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 “La.”
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Happy New Year and welcome to the first Song Lyric Sunday of 2020!
To me, this week’s prompt has more than one meaning.
It could be an abbreviation for the state of Louisiana or for the city/county of Los Angeles, or
La la is a style of Louisiana Creole music, or
La (Javanese) (ꦭ), is a letter in the Javanese scrip, or
La is the feminine definitive in several languages, or
La is a genus of moths.
But, of course, I went the musical route where it’s an enhancer/filler for holiday songs, love songs or silly, fun songs.
Minnie Riperton was semi-retired, raising two young children with her husband, Richard Rudolph, in Florida when they completed writing Lovin’ You.
After signing a contract with Epic Records a few years later, the couple moved to Los Angeles to record the album Perfect Angel. When Epic asked Riperton whom she wanted to produce the album, she named Stevie Wonder. Wonder, then at the height of his popularity, was a fan of Riperton’s work, and agreed to the collaboration.
Lovin’ You made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 on January 18, 1975; twelve weeks later, on April 5, 1975, it peaked at number one. The song remained on the Hot 100 for a total of eighteen weeks.
FUN FACTS
- Due to contractual obligations, Wonder’s name could not appear on the credits, so he’s listed as “Black Bull Productions” (Wonder’s zodiac sign is Taurus, thus the bull).
- Lovin’ You was one of the first songs to top the US Billboard Hot 100 without the help of a percussion instrument.
- Maya Rudolph of Saturday Night Live is the daughter of Riperton and Rudolph, and Riperton mentions her in the lyrics. In the end, she sings “Ma-ah-aha-aha-ah-ya.”
- Riperton died of cancer in 1979 at age 31. While this was her only hit, she is still held in high regard in the music community.
The video is from a 1975 live performance on Midnight Special. Generally, we see live performances differ from recordings because artists can’t re-create some of the higher notes we’ve grown accustomed to. Minne Riperton doesn’t have that problem here, in fact, she even adds a couple!
Enjoy!
See my Song Lyric Sunday selection for FeliciaDenise.com.
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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.
Lovin’ You
Makin’ love with you is all I wanna do
Lovin’ you is more than just a dream come true
And everything that I do is out of lovin’ you
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
Do do do do do
The colors that you bring
Stay with me while we grow old
And we will live each day in springtime
‘Cause lovin’ you has made my life so beautiful
And every day of my life is filled with lovin’ you
And every time that we, ooh
I’m more in love with you
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
Do do do do do
The colors that you bring
Stay with me while we grow old
And we will live each day in springtime
‘Cause lovin’ you is easy ’cause you’re beautiful
And every day of my life is filled with lovin’ you
Lovin’ you, I see your soul come shinin’ through
And every day that we, ooh
I’m more in love with you
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
Do do do do do
Na, ooh, la la la la la la la la la
Do do do do do
Nesie's Place 
I remember watching her Unsung a few years ago. It was, indeed, one of the saddest stories I’d heard.
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I’ve always liked this song, and it was interesting to read about her and her career. Sad she was gone too soon.
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Her voice goes high effortlessly! It’s a beautiful and intimate song. Good choice for “La”
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Thanks for stopping by! 😊
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This is a perfect song for today. Great info on the song and artist as well. She has such a beautiful voice. Another one gone too soon!
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I love that “Do do do do do” after all of those la’s. Wow this song takes me back to the good old days when it was always on the radio. I love the Baby’s Breath flowers in her hair. Nice song Felicia.
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Very calming. Sweet and sentimental. Thanks for sharing.
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I always loved this song. Never could reach the notes when trying to singing along, though. Great choice.
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Weren’t many of us who could hit those notes without sounding like wet cats! 😄 Thanks for stopping by!
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Oh this is so sweet. It is a song I don’t hear often, but I walk around feeling like this on a regular basis 🙂
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So happy for you! 😊
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A very good old school song.
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Agreed! I had a chance to post “Memory Lane” last year and have been waiting for a prompt to use this one! Thanks for stopping by and sharing!
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Thank you…and Happy New Year! 🙂
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