Starting singing gospel with the family group, the Echoes of Joy, Wright began switching to R&B music in 1965 when she was only 11. In 1968, she released her first album, My First Time Around, at the age of 15, and scored her first hit, "Girls Can't Do What Guys Can Do".
It was not until the end of 1971 that Wright's most successful phase of her career took place. The song, "Clean Up Woman", became a Top 5 pop and R&B hit, and would later influence a remix of Mary J. Blige's "Real Love" single with the sample of its guitar riffs; R&B girl group trio SWV's "I'm So Into You" also featured a sample from "Clean Up Woman", as did Afrika Bambaataa's song "Zulu War Chant". In 1974, Wright scored big with the songs "Tonight is the Night" (about a real-life love affair that happened with Wright when she was a teenager) and "Where is the Love" (which won her a Grammy for Best R&B Song).
After experiencing a brief slump in the early 1980s, she rebounded founding her own record label, Ms. B Records, and in 1988 made music history by being the first woman to have a gold record on her own label, with the release of Mother Wit, which featured two of her biggest hits in years, "No Pain (No Gain)" and the "After The Pain". On both songs, Wright displays her powerful upper register capabilities and five-octave range. In 1989, Wright released 4u2njoy which features the hit songs "From Pain To Joy", "Quiet Storm" and "Keep Love New". Her subsequent albums Passion and Compassion, B-Attitudes and Fit For A King kept her fanbase satisfied.
By 2001, a compilation album, The Very Best of Betty Wright, was released. In 2007, Wright scored her most successful single in over a decade with "Baby", a duet with fellow Soul singer, Angie Stone. The song peaked at #22 on the R&B chart and #2 on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart.
Wright mentored several young singers, and did vocal production for the likes of Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez and Joss Stone.
In December 2010, Wright was given another Grammy Award nomination for the song, "Go", for the Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.
In January 2011, Wright released her first album in ten years, Betty Wright: The Movie, and was credited to Betty Wright & The Roots .
On May 10, 2020, Wright sadly passed away due to cancer at age 66.
Tonight Is The Night
Betty Wright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tonight is the night
That you make me a woman, mmm
You said you'll be gentle with me
And I, I hope you will, mmm, mmm
I'm nervous and I'm tremblin'
Waitin' for you to walk in
But I just can't keep still, no
I can hear your car door slammin'
I wanna play big girl and put on a sexy smile
But I know so little about what love is
I just can't help actin' like a child
You're knockin' on my door and you're ringin' my bell
Hope you're not impatient after waiting so very long
A whole year I put you off with my silly hang-ups
And we're both old enough to know right from wrong
Tonight is the night
That you make me a woman, mmm
You said you'll be gentle with me
And I-I hope you will, hmm, mmm
I'm nervous and I'm tremblin'
Waitin' for you to walk in
I'm tryin' hard to relax
But I just can't keep still
Hey, baby
Ho, ho, baby
Ho, yeah, yeah
Oh, but what if my mama should come home early
And catch us doin' what we're doin'
Not only will I never live it down
But my whole family relationship it'll all be ruined
But we've gone a little bit too far now
Oh, to turn around
So let's just pray
That true love is what we've found
Tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight
I'll never forget tonight
No, no, I'll never forget tonight
When you make me feel real, mmm, hmm
You make me feel real, real good
Oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, whoa, whoa
Yeah, and I wanna thank your love
Said I've got to thank your love
'Cause you make me feel good
The song โTonight is the Nightโ by Betty Wright tells the story of a young woman who is nervous, yet eager to take the next step in her relationship with her partner. She sings of her apprehension and desire to learn more about love. Throughout the song, the singer shows signs of insecurity as she tries to act like a grownup, doing her best to put on a smile and be a โbig girl.โ She hopes that her partner will take things slow and be gentle with her.
However, the young woman is also worried about being caught by her mother, as it would tarnish her family relationships. Despite this, she knows that they can't turn back now and hopes that they have found true love. The song ends with the young woman expressing how grateful she is for the experience, and how much better she feels now that she has shared this experience with someone she loves.
