Month: January 2019

Song Lyric Sunday | “No One Gonna Love You” – Jennifer Hudson

Song Lyric Sunday banner

Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time and author Jim Adams from A Unique Title For Me is our current guest host. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.

This week’s theme is  “no.”

 ~~~~~

I’m not a fan of the numerous music competition shows, but am so glad American Idol brought Jennifer Hudson into my music world.

The singer has enjoyed much success in music and as an actress, garnering Grammy and Academy awards, but it’s a single from her 2011 studio album, I Remember Me that keeps her on my favorites list.

Her first musical offering after the murder of her mother, brother and nephew by her sister’s estranged husband in late 2008,  Hudson opens the 2011 album with the single No One Gonna Love You,  which begins with a major understatement – “I’ve been through some things.”

The song was released as the album’s second single and impacted Urban Adult Contemporary radio in May of 2011.

FUN FACTS:
  • The music video for No One Gonna Love You was directed by Diane Martel.
  • According to Thomas Conner from Chicago Sun-Times, “the producer Rich Harrison dials everything back, including an interesting plunky muted piano, to showcase Hudson’s voice, which builds slowly from ditty to diva in less than four minutes and never boils over.
  • The video begins with Hudson reminding her boyfriend not to be late for their anniversary dinner and he becomes confused. Later, Hudson arrives at the restaurant and her boyfriend is not there, but he tries to call her but she ignores his call and goes back to their apartment. When she gets there, she tries to turn on the lights, which are not working. Then her boyfriend turns on a lamp and the place is filled with balloons and streamers. He then surprises Hudson by sneaking an engagement ring on her finger and she becomes overjoyed and they embrace. Scenes of Hudson performing the song in their apartment, as well as dancing with two other dancers on a chair, wearing a black hat are also featured.

Enjoy!

See my Song Lyric Sunday selection on Nesie’s Place.

~~~~~

Disclaimer: I have no copyrights to the song and/or video and/or hyperlinks to songs and/or videos and/or gifs above. No copyright infringement intended.

No One Gonna Love You

by Jennifer Hudson
Songwriter: Rich Harrison

Aha! Hmmm! Hmm
I, I, I, I’ve been through some things
Please don’t hold that against me
Can’t nobody love you like I’m gonna love you
Can’t nobody love you like I’m gonna love you
Even though I, I, I still can feel a sting
No need to second guess me
Can’t nobody love you like I’m gonna love you
Can’t nobody love you like I’m gonna love you

See I, I, I, I, I don’t mind you
Putting up a little bit of fight, it’s alright
But why run from what’s gonna hold you tight
Through any complications, baby, maybe we can start tonight!

Hey! I saw the dirty look you gave me
Don’t care what your ex do
Can’t nobody love you like I’m gonna love you!
Ain’t no one gonna love you, like I’m gonna love you!
And if you dare, don’t dare
Send me straight to voice mail
Baby I’m just gonna text you
Hope it ain’t no issue, I just gotta let you
Know no one to love you like I’m gonna love you!

See I, I, I, I, I don’t mind you
Putting up a little bit of fight, it’s alright
But why run from what’s gonna hold you tight
Through any complications, baby, maybe we can start tonight!

Oh, oh, oh!
I put that on everything!
Ain’t no one gonna love you!
Ain’t no one gonna hold you!
Show you what I could show you!
Somebody better told you!
Oh, oh, oh!
Baby, your name’s spelled out in every heartbeat!
Ain’t no one gonna love you!
Ain’t no one gonna hold you!
Show you what I could show you!

But if you should go down that same road
You’ve been before
You’re in reverse, your pain rehearsed,just brace yourself for the blow
But don’t you know that you could just let it go?
Don’t you know

I, I, I, I’ve been through some things
Please don’t hold that against me
Can’t nobody love you like I’m gonna love you
Can’t nobody love you like I’m gonna love you
Don’t you know I, I, I, I, I’m making you this promise
Clutchin’ on a rosary
Ain’t no one gonna love you, like I’m gonna love you!
Ain’t no one gonna love you, like I’m gonna love you!
Oh, oh, oh, oh!

I put that on everything
Ain’t no one gonna love you
Ain’t no one gonna hold you
Show you what I could show you!
Somebody better tell you!
Oh, Oh, Oh!

