The term continued to be used in the 1970s and 1980s, particularly by the British music press, to describe a new generation of white singers who adopted elements of classic soul music. To a lesser extent, the term has been applied to singers in other music genres that are influenced by soul music, such as urban music and hip hop soul.
Blue-eyed soul began when white musicians remade African American music to play for mass audiences, partly due to segregation laws that prevented blacks from performing for whites. Often the music was diluted for its new audience, a move that angered some African Americans as cultural expropriation, but pleased others who felt the growth of their music genre could only be a good thing. In some cases (most notably The Flaming Ember, Lonnie Mack and The Rascals), white artists initially passed as black singers on the radio - deliberately in many cases, to avoid alienating black radio audiences.
The regional beach music and Carolina shag (a type of dance) trends that originated in the areas around North and South Carolina in the late 1950s were, at least partly, a manifestation of blue-eyed soul. Local white bands backed nationally popular black R&B artists during their tours, and performed on their own at fraternity parties and other college social events. According to beach band historian Greg Haynes, artists such as Bonnie Bramlett and The Allman Brothers (originally known as The Escorts) began their careers on this circuit. Bill Deal and the Rhondels and The Swinging Medallions are beach bands which have charted nationally. Georgie Woods, a Philadelphia radio DJ, came up with the term blue-eyed soul in the 1960s to describe white artists receiving airplay on rhythm and blues radio stations. In the early 1960s, one of the rare female blue-eyed soul singers was Timi Yuro, whom many assumed to be black.
By the mid-1960s, British singers Dusty Springfield, Eric Burdon (of The Animals) and Tom Jones had become leading vocal stars of the emerging style in Europe. Other notable UK exponents of blue-eyed soul included The Spencer Davis Group (featuring singer-organist Steve Winwood) and archetypal mod band The Small Faces, whose sound was heavily influenced by the Stax label's house band Booker T. & The MG's. Most of the leading UK pop groups of the period — including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and The Who — regularly covered Stax and Motown tracks on record or in concert, and all have acknowledged the influence of Motown and Stax artists on their own music. Outside the Anglo-American scene in the late 1960s, Mina fused elements of soul music with the classic Italian melody. Carola and Doris were notable Scandinavian artists who were influenced by soul music.
Jerry Lee Lewis, whose latter days at Sun Records (1961-63) had been characterized by R&B covers, recorded an album for Smash entitled Soul My Way in 1967. Delaney and Bonnie (Bramlett) produced the classic blue-eyed soul album Home on Stax in 1969. Tower of Power were the first white act to appear on Soul Train, on February 1, 1975. Elton John appeared on the May 17 episode. A notable blue-eyed soul album from the 1970s is Hall & Oates' Silver Album (real title Daryl Hall & John Oates) (1975), which includes the classic ballad "Sara Smile" (long considered a blue-eyed soul standard).
In the 1980s, blue-eyed soul hits were released by artists such as Hall & Oates ("Private Eyes"), Rick Astley ("Together Forever"), and Steve Winwood ("Roll With It"). Boy George, although not having the "black voice", was considered a blue-eyed soul artist because much of the music of Culture Club fit in the genre of R&B. Another 1980s British artist, Annie Lennox, of Eurythmics fame, was often cited as possessing "soul" and went on to record the female empowerment anthem "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" with Aretha Franklin. In the late 1990s, music video channel VH1 proclaimed Lennox to be the greatest living female blue-eyed soul singer. Around the same time as Boy George and Annie Lennox's debuts, audiences were struck by the soulfulness of Teena Marie.
Blue-eyed soul also made a crossover into instrumentals, as evidenced by the smooth sounds of rising star David Sanborn, who had guest appearances on select R&B hits, both by Black and White artists. Eventually, Sanborn laid the groundwork for what is now known as Smooth Jazz, and he has become a major influence on most of the current Smooth Jazz artists, such as Rick Braun, Euge Groove and Mindi Abair.
