FOREIGNER - WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU

Publicació: 2 d'octubre de 1981 (EUA) 4 de desembre de 1981 (Regne Unit)

Llistes: Regne Unit: #8    EUA: #2

"Waiting for a Girl Like You" és una balada de 1981 de la banda de rock britànica-nord-americana Foreigner publicada com a segon senzill de l'àlbum "4" de 1981 i va ser coescrita pel cantant Lou Gramm i el guitarrista Mick Jones. El sintetitzador va ser interpretat pel llavors poc conegut Thomas Dolby.

Aquest pot ser el single de més èxit de la història de les llistes dels Estats Units que mai va arribar al número 1. Va estar 10 setmanes al número 2, però va tenir la desgràcia d'assolir el màxim al mateix temps que l'èxit encara més massiu d'Olivia Newton-John "Physical", que va estar 10 setmanes al primer lloc. Però fins i tot quan "Physical" finalment va caure del número 1, "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" de Daryl Hall i John Oates va passar per davant de la cançó de Foreigner al lloc més alt de la llista. La setmana després d'això, "Centerfold" de la J. Geils Band va fer caure la cançó de Hall i Oates al número 2 i "Waiting for a Girl Like You" al número 3. L'any 2002, "Work It" de Missy Elliott va igualar la dubtosa gesta d'aquesta cançó, mantenint-se també al número 2 durant 10 setmanes sense arribar al número 1. Tot i que "Waiting for a Girl Like You" mai va arribar al número 1, l'àlbum "4" ho va fer, encapçalant el Billboard 200 durant deu setmanes.

Mick Jones, que va escriure la cançó amb el cantant principal Lou Gramm, va dir: "Hi ha una cançó anomenada 'Waiting For A Girl Like You', sobre la qual literalment no tenia cap control, va sortir sola. No tenia ni idea del que volia dir, i va arribar al punt que de vegades ni tan sols podia estar a l'estudi quan l'enregistràvem, em va deixar una impressió molt profunda. Però va acabar sent una cançó que va triomfar i va agradar a molta gent. Aquests dies he escoltat que és una cançó que molta gent la posa als seus casaments. És el tipus de cançó que s’escriu sola, i ni tan sols saps d'on et ve. Però sento que són coses que et passen a vegades i les has d'aprofitar, és una mena d’inspiració que hi ha a l'aire, i només has d'estar prou despert per agafar-la i deixar que flueixi a través teu. Hi ha una mica de mística en la forma que provenen aquestes idees. A vegades tens una idea sobre una cançó, o tens un títol en què bases la resta de la cançó, però a vegades prové literalment d'una àrea desconeguda. Estàs pensant en una cosa completament diferent i, de sobte et ve aquesta inspiració. Normalment sé quan està passant, i només deixo que flueixi i intento no interferir-hi, només intento transmetre el que signifiquen aquell pensament, i aquests sentiments."

A la seva autobiografia, Lou Gramm parla d'una dona preciosa i misteriosa que va aparèixer a la sala de control quan estava gravant la seva veu, i li va donar la inspiració per oferir l'emocionant presa que va ser la millor del que mai havia cantat per a la cançó, i la que es va utilitzar finalment. Escriu que aquesta bellesa efímera va desaparèixer i mai no ha sabut la seva identitat.

FOREIGNER - WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU

Released : October 2, 1981 (US)  December 4, 1981 (UK) 

Charted:  UK: #8    US: #2 

"Waiting for a Girl Like You" is a 1981 power ballad by the British-American rock band Foreigner released as the second single from the 1981 album “4” and was co-written by Lou Gramm and Mick Jones. The distinctive synthesizer theme was performed by the then-little-known Thomas Dolby.

This may be the biggest hit single in US chart history that never made it to #1. It spent an astounding 10 weeks at #2, but had the misfortune of peaking at the same time as Olivia Newton-John's even more massive hit "Physical," which spent 10 weeks at the top spot. But even when "Physical" finally fell out of #1, "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" by Daryl Hall and John Oates leapfrogged ahead of Foreigner’s song into the #1 spot. The week after that, "Centerfold" by the J. Geils Band knocked the Hall and Oates song to #2 and "Waiting for a Girl Like You" to #3. In 2002, "Work It" by Missy Elliott matched this song's dubious chart feat, also staying at #2 for 10 weeks without hitting #1. Whilst this song never made it to #1, the “4” album did, topping the Billboard 200 for ten weeks.

