Break Down Those Walls (formerly known by the placeholder "Uptown People") is a formerly unidentified 1984 synthpop/funk song by New York based band Dolce Vita as a part of the band's self-titled album. The song was first posted by user NY80sTapes/Kenny Cathead on WatZatSong on July 2nd, 2023.
Search History
On June 10th, 2023, Kenny Cathead would upload a one hour and twenty five minute called "Unknown". Featuring many snippet he recorded off of the radio in the 80s. This song played 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 3 seconds into the video.
On July 2nd, 2023, user NY80sTapes posted a sample of the song onto WatZatSong, describing the song as belonging to the genres "Soul, funk, rap". Like most of his songs, he recorded it off of a New York radio station in the early 80s.
On November 11th, 2023, a 3 second longer sample was discovered by WatZatSong user tyx, who shared the longer audio sample via Vocaroo.
On May 29th, 2024, Reddit user TriPork identified the song after searching “Post Punk Albums 1984 Site:YouTube.com Intext:1984” and then found the song within a YouTube upload of the full album on the channel Obscure Alternatives.
Presumed lyrics
[Intro]
(La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
(La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
[Verse 1]
Uptown people looking down, downtown
What are we gonna do?
Say, boy, what are you doing in my town?
Hey, I'm talking to you, and I say
(La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
(La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
We were living in Cleveland
(La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
(La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
They'll never understand
[Pre-chorus]
We won't live like this
With these walls between ourselves
[Chorus]
Break down those walls
Break down those walls
Break down those walls
[Verse 2]
Hey, hey, hey
One-way thinking, one-way traffic
Rhythm doesn't stop
Something's coming and something's drumming
It's time for the walls to rock, and I say
(La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
(La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
We were fighting in the streets
(La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
(La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
Work inside those rules
[Pre-chorus]
We won't livе like this
All these walls bеtween ourselves
[Chorus]
Break down those walls
Break down those walls
Break down those walls
[Instrumental Bridge]
[Verse 3]
A hammer, a heart, it's time to start
That's where we play in New York, come on!
Ba-ba-ba-ba
(Improv)
Cambia tutto molto presto
The wall between you and me
[Pre-chorus]
No one lives like this
With these walls between ourselves
[Bridge]
Break down those walls
Break down those walls
Break down those walls
You can break down those walls
Break down those walls
Break down those walls
You can break down those walls
[Chorus]
Break down those walls
Break down those walls
Break down those walls
We can break down those walls
Break down those walls
Break down those walls
Break down those walls
You can break down those walls
Dolce Vita
Dolce Vita was a short-lived new wave band from New York, USA. They formed in 1982 and disbanded in 1985. They only have one EP to their name.
The band consisted of: David Quinn (lead vocals, keyboards), Tommaso Commonara (guitar, backup vocals), Lorenzo Gilioli (bass) and Julius (drums).
They released their first and only EP, self-titled Dolce Vita, with four songs. It was released on the label Brain Eater Records in 1984, a local record label from New York.
- Beginning All Over
- Looking Away
- Break Down Those Walls
- Never Let Go Now
Today David Quinn works as a comic book writer, with his newest release being a book named The Addiction and The Addiction #2.
Gallery
.png "Screenshot 20240227-040329(UptownPeople).png (2.4 MB)")
External links
- Original WatZatSong post.
- Reddit post.
- TriPork's song identification.
- Full song version.
- Complete EP.
- Dolce Vita on Bandcamp.
- Dolce Vita on Discogs.
- David Quinn blog post about the song.
- Interview on an Italian TV channel.