I begun this week with a song a dedication to the Friday feeling, an ode for the week to end, for Friday to come and the weekend to begin… That was the song Woza Friday by the group Juluka which means come Friday.
To honour the weekend I am bringing back another yesteryear hit featuring the late Mabrrr Brenda Fassie… Weekend Special.
Weekend Special
Weekend Special is the 1983 debut single by the South African group Brenda and the Big Dudes from their debut studio album Weekend Special.
Weekend Special was written and produced songwriter/producer Melvyn Matthews which single-handedly propelled Brenda Fassie to being Queen of the township and it was a signature track throughout her illustrious career.
Brenda’s music career break started when she was filling in for a vocalist who was on maternity leave, when the vocalist returned Brenda went on to join another group as a backup singer before starting her own band Brenda and the Big Dudes.
Weekend Special drove the band to commercial success and international recognition as the single became South Africa’s best selling record and a 1986 remix by Van Gibbs spent 8 weeks in international charts peaking at number 72.
BrendaFassie has been described as the “Queen of African Pop“, the “Madonna of The Townships” or simply as The Black Madonna.
Weekend special is about a relationship with a lover who only shows up on weekends, weekend special.
Weekend Special Lyrics
You don’t come around, to me see in the week
You don’t have a chance, to call me on the phone
You don’t come around, to me see in the week
You don’t have a chance, to call me on the phone
[Pre-Chorus]
But friday night, yes I know
I know I must be ready for you, just be waiting for you
Friday night, yes I know
I know I must be ready for you, just be waiting for you
[Chorus]
I’m no weekend, weekend special
I’m no weekend, weekend special
I’m no weekend, weekend special
I’m no weekend, weekend special
I’m no weekend, weekend special (daddy’s home)
I’m no weekend (daddy’s home)
Another lonely night, on my own again
How I long for your love
I need your touch, yes I do
You don’t come around, to me see in the week
You don’t have a chance, to call me on the phone
[Pre-Chorus]
But friday night, yes I know
I know I must be ready for you, just be waiting for you
Friday night, yes I know
I know I must be ready for you, just be waiting for you
[Bridge]
I’m your weekend special…
I’m your weekend special…
I’m no weekend special…
That is all…
[Chorus]
I’m no weekend, weekend special
I’m no weekend, weekend special
I’m no weekend, weekend special
I’m no weekend, weekend special
I’m no weekend, weekend special (daddy’s home)
I’m no weekend (daddy’s home)
**interesting aside all along I used to think Brenda sang I’m yo weekend special and recently in my life discovered it could have been I’m no weekend special, refusing to be a weekend special…
Phonetically its a bit difficult to distinguish and now I am of the opinion the lines are interchanged in the chorus and bridge…
In the meantime I reached out to the original writer via the interwebs and await clarification.
~B
Becoming The Muse 
I hear “no” in there.
Great lyrics. Very smart.
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I have a couple of weekend special connections they never call except on Saturdays lol
~B
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Great lyrics
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really digging these music posts, wowza Friday was a great song as well
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Thank you Matt
I love doing these its like a trip into memory and yet part of the present true as over the years these tracks have become an anthem of sorts its easy to forget how far back they take some of us.
I guess thats why they say great music is timeless
~B
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Great song, and thanks for sharing the music.
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Good music is meant to be c shared
~B
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I think the lyrics interchange as well.
I love Brenda so much, my partner knows that as soon as I start play her songs it means I will be singing all night using a broomstick and trying to copy her dance moves.
Her songs remind me home in December with my parents sitting outside in the evening. They would be busy telling my brother and I stories of when they were younger. Plus they were born on the same year as maBrrrrr so she is a big deal at home.
I wish she could come back to life a drop another hit song for December and go make my December. On second thoughts, I would be too freaked out by listening to a song by an actual ghost 😅. I will listen to the songs that are there already, it’s fine.
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I had to laugh at the part about a ghost song 🤣🤣
Well maybe your wish may be granted and a previously unheard record is released it’s been known to happen
In the meantime we sing and dance to feel good timeless classics which take us back to the moments in memory
maBrrr was such a legend
~B
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You are so right, I always wanted clarity if it was No weekend or yo weekend special. Thanks for clearing that up.
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Still waiting the final clarification
~B
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