I, I, I, I’ve been through some things
Please don’t hold that against me
Can’t nobody love you like I’m gonna love you
Can’t nobody love you like I’m gonna love you
Don’t you know I, I, I, I, I’m making you this promise
Clutchin’ on a rosary
Ain’t no one gonna love you, like I’m gonna love you!
Ain’t no one gonna love you, like I’m gonna love you!
Oh, oh, oh, oh!

Song Lyric Sunday | “One Less Bell to Answer” – The 5th Dimension

Song Lyric Sunday banner

Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time and author Jim Adams from A Unique Title For Me is our current guest host. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.

This week’s theme is  “crying/sadness.”

 ~~~~~
I was in 4th grade when this song hit the charts, and I’ve been singing it ever since!
Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote One Less Bell to Answer for Keely Smith in 1967, but she never recorded it. Bones Howe, producer for the 5th Dimension rediscovered the song and it was part of the group’s 1970 debut album, Portrait.
One Less Bell to Answer was an instant hit and went platinum. The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, number one on the Adult Contemporary chart, as well as No. 4 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart.
The song is about losing your love, and the sadness that follows the loss. The lead vocals were by Marilyn McCoo, who was the 5th Dimension’s featured vocalist at the time. She sings that she should be happy that her man is gone but all she does is cry – no more laughter.
FUN FACTS:
  • Lyricist Hal David was at a dinner party when it was announced someone wasn’t turning up, and the hostess said: ‘that’s one less bell to answer’. He went home and wrote One Less Bell to Answer that night.
  • The song has been covered more than a dozen times by artists including Rosemary Clooney, Barbra Streisand, Shirley Bassey, Vicki Carr, Sheryl Crow and Vanessa Williams.
  • Bacharach included a version of the song on his own 1971 debut album with Cissy Houston (Whitney’s mom) as vocalist.
  • The 5th Dimension version of the song was prominently featured in an episode of the Robert Wagner TV series, It Takes a Thief.

The video is a live television performance and I love the outfits SO MUCH! They’re like Star Trek and Xena, Warrior Princess went to a Renaissance fair together! 😀

But this group could wear potato sacks and it wouldn’t take away from their smooth, rhythmic sound–and the skills of Bacharach and David. So glad their music is timeless because no one is making music like this today.

Enjoy!

See my Song Lyric Sunday selection on Nesie’s Place.

~~~~~

Disclaimer: I have no copyrights to the song and/or video and/or hyperlinks to songs and/or videos and/or gifs above. No copyright infringement intended.

One Less Bell to Answer

by the 5th Dimension
Songwriters: Burt Bacharach and Hal David
One less bell to answer
One less egg to fry
One less man to pick up after
I should be happy
But all I do is cry(Cry, cry, no more laughter)
Oh, I should be happy
(Oh, why did he go)
I only know that since he left
My life’s so empty

Though I try to forget
It just can’t be done
Each time the doorbell rings
I still run
I don’t know how in the world
To stop thinking of him
‘Cause I still love him so
I end each day the way I start out
Crying my heart out

Oh, one less man to pick up after
No more laughter
No more love
Since he went, oh he went away (he went away)

(One less bell to answer)
Why did he leave me
(Oh why, why, why did he leave)
(One less bell to answer)
Now I’ve got one less egg to fry
One less egg to fry
(Oh why, why, why did he leave)
And all I do is cry
(One less bell to answer)
Because my man told me goodbye
(Oh why, why, why did he leave)
(One less bell to answer)
Somebody tell me please
Where did he go, why did he go
(Oh, why, why did he leave)
Tell me, how could he leave me

Song Lyric Sunday | “Happy” – Pharrell Williams

Song Lyric Sunday banner

Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time and author Jim Adams from A Unique Title For Me is our current guest host. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.

This week’s theme is  “laughter.”

 ~~~~~

If you’re laughing, usually you’re happy and Pharrell Williams made the world Happy in 2014 with his feel-good anthem. The song soared to #1 in 35 countries—it was the best selling song of 2014.

Pharrell wrote and produced Happy for the soundtrack of Despicable Me 2—it also became the lead single of his second studio album, G I R L. The song appears in a scene in the film where the lead character Gru dances through streets with joy because he has fallen in love.

Fun Facts:

  • Nine different songs were fully recorded and pitched to producer Chris Meledandri before Happy was chosen.
  • Pharrell Williams originally intended for Cee Lo Green to sing Happy.
  • Happy is repeated 56 times over the course of the song.
  • The first-ever 24-hour music video was made for Happy—it follows 400 different people enjoying life while they walk around LA.

Enjoy!

See my Song Lyric Sunday selection on Nesie’s Place.

