Walter Afanasieff,formerly nicknamed Baby Love in the 1980s,is an American record producer and songwriter. He was a collaborator with Mariah Carey on her first six studio albums. He won the 1999 Grammy Award in the Record of the Year category for producing "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion,and the 2000 Grammy Award for Producer of the Year,Non-Classical.
Narada Michael Walden is an American musician,singer,songwriter and record producer. He acquired the nickname Narada from Sri Chinmoy.
"Can't Let Go" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her second studio album,Emotions (1991). It was released as the album's second single on October 23,1991,by Columbia Records in the United States and the first quarter of 1992 elsewhere. It was written and produced by Carey and Walter Afanasieff. The protagonist of this synthesizer-heavy ballad laments an ex-lover who has moved on,and though she tries she "can't let go." Its music video was directed by Jim Sonzero.
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" is a song recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for her second studio album,Whitney (1987). It was released as the lead single from the album on May 2,1987,by Arista Records. It was produced by Narada Michael Walden,and written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam,of the band Boy Meets Girl,who had previously collaborated with Houston on "How Will I Know".
"So Emotional" is a song by American singer Whitney Houston. It was released as the third single from her second studio album Whitney (1987) on October 12,1987 by Arista Records. The song was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly and produced by Narada Michael Walden.
"One Moment in Time" is a sentimental ballad by American singer Whitney Houston and written by Albert Hammond and John Bettis,produced by Narada Michael Walden for the 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul,South Korea. It was released by Arista Records on August 27,1988,as the first single from the compilation album,1988 Summer Olympics Album:One Moment in Time,the soundtrack for the games. The song was Houston's third number one in the UK Singles Chart,and reached number five on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was later included on the second disc of her first greatest hits Whitney:The Greatest Hits and also on The Ultimate Collection and on the second disc of I Will Always Love You:The Best of Whitney Houston.
"It Isn't,It Wasn't,It Ain't Never Gonna Be" is a duet recorded between Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston,and appeared on Franklin's 1989 album Through the Storm. The song was released on June 10,1989,as the second single from the album by Arista Records.
"I'm Every Woman" is a song by American singer Chaka Khan,released as her debut solo single from her first album,Chaka (1978). It was Khan's first hit outside her recordings with the funk band Rufus. "I'm Every Woman" was produced by Arif Mardin and written by the successful songwriting team Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. The single established Chaka's career outside the group Rufus,whom she would leave after their eighth studio album Masterjam was released in late 1979.
"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" is a song released by American singer Aretha Franklin and English singer George Michael as a duet in 1987. The song was a number one hit in the United States and the United Kingdom. Billboard listed "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" as Franklin's all-time biggest Hot 100 single. The song was Franklin's biggest hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart,reaching number two. The song was written by Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan and produced by Narada Michael Walden. Franklin and Michael won a 1987 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)".
"The Way We Were" is a song by American singer Barbra Streisand from her fifteenth studio album of the same name. It was released as the album's lead single on September 27,1973,through Columbia Records. The 7" single was distributed in two different formats,with the standard edition featuring B-side track "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?";the Mexico release instead included an instrumental B-side. The song was written by Alan Bergman,Marilyn Bergman,and Marvin Hamlisch,while production was solely handled by Marty Paich. "The Way We Were" was specifically produced for the record,in addition to three other tracks,including her then-upcoming single "All in Love Is Fair" (1974).
"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" is a song co-written by Diane Warren and Albert Hammond and recorded by American rock band Starship for their second studio album,No Protection (1987). It is a power ballad duet featuring vocalists Grace Slick and Mickey Thomas and is the theme to the romantic-comedy film Mannequin.
"If You Asked Me To" is a song written by American songwriter Diane Warren and produced by Stewart Levine and Aaron Zigman. It was originally recorded by American singer Patti LaBelle for her ninth studio album,Be Yourself (1989),and also for the soundtrack to the James Bond film Licence to Kill. The song was released as the soundtrack's second single on June 12,1989 by MCA Records. The lyrics are from the point of view of a woman who pleads to her significant other:"If you asked me to,I just might change my mind,and let you in my life forever". Three years later,Canadian singer Celine Dion covered the song for her 1992 self-titled second English-language studio album. Released as the album's second single,Dion's version topped the Canadian charts and peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100.
"The Animal Song" is a song by Australian pop music duo Savage Garden,released as a single on 23 February 1999. The song was written for the soundtrack of the film The Other Sister and also appeared on their second studio album,Affirmation (1999),as well as their compilation album,Truly Madly Completely:The Best of Savage Garden. It was the band's first song to be produced by Walter Afanasieff,a producer well known for his work with Mariah Carey. Afanasieff would later produce the group's Affirmation album,and also Darren Hayes' first solo album,Spin.
"Real Love" is a song by American singer Jody Watley from her second studio album,Larger Than Life (1989). The single reached the number-one spot on the US Billboard Hot Black Singles and Dance Club Play charts. On the US Billboard Hot 100,"Real Love" peaked at number two for two weeks in May 1989. The song was also nominated for a Soul Train Music Award for Best Female Single.
"We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off" is a song by American R&B singer Jermaine Stewart,released in 1986 as the lead single from his second studio album Frantic Romantic (1986). The song was written by Narada Michael Walden and Preston Glass,and produced by Walden. "We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off" remains Stewart's biggest commercial success,peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked within the top ten of the charts in Canada,Ireland,the Netherlands,and the United Kingdom.
The soundtrack to Licence to Kill,the 16th Eon Productions James Bond film,was released by MCA Records in 1989.
"The Lover in Me" is a song by Scottish singer Sheena Easton for her ninth studio album of the same name (1988). Released as the album's lead single on 11 October 1988,the song became Easton's first top-20 hit in the United Kingdom after a seven-year hiatus. The song was also Easton's final top-10 single on the US Billboard Hot 100.
"Who's Zoomin' Who" is a song performed by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was written by Franklin,Preston Glass,and Narada Michael Walden for her thirtieth studio album of the same name (1985),with production overseen by Walden. The hit song was released as the album's second single on August 27,1985,by Arista Records. It served as the follow-up single to Franklin's chart-topping smash "Freeway of Love",reaching number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart that same year,and at the same time spending four weeks at the number-two spot on the Hot Black Singles chart. Elsewhere,the dance pop song entered the top twenty in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
"Each Time You Break My Heart" is a song recorded by British singer Nick Kamen,for his eponymous debut studio album (1987). It was released by Sire Records on 2 November 1986 as his debut single in 7-inch and 12-inch maxi formats. Kamen had gained popularity by starring in a 1985 Levi's television commercial,later deciding to delve into the music business and signed a record deal with Sire. "Each Time You Break My Heart" was the lead single from his album,written and produced by Madonna and Stephen Bray. It was originally set to be included on Madonna's third studio album,True Blue (1986),but failed to make the final tracklist. Madonna also provided background vocals on the track.
"Divine Emotions" is a 1988 single by Narada Michael Walden,from the album Divine Emotion. A successful producer,Walden billed himself as Narada for his later music releases. After producing acts like Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston in the mid-1980s,Walden released "Divine Emotions," in 1988. The single went to number one on the Billboard dance club play chart for one week. Although the single did not chart on the Hot 100,it peaked at number twenty-one on the soul singles chart. Overseas,"Divine Emotions",was a Top Ten hit in the UK,peaking at #8,and in the Netherlands,peaking at #4 in the Dutch Top40.
