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Post by Rick Henry on Jan 20, 2007 2:27:42 GMT -5
 Now online the new 70's Game 2007 Series. We will have the entire year to vote on songs of the 70's to come up with the ultimate song of the decade. During the 2006 series Elton John's "Your Song" was the winner. Which song will top 2007?
The contestants for this round are:
"Nothing From Nothing" by Billy Preston - was Preston's second #1 hit. it reached the top of the charts on October 19, 1974 and was certified Gold for selling over a million copies.
Preston began writing this in the dressing room of an Atlanta nightclub where he was performing. He wanted to write a song based on the saying, "Nothing from nothing leaves nothing." He liked the saying and felt it had a good message to it.
The B-side of the single written by Preston (and songwriting partner Bruce Fisher) was "You Are So Beautiful," which was later a hit for Joe Cocker.
"Then Came You" by Dionne Warwick and the Spinners - Was released during a time that Warwick's chart fortunes were at an low after moving to Warner Bros Records, the single was a rare mid-1970s success for the singer. Sung as a duet with the Spinners, who were one of the most popular groups of the decade. The song was the first #1 hit for both Warwick and the Spinners as sepearate artists.
Warwick was signed to Warner Bros at the time, though the single was released on Atlantic, which was the Spinners' label. The song was #1 on October 26, 1974 and was certified Gold for selling more then a million copies. |
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Post by ps11932 on Jan 20, 2007 16:25:15 GMT -5
You've certainly gotten the year off to a good start. I smiled as I thought of these songs, both ones I remember well and enjoyed considerably, but I vote for "Then Came You."
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Post by wisejester7 on Jan 21, 2007 10:38:01 GMT -5
"Then Came You" got my vote. ;-)
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Jan 21, 2007 21:29:50 GMT -5
Billy Preston gets my vote this time 'round. I always liked the song Nothing from Nothing.....Billy actually came up with several great songs during his career as a top 40 writer. I have never been a huge Dion Warwick fan...I liked what she did for the most part, but never thought she was all that the press "cracked-her-up" to be. Tim  |
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Dave
Ultra Emissary 
"sleeping in the arms of the cosmos..."
Posts: 1,515
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Post by Dave on Jan 21, 2007 21:46:48 GMT -5
Tough choice! I like both songs equally well, but if you'd picked "Outa-Space", it would've been no contest.
Widely used as bumper music, "Outa-Space" is an instrumental from the summer of 1972, a pivotal summer in my young life.
Hey, maybe the next challenge could be between "Outa-Space" and the Commodores' "Machine Gun".
And the conventional wisdom said that instrumentals would never sell...
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Post by Rick Henry on Jan 21, 2007 21:59:42 GMT -5
Like you Tim my choice is Billy Preston's "Nothing From Nothing". This song really speaks to me. There is truly a great message in the lyric (repetitive - but certainly a message in what is there).It's about humility and self worth. Plus I love Billy's organ playing and the overall upbeat mood of the song. (Would've been a good one for Karen's solo).
Here's the lyrics to the song:
Nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin'
You gotta have somethin'
If you wanna be with me
Nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin'
You gotta have somethin'
If you wanna be with me
I'm not tryin' to be your hero
'Cause that zero is too cold for me, Brrr
I'm not tryin' to be your highness
'Cause that minus is too low to see, yeah
Nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin'
And I'm not stuffin'
Believe you me
Don't you remember I told ya
I'm a soldier in the war on poverty, yeah
Yes, I am
instrumental break
Nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin'
You gotta have somethin'
If you wanna be with me
Nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin'
You gotta have somethin'
If you wanna be with me
You gotta have somethin'
If you wanna be with me
You gotta bring me somethin' girl
If you wanna be with me |
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Post by enigma on Jan 23, 2007 0:49:40 GMT -5
I went with Billy Preston I liked the song and he was good enough to be considered as a Fifth Beatle so thats more than enough for me.
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Post by wisejester7 on Jan 23, 2007 11:44:04 GMT -5
Funny you mentioned the lyrics ... the lyrical content is why I didn't pick this song. |
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Post by Rick Henry on Jan 23, 2007 12:03:58 GMT -5
Funny you mentioned the lyrics ... the lyrical content is why I didn't pick this song. Here's an interpretation of what these meaningful lyrics are saying (Preston was always much into the meaning of his lyrics). Nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin' (means if you are going nowhere - such as playing with drugs or living a hateful or selfish life - this is "going nowhere. And if you're going nowhere and you're with someone who is going nowhere - there is nothing - nowhere)You gotta have somethin' If you wanna be with me (In other words I am not going for someone with way too much baggage such as drugs, anger, selfishness, etc.)Nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin' You gotta have somethin' If you wanna be with me I'm not tryin' to be your hero (This means I'm not trying to be your everything or your ruler. I'm not that egotistiscal or selfish as to think that I will be the only thing in your life - life also includes friends, family, work, etc. In other words I'm not going to try to contol you.)'Cause that zero is too cold for me, Brrr (Someone who is so controlling is a cold person - this is also a zero or a nothing sort of way to live - to think you can control others)I'm not tryin' to be your highness 'Cause that minus is too low to see, yeah (these two lines mean the same as the previous two lines - although by using the word "higness Preston implies something spiritual such as God. Preston was a born again Christian from a very young age - so many of his songs include some sort of Christian reference in the lyrics.) Nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin' And I'm not stuffin' ("I'm not stuffin'" means that he is not gloating about himself - he's making his point - yet wanting to remain humble about it.)Believe you me Don't you remember I told ya I'm a soldier in the war on poverty, yeah (A soldier in the war on poverty in this reference means that he's fighting against unproductive dyfunctional relationships and working towards an even keeled productive open communicative type relationship. A dysfunctional relationship in other words is a "poor" relationship - hence the "poverty. Preston is working toward developing "rich" relationships with all.)Yes, I am instrumental break Nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin' You gotta have somethin' If you wanna be with me Nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin' You gotta have somethin' If you wanna be with me You gotta have somethin' If you wanna be with me You gotta bring me somethin' girl If you wanna be with me (My own interpretation from this song is that so many people are willing to settle for second best and end up in relationships that go nowhere and zap you of your life and energy. They get themselves into unproductive controlling type relationships - and this is a "zero" - it leads to nothing - of course we learn from our mistakes - but some people actually never do learn from their mistakes. Pretty much this song says you don't have to settle for second best. It's alright for you to want someone who is actually a "something" - such as kind, giving, considerate, polite, has a job, sober, and so forth). |
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Post by wisejester7 on Jan 23, 2007 13:34:56 GMT -5
Oo, Nice interpretation, Rick!
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Post by ps11932 on Jan 23, 2007 17:08:24 GMT -5
Thanks for the thoughtful interpretation. Looking at it that way might have changed my vote- but it looks like he's going to win anyway.
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Post by smoothie2 on Jan 24, 2007 0:38:46 GMT -5
  hey...Indeed a real tough one for me, and I guess many others too. I love both songs, but I went with Then Came You...I especially like the lyrics and the music that come out with kinda low voices..."ever since I met 'ya, I know I can't forget 'ya...the thought of you..."
But Preston's is a great fun song also and I like your interpretation also Rick and musical history for each one. 
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Post by wisejester7 on Jan 24, 2007 6:55:12 GMT -5
hey...Indeed a real tough one for me, and I guess many others too. I love both songs, but I went with Then Came You...I especially like the lyrics and the music that come out with kinda low voices..."ever since I met 'ya, I know I can't forget 'ya...the thought of you..."
But Preston's is a great fun song also and I like your interpretation also Rick and musical history for each one. 'Then Came You' would have been a cool song for Karen to have sung. ???The BeeGees 'Heartbreaker' that Dionne W. sang would be even more interesting with Karen singing it. |
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carprave
NEW TO THE FAMILY
Thorns among the roses add to what is real
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Post by carprave on Jan 24, 2007 12:00:37 GMT -5
Voted for Nothing from Nothing. I love that song. Thank you for the lyric interpretation. Never been a fan of Dionn Warwick so this was easy to choose.
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Post by Rick Henry on Jan 24, 2007 12:44:12 GMT -5
Another very very close game. I thought of letting it run longer - but I have a feeling it would continue as a tie with one or the other taking the lead by one vote - so, as it is this game has gone on for five days - which is about twice as long as most 70's Game contests go.
The winner of this round is Billy Preston's "Nothing From Nothing" a great and meaningful R&B pop hit.
This round is now officially closed.
Thank you all for contributing to this round! |
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