Mick Jones, who wrote the song with lead singer Lou Gramm, said: "There's a song called 'Waiting For A Girl Like You,' which I literally had no control over, it just came out. I had no idea what it meant, but it got to the point where I couldn't even be in the studio when we were recording it sometimes, it left such a deep impression on me. But it ended up being a song that brought a lot of people together. I hear these days that it's a song that a lot of people play at their weddings. It's the kind of song that the pen does the writing, and you don't even know where it came from. But I feel that it's stuff that's floating around at times and you have to grasp it - it's kind of flying around in the air, and you just have to be open enough to let that flow through you. Sometimes it's sort of mystical where these ideas come from. Sometimes you have an idea about a song, or you have a title that you base the rest of the song on, but sometimes it comes just literally from an unknown area. You'll be thinking about something completely different, and suddenly you get that inspiration. I usually know when it's happening, and I just let it flow and try not to interfere with it - just try and deliver what that thought, those feelings, mean."

In his autobiography, Lou Gramm tells of a beautiful, mysterious woman who appeared in the control room when he was recording his vocal and gave him the inspiration to deliver the stirring take that was better than he has ever sung the song. He writes that this ephemeral beauty vanished, and he has never discerned her identity.

 ROXETTE - THE LOOK

Publicació: 12 de gener de 1989

Llistes : Regne Unit: #7   EUA: #1 (1 setmana)

"The Look" és una cançó del duo pop suec Roxette. Va ser llançada a principis de 1989 com a senzill del seu segon àlbum d'estudi, "Look Sharp!". Es va convertir en un èxit internacional, i va ser un dels senzills amb més èxit de l’any. Va encapçalar les llistes de 25 països i va ser el primer dels seus quatre números 1 al Billboard Hot 100.

Gessle va explicar a la revista Billboard la història darrere de la cançó: "Volia escriure una cançó del tipus ZZ Top. Al final va resultar ser una cosa totalment diferent, cosa que sempre sol passar. Mai vaig pensar que seria una gran cançó. La vaig treballar durant un parell de mesos abans de tocar-la per a Marie i Clarence Ofwerman, el nostre productor. Tots dos van dir: ‘Això és el millor que has fet en molts anys: hem de gravar-ho’." Gessle a la demo original: "Estava intentant barrejar un ambient de ball amb guitarres potents. La vaig escrire per a Marie, però sonava terrible quan la va provar. Necessita més melodia perquè es pugui gaudir correctament la seva fabulosa veu! Sempre, per instint, vam optar per singles on Marie feia la veu principal. Quan vam sentir a parlar que una cançó s’estava emitint als EUA vam pensar de seguida que era 'Dressed For Success' o 'Listen To Your Heart' la que triomfava. La gran sorpresa per a tots nosaltres és que era 'The Look'. Badabam!"

Aquesta cançó tracta sobre una dona que és alhora atractiva físicament i captivadora pel que fa a la seva personalitat i aura. El tema la descriu com a poderosa i irresistible, amb trets que remarquen la seva atracció juvenil i el seu costat més salvatge, que la fan emocionant i seductora. La lletra suggereix que la dona està segura de si mateixa, simbolitzat per les frases "walking like a man, hitting like a hammer" (camina com un home, colpeja com un martell). La tornada repeteix la frase "she's got the look" per emfatitzar com l'aspecte i la personalitat d'aquesta dona és el que la fa destacar i atraure la gent. A més, la lletra "what in the world can make a brown-eyed girl turn blue?" (Què pot fer que els ulls marrons d’una noia es tornin blaus?) suggereix que, tot i que sembli impecable, també pot sentir dolor i tristesa. El pont instrumental de la cançó mostra encara més el poder i la força de la dona, amb un fort ritme de bateria i riffs de guitarra. "The Look" mostra una dona que traspua confiança, atractiu sexual i una personalitat magnètica.

El vídeo va provocar certa controvèrsia per mostrar a Fredriksson tocant la guitarra mentre estava asseguda en un vàter (completament vestida, amb la tapa tancada). "La van prohibir en alguns llocs dels Estats Units i no volien possar-la per això", va dir Gessle al bloc de música I Like Your Old Stuff. "Crec que hi ha una versió sense aquesta escena, perquè alguns països no la volien posar. És una bogeria".

