His hit songs include "Never Too Much", "Here and Now", "Any Love", "Power of Love/Love Power", "I Can Make It Better" and "For You to Love". Many of his songs were covers of original music by other artists such as "If This World Were Mine" (duet with Cheryl Lynn), "Since I Lost My Baby", "Superstar" and "Always and Forever". Duets such as "The Closer I Get to You" with Beyoncé, "Endless Love" with Mariah Carey and "The Best Things in Life Are Free" with Janet Jackson were all hit songs in his career.
During his career, Vandross sold over 35 million records worldwide, and received eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four different times. He won a total of four Grammy Awards in 2004 including the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for a song recorded not long before his death, "Dance with My Father".
Possessing a tenor vocal range, Vandross was commonly referred to as "The Velvet Voice" in reference to his exceptional vocal talent, and was sometimes called "The Best Voice of a Generation". He was also regarded as the "Pavarotti of Pop" by many critics.
In 2008, Vandross was ranked No. 54 on Rolling Stone Magazine's List of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Mariah Carey stated several times in interviews that standing next to Vandross while recording their duet "Endless Love" was intimidating.
By popular vote, Vandross was inducted into The SoulMusic Hall of Fame at SoulMusic.com in December 2012.
I Wonder
Luther Vandross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I heard these guys talk about this girl
Hey, who gives them love anytime they want ...huh
Then they said your name and how you carry on
Your chain of fools is so long
I thought our love was still on
And so, oh what a fool I've been
I thought I was your man and oh
[Chorus:]
I wonder who's there loving you
No one does you the way I do
I wonder who ...who's there loving you
And I really wonder who
(It's been so long)
Since you've called me, yeah
(I thought our love was strong)
Just the way a love should be
(And now that you're gone)
I sit here and I wonder
Bridge I:
I've seen so many guys
Take one look into your eyes
And think they're in paradise
There was less than love in the things that woman said
Now, I wonder who put ideas in her head
I'm still in shock 'cause when I went back there again
She'd changed her lock and said, sorry you can't come in
What a fool I've been ...lookout
I thought I was your man and oh ooh
I wonder who's there loving you
No one does you the way I do
I wonder who ...who's there loving you
And I really wonder who
(It's been so long)
Since you've called me, yeah
(I thought our love was strong)
Just the way a love should be
(And now that you've gone)
I sit here and wonder
Bridge II:
I've seen so many guys
Take that look into your eyes
And think they're in paradise
Repeat [Chorus:]
Fade
I don't wanna be in love if you don't love me
And I love you so, I betcha that you don't know
And I wonder who ...
I wonder, I wonder
And I wonder who thatcha got loving you
And I wonder why you're with some other guy
And I wonder who ...
I wonder, I wonder
Don't wanna be a fool for no one, you see
And I want you so, I bet you don't even know
And I wonder who ...
I wonder, I wonder
The song "I Wonder" by Luther Vandross is a heartbreak ballad that tells the story of a man who is still in love with a woman who has moved on to someone else. The song starts with the man overhearing some guys talking about the woman he loves, and how easy it is to get love from her. He wonders if she still thinks about him and loves him the way he does. The chorus is a cry for answers as Luther sings "I wonder who's there loving you / No one does you the way I do / I wonder who... who's there loving you / And I really wonder who." He reminisces about the good times they had together and wonders how things could have gone wrong. In the bridge, he sees other men falling for her and thinks of them as fools who don't know the truth about her.
The second verse of the song describes the woman's betrayal. The man goes back to her place to reconcile, but she has locked him out and changed her locks. He realizes that she was not truthful with him and wonders who influenced her to turn against him. He admits to being a fool for loving her and not seeing her true intentions sooner.
