What is the meaning of a Shalamar in They Cloned Tyrone? HITC explains.
Mind-bending sci-fi always feels at home on Netflix, and They Cloned Tyrone is one of the finest genre offerings they’ve showcased yet, blending in great comedy with nostalgic blaxploitation elements. It serves as the directorial feature debut of Juel Taylor and premiered on the platform on Friday, July 21st 2023, uniting a central cast that includes John Boyega, Teyonah Parris and Jamie Foxx. Unearthing an outlandish government cloning conspiracy, there’s a lot to take away and contemplate before the credits roll. Long before the credits, on the other hand, you’ll be wondering what the meaning of a Shalamar is in They Cloned Tyrone.
What is the meaning of a Shalamar in They Cloned Tyrone?
Yo-Yo suggests giving a Shalamar which causes quite the confusion. “Shalamar?” Fontaine asks, to which Yo-Yo replies “You ever heard of a Shalamar?”
“You gonna give me a Shalamar?” he asks back, although the term is left ambiguous. However, it’s a reference to the R&B soul group Shalamar, who were popular in both the 1970s and 1980s.
Their biggest song is called ‘A Night To Remember’, and it’s suggested that Yo-Yo may give him a night to remember, alluding to them both getting together.
The word Shalamar also has a more definitive meaning, and on Urban Dictionary it’s detailed that a Shalamar may refer to a great friend with a beautiful personality. Although, the They Cloned Tyrone usage is a slick reference to one of the group’s hit songs.
Another of their hit songs is ‘I Can Make You Feel Good’, which just further reinforces the reference.
‘If The Truman Show and They Live had a baby’
Music is incredibly important to They Cloned Tyrone and the terrific soundtrack is a sure testament to that.
On the other hand, it’s one rich in movie influences too, which the director laid out during a recent interview with The New York Times:
“Definitely The Truman Show and They Live. This movie is basically if The Truman Show and They Live had a baby. There’s a little bit of The Matrix in there, as well. A little The Manchurian Candidate. A little Anaconda. Tone-wise, we were really inspired by Jackie Brown, Boogie Nights and The Big Lebowski.”
He also cited Napoleon Dynamite and It Follows “for the world building.”
Essential Shalamar songs
You’re sure to want to check out some Shalamar after the music reference in They Cloned Tyrone, so we’ve got a quick list that helps serve as a good introduction:
- A Night To Remember
- I Can Make You Feel Good
- Dancing In The Sheets
- Full Of Fire
- Friends
- The Second Time Around
- There It Is
- Take That To The Bank
- Don’t Try To Change Me
- Right In The Socket
They Cloned Tyrone is now streaming exclusively on Netflix.
