Anyone familiar with the rhythmic repertoire of the Gap band, including classic tracks "You Dropped a Bomb on Me," "Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)," and "Yearning for Your Love," can hear traces of Charlie in the contemporary voices of current R&B royalty. Their music continues to be sampled by hundreds of artists including Madonna, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Ashanti, Will Smith, and George Michael to name a few.
"From day one, R. Kelly has always proclaimed himself a modern day Charlie Wilson," he says. "He and I have been talking about collaborating for years, and now it’s finally happening." On Charlie, Last Name Wilson, his first disc since 2001, the former cowboy boot wearing bro is now gator stepping in Chi-town with the king of urban grooves. "This was a big step for me, because the Gap band always did our own music," Wilson recalls. "Letting others write and produce for me, is a big step." Fortunately, coming through on his promise, R. Kelly has stepped to the plate to produce four mackadelic tracks.
"The first song we recorded was the title track. I already knew he was talented, but it was then I realized he’s a genius." With his own classic appeal, Charlie Wilson possess a style that has never gone out of style, the kind of voice that can be gutbucket and cool, smooth as hot butter and tasty as chocolate. "Charlie, Last Name Wilson" is the kind of urban romancer that will appeal to both old souls hanging in the spot and R&B kids chilling on the block.
The instant classic "No Words," is an exquisite track that has an eternal pop sound comparable to Burt Bacharach, Curtis Mayfield or Babyface. With this enchanting song, sonic Chicago architect R. Kelly has constructed one of the finest "drama" ballads of his career. "That is my favorite song, because it’s so powerful," Charlie says. "Basically, it’s me singing from the woman’s perspective. I know some men are going to be mad that I’m saying these things, because now they might have to stop playing basketball long enough to buy their lady some flowers."
Proving himself to be more than a balladeer, the smoking "So Hot" is the kind of popping dance-floor track one might not expect to hear. A master blaster for the BET generation, one can imagine booming speakers, slinking girls and enough sweat to swim through without drowning. Indeed, with a brilliant collection of material, Charlie, Last Name Wilson has created the perfect re-introduction for contemporary audiences to embrace.
Throwing down some new tricks, the upbeat groove of "Magic" is a whimsical song with Uncle Charlie (that’s what the kids call him) playing the roll of a magician—the kind who can blink his eye, mumble a few words and make your clothes disappear. "It’s all about being able to work that charm," Wilson says slyly. Abracadabra, hocus pocus and all that jazz…
Raised the son of a preacher man and a strict mother, Charlie recalls his Tulsa days with the fondness of a Hallmark card. "It was the kind of place where you could go to any door and borrow a cup of sugar," he says. "I had a very happy childhood." Though his mother did not want him sullying his ears with secular sounds, he says, "Pops didn’t care, because he had a nephew who was a blues musician. Every time he came around his car had shiny wheels and slicked back hair; he wore sharkskin suits and always had a car full of women. I knew then, that is what I wanted to do.
Inspired by the black velveteen of Sam Cooke and the Motown sound of Little Stevie Wonder, young Charlie began performing in local night spots while still a teen. "I would be playing for the same people at night that was teaching us during the day. We were playing grown folk’s music when we were still kids." Teaming with his brothers in 1967 Wilson proudly says, "And we’re still performing together today. We may not see eye to eye on everything, but we are family first. Some crazy things have gone down over the years, but family is the mother ship; and that big ship is the Gap Band."
In addition to their "roof is on fire" jams, the Gap Band was also known for making cowboy gear cool in the hood. "People used to tease us, because we came from Okalahoma," Charlie laughs. "So we just decided to dress like cowboys. When we put on the hat and boots, we knew it looked corny, but we did not care. That’s our look."
Though Charlie has had his share of wealth, he has also had his share of demons. Partying hard and living close to the edge, Charlie lost everything due to bad decisions and drug abuse. "I went from living in a mansion to living on the street," Charlie confesses. "I had strangers living in my house, stealing my cars. I had hit rock bottom. If it wasn’t for God and my wife, who knows where I would be today."
After the recording with R.Kelly in the windy city, Charlie returned to his adopted hometown of Los Angeles, going straight to the studio with superstar label-mate Justin Timberlake and Black Eyed Peas auteur Will.i.am. "Justin is a very talented kid," says Wilson. "We had worked together on a project with Snoop. We were hanging-out in my trailer when I asked if he wanted to be a part of the project. Justin is a real humble guy." Called "Floatin’," the track is bound to introduce Charlie Wilson to a brand new crowd. Simultaneously laidback and funky, there is a certain bliss one feels when listening to this song. Like an easy Sunday morning, "Floatin’" will make you feel good. "Will is like a modern day Sly Stone," he says. "He is on his way to great things."
For sure, Charlie Wilson knows about great things. From those early days touring with the Rolling Stones to being a major headliner in the early ‘80s, the Gap Band always brought the party. "When we performed it was all about showmanship," informs Wilson. "That’s what I think is missing in music right now, and I’m ready to bring it back."
The track for former new jack swing fans is Wilson’s remake of Guy’s classic ballad "Let’s Chill." Of course, as Uncle Charlie is quick to point out, Guy singer Aaron Hall listened to his share of Gap Band material before going into the vocal booth for the first time.
"We laugh about it," Wilson says. "But, singers like R. Kelly and Aaron Hall continued in the tradition of what I was doing." Produced by Platinum Brothers and Larry "Rock" Campbell the tone of the "Let’s Chill" remake does not stray far from the original Teddy Riley joint-ski, Wilson provides enough flavors to make it even spicier. With a haunting quality to his voice, this is the kind of mood music that demands a red light bulb dangling over the waterbed.