Hall & Oates' chart success was at its highest when their singles got heavy airplay on urban contemporary (black) radio, as was the case with "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)", "One on One", "Say It Isn't So", "Adult Education", "Out of Touch", "Method of Modern Love" and "Everything Your Heart Desires". Most of those singles charted high or at #1 on the R&B and dance charts. The boy band New Kids On The Block were also part of the blue eyed soul movement with hits such as "Please Don't Go Girl", the Delfonics covered "Didnt' I (Blow Your Mind)" and their first number 1 hit "I'll Be Loving You Forever". A backlash ensued in the late 1980s as some blacks felt that whites were cashing in on the new popularity of their music. However, the extent of the backlash was not universally agreed upon. In 1989, Ebony Magazine published an article exploring whether whites were "taking over" R&B. The article featured various members of the music industry, both black and white, who believed collaboration was in fact a unifying force and there was agreement that the future of R&B was not compromised by the contemporary urban sound. A similar article in Ebony, written in 1999 highlighted conflicting opinions about the "blue-eyed" influence. However, the source of contention was not about the artistic merit of blue-eyed soul, but rather the economic inequality that persists both in American life and within the music industry.
George Michael was one of the first artists to successfully bring soul to pop music, and also the first white solo artist to sing a duet with Aretha Franklin, in their hit "I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me)". Michael was the first white male vocalist to hit #1 on the US R&B album charts, with his debut album Faith. Faith also is the best-selling Blue-eyed Soul album ever, with worldwide sales of approximately 20 million copies. His fourth single from the album the Ballad, "One More Try", hit #1 in the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop charts. In 1989 he became the first white artist to win the American Music Award for Favourite Male Vocalist and Favourite Album (Faith) (Soul/R&B).
Photograph
Ed Sheeran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it's the only thing that I know
When it gets hard, you know it can get hard sometimes
It is the only thing makes us feel alive
We keep this love in a photograph
We made these memories for ourselves
Where our eyes are never closing
Hearts are never broken
And time's forever frozen still
So you can keep me
Inside the pocket of your ripped jeans
Holding me closer 'til our eyes meet
You won't ever be alone, wait for me to come home
Loving can heal, loving can mend your soul
And it's the only thing that I know, know
I swear it will get easier
Remember that with every piece of ya
Hmm, and it's the only thing we take with us when we die
Hmm, we keep this love in this photograph
We made these memories for ourselves
Where our eyes are never closing
Hearts were never broken
And time's forever frozen, still
So you can keep me
Inside the pocket of your ripped jeans
Holding me closer 'til our eyes meet
You won't ever be alone
And if you hurt me
That's okay, baby, only words bleed
Inside these pages, you just hold me
And I won't ever let you go
Wait for me to come home
Wait for me to come home
Wait for me to come home
Wait for me to come home
Oh, you can fit me
Inside the necklace you got when you were sixteen
Next to your heartbeat where I should be
Keep it deep within your soul
And if you hurt me
Well, that's okay, baby, only words bleed
Inside these pages, you just hold me
And I won't ever let you go
When I'm away, I will remember how you kissed me
Under the lamppost back on Sixth street
Hearing you whisper through the phone
"Wait for me to come home"
The song "Photograph" by Ed Sheeran is a poignant love song about the joy and pain of loving someone. In the opening lines, Sheeran acknowledges that loving someone can be painful sometimes. It's a universal truth that we all know too well. We can't have the good without the bad, and sometimes love can hurt. Despite the pain, love is the only thing we know, and it's the only thing that makes us feel alive. In these lines, Sheeran is essentially saying that love is worth the risk, even if it sometimes hurts.
The chorus of the song is the most recognizable part of "Photograph." Sheeran sings of a love frozen in time, preserved forever in a photograph. The memories that he and his partner have created are something special, something worth holding on to, and something that they can revisit whenever they want. In many ways, this photograph is a symbol of the power of love. It's a way of keeping that love alive, even when times are tough. Sheeran sings of the importance of these memories and how they can help us through the harder times. The promise that his partner won't ever be alone is a reaffirmation of the power of their love.
