Okay, so tonight I have a special song request from some character named Filosofa … oh wait … that’s ME! Yep, folks, I’m in the mood for some Lionel Richie tonight, and so I’m treating myself! I hope you guys like it as much as I do!
Three Times a Lady, released in 1978, was written by Lionel Richie who said …
“I wrote it back in 1978 and it was a very personal meaning to me. I attended the wedding anniversary of my parents and my father made a speech about how much he loved my mother and appreciated the way she had stood beside him for 37 years. It was beautiful and I started to think about my own life and how my wife stands by me, how she does so many things without being asked or thanked. So, I wrote ‘Three Times A Lady’ as a dedication to my wife and my mother. I think my next door neighbor summed it up when she said that if a man wanted to buy her a present, all he need do is buy her that record and he wouldn’t have to say anything else.”
Awwww … doesn’t it bring a tear to your eye? Ladies, if you are ever lucky enough to have a man say that to you, hold him tight and never let him go, for he’s a keeper! Well … maybe. This song was released in 1978 and in 1993, Lionel and his wife, Brenda Harvey, divorced after she was arrested for “corporal injury to a spouse, resisting arrest, trespassing, vandalism, battery, and disturbing the peace” after finding Lionel at someone else’s apartment. Okay, perhaps my next song should be Chad & Jeremy’s A Summer Song that has a line …
“They say that all good things must end someday …”
This was the first #1 hit Lionel Richie wrote, but far from his last: he wrote songs that were #1 US hits in each of the next seven years, giving him the record for most consecutive #1 songs by a songwriter who was never a Beatle (Paul McCartney wrote songs that went to #1 1964-1971). In the UK, this was #1 for five weeks. It was the biggest UK hit for Motown Records.
Three Times a Lady Commodores
Thanks for the times that you’ve given me
The memories are all in mind
And now that we’ve come
To the end of our rainbow
There’s something I must say out loud!
Your once, twice
Three times a lady
And I love you
Yes, your once, twice
Three times a lady
And I love you!
You shared my dreams
My joys
My pains
You made my life worth living for
And if I had to live my life over again, dear
I’d spend each and every moment with you
Your once, twice
Three times a lady
And I love you
Yes, your once, twice
Three times a lady
And I love you!
When we are together
The moments I cherish
With every beat of my heart
To touch you, to hold you
To feel you, to need you
There’s nothing to keep us apart
You’re once, twice
Three times a lady
And I love you!
I love you !
For some reason … probably a combination of things like a respiratory infection I’ve been fighting for two weeks, the news from the past week, and the state of the world, I find myself on the brink of tears tonight. I need a pick-me-up, something to bring a smile to my face. I KNOW — LIONEL RICHIE!!! Lionel and Stevie Wonder are two people who can most always bring a smile and wipe away the tears. I’ve played this one only once, back in 2019, so it’s fair game for a redux.
It was almost too easy. In a back-and-forth comment, Padre Steve mentioned something called “Sirius Radio 70s on 7”. Now, I vaguely remembered hearing of Sirius Radio, but really had no idea what it was, or how it worked. But, I decided to check into it, and I’m so glad I did. It’s so easy that even I could figure it out, and while there are hundreds of different decades and genre combinations to choose from, I decided to stick, for my first foray into the unknown, with Padre’s recommendation. Wow … better than my ipod playlist, more variety! And best of all … it’s FREE! The third song I heard was one by the Commodores … surely I must have already played that one, right? A trip to the archives, check, double-check … nope … I can’t believe I haven’t already played this one. Almost too Easy!
Commodores lead singer Lionel Richie wrote this song, which became a crossover hit for the band, bringing them into pop and adult contemporary territory when they were previously pure funk.
The guitar solo, played by group founder Thomas McClary, was tricky business.
“When you have lyrics in a song that say, ‘Why in the world would anybody put chains on me? I’ve paid my dues to make it,’ you have to match the intensity of those lyrics to a sound and a feel that musically portrays the same intensity and the same context of what you’re saying. A lot of ballads, the song would just end, but we wanted the guitar solo to take it to another level of intensity. So that was basically the inspiration behind it.”
I never knew, until tonight, how the Commodores got their name. The seven original members each had a name they liked, so they agreed to throw a dictionary in the air and blind-pick a word on the page it landed on. That word was “Commodore,” which was a ranking in the United States Navy that is no longer used. They came very close to being “The Commodes.”
