♫ You Are ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

I have a list of songs to be played in the not-too-distant-future, but tonight … I wanted one to lift my own spirits, to bring a smile to my own face, so this one’s for me!  (Sorry, Clive … I know you don’t care for Lionel, but you’ll get Juice Newton in the next day or two!)

Lionel wrote You Are with his then-wife, Brenda Harvey Richie, and it was his second ‘solo’ after leaving the Commodores.  Truly, also released in 1982, was his first, and this was a follow-up.  There isn’t a lot of background that I could find about this song, but according to Richard Marx who sang backup on this song …

“Every session I ever did with Lionel, or for him, was a very fun atmosphere. I’ve been on so many sessions where it’s a downer, and you just try to get through it and nobody is having fun. Lionel is always having fun – no matter what.”

Lionel actually did a video for this, but MTV ignored it. The network didn’t give black artists significant airtime until Michael Jackson broke through in 1983. Later that year, Richie was welcomed on MTV with his video for All Night Long.

This one reached #4 on the U.S. charts and #5 in Canada, but only #43 in the UK — what’s with you guys in the UK that you don’t love you some Lionel???

You Are
Lionel Richie

Baby you’ll find
There’s only one love
Yours and mine
I’ve got so much love

And needing you so
My love for you
I’ll never let go
I’ve got so much love

All I want is to hold you
Let me show how much I love you baby (show you)
I don’t mind and I don’t mind (loving you)
Girl I love you
There’s no one above you

[Chorus]
You are the sun
You are the rain
That makes my life this foolish game
You need to know
I love you so
And I’d do it all again and again

Tell me it’s true
I can’t believe you do what you do
I’ve got so much love
And my love you’ll see
We’ll stay together, just you and me
I’ve got so much love

Only you (know me)
Tell me how to love you baby (show me)
I don’t mind and I don’t mind (tell me)
Girl, I love you
Always thinking of you

You are the sun
You are the rain
That makes my life this foolish game
You need to know
I love you so
And I’d do it all again and again

I know you know the way I feel
And I need your love for always
‘Cause when I’m with you
I fall in love
Again and again and again, baby.

You are the sun
You are the rain
That makes my life this foolish game
You need to know
I love you so
And I’d do it all again and again

You are the sun
You are the rain, baby
That makes my life this foolish game
You need to know
I love you so
And I’d do it all again and again

You are the sun
You are the rain
That makes my life this foolish game
You need to know
I love you so
And I’d do it all again and again

You are the sun
You are the rain
That makes my life this foolish game
You need to know
I love you so
And I’d do it all again and again

Songwriters: Brenda Harvey-Richie, Lionel Richie
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

28 thoughts on “♫ You Are ♫ (Redux)”

  3. Found your blog tonight while searching “hypocrisy” that led to your Reverse Robin Hood post. Then noticed this post on Lionel. I’m from the UK but live in Kansas now and loved listening to Lionel and the Commodores in my youth. Music & Lyrics is the topic of a future podcast I hope to start later this year named Sound Spirit Radio. Hope to read more of your posts.

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    • Welcome!!! I’m happy you found Filosofa’s Word and found something to enjoy here. I am a huge Motown fan, so you’ll see lots of Lionel, Stevie, Sam Cooke and more here. This is primarily a socio-political blog, but I try to delve into humour on Mondays and on Wednesdays I highlight ‘good people’ who are doing things for humanity. I do hope you’ll visit again soon and I look forward to the launch of your Sound Spirit Radio!

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          • I don’t really have favourites by most artists. John Lennon’s Imagine is definitely a favourite of his solo career, and Cry Baby is my fabourite Jsnis song. The reasons on that one are lost to history. Neil Diamond is Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show, only because I love the passion he can put into it on a good night. Eric Burdon is definitely New York 1963; America 1968. I may have others, but cannot think of them right now.
            As much as I would like to put Eric’s song here, O won’t because it is over 18 minutes, half of it so intensely meaningful to me because I lived it and survived. I just figure it would be mostly meaningless to anyone who did not go through all 8 hours of ithe reality.

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            • I fully agree about “Imagine” … I would play that here every week if I could. I’ll check out Eric’s “New York” tomorrow, but if it’s 18 minutes, I won’t be playing it in a post, for that’s just too long.

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              • I doubt you will like New York 1963, which occupies most of the first half of the song, along with a trip back to the 2nd World War.But it is the 2nd half of the song, from the words “I wanna be free,” that makes it my favourite. It tells, in words AND music my acid experience in 1969, almost perfectly. When the music gets really intense I was fighting for my .ife and my sanity. No one can write that without having been there, and I doubt anyone who hasn’t been there can hear it with their being. I do.
                So I will not be surprised when you don’t like it. I just wonder if you can make it to the end…

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                • I’ve been rather under the weather today and didn’t listen to it, but I will. Or at least I’ll listen to the first few minutes and then see if it can hold my interest. LuL

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                  • I have not been myself lately either. I actually tested myself for Covid again yesterday, but luckily I am still negative. So not sure what it is.
                    My cardiologist is trying a new remedy starting Monday. He is upping my iron levels, as recent experimental trearments suggest highly elevated iron levels for people suffering from long term heart problems AND fatigue. I’ll let you know if it works for me!
                    Hope you are feeling better soon.

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                    • Mine is the family cold … started with Chris, then me and Natasha at the same time. Chris was tested for Covid twice, negative both times, so it seems that it is just a common cold, but it is draining my energy for sure. Yes, do let me know about the iron thing … worth a shot, anyway. Hopefully by next week I’ll get back on my feet, or as much as I have been in the past two years.

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  5. Well predicted. If I’ve ever heard this before I’ve long since forgotten it. I’m surprised it got as high as #43 here: the record company must have got all their staff and their friends and relations to buy copies.

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    • Word of caution: You probably won’t like today’s, either, but I’m too tired and unwell tonight to put together the post I had planned to bring a smile to your face. Hopefully tomorrow! Meanwhile, back to Lionel … did you see David’s comment? 😉

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      • Hope you’re soon feeling better. No worries for today – as I’ve said before, you’re playing these for you, not for me!

        Yes, I did see what David said. Looks like I’m in the minority round here 🤣

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        • Thanks, Clive — I’ll survive. Chris had a cold, so now Natasha and I both have it. As long as it doesn’t turn into pneumonia, as my colds often do, I’ll be fine. Yes, I know I play them for me, but it’s fun to play ones that my friends like, too!

          Heh heh … I doubt that … but David likes Lionel and most of Motown, I think.

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    • Awww … I know you do, and and I also remember that “Dancing On The Ceiling” is your favourite … I’ll play it again soon! I still haven’t figured out how he didn’t fall off the ceiling …
      Cwtch

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