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I AM LOVE

From FEEL MY SOUL
Written by David Foster, Maurice White & Allee Willis

David Foster won a Grammy in 1982 for producing the original cast album of the Broadway hit show Dreamgirls. This show revealed the immense talent of singer Jennifer Holliday and her vocal performance on the song “And I Am Telling You I Am Not Going” was the true showstopper and it also became a #1 R&B and top 30 pop hit. Maurice White (Earth, Wind & Fire) produced her first record – “Feel My Soul” – in 1983, and he teamed up with Foster to write a few tunes for the record.

“I Am Love” was the first single released and it hit #2 on the R&B chart and it was also a minor pop chart entry. It is an intense ballad truly dominated by Holliday’s powerful vocals married with Foster’s trademark rhythm arrangements and keyboards work. Sure you can hear some EW&F influence especially with Jerry Hey’s horns and the backing vocals, while Jeremy Lubbock’s strings arrangements put the ice on the cake.


Listen


Lead Vocals: Jennifer Holliday
Drums: Ricky Lawson & Fred White
Bass: Nathan East
Keyboards: David Foster
Guitars: Carlos Rios & Caleb Quaye
Back Vocals: Jennifer Holliday, Wanda Vaughn, Jeanette Hawes, Crystal Wilson, Maurice White
Track ARR. by David Foster & Maurice White
Horn ARR. by Jerry Hey
Strings ARR. by Jeremy Lubbock
Produced by Maurice White


Lyrics

If I talk too much you see
I’m tryin’ desperately to be understood
If I seemed a little shy
It’s for all the times I hid my heart in the dark

Like in all the story books
The white knight came and took the little girl
Alone in the world
You don’t try to overwhelm
When I sometimes undersell the way I feel
Now I believe

I am love, love
Always here to give you what you need
Like you do for me
I am love, love
For the first time I know that it’s real
Oh, you make me feel
I am love

You mend the ragged edge
Of a heart that’s always fled a merry-go-round
When I tell the little jokes
Your eyes shine as I float in the clouds
I’m not comin’ down

You always build me up
And you’re not afraid to touch what’s on my mind
You’ll always find

I am love, love
Waiting here to give you what you need
Like you do for me

You walked inside the wind
Pushin’ me to bend
Teaching me to live today
Oh, all the dreams have just come true
Say that you are here to say

I am love, love
Waiting here to give you what you need, yeah
Like you do for me
I am love, love
For the first time I know that it’s real
Oh, you make me feel
I am love

I am love
Always here to give you what you need
Like you do for me
I am love