This song made it to #4 in the U.S., #9 in the UK, and #12 in Canada.
Easy Commodores
Know it sounds funny
But, I just can’t stand the pain
Girl, I’m leaving you tomorrow
Seems to me girl
You know I’ve done all I can
You see I begged, stole, and I borrowed! (yeah)
Ooh that’s why I’m easy
I’m easy like Sunday morning
That’s why I’m easy
I’m easy like Sunday morning!
Why in the world would anybody put chains on me?
I’ve paid my dues to make it
Everybody wants me to be
What they want me to be
I’m not happy when I try to fake it! no!
Ooh that’s why I’m easy
I’m easy like Sunday morning
That’s why I’m easy
I’m easy like Sunday morning!
I wanna be high, so high
I wanna be free to know
The things I do are right
I wanna be free
Just me! Whoa, oh! Babe!
That’s why I’m easy
I’m easy like Sunday morning, yeah
That’s why I’m easy
I’m easy like Sunday morning, whoa
‘Cause I’m easy
Easy like Sunday morning, yeah
‘Cause I’m easy
Easy like Sunday morning
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.
I’ve played this one before, but it’s been a couple of years and tonight I just really needed something upbeat and kind of silly to make me smile, so hopefully Clive will forgive me! Listening to this did bring a smile, even if only briefly, but I sure wish I knew his secret for defying gravity like that! I was gonna try it, but the girls both nixed that idea! I wonder if he had some kind of special shoes or an anti-gravity belt?
Written by Richie, Mike Frenchik, and Carlos Rios, the song became a worldwide top ten hit, but not everyone liked it. Critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine said …
“This isn’t entirely a good thing, since it means he indulges in silliness …”
Since when is a bit of silliness not a good thing? Methinks Mr. Erlewine needs to lighten up a bit. Apparently there were others who felt the same, though, for Blender magazine published a list of the “50 worst songs of all time”, with Dancing on the Ceiling listed at No. 20.
It is said that this video cost $400,000 to make! The song charted at #2 in the U.S. and #7 in the UK.
Dancing on the Ceiling Lionel Richie
What is happening here
Something’s going on that’s not quite clear
Somebody turn on the lights
We’re gonna have a party
It’s starting tonight
Oh, what a feeling
When we’re dancing on the ceiling
Oh, what a feeling
When we’re dancing on the ceiling
The room is hot and that’s good
Some of my friends came by from the neighborhood
The people startin’ a climb the walls
Ooh it looks like everybody is having a ball
Oh, what a feeling
When we’re dancing on the ceiling
Oh, what a feeling
When we’re dancing on the ceiling
Oh, what a feeling
When we’re dancing on the ceiling
Oh, what a feeling
When we’re dancing on the ceiling
Come on!
Everybody start to lose control
When the music is right
If you see somebody hangin’ around
Don’t get uptight
The only thing we want to do tonight
Is go ’round and ’round
And turn upside down
Come on! Let’s get down!
So come on! Let’s get loose
Don’t hold back
‘Cause ain’t no use
Hard to keep your feet on the ground
‘Cause when we like to party
We only want to get down
Oh, what a feeling
When we’re dancing on the ceiling
Oh, what a feeling
When we’re dancing on the ceiling
Oh, what a feeling
When we’re dancing on the ceiling
Oh, what a feeling
When we’re dancing on the ceiling
Say what?
Can’t stop now
Just getting started
Everybody clap your hands
Come on
Everybody let’s dance
Oh, what a feeling
When we’re dancing on the ceiling
Oh, what a feeling
When we’re dancing on the ceiling
Oh, what a feeling
When we’re dancing on the ceiling baby baby
We gonna dance all night
I’ve only played this one once, back in 2018, but it seemed to somehow fit in with my earlier morning post, On Friendship. And who better to sing a sad song and yet bring a smile than Lionel Richie, right?
This was written by Lionel Richie for a couple who decided to end their marriage in order to save their friendship. Commodore’s member Lionel Richie got the idea for this song from the failing marriage of his childhood friend William “Smitty” Smith. After Smith’s marriage broke up the two buddies had a long conversation from 9:00 pm to sunrise in which they agreed that it’s better to divorce as friends rather than stay married and hate each other.
This song charted at #2 in Canada, #4 in the UK, and #1 in the U.S.
