Chandler attended Englewood High School (later known as Englewood Technical Prep Academy) on Chicago's south side. He began performing in the early 1950s with The Gaytones. In 1957 he joined a doo-wop group called The Dukays with James Lowe, Shirley Jones, Earl Edwards and Ben Broyles, quickly becoming their lead singer. He was drafted by the U.S. Army to Germany for three years, returned to Chicago in 1960, and rejoined his bandmates. Through music industry contacts, the Dukays were offered a recording contract by the Chicago based Nat Records. The first single was titled "The Girl Is a Devil." In 1961, Nat Records released a song titled "Nite Owl", and the band went back to the recording studio to record once more.
The Duke is born
At the time, Nat Records wanted to release the new song "Duke of Earl", but was unable to. An executive with Vee-Jay Records, Calvin Carter, heard the song and wanted it for distribution as a song on his record label, but only as a Gene Chandler record. Vee-Jay were not interested in The Dukays.
Meanwhile, the previously recorded "Nite Owl" was on the charts, putting Chandler in a dilemma. He thus recorded with The Dukays under the name 'Gene Dixon' and recorded solo as 'Gene Chandler'.
When VeeJay was finally able to release "Duke of Earl", it sent it out as by Chandler, even though the Dukays had recorded it. The song sold a million copies in just over one month."The Duke" was born. Chandler can be seen in the full 'Duke' outfit singing "The Duke of Earl" in the 1962 movie, Don't Knock the Twist, starring Chubby Checker.
The Duke lives on
After spending three weeks at number one on the Billboard Magazine charts, Chandler got a cape, a monocle, a top hat and a cane. He simply became "The Duke of Earl" and his concerts drew a large crowd. Occasionally he would come out for an encore, usually "Rainbow." "Rainbow" was one of Chandler's collaborations with Curtis Mayfield, and the only song Chandler has ever recorded three times. Each time the song has been re-recorded, it became a hit all over again.
Chandler left Vee Jay and recorded for Constellation Records and then for Chess and Brunswick Records. He wound up recording for Chess and Brunswick at the same time. This left the record labels with having to work out a compromise. It was decided that the companies would alternate Chandler's releases, a new one from Brunswick, followed by a release from Chess. In 1964, he had a Top 20 pop hit with the Curtis Mayfield produced "Just Be True"; another Top 20 pop hit in 1965 with "Nothing Can Stop Me", another Mayfield song, and hits throughout the 1960s with the songs "What Now", "A Man's Temptation", "Bless Our Love", and "You Can't Hurt Me No More". He also had success with his cover of James Brown's "There Was A Time" (taken from his 1968 Brunswick album of the same name); and "You Threw A Lucky Punch" - Chandler's answer song to the Mary Wells' Motown hit "You Beat Me To The Punch". Almost all of these songs were Top 5 R&B hits. To date, Chandler has had more than 30 chart hits. Throughout his career, he has maintained a close personal friendship with Mayfield, Butler, and the other members of The Impressions (Sam Gooden and Fred Cash), and they could be frequently heard as background singers on his recordings. In the late 1960s he also recorded a couple of reasonably successful duets with Barbara Acklin.
In 1970, Chandler teamed with Butler for the album Gene and Jerry: One on One on the Mercury label . He also guest starred with Mayfield, Butler and the group on the live album: Curtis in Chicago (1973).
After a number of years on the road, Chandler decided to become more involved with the business end of the music industry. He produced, wrote, arranged, and he had another major hit in 1970 on Mercury. "Groovy Situation", was a pop and R&B success (reaching #12 and #8 respectively), his second biggest hit after "Duke Of Earl". This disc sold over one million copies, and received a gold disc awarded by the R.I.A.A. in November 1970.
The hits he recorded and produced earned him The National Association of Television and Radio Announcers 'Producer of the Year' award in 1970. It should be noted that Chandler was nominated with Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff and Norman Whitfield, who were successful producers at that time, working with The Temptations and the Philadelphia soul sound.
Chandler went on to have a number of disco era hits, including "Get Down," "When You're #1," "Does She Have A Friend?" and "Rainbow '80."[1] Most of these were more popular in the United Kingdom. At that time, he was also the Executive Vice President of Chi-Sound Records, and worked with reggae star, Johnny Nash.
Revival
In the late 1970s, even whilst he was placing hits on the disco chart, the nostalgia craze began. DJ Wolfman Jack put together a traveling show of "oldies" acts, and Chandler joined them in the travels around the country.
In 1997 Chandler was inducted as a Pioneer Award honoree into the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.
In 2002, his #1 hit recording of "Duke Of Earl" was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame.
He still performs in Chicago, Las Vegas and elsewhere around the U.S.
