Who is The Empress of Soul: Gladys Knight

Before I started Squidoo-ing, I blogged the post I have in the Introduction here. That was in 2008. Once I started making lenses on Squidoo and realized I could make lenses about music, I fell in love with the platform.

Instead of using the usual Wikipedia version of "Gladys Knight at a Glance" I decided to use my own words, my own thoughts and especially, my own feelings about what Gladys means to me.

Some of the comments to the blog post were as moving to me as the readers say my blog post was to them. Here are some of the comments readers left about my Gladys Knight post.

Reader #1 - You know I am reciting those words now? I know that song very much. I can recite it over an over again in my mind. That's when singing was ACTUALLY singing. Not some of this pseudo-singing these girls (and guys) do today.

Reader #2 - I know her singing well but I'm not too certain I have heard that one. I wish I could. I believe I too would fall in love with all the nuance you spoke so beautifully about.

Reader #3 - Remember that song well! I loved all of her songs and would be hard pressed to come up with a favorite. Well, maybe it's when she climbed aboard that Midnight Train to Georgia. She had some great pipes! Thanks for this wonderful memory.

Reader #4 - ...and the Pips...Leona, do you know where that name came from?...there are songs that I can't understand the words to, but the melody attracts me...sorry, can't expound on it the way you have for Ms Knight...wouldn't be afraid to bet that nobody has described her the way you have...you could write text for her albums...I, too, love Midnight Train to Georgia...you know, just got chills writing it...yeah, I like that one...

Reader #5 - I do love that song! You gotta love Gladys. I just pulled it up on my iPOD, am swaying it to right now. Reader #1 is right, that was when music was music. Have a great weekend! -T

Those comments made me smile, did my heart a lot of good.

What do you think about Gladys' lyrics and/or the way she sings this song? I'd love to hear what you think.

Photo credit goodhousekeeping.com

It's sad to think, we're not gonna make it
And it's gotten to the point where we just can fake it (Ooo)
For some unGodly reason we just won't let it die (let it die)
I guess neither one of us (neither one of us)
Wants to be the first to say good bye

I keep on wondering (wondering)
What I'm gonna do with out ya (do without you)
And I guess you must be wondering that same thing too (Ooo)
So we go on, go on together living a lie (living our lie)
Because neither one of us (neither one of us)
Wants to be the first to say good bye

Oooooh ev'rytime I find the nerve
Everytime I find the nerve to say I'm leavin' (leavin')
Oh, memories, those old memories get in my way (my way my way)
Oh (Ooo) Lord knows it's only me only knows it's only me
That I'm deceiving
When it comes to saying good bye
That's a simple word that I just cannot say

There can be no way, there can be no way
This can have a happy ending (happy ending)
So we just go on (we go on) hurting and pretending
And convincing ourselves to give it just one more try (one more try)
Because neither one of us (Neither one of us)
Wants to be the first to say

Neither one of us (neither one of us) Wants to be the first to say
Neither one of us (Neither one of us) wants to be the first to say
Fairwell my love, goodbye (goodbye)

Photo courtesy of rollingstone.com

1. I Heard It Through the Grapevine
2. Midnight Train to Georgia
3. You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me
4. Friendship Train
5. Every Beat of My Heart - The Pips' first hit.
6. I've Got to Use My Imagination
7. Neither One of Us
8. Letter Full of Tears
9. On and On
10. The End of Our Road

Photo Courtesy of uulyrics.com

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Gladys Knight & The Pips recorded their 1st hit, "Every Beat Of My Heart" for 3 different labels.

Why do I admire Gladys Knight? I admire Gladys Knight because she sings the "heck" out of a song!

- Her delivery mesmerizes and holds you captive.

- The rise and fall of her voice . . . what can I say? It's spellbinding!

- Her clear throaty sound reaches way deep down inside your soul and holds you like a prisoner!

... you'll automatically be making a donation to The Acumen Fund, working to solve global poverty.

Doesn't that feel good?