Still Lionel Richie
Lady, morning’s just a moment away
And I’m without you once again
You laughed at me, you said you’ve never needed me
I wonder if you need me now
We played the games that people play
We made mistakes along the way
Somehow I know deep in my heart, you needed me
Remembering the pain, if I must say
It’s deep in my mind and locked away
But then most of all, I do love you
Still
Those memories, times I’m sure we’ll never forget
Those feelings we can’t put aside
For what we had, sometimes I try to understand
But it’s so heavy on my mind
So many dreams that flew away, so many words we didn’t say
Two people lost in a storm, where did we go, where’d we go?
Lost what we both had found, you know we let each other down
But then most of all, I do love you
Still
We played the games that people play
We made our mistakes along the way
Somehow I know deep in my heart, you needed me
‘Cause I needed you so desperately
We were too blind to see, but then
Most of all, I do love you
Still
I have reduxed this one every year since I first played it in … I think 2018. It carries a message that we all need to hear from time to time. Right now, all over the world, troubles abound. Thinking of Ukraine and Ukrainians at the moment, with their struggles to save their country from an evil wanna-be emperor. Climate change is bringing disastrous effects to people around the globe, to food and water supplies, and the list goes on. Here in the U.S., we are grieving for the lives lost over the past month in multiple mass shootings, especially the lives of 19 children lost in a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Our politicians are playing the already massive divide, further dividing us and some are attempting to subjugate the people of the U.S. to a dictatorial leader. People all over the globe are suffering in one way or another, and so tonight I play this one for everyone, to remind us that … we all share this planet, that we must come together, find ways to mend our fences, to overcome our differences.
One of the times I played this, our friend John Howell provided a tidbit that I wasn’t aware of at the time …
“I loved the Michael Jackson comment to all the stars that were in studio for the “We are the World” recording session. He said that egos were to be left at the door and that anyone who had a problem with that would be driven home…by Stevie Wonder.”
I don’t imagine too many egos were on display after that!!!
This song … it is what we need today … and every day. Please listen and enjoy.
Hello my friends. With a heavy heart tonight, I was not going to do a music post, but two special people convinced me, without realizing that they had a thing to do with it, to do one … and this one in particular. I shall explain …
A few nights ago, I was chatting via email with our friend Ellen, and she noted that while sometimes one doesn’t feel that they have a song in their heart, they should … sing anyway! Tonight, I felt as if I had no song in my heart, and really, I just wanted to go to bed. But, somewhere in my head, I heard Ellen saying, “C’mon, Filosofa … sing anyway!”
This was a benefit single for victims of famine in Africa. It raised over $60 Million, which was distributed to Ethiopia, Sudan, and other impoverished countries.
Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie wrote this song, and Quincy Jones produced it. This talented trio was perfect for the job: Quincy Jones was the hottest producer around, and his Rolodex (what would now be a contact list) was filled with the biggest names in music; Richie had written songs that went to #1 on the Hot 100 each of the previous seven years (“We Are The World” made it eight); Michael Jackson had the biggest album of 1984 with Thriller (produced by Jones) and was the biggest star in the world.
The USA For Africa project began as an idea calypso singer Harry Belafonte had for a benefit concert featuring black musicians. In late December 1984, looking for artists to participate, Belafonte called Ken Kragen, who managed an impressive roster of talent, including Lionel Richie. Kragen convinced Belafonte that they could raise more money and make a bigger impact with an original song; Belafonte agreed and Richie came on board to help.
Kragen asked Quincy Jones to produce, and Jones enlisted Michael Jackson. Richie got Stevie Wonder involved, and from there, word got out and many members of the music industry signed on to help. The project from conception to recording took about a month.
This all-star charity single was inspired by Band Aid, the British group Bob Geldof put together the year before to record Do They Know It’s Christmas?. Band Aid, which included Bono, Phil Collins, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, and Sting, served as a template, showing how a disparate group of famous artists could come together in one day to record a song.
The stars who sang solos were, in order, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Billy Joel, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Al Jarreau, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Daryl Hall, Michael Jackson (again), Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, and Kim Carnes. Bob Dylan and Ray Charles were also featured on the song and given close-ups in the video.
Harry Belafonte, who had the original idea for the project, was in the chorus but didn’t get a solo, joining Bette Midler, Smokey Robinson, The Pointer Sisters, LaToya Jackson, Bob Geldof, Sheila E., and Waylon Jennings as backing singers.
Quincy Jones was responsible for managing the egos of all the stars. It went very smoothly considering some very famous people did not get to sing a line. Most of the singers knew Jones personally and respected his wishes that they check their egos at the door.
