Open Road was the debut solo cd of former Take That member Gary Barlow. Released in 1997 under the executive production of music industry legend Clive Davis, Open Road reached #1 on the UK charts, was certified platinum in the UK and charted in about twenty countries by selling over two million copies internationally.

Davis and Barlow enlisted a who’s who of music makers for the project including Stephen Lipson, Max Martin and Walter Afanasieff. David Foster was also on board and produced two tracks, “So Help Me Girl” and “I Fall So Deep.” “So Help Me Girl” was one of the hit singles off the cd with good chart action on both sides of the pond. You can find out more about that song in the archives.

The second song with Foster behind the glass was “I Fall So Deep,” a sweet, acoustic pop ballad which showcased Barlow’s impressive tenor that offered more than a few hints of George Michael in its delivery. The understated arrangement by Foster put the singer center stage and he was backed up by Dean Parks’ gorgeous acoustic guitar playing and some minimal programmed percussion and keyboards. The result was a tender and evocative love song. Around the 90’s, Foster could be heard applying the same delicate musical recipe to other songs including Madonna’s “One More Chance” and Lionel Richie’s “Closest Thing To Heaven.” The pretty melody of “I Fall So Deep” attracted many singers who covered it in the following years. Among them were R&B songstress Eloise Laws, country singer Patrik Michaels and R&B combo Elements of Life.

Listen

Lead & Background Vocals: Gary Barlow
Keyboards: David Foster
Acoustic Guitars: Dean Parks
Synclavier Programming: Simon Franglen

Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

I’m always thinking about you
I wonder if you can tell
These things I’m feeling inside me
I keep them all to myself
Scared to show my true emotions
Don’t want to love alone

Because I fall so deep
You never know how I go
And I know why hearts beat desperately
I fall so deed

Some people think love is foolish
While others think it’s a game
I think that love is a fire
I’m burning up in your flame
I’m so lost in my emotion
Wanting you evermore

Because I fall so deep
You never know how far I go
And I know why hearts beat desperately
I fall so deep
I fall so deep

And I’ve come so close to the apart
Where I reveal my heart to you
But I lose my nerve
Can’t find the words to tell you that it’s true

I fall so deep
‘Cause I fall so deep
You never know
How far I go
And I know why
Hearts beat desperately
I fall so deep

Is think about

Gary Barlow was the lead singer and main songwriter of UK teen band, Take That. During the nineties, Take That became a worldwide musical phenomenon selling millions of records with giant hits like “Back For Good,” “Relight My Fire,” “Never Forget” and “Sure.” After the band broke-up, in 1996, Barlow, who was clearly the best musician in the band, ventured into a solo career. His debut album entitled “Open Road” saw the light of day in 1997 and immediately went to #1 in the UK as did the first single, “Forever Love.” Madonna appeared on “Open Road” co-writing the second single, the danceable “Love Won’t Wait” that was another #1. David Foster produced two ballads for that record, “I Fall So Deep” and “So Help Me Girl.” Both songs were perfectly suited for American audiences and adult contemporary radios. “So Help Me Girl” was the debut single in the US and became a minor hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 while it scored big reaching #3 on the adult contemporary charts. It was also a top 15 hit in the UK where it was released as the third single off the album. “So Help Me Girl” was originally a country hit in 1994 for singer Joe Diffie. At the end of the decade, after an unsuccessful sophomore album, Barlow went behind the glass writing and producing for other artists like Donny Osmond, Charlotte Church and Lara Fabian.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/so_help_me_girl.mp3|titles=So help me girl|artists=Gary Barlow]

Lead Vocals: Gary Barlow
Keyboards: David Foster
Synclavier Programming: Simon Franglen
Guitars: Michael Thompson
Backing Vocals: Joey Diggs & Will Wheaton
Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

You could have kissed me
Like this wasn’t gonna last
Kept me from saying
Something I’ll never take back
You could’ve held me
Like there was no chance
Of me waking up where I am
You could have stopped short of
Every dream I’ve ever had

So help me girl you’ve gone too far
It’s way too late to save my heart
The way it feels each time we touch
I know I’ve never been so loved

And I can’t help myself
So help me girl, you’ve got to help me girl

You had to be there when that old sun came up
Making last night feel like a vision of things yet to come
You just had to hold me like nobody else
Now look what you’ve gone and done
You had to love me
Till I just can’t get enough, please, please

So help me girl, you’ve gone too far
It’s way too late to save my heart
The way it feels, each time we touch
I know I’ve never been so loved and I can’t help myself
So help me girl
The way it feels each time we touch
I know I’ve never been so loved
And I can’t help myself
I can’t help myself, I can’t help myself so help me girl

You’ve got to help me girl
Cause I’m falling down
I’m falling down
You got to help me this time
Cause I’m falling down
Falling down
You got to see my love
You’ve got to help me now … falling down
It’s the emptiness I’m feeling inside
You’ve to save me girl