A couple of weeks ago, I played Nightshift by the Commodores, and in comments, my friend Cheryl, aka Calensariel, mentioned that her favourite Motown song was My Girl, by the Temptations. And … since I always aim to please my friends, this one’s for you, dear friend!
This was written by Smokey Robinson and Ronald White, who were both members of The Miracles. Robinson wrote the lyrics – he was married at the time to his first wife, Claudette (they were wed from 1957-1986), but Smokey said that the song is not about a specific girl, but “written with all the women in the world in mind.”
This song was written in the Apollo Theater when The Temptations were playing as part of a package tour with The Miracles. According to Robinson, he was working out the song on a piano at the theater when his bandmate Ronald White joined him and they hashed out the song. When The Temptations heard it, they convinced Robinson to let them record it instead of The Miracles. Robinson, who was Berry Gordy’s right-hand man at Motown agreed, and rehearsed the song with The Temptations over the next week. When they returned to Detroit, Robinson and White produced the session on December 21, 1964 when they recorded this song.
The previous year, Robinson wrote My Guy for Motown singer Mary Wells. That song carried the same sentiment of unconditional love, but from a female perspective. Hmmmm … I’ll have to play that one soon, for it’s great, too! Somebody remind me, for we all know that my memory is gone!
This was the first of four US #1 hits for The Temptations. It was also the first #1 for a male vocal group on the Motown label. The Temptations were a groundbreaking act in terms of choreography, doing precise movements to accentuate their songs. This one used big, expressive gestures that became widely associated with the song – it was not uncommon to see people doing the moves while listening to it. The Motown choreographer was a dancer named Cholly Atkins.
One thing I didn’t know is that Mr. ‘Sittin’-on-the-Dock-of-the-Bay’ Otis Redding had also done this song. Now, I love Otis, and I was prepared to offer his rendition up as a second tonight, but after I listened to about 30 seconds of it, I said … “Nah, sorry Otis, you flubbed this one”. Nobody can do everything well, and he will always have my heart on Dock o’ the Bay!
My Girl
The Temptations
I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day
When it’s cold outside I’ve got the month of May
Well I guess you’d say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin’ ’bout my girl (my girl)
I’ve got so much honey the bees envy me
I’ve got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees
Well I guess you’d say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin’ ’bout my girl (my girl ooh)
Hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
Ooh yeah
I don’t need no money, fortune, or fame (ooh hey hey hey)
I’ve got all the riches baby one man can claim (oh yes I do)
I guess you’d say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin’ ’bout my girl (my girl)
I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day
With my girl (My girl)
(Talkin’ ’bout my girl my girl) I’ve even got the month of May
With my girl (My girl, woah)
She’s all I can think (my girl)
(Talkin’ ’bout my girl my girl)
Talkin’ ’bout, talkin’ ’bout my girl (my girl, woah)
Songwriters: William Smokey Robinson / Ronald White
My Girl lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Ah, one of the best!!
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Indeed so! Glad you liked it!
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😀
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My favourite Motown “group,” seeing as you never knew who would be lead singer with each new record that came out. But no one was ever allowed to be “better than the others” and that was the way it had to be. They had a lot of personality clashes, and some tragic losses, but they were always professional on stage. Who could ask for more?
They were pure Motown.
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Indeed they were! Always professional and always pleasing to the ear!
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An stellar choice Jill.
The Temptations were truly a band, vocals instead of musical instruments. Set the standard for others.
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They did indeed set the standard! I’m glad you liked this one … you would have liked today’s, but I fell asleep while working on it and it didn’t materialize on its own overnight as I had hoped it would.
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Overall you maybe need a few more zzzzzz’s? 😴
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Yeah, you might say that … especially given that it is now 4:20 a.m., and I am still up, bright-eyed and fresh as a daisy! 🤓
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Watch that adrenalin kiddo 😉
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The adrenaline is, I think, fueled by angst and anger. Sigh.
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In these days……Bound to be
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An uplifting song well written and well performed. Is there a field Smokey Robinson didn’t excel in? Dammit, I feel the need for some ‘I second that emotion’ now or maybe ‘Tracks of my tears’.This is all Motown at it’s best.
Cwtch
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I knew you’d like this one! And you would have liked today’s if I hadn’t kept falling asleep and finally had to give up on it and go to bed! 😉
Cwtch
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Well, that’s just plain selfish.
Cwtch
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I know, and I hang my head in shame at my selfishness. Can you ever forgive me? 😔
Cwtch
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Another great song, Jill! Thank you!
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My pleasure! Glad you liked it!
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Oh another winner and the funny thing is that I was just singing this song this past weekend. Just had popped into my head. Once again great minds think alike. 🙂
This song makes me happy but makes me cry too, every time I watch the movie!
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♫ Yay!!! I’m glad you liked it. That happens a lot, that when I play a song somebody will say, “Hey, I was just thinking about that song”, or “Wow, I just heard that on the car radio yesterday”. Since I mostly only play older songs, it’s odd coincidence. I’ve never seen the movie, but the song is always uplifting to me! Have a great week!
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Oooh girl you have to see the movie! Its a classic. It does have a lot of happy parts in it, but a very sad part too. But it ends happy. 🙂
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