Just goes to show what we can accomplish when people of all sorts come together for a common cause. I think … though the cause is different … this song has just as much meaning for our world today as it did when it was released in 1985, some 34 years ago, don’t you?
We Are the World U.S.A. for Africa
There comes a time
When we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
Oh, and it’s time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all
We can’t go on
Pretending day-by-day
That someone, somewhere soon make a change
We’re all a part of God’s great big family
And the truth, you know, love is all we need
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me
Oh, send them your heart
So they know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stones to bread
And so we all must lend a helping hand
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving
Oh, there’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me
When you’re down and out, there seems no hope at all
But if you just believe there’s no way we can fall
Well, well, well, well let us realize
Oh, that a change can only come
When we stand together as one, yeah, yeah, yeah
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me
We are the world (are the world)
We are the children (are the children)
We are the ones who’ll make a brighter day, so let’s start giving (so let’s start giving)
There is a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me
Oh, let me hear you!
We are the world (we are the world)
We are the children (said we are the children)
We are the ones who’ll make a brighter day so let start giving (so let’s start giving)
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me, come on now, let me hear you
We are the world (we are the world)
We are the children (we are the children)
We are the ones who’ll make a brighter day so let’s start giving (so let’s start giving)
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me, yeah
We are the world (we are the world)
We are the children (we are the children)
We are the ones who’ll make a brighter day so let’s start giving (so let’s start giving)
There’s a choice we’re making
And we’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me
We are the world (are the world)
We are the children (are the children)
We are the ones who’ll make a brighter day so let’s start giving (so let’s start giving)
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me
We are the world, we are the world (are the world)
We are the children, yes sir (are the children)
We are the ones that make a brighter day so let’s start giving (so let’s start giving)
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me, ooh-hoo!
We are the world (dear God) (are the world)
We are the children (are the children)
We are the ones that make a brighter day so let’s start giving (all right, can you hear what I’m saying?)
There’s a choice we’re making, we’re saving our own lives
I have wanted to start doing music posts again for months now, but my energy is still at ebb tide and I just cannot seem to rake together enough of it to get back into the groove of doing the music posts. However, last night I discovered that tonight, none other than Lionel Richie will be honoured with the Library of Congress’ Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, and it was enough to inspire and motivate me, at least this once! Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder are two who can bring me out of hiding most any day!
Lionel Richie will receive the honor Wednesday night in the nation’s capital in a special taping that will be broadcast on PBS on Tuesday, May 17. Past recipients include Paul Simon (2007), Stevie Wonder (2009), Paul McCartney (2010), Burt Bacharach & Hal David (2012), Carole King (2013), Billy Joel (2014), Willie Nelson (2015), Smokey Robinson (2016), Tony Bennett (2017), Gloria & Emilio Estefan (2019) and Garth Brooks (2012), who all provide input into who should be the next honoree each year.
This one peaked at #3 in the U.S. and Canada, and #12 in the UK. Interestingly, for I think of Lionel and his music as R&B or soul, this was the first, but not last, of his songs to chart on the Country music charts! I listened to this one, watched the video twice tonight, and found myself smiling … something that doesn’t happen too often these days. Thank you, Lionel!
Stuck on You Lionel Richie
Stuck on you
I’ve got this feeling down deep in my soul that I just can’t lose
Guess I’m on my way
Needed a friend
And the way I feel now I guess I’ll be with you ’til the end
Guess I’m on my way
Mighty glad you stayed
I’m stuck on you
Been a fool too long I guess it’s time for me to come on home
Guess I’m on my way
So hard to see
That a woman like you could wait around for a man like me
Guess I’m on my way
Mighty glad you stayed
Oh, I’m leaving on that midnight train tomorrow
And I know just where I’m going
I’ve packed up my troubles and I’ve thrown them all away
‘Cause this time little darling
I’m coming home to stay
I’m stuck on you
I’ve got this feeling down deep in my soul that I just can’t lose
Guess I’m on my way
Needed a friend
And the way I feel now I guess I’ll be with you ’til the end
Guess I’m on my way
I’m mighty glad you stayed
I’m mighty glad you stayed
According to my records, I last played this one in September 2019, just two years ago. I’m still reduxing this week to conserve my small amount of energy, but this one always brings a happy feeling to my heart … partly, of course, because … well, it’s Lionel!!! And partly because it’s a beautiful song in my book.