ROXETTE - THE LOOK

Released : January 12, 1989

Charted:  UK: #7   US: #1 (1 week)

"The Look" is a song by Swedish pop duo Roxette. It was released in early 1989 as a single from their 1988 second studio album, “Look Sharp!”. It became an international hit, and was one of the most successful singles of 1989. It topped the charts in 25 countries, and was the first of their four number ones on the Billboard Hot 100.

Gessle gave Billboard magazine the story behind the song: "I wanted to write a ZZ Top-type of song. It turned out to be something totally different in the end, which is always the case. I never really thought it would be a big song. I had it around for a couple of months before I played it for Marie and Clarence Ofwerman, our producer. They both said, 'This is the best thing you've done in ages - you have to record it.'" Gessle on the original demo: "I was trying to mix a 'dance-vibe' with powerful guitars. It was written for Marie but it sounded terrible when she tried it out. She needs 'bigger' melodies so you can hear her fab voice properly! We always, by instinct, went for singles where Marie did the lead vox. When we heard about the airplay in the US we instantly thought it was 'Dressed For Success' or 'Listen To Your Heart' that started to happen. Big surprise to all of us that it was 'The Look.' Badabam!"

This is a song about a woman who is both physically attractive and captivating in terms of her personality and aura. The track describes her as powerful and irresistible, with traits such as being a "juvenile scam" and a "wild dog" that make her exciting and alluring. The lyrics suggest that the woman is confident and self-assured, symbolized by the lines "walking like a man, hitting like a hammer." The chorus repeats the phrase "she's got the look" to emphasize how this woman's appearance and personality are what makes her stand out and draw people in. Additionally, the lyrics "what in the world can make a brown-eyed girl turn blue?" suggest that even though she may seem flawless, she too can feel pain and sadness.

The song's instrumental bridge further showcases the woman's power and strength, with a heavy drum beat and guitar riffs. "The Look" celebrates a woman who exudes confidence, sex appeal, and a magnetic personality.

The video caused some controversy for showing Fredriksson playing the guitar while sitting on a toilet (fully clothed, with the lid closed). "It was banned in some places in the United States and they didn't want to play it because of that," Gessle told the music blog I Like Your Old Stuff. "I think there's actually a version without that scene in it, because some countries didn't want to play it. It's crazy."

 

THE TEMPTATIONS - JUST MY IMAGINATION (RUNNING AWAY WITH ME)

Publicació: 14 de gener de 1971

Llistes: Regne Unit: #8   EUA: #1 (2 setmanes)

"Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" és una cançó escrita per Norman Whitfield i Barrett Strong. Publicada pel segell Gordy (Motown), i produïda per Norman Whitfield, apareix a l'àlbum del grup de 1971, "Sky's the Limit". Quan es va llançar com a senzill, "Just My Imagination" es va convertir en la tercera cançó de Temptations en arribar al número 1 del Billboard Hot 100 dels EUA.

La cançó parla d'un noi que està bojament enamorat d'una noia, però només estan junts en la seva imaginació. Cada dia, la veu passar per davant la seva finestra, i en el seu somni imagina la seva vida junts. De fet, ella ni tan sols el coneix.

Els escriptors de Motown Norman Whitfield i Barrett Strong van escriure "Just My Imagination" a finals dels anys 60, però com que les cançons psicodèliques eren populars en aquell moment, van decidir esperar uns quants anys abans de llançar-la. Whitfield la va treure de la naftalina després del fracàs relatiu de "Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite the World)" de The Temptations, que va arribar al número 33 el 1970 (inacceptable per als seus estàndards). Whitfield va sentir que necessitaven canviar de direcció per mantenir-se al capdavant, així que va allunyar Temptations de la seva sèrie de cançons socialment rellevants i els va fer gravar aquesta balada. L'estratègia va funcionar i la cançó va arribar al número 1 a Amèrica.

Eddie Kendricks va ser la veu principal en aquest tema, que va acabar sent el seu últim senzill amb el grup. Membre original del grup, Kendricks va deixar The Temptations per a una carrera en solitari poc després de la publicació de la cançó. Amb el seu substitut, Damon Harris, els Temptations van aconseguir el seu últim gran èxit el 1972 amb "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone", que va assolir el número 1 als Estats Units. Kendricks va tenir el seu propi numero 1 el 1973 amb "Keep On Truckin'". "Just My Imagination" també va ser l'última cançó del membre del grup Paul Williams, que és el solista en la frase "Every night on my knees I pray". 