~~~~~

Disclaimer: I have no copyrights to the song and/or video and/or hyperlinks to songs and/or videos and/or gifs above. No copyright infringement intended.

Happy

by Pharrell Williams
Songwriter: Pharrell Wiliams
[Verse 1]
It might seem crazy what I’m ’bout to say
Sunshine she’s here, you can take a break
I’m a hot air balloon that could go to space
With the air, like I don’t care, baby, by the way

[Chorus]
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do

[Verse 2]
Here come bad news, talking this and that (Yeah!)
Well, give me all you got, don’t hold it back (Yeah!)
Well, I should probably warn ya, I’ll be just fine (Yeah!)
No offense to you, don’t waste your time, here’s why

[Chorus]
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do

[Bridge]
Bring me down
Can’t nothing bring me down
My level’s too high to bring me down
Can’t nothing bring me down, I said
Bring me down
Can’t nothing bring me down
My level’s too high to bring me down
Can’t nothing bring me down, I said

[Chorus]
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do

[Bridge]
Bring me down
Can’t nothing bring me down
My level’s too high to bring me down
Can’t nothing bring me down, I said…

[Chorus]
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
(Because I’m happy)
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do

Song Lyric Sunday | “When You’re in Love With a Beautiful Woman” – Dr. Hook

Song Lyric Sunday banner

Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time and we’re all heartbroken to see her step away for health reasons, but we wish Helen a full recovery to good health and a happy 2019! Many thanks to author Jim Adams from A Unique Title For Me for stepping in to keep the weekly challenge going. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.

This week’s theme is  “doctor/health/medicine.”

 ~~~~~

I went with the theme in a band’s name this time – Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show.

When You’re in Love With a Beautiful Woman was written by country music songwriter Even Stevens, who came recommended by Shel Silverstein, a prolific author who wrote Dr. Hook’s hits Cover Of The Rolling Stone and Sylvia’s Mother.

Did I just combine this week’s theme with writing? Yes, I did! 😀

In 1979, Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show re-released their 1976 album A Little Bit More with this track included.

The video is a live performance from The Midnight Special.

Fun Facts:

  • The group had two primary vocalists. The plan was to have Ray Sawyer (the one with the eye patch) sing lead on this track, but their other singer, Dennis Locorriere, recorded the guide vocal. Sawyer spent some time with the demo learning the song, and decided that the song was better suited for Dennis, so it was Locorriere who sang lead.
  • Author Shel Silverstein penned a large catalog of well-known songs, including the Grammy-winning A Boy Named Sue for Johnny Cash.

Enjoy!

See my Song Lyric Sunday selection on Nesie’s Place.

~~~~~

Disclaimer: I have no copyrights to the song and/or video and/or hyperlinks to songs and/or videos and/or gifs above. No copyright infringement intended.

When You’re in Love With a Beautiful Woman

by Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show
Songwriter: Even Stevens
When you’re in love with a beautiful woman, it’s hard
When you’re in love with a beautiful woman, you know it’s hard
(You know it’s hard, you know it gets so hard)
Everybody wants her, everybody loves her
Everybody wants to take your baby homeWhen you’re in love with a beautiful woman you watch your friends
(You watch your friends, you better watch your friends)
When you’re in love with a beautiful woman it never ends
(Never ends, you know it never ends)
You know that is crazy and you wanna trust her
Then somebody hangs up when you answer the phoneWhen you’re in love with a beautiful woman, you go it alone
Maybe it’s just an ego problem, problem is that I’ve been fooled before
By fair-weather friends and faint-hearted lovers
And every time it happens it just convinces me more

When you’re in love with a beautiful woman, you watch her eyes
(Watch her eyes, baby watch her eyes)
When you’re in love with a beautiful woman, you look for lies
(Keep lookin’ for lies, baby keep lookin’ for eyes)
‘Cause everybody tempts her everybody tells her
She’s the most beautiful woman they know