In the second verse, Sheeran gets a bit more hopeful about love. He sings that love can heal and mend our souls, and it's the only thing we take with us when we die. This is a moving sentiment that speaks to the transformative power of love. It has the ability to change us, to make us better people, and to give our lives meaning. As the song comes to a close, Sheeran sings of the deep love that he and his partner share. He promises to keep her close, no matter what, and he tries to reassure her that he won't ever let go.
Line by Line Meaning
Loving can hurt, loving can hurt sometimes
Love is not always easy and can be painful at times.
But it's the only thing that I know
Despite the difficulties, love is the most valuable thing in life.
When it gets hard, you know it can get hard sometimes
Even when love is challenging, it is worth fighting for.
It is the only thing makes us feel alive
Love is what gives life meaning and purpose.
We keep this love in a photograph
The memories of our love are precious and we cherish them.
We made these memories for ourselves
Our love is solely between us and the memories we create are ours to keep.
Where our eyes are never closing
The love and connection we share is constant and never fades.
Hearts are never broken
Our love never falters, even in the face of adversity.
And time's forever frozen, still
The memories of our love will last forever and never fade.
So you can keep me
Even when we are apart, our love remains.
Inside the pocket of your ripped jeans
Our love is always with you and close to your heart.
Holding me closer 'til our eyes meet
Our love will bring us back together, no matter the distance.
You won't ever be alone, wait for me to come home
Our love will keep you company until we are together again.
Loving can heal, loving can mend your soul
Love has the power to heal and mend even the deepest wounds.
And it's the only thing that I know, know
Love is the one certainty in life.
I swear it will get easier
Even the toughest challenges in love will eventually become easier.
Remember that with every piece of ya
Our love is a part of you and will never leave you.
Hmm, and it's the only thing we take with us when we die
Love is the one thing that stays with us throughout our lifetime.
Oh, you can fit me
Our love is adaptable and can fit into any situation or circumstance.
Inside the necklace you got when you were sixteen
Our love is a part of who you are and has been with you for a long time.
Next to your heartbeat where I should be
Our love is always with you, close to your heart.
Keep it deep within your soul
Always hold onto our love and keep it close to your heart.
And if you hurt me
Even when love causes pain, our love remains strong.
That's okay, baby, only words bleed
We may say hurtful things, but our love will always remain intact.
Inside these pages, you just hold me
Our memories and love are intertwined and cherished.
And I won't ever let you go
Our love is too strong to ever let go of.
When I'm away, I will remember how you kissed me
Our love is so strong that even when we are apart, the memories keep us close.
Under the lamppost back on Sixth street
A special moment in our love story that is cherished and remembered.
Hearing you whisper through the phone
Even when we are apart, our connection and love remains strong.
"Wait for me to come home"
Our love will always bring us back together, no matter the distance or time apart.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Edward Christopher Sheeran, Martin Peter Harrington, Johnny McDaid, Thomas E. Leonard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@phucbeta7869
Lyrics:
Loving can hurt, loving can hurt sometimes
But it's the only thing that I know
When it gets hard, you know it can get hard sometimes
It is the only thing makes us feel alive
We keep this love in a photograph
We made these memories for ourselves
Where our eyes are never closing
Hearts are never broken
And time's forever frozen still
So you can keep me
Inside the pocket of your ripped jeans
Holding me closer 'til our eyes meet
You won't ever be alone, wait for me to come home
Loving can heal, loving can mend your soul
And it's the only thing that I know, know
I swear it will get easier
Remember that with every piece of ya
Hmm, and it's the only thing we take with us when we die
Hmm, we keep this love in this photograph
We made these memories for ourselves
Where our eyes are never closing
Hearts were never broken
And time's forever frozen, still
So you can keep me
Inside the pocket of your ripped jeans
Holding me closer 'til our eyes meet
You won't ever be alone
And if you hurt me
That's okay, baby, only words bleed
Inside these pages, you just hold me
And I won't ever let you go
Wait for me to come home
Wait for me to come home
Wait for me to come home
Wait for me to come home
Oh, you can fit me