Tonight’s selection, Hello, was Lionel’s second #1 song after leaving the Commodores and going solo (Truly, which I almost played tonight, was his first). The album that features tonight’s song, Can’t Slow Down, won the 1984 Grammy for Album of the Year, and is the biggest-selling album in the history of Motown Records.
When you think of Motown, you probably think of Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and The Temptations, but Lionel Richie was also one of their biggest stars, and Hello was one of their biggest hits, especially in Britain. It was Motown’s first ever UK million selling single.
The song was promoted with a much derided video which included dialogue. Lionel Richie plays a teacher, Mr. Reynolds, who falls in love with a blind pottery student, Laura. When he looks in at her class, he finds that she has made a perfect clay model of his head. During the making of the video, Richie protested to the director Bob Giraldi that the story about the blind woman had no relationship to the song. Giraldi replied to him, “You’re not creating the story, I am.” The video was voted the worst music video of all time (don’t worry — I’m not playing that one!) in a poll of 8,000 music fans by UK TV music channel The Box, but Giraldi, who also directed Michael Jackson’s Beat It, stands by it. He’s quoted in the book I Want My MTV as saying, “I came up with the idea of a blind girl and Lionel as a teacher. ‘Hello’ is one of the top videos ever.” Giraldi adds that Richie was concerned that the bust didn’t look like him, until Giraldi pointed out that the girl making it was supposed to be blind.
Hello
Lionel Richie
I’ve been alone with you inside my mind
And in my dreams I’ve kissed your lips a thousand times
I sometimes see you pass outside my door
Hello, is it me you’re looking for?
I can see it in your eyes
I can see it in your smile
You’re all I’ve ever wanted, and my arms are open wide
‘Cause you know just what to say
And you know just what to do
And I want to tell you so much, I love you
I long to see the sunlight in your hair
And tell you time and time again how much I care
Sometimes I feel my heart will overflow
Hello, I’ve just got to let you know
‘Cause I wonder where you are
And I wonder what you do
Are you somewhere feeling lonely, or is someone loving you?
Tell me how to win your heart
For I haven’t got a clue
But let me start by saying, I love you
Hello, is it me you’re looking for?
‘Cause I wonder where you are
And I wonder what you do
Are you somewhere feeling lonely, or is someone loving you?
Tell me how to win your heart
For I haven’t got a clue
But let me start by saying I love you
Since I was not able to do a music post this morning, I am instead sharing our friend David’s Saturday music treats! He’s done a great mix today, one that will brighten your day and give you something to sing about! Thanks, David!
Or, where my mind takes me. And for a start it takes me back to an old favourite straight away. Let’s slip back to 1973.
Dobie Grey- Drift Away.
Back to 1968 now and a truly unusual record.
Sly and the family Stone – Everyday People
1985 next finds one of my favourite groups outside Motown in action.
Commodores- Nightshift
I’m getting almost modern now with a single from 1978. Bob Segar is a World Class writer and performer. Here he is with his Silver Bullet Band.
Bob Segar- Hollywood Nights
Finally, from 1985 I bring you a man whom some say the word conceited was written. Well, judging by some of his partners I’d say he has every right. But, and this is the important bit. He’s hugely talented and this single was what blew me away when I first heard it. Simply Red with Holding Back the Years…
I play this one about once a year, for it carries a message that we all need to hear from time to time. Right now, all over the world, troubles abound. In Haiti, Cuba, South Africa, protests are rocking the nations. In much of the world, the new variants of the coronavirus pandemic are causing renewed surges, people are dying and there aren’t enough vaccines in many countries, economies are in trouble, climate change is bringing disastrous effects to people around the globe, to food and water supplies, and the list goes on. Here in the U.S., we have such a political divide that families are being torn apart and white supremacy is threatening us all. So tonight I play this one for everyone, to remind us that … we all share this planet, that we must come together, find ways to mend our fences, to overcome our differences.
When I played this just over a year ago, our friend John Howell provided a tidbit that I wasn’t aware of at the time …
“I loved the Michael Jackson comment to all the stars that were in studio for the “We are the World” recording session. He said that egos were to be left at the door and that anyone who had a problem with that would be driven home…by Stevie Wonder.”
I don’t imagine too many egos were on display after that!!!
This song … it is what we need today … and every day. Please listen and enjoy.