THE TEMPTATIONS - JUST MY IMAGINATION (RUNNING AWAY WITH ME)

Released : January 14, 1971 

Charted:  UK: #8    US: #1 (2 weeks)

"Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" is a song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. Released on the Gordy (Motown) label, and produced by Norman Whitfield, it features on the group's 1971 album, “Sky's the Limit”. When released as a single, "Just My Imagination" became the third Temptations song to reach number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The song is about a guy who is madly in love with a girl, but they're only together in his imagination. Every day, he watches her walk by his window, and in his reverie he pictures their life together. In reality, she doesn't even know him.

Motown writers Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong wrote "Just My Imagination" in the late '60s, but since psychedelic songs were popular at the time, they decided to wait a few years before releasing it. Whitfield pulled it out of the mothballs after the relative failure of The Temptations' "Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite the World)," which hit #33 in 1970 (unacceptable by their standards). Whitfield felt they needed to change direction to stay on top of the game, so he steered Temptations away from their string of socially relevant songs and had them record this airy ballad. The strategy worked, and the song rose to #1 in America.

Eddie Kendricks took lead vocals on this track, which ended up being his last single with the group. An original member, Kendricks left The Temptations for a solo career soon after the song was released. With his replacement, Damon Harris, the Temps landed their last big hit in 1972 with "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone," which went to #1 in the US. Kendricks had his own chart-topper in 1973 with "Keep On Truckin'." "Just My Imagination" was also the last song for group member Paul Williams, who sings the "Every night on my knees I pray," line.

 

JACKSON 5 - I WANT YOU BACK / ABC

I WANT YOU BACK

Released : October 6, 1969 

Charted:  UK: #2  US: #1 (1 wk)

“I Want You Back” is the first national single by the Jackson Five. It was released by Motown and became the first number-one hit for the band on January 31, 1970. It was performed on the band's first television appearances, on October 18, 1969, on Diana Ross's The Hollywood Palace and on their milestone performance on December 14, 1969, on The Ed Sullivan Show.

What a way to announce yourselves to the world. When The Jackson 5 released their debut Motown single “I Want You Back”, they became an immediate sensation. This was a product of a new Motown system. Gordy had just moved the label’s operations from Detroit to Hollywood, where the Jacksons recorded the song. It’s the first big hit from the new songwriting/production unit known as the Corporation — Gordy himself alongside Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, and Deke Richards. The song was originally meant for Gladys Knight & The Pips, and Diana Ross was also going to record it at one point. But in the end, Gordy knew where it should go. Ultimately, the Corporation existed only to crank out Jackson 5 hits, and they only lasted a couple of years, but they came up with some songs that will resonate until long after we’re all dead.

"I Want You Back" explores the theme of a lover who decides that he was too hasty in dropping his partner. An unusual aspect about "I Want You Back" was that its main lead vocal was performed by a tween, a then-11-year-old Michael Jackson.

The Jackson 5 went on to do great things; they were the first group, for instance, to see their first four singles all hit #1. And Michael would, of course, do great things on his own.

ABC 

Released : February 24, 1970

Charted:  UK: #8  US: #1 (2 wks)

“ABC” is a song released as a single for group’s second album of the same name. The song knocked the Beatles’ “Let it be” off the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970, and was No. 1 on the soul singles chart for four weeks. In this Motown classic, 'ABC' sees Michael Jackson attempting to woo a girl on the playground saying it's "as simple as ABC, do re mi and 1-2-3".

“ABC,” the Jackson 5’s second Motown single, is a totally, shamelessly formulaic work. Its melody isn’t too far removed from what they’d done with “I Want You Back.” The arrangement wasn’t much different, either. Both songs are fast and jittery and joyous, and both of them are driven by the overwhelming, exhilarated yawp of the 11 year old Jackson and by the way that Michael and his brothers would euphorically bounce their voices off of each other. Gordy was one of the four members of the Corporation, the songwriting and producing team who’d given “I Want You Back” to the Jacksons. And the Corporation also wrote and produced “ABC.” Pretty much everything about “ABC” is an attempt to replicate the success of “I Want You Back”.

Cash Box said "Having whetted the world’s appetite with "I Want You Back” the Jackson 5 makes it back with another dynamite side cast in the image of its million seller. Searing vocals and the familiar drive of the Motown supporting cast assure another giant here”. Billboard said "This pulsating swinger has all the sales and chart potential of the initial entry ‘I Want You Back’”. Record World said the song proved that "the Jackson 5 are Motown's newest supergroup.