"Duke of Earl" was played in the 1988 film, Hairspray. It was also sampled by Cypress Hill, on the song "Hand on the Pump" on their 1991 album, Cypress Hill. Equally, Chandler's song "Hallelujah, I Love Her So" was also sampled by Cypress Hill, on the song "Legalize It" on their 1993 album, Black Sunday. "Groovy Situation" appeared on 2004's Anchorman: Music from the Motion Picture
Nothing Can Stop Me
Gene Chandler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So bad, do I feel inside
Get my hat, I`m checkin` out
`Cause you and your friends really hurt my pride
So unexspected you shot me down
With all the fella`s standing around yeah
`Please don`t go`, that`s what they`ll be saying
`Please don`t go`, But I`m not playing
(Yeah yeah yeah)
(Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah)
Nothing can stop me
Though you and I where pretty close
I`m calling it quits girl
`Cause it was you I really dug the most
You made me feel like I was two feet tall
While all the others laughed and squalled yeah
`Please don`t go`, that`s what they`ll be saying
`Please don`t go`, But I`m not playing
`Cause nothing can stop me
Don`t mind me havin` the blues
You made me loose my cool
Fella`s honestly
You treat me so cold and you`re so mean
Nothing can stop me
So bad, do I feel inside
Get my hat, I`m checkin` out
`Cause you and your friends really hurt my pride
So unexspected you shot me down
With all the fella`s standing around yeah
`Please don`t go`, that`s what they`ll be saying
`Please don`t go`, But I`m not playing
`Cause nothing can stop me
(Yeah yeah yeah)
(Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah)
(Yeah yeah)
In Gene Chandler's song "Nothing Can Stop Me," the lyrics express a heartbreak and a desire to move on. Despite being hurt by the person he loved the most, Chandler's character is determined to keep going and refuses to play their games. While the emotions being conveyed are simple, the lyrics are catchy and memorable. The chorus insists that no matter what this person and their friends do, nothing can stop him from leaving and moving on with his life.
Chandler sings that he feels so bad inside due to the treatment he received from the woman he loved. He is heartbroken and feels that he has lost his cool. Despite feeling connected to her before, he's calling it quits because she made him feel like he was two feet tall in front of their friends. He tells us that other men laughed and squalled at his expense, and he's had enough. The chorus repeats that nothing can stop him from leaving and moving on, indicating that he is not going to be played with any longer.
Overall, Chandler's "Nothing Can Stop Me" is a song about perseverance, determination, and resilience even when faced with the most difficult circumstances. The song is a testament to the idea that no matter how bad things may seem, one can always rise above and keep going.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothing can stop me
I am determined to move on regardless of obstacles
So bad, do I feel inside
I feel terrible inside due to the situation with my ex
Get my hat, I'm checkin' out
I am leaving this place and moving on
'Cause you and your friends really hurt my pride
You hurt my ego by making me feel inferior
So unexpected you shot me down
I was not ready for the heartbreak you caused me
With all the fellas standing around yeah
Even though others were present, you still hurt me deeply
'Please don't go', that's what they'll be saying
Others may plead with me to stay, but I am determined to move on
'Please don't go', but I'm not playing
I am serious about leaving and won't change my mind
Though you and I were pretty close
We had a strong connection
I'm calling it quits girl
I am ending the relationship
'Cause it was you I really dug the most
Out of everyone, I had the strongest feelings for you
You made me feel like I was two feet tall
You made me feel inferior and insignificant
While all the others laughed and squalled yeah
Others mocked and made fun of me while you hurt me emotionally
Don't mind me havin' the blues
Don't worry about me feeling sad
You made me lose my cool
You caused me to become upset and lose control
Fellas honestly
My male friends, please listen
You treat me so cold and you're so mean
You have been harsh and unkind toward me lately, which hurts me
(Yeah yeah yeah)
Ad lib vocalization
(Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah)
Ad lib vocalization
(Yeah yeah)
Ad lib vocalization
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANTHONY HESTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SPILL TEA TV
Nothing can stop me
So bad, do I feel inside
Get my hat, I`m checkin` out
`Cause you and your friends really hurt my pride
So unexspected you shot me down
With all the fella`s standing around yeah
`Please don`t go`, that`s what they`ll be saying
`Please don`t go`, But I`m not playing
`Cause nothing can stop me
Nothing can stop me
Though you and I where pretty close
I`m calling it quits girl
`Cause it was you I really dug the most
You made me feel like I was two feet tall
While all the others laughed and squalled yeah
`Please don`t go`, that`s what they`ll be saying
`Please don`t go`, But I`m not playing
`Cause nothing can stop me
Don`t mind me havin` the blues
You made me loose my cool
Fella`s honestly
You treat me so cold and you`re so mean
Nothing can stop me
So bad, do I feel inside
Get my hat, I`m checkin` out
`Cause you and your friends really hurt my pride
So unexspected you shot me down
With all the fella`s standing around yeah
`Please don`t go`, that`s what they`ll be saying
`Please don`t go`, But I`m not playing
`Cause nothing can stop me
Cont0rt
@GhostMiner I feel the same!!!!
$eriosly tho, Little lesson in comment formatting
Italic _ text _
Bold * text *
StrikeThrough- text -And that's all I know. Øř į§ ïţ¿
*Moon men plays*
Captain Keyboard
I heard this song when I was a little "child." I was too young to play my stepmother's 7" records on the stereo console. At that time, the song sounded great. Extending this song for longer listening would be just fine. Those people who dislike this song do not appreciate fine music.
rollerchickable
I LOVE THIS SONG , IT IS ONE OF MY SKATING JAMS, FOR SURE , THANK YOU FOR SHARING.
Lafv
rollerchickable i love how wholesome this comment is compared to all the other comments on the video
gr8cescale
r/oldpeoplefacebook?
James Prevard
His music is old school legendary!
Justin_9001
I love this version as well as ProleteR's remix
Chris Cole
I love this tune, especially after hearing the heavily influenced Curtis Mayfield input.
Joseph Coney
My favorite by Gene Chandler. Has that beach music feel...
Backstreetboy52
If. I had a penny for every time I've heard this on the Soul scene, still sounding amazing. KTF
doright woman
My number one Gene Chandler song! Yes, hold your head up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!