When you’re in love with a beautiful woman, you go it alone
When you’re in love with a beautiful woman you watch your friends
(You watch your friends, you better watch your friends)
When you’re in love with a beautiful woman it never ends
(Never ends, you know it never ends)

When you’re in love with a beautiful woman, you watch her eyes
(Watch her eyes, baby watch her eyes)
When you’re in love with a beautiful woman, you look for lies
(Keep lookin’ for lies, baby keep lookin’ for eyes)

Song Lyric Sunday | “Forever More” – Puff Johnson

Song Lyric Sunday banner

Song Lyric Sunday was created by Helen Vahdati from This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time and we’re all heartbroken to see her step away for health reasons, but we wish Helen a full recovery to good health and a happy 2019! Many thanks to author Jim Adams from A Unique Title For Me for stepping in to keep the weekly challenge going. For complete rules or to join in the fun, click here.

This week’s theme is  “doctor/health/medicine” but I put this post together early as a favorite song!

 ~~~~~
Better known for the single Over and Over featured in The First Wives Club,

Forever More was the actual debut single of singer and songwriter Ewanya ‘Puff’ Johnson.  It appeared on her only studio album Miracle in 1996.

The single was most successful in New Zealand, where it peaked at #5. It was a Top 30 hit in both Australia and the UK, where it peaked at #29.

In the United States, Forever More peaked at #63 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, #31 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, #42 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, and #22 on the Billboard Rhythmic Songs chart.

The dynamic singer’s career was cut short when she lost her battle to cervical cancer.

Enjoy!

See my Song Lyric Sunday selection on Nesie’s Place.

~~~~~

Disclaimer: I have no copyrights to the song and/or video and/or hyperlinks to songs and/or videos and/or gifs above. No copyright infringement intended.

Forever More

by Puff Johnson

#My52 Writing Challenge 2019

My52 banner

It’s a brand new year… are you ready for a new writing challenge?

In 2017, I participated in the 52-Week Writing Challenge (and was the randomly chosen winner) and in 2018, I did the #52weeks52stories Writing Challenge.

When I asked around about a writing challenge for 2019, none popped up, so I decided to go my own way, and you’re invited to join me!

If you’ve participated in any type of writing challenge, you’re already aware of what a useful writing tool they can be. If you’ve come to an impasse in your current WIP, stepping away for a moment to focus on something else can sort through the cobwebs, flick on the light, or move the forest so you can see the trees.

Parts of a current WIP can also be used in a writing challenge. The difficulty of character profiles, scenes, world building, and even book blurbs can disappear when task are tackled as flash fiction.

As the Queen of Many Wurdz and champion of the run-on sentence, I took part in challenges to focus on short stories.  I needed to focus on telling a complete story in as few words as possible. I’m partial to longer standalone books, but not everyone wants to read a 180K epic psychological family saga.

Okay, I lied. I don’t either.

So, after 70+ short stories, how am I doing? It’s an ongoing process. 🙂

What I enjoy most about writing challenges is the accountability. Someone is watching, keeping me honest, cheering me on during the good weeks, and talking me off the ledge during the bad ones. Writing is a solitary endeavor, but many times it helps to get out of your own head.

What are the rules for #My52? That’s the best part—there aren’t any.

  • Writing in any form counts. Haiku, Poetry, Drabble, Flash, short story… they’re all welcome.
  • Genres are also limitless. Suspense, Mystery, Romance, LGBT, Fantasy, Science Fiction, YA… it’s your choice.
  • The writing week is Monday through Friday with postings on Saturday and Sunday. (Posting earlier in the current week is acceptable too.)
  • Tweet a link to your post with the hashtag #My52 for retweets and likes

OR

  • Grab the banner at the top and link back to this page and I’ll feature your post during the challenge.

Don’t let the word challenge stress you. It’s not a contest and the challenge is only against yourself… to keep you writing-focused.

Life gets crazy and cluttered, so do not beat yourself up if you miss a week. Keep writing!

Word counts can be anywhere from a 17-syllable Haiku to a multi-week short story.

Have fun with it. Write outside your form or genre—I’m not a paranormal writer and I wrote paranormal stories last year and enjoyed doing it.

If you have questions, leave them in the comments or find me on Twitter – @MsFelicia, or Instagram – @fle_d.

Happy 2019… and happy writing!

~~~

My52 banner