On Charlie, Last Name Wilson a masterful performer returns to proclaim his rightful place on the throne. Mixing booming beats with chocolate love, Charlie Wilson is bringing the truth; and, as with most great soul singers, the gospel of life, love and happiness can be heard in the grain of his voice.
Thru It All
Charlie Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What I have to say you've already heard
But I don't think it will hurt to hear it again
Years have passed and your kisses feel
Even better now, soothing my heart still
How my passion fills just knowing that you're on your way home again
[Chorus]
A lot of things girl,
You make my heart just skip a beat in so many ways
Only you I call until this day girl
You make my heart just skip a beat let me count the ways
Nothing's perfect we still have our days
But that doesn't mean our love will stray
If anything it takes me right back to you
Wishes answered from the very start
Before hello you have left your mark
One so deep I could not remove even if I wanted to
[Bridge]
From your warm embrace to how your kisses taste
The way you look at me, with such sincerity
I feel like every man should feel
I pinch myself to see if it's real
The letters you wrote, even the simple notes
Just you took your time to say what's on your mind
I really couldn't ask for more
Oh yea
The lyrics in Charlie Wilson's song "Thru It All" speak about a long-lasting, enduring love. The singer admits that he never loses words to express his feelings for his partner, even though he knows she's heard it all before. He still believes it's worth reminding her that she makes his heart skip a beat in so many different ways. Wilson sings about how their relationship stands the test of time, even though they may have difficult days. He acknowledges that nothing is perfect, yet their love doesn't stray, and it brings them back together. The singer reflects on how the love they share began before they even said hello, and how it's left a deep mark that can't be removed even if he wanted to. Wilson highlights the importance of the small things in a relationship, such as the way his partner looks at him and how her kisses taste. He feels lucky and grateful for her, and joyfully expresses it in the song.
One interesting fact about "Thru It All" is that the song appeared on Charlie Wilson's successful album, "In It to Win It," released in 2017, which peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Top 200. Another remarkable fact is that Wilson's solo career took off in 2005 with his album "Charlie, Last Name Wilson," which sold over half a million copies and was certified Gold. He has since released numerous albums and collaborated with various artists, including Snoop Dogg, T.I., and Kanye West. The songwriters behind "Thru It All" are Babyface, Antonio Dixon, and Patrick Smith. Babyface, also known as Kenneth Brian Edmonds, is known for writing and producing songs for artists such as Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, and Boyz II Men.
Still, on the subject of songwriting, another fascinating fact is that Wilson has writing credits on many of his tracks, including "Thru It All." Notably, he's co-written songs with Snoop Dogg, including "You" and "Can't Say Goodbye." Charlie Wilson was the lead vocalist of The Gap Band, a popular funk band in the 70s and 80s. They had chart-topping hits such as "You Dropped a Bomb On Me" and "Outstanding." Wilson and his brothers formed the band in 1967 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they began performing at clubs and making music independently until they were signed by Mercury Records.
Other interesting facts include Wilson's collaborations with the renowned producer Rick Rubin, who produced his 2010 album, "Just Charlie." He's also worked with other established producers such as Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, and R. Kelly. Wilson won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 BET Awards and was nominated for a GRAMMY for Best Traditional R&B Performance in 2012. He's also received several other nominations and has won numerous Soul Train Awards.
Chords: The chords for "Thru It All" are not available at the moment, but it's played mainly on piano and has a slow tempo.
Line by Line Meaning
Not one to have a loss for words
I usually have something to say, but you've heard it before.
What I have to say you've already heard
I'm repeating myself, but I want you to know how I feel.
But I don't think it will hurt to hear it again
I want to remind you how I feel, even if you know it already.
Years have passed and your kisses feel
Even after all this time, your kisses still make me feel good.
Even better now, soothing my heart still
Actually, they make me feel even better now, and they still have a calming effect on me.
How my passion fills just knowing that you're on your way home again
The thought of you coming home fills me with passion and excitement.
We've been through it all
We've been through a lot together.
A lot of things girl,
We've been through many ups and downs.
You make my heart just skip a beat in so many ways
You have a way of making my heart skip a beat in many different ways.
Only you I call until this day girl
I still only call you, and no one else.
You make my heart just skip a beat let me count the ways
You make my heart skip a beat in so many different ways that I couldn't count them all.
Nothing's perfect we still have our days
We still have our problems and disagreements.
But that doesn't mean our love will stray
These problems won't make me stop loving you or cause me to look elsewhere.
If anything it takes me right back to you
If anything, these problems make me want to come back to you even more.
Wishes answered from the very start
My wishes have been fulfilled from the beginning of our relationship.
Before hello you have left your mark
Even before we met, you had an impact on my life.
One so deep I could not remove even if I wanted to
This impact is so deep that I couldn't forget about you even if I tried.
From your warm embrace to how your kisses taste
I love everything about you, from your embrace to your kisses.
The way you look at me, with such sincerity
When you look at me, I feel like you truly mean it.
I feel like every man should feel
I'm lucky to feel this way, and I wish every man could experience it.
I pinch myself to see if it's real
Sometimes it's hard to believe that I'm lucky enough to have you.
The letters you wrote, even the simple notes
I appreciate every letter and note you've written to me, no matter how simple.
Just you took your time to say what's on your mind
I love that you take the time to express your thoughts to me.
I really couldn't ask for more
I feel like I have everything I want and need with you.
Oh yea
Just expressing my enthusiasm for you and our relationship.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VIDAL DAVIS, ANDRE HARRIS, ERIC ROBERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind