Reasons (Earth, Wind & Fire song)

Last updated

"Reasons"
Song by Earth, Wind & Fire
from the album That's the Way of the World
RecordedAutumn 1974
Genre
Length4:59
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s)

"Reasons" is a love ballad by Earth, Wind & Fire from their sixth studio album, That's the Way of the World . The song features the falsetto singing on lead vocals of Philip Bailey. [1] [2]

Contents

The ballad is considered a love song by listeners and fans and as such, is often played at weddings - a fact that surprised band members, since the song and lyrics tell a story about a one-night stand ("Longing to love you, just for a night"). After the couple makes love, disillusionment strikes. ("After the love game has been played / All our illusions were just a parade / And all our reasons have to fade.") [3]

Critical reception

Alex Henderson of AllMusic called Reasons "a gorgeous ballad". [4] When reviewing the album, Rolling Stone's Gordon Fletcher described the song as among their ballads cut from The Four Tops/Tavares mold. [5] Over twenty years later, one album guide described it as one of the group's seminal hits. [5]

Reel Tight version

"Reasons"
Reel Tight- Reasons.jpg
Single by Reel Tight
from the album Back to the Real
Released1999
Genre R&B
Length4:30
Label G-Funk Records
Songwriter(s) Maurice White, Charles Stepney, Philip Bailey
Producer(s) Warren G (exec.), Larry Dunn
Reel Tight singles chronology
"Reasons"
(1999)		"I Want U"
(1999)

During 1999 R&B group Reel Tight released a cover of "Reasons" as a single on G-Funk Records. The song reached No. 22 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart. [6] [7]

Overview

Reel Tight's version of "Reasons" was produced by Larry Dunn and executively produced by Warren G. [8]

Other covers and samples

"Reasons" has also been covered by artists such as The Manhattans on The Manhattans (1976), Miki Howard on Love Confessions (1987), Maxi Priest on Maxi , and Nelson Rangell on Far Away Day (2000). Musiq Soulchild also covered the song on the 2007 Earth, Wind & Fire tribute album, Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire and Omarion on his 2017 album Reasons. [9] [10]

Reasons has been sampled by Master P on Intro/17 Reasons featured on his album 99 Ways to Die and by Shabba Ranks on the song "Muscle Grip" from his album X-tra Naked . The song was also sampled by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony on "Budsmokers Only" from their LP E 1999 Eternal , by Cam'ron on "More Reasons" from his album Purple Haze , and by E-40 on "Seasoned" from his album Charlie Hustle: The Blueprint of a Self-Made Millionaire . [11]

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References

  1. ↑ Jordan, Mark (July 21, 2008). "Concert review: Earth, Wind & Fire rocks the Garden". Commercial Appeal . Retrieved April 25, 2011.
  2. ↑ Easlea, Daryl (2010). "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World Review". bbc.co.uk. BBC.
  3. ↑ "Why Earth, Wind & Fire's "Reasons" is Inappropriate for Weddings". Oprah Winfrey Network . November 14, 2015. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  4. ↑ Henderson, Alex. "Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
  5. 1 2 "That's the Way of the World". superseventies.com. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
  6. ↑ Wade, Clyde (April 1, 1999). "Warren G's New Group Reel Tight, Too Short, Top Ten CDs, Da Rangaz & More". offbeat.com. Offbeat.
  7. ↑ "Reel Tight: Reasons (Adult R&B Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  8. ↑ Reel Tight: Reasons. G-Funk Records. 1999.
  9. ↑ "Reasons by Earth, Wind & Fire". secondhandsongs.com.
  10. ↑ Scarano, Ross (June 16, 2017). "Omarion Premieres His Cover of Earth, Wind, and Fire's "Reasons"". complex.com. Complex.
  11. ↑ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Reasons". genius.com. Genius.com.
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