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.