I haven’t walked long distance in a while, I restarted on Monday and it feels great. I normally walk with earphones plugged in and listening to my ‘walk’ play list. Today I decided to shuffle my songs and have a truly random listening experience, as I walked I was struck by the frequency of love song occurrence. I’m not the most romantic person in the world and I do not think I consciously search for love songs, I also remembered this series and the fact that ALL (except fancy) the songs I like are love songs. To make matters worse the “love of my life” Oris *if he catch me!*, says I’m sending subliminal messages to other men in my commentaries, so I’ll just halt the love song thing before they go pour sand for my romantic garri 😉
The first song is I’m every woman by Chaka Khan, I’m such a big fan of the big C. She did one of my favourite love songs “ain’t nobody”, no I’m not putting it up. This song is sassy, upbeat and such a celebration of feminity. Whitney Houston did a cover of it and spoiled it! It sounds like a hymn. It was such a sacrilege.
“I’m Every Woman”
[Chorus:]
I’m every woman, it’s all in me
Anything you want done, baby
I’ll do it naturally
I’m every woman, it’s all in me
I can read your thoughts right now
Every one from A to Z
I can cast a spell
With secrets you can’t tell
Mix a special brew
Put fire inside of you
But anytime you feel
Danger or fear
Instantly I will appear, ’cause
[Chorus]
I can sense your needs
Like rain on to the seeds
I can make a rhyme
Of confusion in your mind
And when it comes down
To some good old fashioned love
That’s what I’ve got plenty of, ’cause
[Chorus]
I ain’t braggin’ ’cause I’m the one
You just ask me ooh and it shall be done
And don’t bother to compare
‘Cause I’ve got it
I’ve got it, I’ve got it, yeah
I’m every woman
[Repeat and fade]
Yea baby! I’ve got it and I’ll flaunt it, nuff said.
The next song is another upbeat song, used to be a party staple back in the day, whenever I think of the 80’s this song plays in my head. The song takes me back to that time when life was simple. And whoever produced this song is an out and out genius, the beat lingers in your head for a long time
Rhythm Of The Night
When it feels like the world is on your shoulders,
and all of the madness has got you going crazy.
It’s time to get out, step out into the street,
Where all of the action is right there at your feet,
well, I know a place where we can dance all night away
underneath electric stars.
Just come with me and we can shake your blues right away,
you’ll be doing fine when the music starts, oh
To the beat of the rhythm of the night, dance until the morning light.
Forget about the worries on your mind, you can leave them all behind.
To the beat of the rhythm of the night,
oh, the rhythm of the night, oh yeah.
Look out on the street now, the party’s just beginning,
the music’s playing, a celebration’s starting
Under the street lights the scene is being set
A night for romance, a night you won’t forget
So, come join the fun, this ain’t no time to be staying home,
oh, there’s too much going on.
Tonight is gonna be a night like you’ve never known.
We’re gonna have a good time the whole night long.
To the beat of the rhythm of the night, dance until the morning light…..
Come, join the fun, this ain’t no time to be staying home….
To the beat of the rhythm of the night, dance until the morning light.
Forget about the worries on your mind, you can leave them all behind.
To the beat of the rhythm of the night, dance until the morning light.
Forget about the worries on your mind.
To the beat of the rhythm of the night, oh baby, I’m crying.
Forget about the worries on your mind.
To the beat of the rhythm of the night, oh baby,
Forget about the worries on your mind.
La la la la la
The music’s playing, it’s a celebration , the music’s playing,
Everybody dance to the beat of the rhythm of the night
Forget about the worries on your mind, you can leave them all behind.
To the beat of the rhythm of the night, dance until the morning light………
The next song is a legend, the man who’s shoes no one (not even Luther Vandross) has been able to fill. Yes its Marvin Gaye, and the song is his heartfelt classic “what’s going on”. He wrote the song based after hearing his brother’s experience in Vietnam. I still think it’s a crying shame that when you mention his name in Nigeria, most of us think of ‘sexual healing’. It’s a beautiful song but he deserves to be remembered for being the best RnB singer ever. Have you heard “Mercy me- the ecology”? Or any of his soulful duets? Please look for them and listen to them. Speaking of duets, his duet with Kim Weston ‘it takes two’ was used in the famous and old squadron dry gin commercial. I heard the commercial first, when I listen to the song my head always inserts “squadron and you”.
“What’s Going On”
Mother, mother
There’s too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There’s far too many of you dying
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today – Ya
Father, father
We don’t need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today
Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
Oh, what’s going on
What’s going on
Ya, what’s going on
Ah, what’s going on
In the mean time
Right on, baby
Right on
Right on
Father, father, everybody thinks we’re wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply because our hair is long
Oh, you know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Oh
Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
What’s going on
Ya, what’s going on
Tell me what’s going on
I’ll tell you what’s going on – Uh
Right on baby
Right on baby
Emporium of Words 