Overall, the song portrays a real and relatable experience that many have gone through or will go through in their lives. Betty Wright's powerful vocals and passionate delivery help to make the song a classic and a testament to the up-and-coming female singers of the era.
Line by Line Meaning
Hmm, hmm, mmm, mmm
Introductory hums of suspense and anticipation
Tonight is the night
It's finally happening tonight
That you make me a woman, mmm
Tonight is when I'll become a grown woman, thanks to you
You said you'll be gentle with me
You promised to treat me with care tonight
And I, I hope you will, mmm, mmm
I'm nervous yet hopeful that you'll keep your promise
I'm nervous and I'm tremblin'
I'm feeling anxious and shaky
Waitin' for you to walk in
I'm eagerly waiting for you to arrive
I'm tryin' hard to relax
I'm attempting to calm myself down
But I just can't keep still, no
My nerves are overwhelming me
I can hear your car door slammin'
I hear you getting out of your car
I wanna play big girl and put on a sexy smile
I want to act like a mature woman and smile seductively
But I know so little about what love is
I'm still inexperienced and naive when it comes to love
I just can't help actin' like a child
Despite my desire to be mature, I can't help but feel childish
You're knockin' on my door and you're ringin' my bell
You've arrived and you're letting me know
Hope you're not impatient after waiting so very long
I hope you're not frustrated after waiting for so long
A whole year I put you off with my silly hang-ups
I delayed this moment for a year due to my silly personal issues
And we're both old enough to know right from wrong
We're both adults and aware of the consequences of our actions
Hey, baby
Affectionate greeting
Ho, ho, baby
Joyful sound of happiness
Ho, yeah, yeah
Expressing enthusiasm
Oh, but what if my mama should come home early
I'm worried about the possibility of my mother returning home unexpectedly
And catch us doin' what we're doin'
And catching us in the middle of our activity
Not only will I never live it down
I'll be embarrassed and ashamed forever
But my whole family relationship it'll all be ruined
My entire family dynamic will be affected negatively
But we've gone a little bit too far now
We've already progressed too much to turn back now
Oh, to turn around
It's too late to stop now
So let's just pray
Let's hope for the best
That true love is what we've found
We hope that our feelings are genuine
Tonight, tonight
Repeating the importance of this night
I'll never forget tonight
This night will forever be etched in my memory
No, no, I'll never forget tonight
Emphasizing the significance of this experience
When you make me feel real, mmm, hmm
When you make me feel like a true woman
You make me feel real, real good
You give me pleasure and satisfaction
Oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, whoa, whoa
Sounds of delight
Yeah, and I wanna thank your love
Expressing gratitude for your love and affection
Said I've got to thank your love
Reiterating how much I appreciate your love
'Cause you make me feel good
You bring happiness and fulfillment to my life
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Fintage House Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Michael James Romeo, Melanie Thornton, Gerd Amir Saraf
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@John-om4th
I'm a white boy and heard this for the first time about 4 years ago. Me and my pop were drinking beers and he played this jam. My dad is an ole school G who didn't see color in the 60s and he has introduced me to some amazing music! I love this jam!
@Beauty.For.Ashes.
Pops is a real one for that๐๐๐ฝ๐
@arleneliberti2949
Pops sounds like a good person he has good taste in music .
@claytonstarrjr9788
Where you from?
@leehall7852
Music has no color ๐ฏThe only thing in the ๐
@charlesnsiamuna3335
So nice
@_DB.
Being at the cookout when youโre a child, singing this song like you know what itโs talking about, and Grandma yells โsitcha lil ass down somewhere heffa, you ainโt grown.โ Now I can relate to this song...Iโm grown now grandma. Lol. Growing up Black! I love us, for real.
@shavonneboyd9827
lol
@1lilillusion
F.A.C.T..O.R.I.A.L.S
@staceyphillips1585
Dee Bee...Ok, thats just how it was back in the day...Lol...they called ya lil grown A.....