Hello my friends. With a heavy heart tonight, I was not going to do a music post, but two special people convinced me, without realizing that they had a thing to do with it, to do one … and this one in particular. I shall explain …
A few nights ago, I was chatting via email with our friend Ellen, and she noted that while sometimes one doesn’t feel that they have a song in their heart, they should … sing anyway! Tonight, I felt as if I had no song in my heart, and really, I just wanted to go to bed. But, somewhere in my head, I heard Ellen saying, “C’mon, Filosofa … sing anyway!”
This was a benefit single for victims of famine in Africa. It raised over $60 Million, which was distributed to Ethiopia, Sudan, and other impoverished countries.
Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie wrote this song, and Quincy Jones produced it. This talented trio was perfect for the job: Quincy Jones was the hottest producer around, and his Rolodex (what would now be a contact list) was filled with the biggest names in music; Richie had written songs that went to #1 on the Hot 100 each of the previous seven years (“We Are The World” made it eight); Michael Jackson had the biggest album of 1984 with Thriller (produced by Jones) and was the biggest star in the world.
The USA For Africa project began as an idea calypso singer Harry Belafonte had for a benefit concert featuring black musicians. In late December 1984, looking for artists to participate, Belafonte called Ken Kragen, who managed an impressive roster of talent, including Lionel Richie. Kragen convinced Belafonte that they could raise more money and make a bigger impact with an original song; Belafonte agreed and Richie came on board to help.
Kragen asked Quincy Jones to produce, and Jones enlisted Michael Jackson. Richie got Stevie Wonder involved, and from there, word got out and many members of the music industry signed on to help. The project from conception to recording took about a month.
This all-star charity single was inspired by Band Aid, the British group Bob Geldof put together the year before to record Do They Know It’s Christmas?. Band Aid, which included Bono, Phil Collins, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, and Sting, served as a template, showing how a disparate group of famous artists could come together in one day to record a song.
The stars who sang solos were, in order, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Billy Joel, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Al Jarreau, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Daryl Hall, Michael Jackson (again), Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, and Kim Carnes. Bob Dylan and Ray Charles were also featured on the song and given close-ups in the video.
Harry Belafonte, who had the original idea for the project, was in the chorus but didn’t get a solo, joining Bette Midler, Smokey Robinson, The Pointer Sisters, LaToya Jackson, Bob Geldof, Sheila E., and Waylon Jennings as backing singers.
Quincy Jones was responsible for managing the egos of all the stars. It went very smoothly considering some very famous people did not get to sing a line. Most of the singers knew Jones personally and respected his wishes that they check their egos at the door.
Just goes to show what we can accomplish when people of all sorts come together for a common cause. I think … though the cause is different … this song has just as much meaning for our world today as it did when it was released in 1985, some 34 years ago, don’t you?
We Are the World U.S.A. for Africa
There comes a time
When we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
Oh, and it’s time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all
We can’t go on
Pretending day-by-day
That someone, somewhere soon make a change
We’re all a part of God’s great big family
And the truth, you know, love is all we need
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me
Oh, send them your heart
So they know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stones to bread
And so we all must lend a helping hand
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving
Oh, there’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me
When you’re down and out, there seems no hope at all
But if you just believe there’s no way we can fall
Well, well, well, well let us realize
Oh, that a change can only come
When we stand together as one, yeah, yeah, yeah
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me
We are the world (are the world)
We are the children (are the children)
We are the ones who’ll make a brighter day, so let’s start giving (so let’s start giving)
There is a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me
Oh, let me hear you!
We are the world (we are the world)
We are the children (said we are the children)
We are the ones who’ll make a brighter day so let start giving (so let’s start giving)
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me, come on now, let me hear you
We are the world (we are the world)
We are the children (we are the children)
We are the ones who’ll make a brighter day so let’s start giving (so let’s start giving)
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me, yeah
We are the world (we are the world)
We are the children (we are the children)
We are the ones who’ll make a brighter day so let’s start giving (so let’s start giving)
There’s a choice we’re making
And we’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me
We are the world (are the world)
We are the children (are the children)
We are the ones who’ll make a brighter day so let’s start giving (so let’s start giving)
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me
We are the world, we are the world (are the world)
We are the children, yes sir (are the children)
We are the ones that make a brighter day so let’s start giving (so let’s start giving)
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me, ooh-hoo!
We are the world (dear God) (are the world)
We are the children (are the children)
We are the ones that make a brighter day so let’s start giving (all right, can you hear what I’m saying?)
There’s a choice we’re making, we’re saving our own lives
Filosofa's Word 