Her first hit in the United States is "Thunder and Lightning," released in May 1972. By August it reached #17 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #12 on the U.S. Record World top 100 record chart and U.S. CashBox top 100, #18 on the Canadian RPM magazine charts, and #4 on the German hit list. It drove her first album, "Chi Coltrane", to stay on the charts for three months. The song "Go Like Elijah" also received considerable airplay, and held the #1 position on the Holland hit list for one month.
After her first album was released, she released the album Let It Ride early in 1974 (on the Columbia label), Greatest Hits and Best Of albums in 1975, and in 1977 another album, Road To Tomorrow as well as Silk & Steel in 1981 . She subsequently moved to Europe where she lived for a few years. She was voted Best Female Artist for two consecutive years). She released several albums on the Teldec label during the 1980s,[1] including Live! in 1982 (it reached #12 on the European charts),and Ready to Roll (1983), and The Message (1986). In the European “100 Best Musicians of the Century” list, she was listed in the top 50.[citation needed] Golden Classics was released in November 1996 (Collectibles label). She has done TV soundtrack work, and collaborated with Tangerine Dream in 1991. She returned to Los Angeles in 1993, where she built a recording studio and worked with underprivileged groups.
In 2009 Coltrane resumed her music career, releasing a new compilation "The Essential Chi Coltrane - Yesterday, Today & Forever". The collection featured material from her 1980s albums "Live!", "Ready to Roll", and "The Message". It also contained three new recordings, including the title track which featured a Paul Buckmaster string arrangement.
Coltrane's first comeback performance was a concert in Vienna at the Donounselfest in 2009, where she drew 100,000 people. She then did a tour in Holland in October of 2009. Her CD went to #55 on the charts within two weeks. She then signed with Sony and did another tour in Holland as well as a highly successful tour in Germany. She is now preparing for additional touring in Germany, and another tour in Holland as well as a tour in Switzerland. She has committed to working next on a studio album of new material, to be released in 2012.
Thunder And Lightning
Chi Coltrane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh it's such a good thing I've gto
I don't think I can stand it
Thunder and Lightning
I tell you it's frightening
It's thunder and lightning
And you're in control
I thought my life was complete
Oh! You're makin' me crazy
Thunder and Lightning
I tell you it's frightening
It's thunder and lightning
And you're in control
I don't know how to handle it
It's more than I would dare
I wouldn't try to run from it
It reaches me everywhere
I'm feelin' dizzy and weak
You make me forget how to speak
I can feel it happening
Thunder and Lightning
I tell you it's frightening
It's thunder and lightning
And you're in control
I don't know how to handle it
It's more than I would dare
I wouldn't try to run from it
It reaches me everywhere
Oh! What a good thing I've got
Oh it's such a good thing I've got
I don't think I can stand it.
In Chi Coltrane's song "Thunder and Lightning," the artist sings about being consumed by a powerful force that she cannot control. The lyrics speak of the overwhelming sensation of feeling lost and helpless in the face of this uncontrollable force. The opening lines of the chorus exclaim, "Ooh! What a good thing I've got. Oh, it's such a good thing I've got. I don't think I can stand it. Thunder and lightning. I tell you it's frightening."
The chorus continues with the repetition of "Thunder and lightning" paired with the line "And you're in control." This line suggests that this force is personified and has a will of its own. The lyrics also convey the idea that the force is in control of the artist's emotions and actions. Coltrane sings, "I thought my life was complete. But look what you're doing to me. Oh! You're making me crazy."
The song's lyrics speak of surrendering to this force and the inability to escape its grasp. The artist expresses, "I don't know how to handle it. It's more than I would dare. I wouldn't try to run from it. It reaches me everywhere." Ultimately, the song highlights the overwhelming power of nature and emotions and our inability to defy their influence over us.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh! What a good thing I've gto
Expressing pleasure or gratification that the singer has something valuable
Oh it's such a good thing I've gto
Reiterating the value of the singer's possession
I don't think I can stand it
The upcoming experience is anticipated to be overwhelming
Thunder and Lightning
Referring to the natural phenomena of thunder and lightning
I tell you it's frightening
Expressing a strong emotional response of fear or anxiety towards the phenomena
It's thunder and lightning
Reiterating the reference to the natural phenomena
And you're in control
Attributing control or power over the situation to a third party
I thought my life was complete
The artist believed they had everything they needed or wanted in life
But look what you've doin' to me
The third party has caused a change in the artist's life or emotions
Oh! You're makin' me crazy
The third party's actions are causing the artist to feel intense mental or emotional distress
I don't know how to handle it
The singer lacks the skills or knowledge to address the situation
It's more than I would dare
The situation is too risky, challenging or difficult to confront
I wouldn't try to run from it
Avoiding or escaping the situation is not a viable option
It reaches me everywhere
The situation is inescapable and affects every aspect of the singer's life
I'm feelin' dizzy and weak
The singer is experiencing physical symptoms due to the situation
You make me forget how to speak
The third party's actions have impaired the artist's ability to communicate
I can feel it happening
The artist is aware of the situation's ongoing effects
Thunder and Lightning
Repeating the reference to the natural phenomena
I tell you it's frightening
Reiterating the emotional response of fear or anxiety towards the phenomena
It's thunder and lightning
Repeating the reference to the natural phenomena
And you're in control
Reiterating the attribution of control or power over the situation to a third party
Oh! What a good thing I've got
Repeating the expression of pleasure or gratification that the artist has something valuable
Oh it's such a good thing I've got
Reiterating the value of the singer's possession
I don't think I can stand it.
Repeating the expectation that the upcoming experience will be overwhelming
Lyrics © THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cwebsterk
Wow! The women of the 70's ROCKED! No theatrics, dancers, fire, or need to flip around upside down while hanging from the ceiling! They just got up there and rocked. Linda Ronstadt, Ann wilson. Stevie Nicks, Rickie Lee Jones, Bonnie Raitt....and this lady Chi Coltrane...awesome! Thanks Leotjoe for posting!
@seanduchinsky2632
agree with everything. except you left out kiki dee
@elainehinton6876
No meat suits needed back then
@thomaswilliams7458
They just brought my friend....my generation.
@JasonKavetis
you forgot Lydia Pense
@robertpeters4161
Coltrain, Joplin, and turner were the best!
@MGMOZfan
50+ years later and this song still rocks! I was 7 when it came out and I remember my sister playing the 45 record a LOT! I wish it would still get airplay these days! It certainly deserves to be heard! Love it.
@apol77lo
Man, that woman has got pipes. The song is fantastic. Just totally under respected vinyl performance. She owns it!
@daviddragavon7555
An actual thunder and lighting storm..as I was headed for coffee ☕️, led me directly to this song!
@denisemaderis5824
Always felt Chi was one of the most sultry and soulful female artists and songwriter. Love the strength and control of her voice. One of my favorite 🎵