A song by the American singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper, “Time After Time” was released as the second single from her album ‘She’s So Unusual’. On June 9th 1984 it reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for two weeks. After “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” this song is Lauper’s most commercially successful single worldwide and it reached number three on the UK Singles Chart in 1984 and number six on the ARIRA Singles Chart. It was ranked at number sixty six by the Rolling Stone and MTV: 100 Greatest Pop Songs.
At the 1985 Grammy Awards it was nominated for Song of the Year and the music critic for Goldmine magazine, Scott Florman, described the song as “one of the decade’s finest ballars.”
Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick,
And think of you
Caught up in circles confusion -
Is nothing new
Flashback - warm nights -
Almost left behind
Suitcases of memories,
Time after -
Sometimes you picture me -
I'm walking too far ahead
You're calling to me, I can't hear
What you've said -
Then you say - go slow -
I fall behind -
The second hand unwinds
[Chorus:]
If you're lost you can look - and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you - I'll be waiting
Time after time
After my picture fades and darkness has
Turned to gray
Watching through windows - you're wondering
If I'm OK
Secrets stolen from deep inside
The drum beats out of time -
[Chorus:]
If you're lost...
You said go slow -
I fall behind
The second hand unwinds -
[Chorus:]
If you're lost...
...
Time after time
Time after time
Time after time
Time after time
Written by the American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who has been described by the columnist and writer Frank Rich of the New York Times as “now the greatest and perhaps best-known artist in the American musical theatre”, “Send in the Clowns” is from the 1973 musical ‘A Little Night Music’ which is an adaptation of the Swedish director, writer and producer Ingmar Bergman’s film “Smiles of a Summer Night”.
It is a ballad from Act II of the musical in which the character of Desiree reflects back on the ironies and disappointments of her life. Amongst other things she looks back on an affair that she had years earlier with a lawyer of the name of Fredrik. Meeting up with him again after so long, she discovers he is in an unconsummated marriage with a much younger woman and proposes marriage to rescue him from the situation but he declines in favour of remaining dedicated to his bride. The song is a reaction to his rejection. The song is then later reprised when Fredrik’s young wife runs away with his son and Fredrik is finally available to accept Desiree’s proposal.
Isn't it rich? Are we a pair?
Me here at last on the ground and you in mid-air
Send in the clowns
Isn't it bliss?
Don't you approve?
One who keeps tearing around and one who can't move
But where are the clowns?
Send in the clowns
Just when I stopped opening doors
Finally finding the one that I wanted was yours
Making my entrance again with my usual flair
Sure of my lines
Nobody's there
Don't you love a farce?
My fault, I fear
I thought that you'd want what I want, sorry my dear
But where are the clowns? Send in the clowns
Don't bother they're here
Isn't it rich? Isn't it queer?
Losing my timing this late in my career
But where are the clowns? Send in the clowns
Well, maybe next year
Written by the American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actor and arranger Lenny Kravitz and Ingrid Chavez, a Mexican-American poet, vocalist, songwriter and photographer, with additional lyrics by Madonna, the song was included on Madonna’s first compilation ‘The Immaculate Collection’ which was released on November 6th 1990 and was the first single from the compilation.
The song then also appeared on the greatest hits compilation album ‘Celebration’ released in 2009.
Ingrid Chavez was not credited on the song which then led to a lawsuit with Lenny Kravitz, resulting in an out of court settlement.
The song itself was unique in that Madonna’s vocals are primarily spoken and whispered but hardly ever sung, a style which she then replicated frequently on her next album ‘Erotica’ in 1992.
The lyrics of the song are primarily about sex and romance and whilst receiving mixed reviews from older critics it was critically appreciated from many contemporary critics with it being noted as one of Madonna’s best songs to date.
It became Madonna’s ninth number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top ten in Australia, Canada, Finland, New Zealand, Italy, Switzerland and number two in the UK.
The music video caused controversy worldwide as it featured Madonna being sexually seduced into having sex with a man and a woman and as a result was banned from MTV and other TV networks for showing imagery of sadomasochism, voyeurism and bisexuality.
The song has been performed on three of Madonna’s tours, most recently her MDNA tour in 2012.
I want to kiss you in Paris
I want to hold your hand in Rome
I want to run naked in a rainstorm
Make love in a train cross-country
You put this in me
So now what, so now what?
[Chorus:]
Wanting, needing, waiting
For you to justify my love
Hoping, praying
For you to justify my love
I want to know you
Not like that
I don't want to be your mother
I don't want to be your sister either
I just want to be your lover
I want to be your baby
Kiss me, that's right, kiss me
[Chorus]
Yearning, burning
For you to justify my love
What are you gonna do?
What are you gonna do?
Talk to me - tell me your dreams
Am I in them?
Tell me your fears
Are you scared?
Tell me your stories
I'm not afraid of who you are
We can fly!
Poor is the man
Whose pleasures depend
On the permission of another
Love me, that's right, love me
I want to be your baby
[Chorus]
I'm open and ready
For you to justify my love
To justify my love
Wanting, to justify
Waiting, to justify my love
Praying, to justify
To justify my love
I'm open, to justify my love
Written by the American author, playwright, television writer and lyricist, Sam Bobrick, and Beverly Ross, “The Girl of My Best Friend” was first released in 1959 by Charlie Blackwell as the B-side to his single “Choppin’ Mountains”.
The song became famous when it was released in 1960 by Elvis Presley with the American vocal quartet, The Jordanaires, who formed as a gospel choir in 1948 and were best known for providing vocal background for Elvis Presley in his live appearances and recordings from 1956 to 1972.
It reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart.
The song has also been covered by the early rock and roll musician, Ral Donner, who had a voice similar to Elvis Presley, and reached number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the song in the US in 1960.
Johnny Burnette, the American rockabilly musician, covered the song in 1962 and Bryan Ferry also released a version for his 1993 covers album’ Taxi’, which reached number 57 on the UK Singles Chart.
The way she walks,
The way she talks
How long can I pretend
Oh I can't help I'm in love
With the girl of my best friend
Her lovely hair,
Her skin so fair
I could go on and never end
Oh, I can't help I'm in love
With the girl of my best friend
I want to tell her
How I love her so
And hold her in my arms, but then
What if she got real mad and told him so
I could never face either one again
The way they kiss
Their happiness
Will my ache-in' ever end
Or will I always be in love
With the girl of my best friend?
Never end,
Will it ever end?
Please let it end