Inside the necklace you got when you were sixteen
Next to your heartbeat where I should be
Keep it deep within your soul
And if you hurt me
Well, that's okay, baby, only words bleed
Inside these pages, you just hold me
And I won't ever let you go
When I'm away, I will remember how you kissed me
Under the lamppost back on Sixth street
Hearing you whisper through the phone
"Wait for me to come home"
@chrisanty4554
Loving can hurt, loving can hurt sometimes
But it's the only thing that I know
When it gets hard, you know it can get hard sometimes
It is the only thing makes us feel alive
We keep this love in a photograph
We made these memories for ourselves
Where our eyes are never closing
Hearts are never broken
And time's forever frozen, still
So you can keep me
Inside the pocket of your ripped jeans
Holding me closer 'til our eyes meet
You won't ever be alone, wait for me to come home
Loving can heal, loving can mend your soul
And it's the only thing that I know, know
I swear it will get easier
Remember that with every piece of ya
Hmm, and it's the only thing we take with us when we die
Hmm, we keep this love in a photograph
We made these memories for ourselves
Where our eyes are never closing
Hearts were never broken
And time's forever frozen, still
So you can keep me
Inside the pocket of your ripped jeans
Holding me closer 'til our eyes meet
You won't ever be alone
And if you hurt me
That's okay, baby, only words bleed
Inside these pages, you just hold me
And I won't ever let you go
Wait for me to come home
Wait for me to come home
Wait for me to come home
Wait for me to come home
Oh, you can fit me
Inside the necklace you got when you were sixteen
Next to your heartbeat where I should be
Keep it deep within your soul
And if you hurt me
Well, that's okay, baby, only words bleed
Inside these pages, you just hold me
And I won't ever let you go
When I'm away, I will remember how you kissed me
Under the lamppost back on Sixth street
Hearing you whisper through the phone
"Wait for me to come home"
@s-hgaming8712
my dad died last night at 11 oclock, been fighting illnesses my hole life (24 years) his secand home was the hospital. but last night his body just gave up. please anyone who sees this message please can u think of people u love and keep close because people can just slip away faster then youll ever know. rip dad you brough me up to respect everyone around me and tought me alot about life rhat no matter how hard and down you get theres always a fight in everyone. iloveyou so much thank you for giving me a childhood i wont ever forget thank you for everything you done to make me the man i am today
we found out today 6/4/20
that dad died of covid viris 🥺 most heartbreaking phone call we got this morning, because battled everything that came agnest him his body couldnt fight this new viris 🥺 i hope everyone stays safe during this horrible time 💔❤
just to let everyone know 17th of april is dads funreal. god bless everyone please please please stay safe 🧡
we found out 21st on april.. that we are expecting a little girl, my dad would be so proud to have to to have a little grand daughter, his already got our little man whos 1year and 3 months old and he loved him but pour soul didnt have then energy to play with him so he usta cry :( iloveyou dad and i hope i make you proudx
Just an update 3 years later.. I finally went up to see my dads gardens where he is.. I couldn’t do it for three years due to guilt with my donating my kidney.. almost like survival guilt. To anybody who is struggling with anything in life just remmber people are there for you.. and if u feel a little lost just know life is going to get better my life changed for the best. Thank you for all your kind comments it’s been a struggle but my heads high because my son is now 4 and my daughter is 3.. there my world Iloveyou dad! I know u would be proud of me! ❤
@kevinowensmith1572
Imagine how his mum and dad felt seeing this video for the first time
@Alpha-gp1nw
They would be so proud
@Josemota8999
They'd be proud and maybe cry
@bethanybratton6630
I bet he was even crying when making this video. I love this song so much
@extrememakeoverfan
These are all his dad’s home movies and his dad helped edit it.
@cynthiaahern9081
They probably cried when they saw it for the first time. I just saw it for the first time and I started crying. Beautiful! It reminded me of when my kids were little. What a talent
@le_li_teri1994
Lost my beautiful 7yr old daughter last year; she loved listening to this song since she was little. A year has passed and when I listen to this song tears roll down my cheek, but I don’t know if they’re happy tears or sad ones. Sukhi beta, papa misses you, please come back.
@sumo8980
sorry for your loss ❤️
@zerusiamaccow6979
so sorry i'm literally crying right now
@hoangleminh5228
poor you, wish you got over it