SONG
TITLE:
HOLDING
ON
TO
YOU
PERFORMER: TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY
SONGWRITER: TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY
YEAR OF RELEASE: 1995
-----------------------------------------
SONG TITLE: I'VE BEEN LOVING YOU TOO LONG
PERFORMER: OTIS REDDING
SONGWRITER:
YEAR OF RELEASE: 1965
COMMENTS: Though he was only in his 20s, Otis showed the wisdom and understanding of someone much older. At a certain point, you have made a great investment in a relationship, and you have a stake. You don't just get mad and throw that away. A wise man will go to great lengths to preserve the union, doing everything possible to understand the partner's concerns, and give in as much as he can.
He
wrote
a
slow,
heavy
soul
ballad
to
express
the
determination
to
stay
the
course.
"I've
been
loving
you
too
long
to
stop
now."
The
measured
pace
bespeaks
a
long
haul,
and
the
contemplative
phrasing
of
the
melody
suggests
that
he
knows
that
keeping
a
relationship
alive
year
after
year
is
a
great
challenge.
There
is
one
peak
moment
in
the
tune,
where
he
reaches
up
for
"but
I
will
tryyyyyyyyyy,"
that
packs
in
all
the
weariness
and
determination
of
his
soul.
Well, not all of it -the horn section has as much to do with the musical and emotional expression of the record as Redding's vocal. The classic Stax house band was perhaps the greatest and most soulfully expressive horn section in the history of modern pop music, and they developed a unique style just for Otis Redding ballads that didn't quite show up with any other singer they backed. There is a sad poignance, and a nicely understated dramatic effect you won't find anywhere else.
TTD wrote a big ballad for the Vibrator album with a striking emotional similarity. There is a similar theme of romantic realism, the necessity of determined effort that is required to make a relationship work. He has some similar sounding horn charts, something of a tribute to Redding's spirit.
The
similarity
is
more
striking
because
"Holding
on
to
You"
doesn't
sound
specifically
very
much
like
Redding.
Other
than
the
horns,
it
doesn't
sound
much
like
any
other
artist
or
even
any
other
TTD
song.
He
has
the
advantage
of
superior
'90's
recording
technology,
and
he
has
really
absorbed
fully
the
sophisticated
studio
recording
philosophy
of
the
Beatles
and
the
Beach
Boys.
Generally
the
closest
artist
to
his
production
style
is
Prince,
but
this
song
especially
doesn't
sound
at
all
like
Mr.
Nelson.
He creates layers of carefully integrated sound, unusual combinations of instruments, styles and effects built up separately from song to song. On top of the basic soul song, he adds a beautiful fluid rock guitar, compliments of a Mr. Louis Metoyer whose outstanding work on this album demands a name check. During his big soaring guitar solo, they add a vibraphone playing a counter melody with a very different contrasting emotional flavor. In short, TTD really made a record.
The emotional tone compares to "I've Been Loving You Too Long," but the melody and the vocal styling comes off closer to Al Green. It has longer, fuller melody lines than the Redding classic. By the climax, he has built up to some sweet preaching, exhorting the congregation.
Which is interesting, because the congregation whose behavior he seeks to affect is himself. The obstacles to happiness in his relationship come from his own lingering obsessions with past lovers. "They say that all poets must have an unrequited love, as all lovers must have thought provoking fears. But holding on to you means letting sorrows heal, means letting go of what's not real."
Terence Trent D'Arby-Sananda Maitreya Images 2 3 4 5 6
Sananda Maitreya - Terence Trent D'Arby
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