics, and streetwise survival. Her flow alternates between rap and melodic hooks, establishing a style that wouldn’t become common until artists like Lauryn Hill and Missy Elliott made it popular in the next decade. Cherry made it sound effortless—brash when she needed to be, playful when it suited the beat, but always completely in command of the song’s emotional and musical arc.
The song’s lyrics are biting and sharp, aimed squarely at the commodification of relationships and the misogyny baked into both romantic and cultural interactions. Cherry’s speaker is uninterested in money or status; she’s interested in authenticity, love, and mutual respect. “No moneyman can win my love / It’s sweetness that I’m thinking of.” It’s a rejection of transactional affection, a clear-eyed warning against exploitation, and a celebration of self-worth. This wasn’t common territory for female pop artists in the late ’80s. Most were still performing songs written by male songwriters, still being packaged by labels to fit a mold. Cherry broke the mold, then danced on the shards.
And she did it all while seven months pregnant. One of the most iconic moments of the “Buffalo Stance” era was Neneh Cherry’s performance on Top of the Pops, where she appeared visibly pregnant. At a time when female pop stars were expected to present themselves as perpetually available, young, and sexy, this was a radical act. Cherry wasn’t hiding her body. She wasn’t pretending to be someone she wasn’t. She was living in her truth and challenging the world to deal with it. In doing so, she made an unspoken but thunderously clear declaration: women are not defined by the industry’s narrow expectations. They can create, perform, and own the stage on their own terms.
The production on “Buffalo Stance” is dense but never cluttered, a masterclass in late ’80s beat-making. Tim Simenon brought his Bomb the Bass sensibilities to the track, pulling together breakbeats, samples, and DJ scratches that made the song feel fresh and underground, even as it climbed the charts. There are echoes of Public Enemy, with its urgent, sample-heavy soundscapes, and a nod to early electro with its synthetic pulses and laser-sharp synths. But above all, it’s the rhythm that drives the song forward, a hip-hop backbone wrapped in layers of danceable energy and swagger.
“Buffalo Stance” charted all over the world. It reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and matched that in the UK. It was a hit in Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, and just about every other market where listeners were ready for something bold and different. But while many pop songs of the era have faded into nostalgia, “Buffalo Stance” has remained potent. It’s not just a catchy tune; it’s a cultural touchstone. It’s a track that has been cited by countless artists as an influence, not just for its sound but for its spirit.
Its legacy is obvious in the careers of genre-blending artists who emerged in the 2000s and beyond. M.I.A., Santigold, Robyn, Missy Elliott, even Charli XCX and Lizzo—all stand on ground that Neneh Cherry helped clear. She showed that a female artist could be tough and intellectual, sexy and smart, pop and political. She didn’t just occupy multiple lanes—she invented a whole new road.
Cherry’s career after “Buffalo Stance” continued to reflect her refusal to conform. Albums like Raw Like Sushi, Man, and Broken Politics showcased her constant evolution, her unwillingness to chase trends, and her dedication to thoughtful, socially conscious art. But it’s “Buffalo Stance” that remains her most widely recognized moment—and rightly so. It is a perfect artifact of a particular cultural moment and a timeless reminder that pop music can have teeth, depth, and swagger all at once.
Even now, decades after its release, “Buffalo Stance” doesn’t sound like a relic. It sounds like the future—just as it did in 1988. Its energy is unrelenting, its message undiluted, and its attitude as relevant as ever. It’s a song that says you don’t have to play by the rules to win the game. You don’t have to compromise your voice to be heard. You don’t have to soften your edges to be beautiful. You just have to stand your ground—fierce, fabulous, and free. That’s the Buffalo stance. And thanks to Neneh Cherry, we all know how to strike it