Overall, "I Wonder" is a classic example of a soulful ballad that perfectly captures heartbreak and sadness. Luther Vandross's voice is emotive, and the lyrics are effortless yet powerful. The song is relatable to anyone who has been through a similar experience, and that is why it remains a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
I stood in line at the corner store
I was waiting in line at the corner store
And I heard these guys talk about this girl
I overheard some men talking about a woman
Hey, who gives them love anytime they want ...huh
The men wondered who easily satisfies the woman's love desire
Then they said your name and how you carry on
The men mentioned the woman's name and how she behaves
Your chain of fools is so long
They observed that the woman has a long history of making foolish decisions
I thought our love was still on
He believed that their love was still ongoing
And so, oh what a fool I've been
He realizes that he has been foolish in believing in the love that was not there
I thought I was your man and oh
He believed he had an intimate relationship with the woman
I wonder who's there loving you
He wonders who is loving the woman who he thought loved him
No one does you the way I do
He believes that he loves the woman in a unique way
It's been so long since you've called me, yeah
It has been a long while since the woman last called him
Just the way a love should be
He believed that their love should have been going well
And now that you're gone I sit here and I wonder
Since the woman left him, he sits there and wonders about their relationship
I've seen so many guys take one look into your eyes and think they're in paradise
Many men believe they can be happy merely by looking at the woman
There was less than love in the things that woman said
The woman did not express love in her statements
Now, I wonder who put ideas in her head
He wonders who influenced the woman's thoughts and actions
She'd changed her lock and said, sorry you can't come in
The woman changed the lock to prevent him from entering her space
What a fool I've been ...lookout
He realizes that he has been deceived by the woman
No one does you the way I do
He strongly believes that he loves the woman uniquely
And I really wonder who
He really wonders who the woman's lover is
Don't wanna be a fool for no one, you see
He does not want to be deceived any longer
And I want you so, I bet you don't even know
He intensely desires the woman's love but thinks she is unaware or indifferent
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LUTHER VANDROSS, NATHANIEL EDWIN ADDERLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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I stood in line at the corner store
And I heard these guys talk about this girl
Hey, who gives them love anytime they want ...huh
Then they said your name and how you carry on
Your chain of fools is so long
I thought our love was still on
And so, oh what a fool I've been
I thought I was your man and oh
I wonder who's there loving you
No one does you the way I do
I wonder who ...who's there loving you
And I really wonder who
(It's been so long)
Since you've called me, yeah
(I thought our love was strong)
Just the way a love should be
(And now that you're gone)
I sit here and I wonder
I've seen so many guys
Take one look into your eyes
And think they're in paradise
There was less than love in the things that woman said
Now, I wonder who put ideas in her head
I'm still in shock 'cause when I went back there again
She'd changed her lock and said, sorry you can't come in
What a fool I've been ...lookout
I thought I was your man and oh ooh
I wonder who's there loving you
No one does you the way I do
I wonder who ...who's there loving you
And I really wonder who
(It's been so long)
Since you've called me, yeah
(I thought our love was strong)
Just the way a love should be
(And now that you've gone)
I sit here and wonder
I've seen so many guys
Take that look into your eyes
And think they're in paradise
I wonder who's there loving you
No one does you the way I do
I wonder who ...who's there loving you
And I really wonder who
(It's been so long)
Since you've called me, yeah
(I thought our love was strong)
Just the way a love should be
(And now that you're gone)
I sit here and I wonder
Fade
I don't wanna be in love if you don't love me
And I love you so, I betcha that you don't know
And I wonder who ...
I wonder, I wonder
And I wonder who thatcha got loving you
And I wonder why you're with some other guy
And I wonder who ...
I wonder, I wonder
Don't wanna be a fool for no one, you see
And I want you so, I bet you don't even know
And I wonder who ...
I wonder, I wonder
Tony Powell
Luther and Marcus Miller were brilliant in placing this song as the opening track of this platinum album. Luther can handle funk, dance, and ballads like nobody's business. Classic.
Jay Wad
Dream team: producers Luther + Marcus for this album Any Love (1988) and even before this album there was Busy Body (1983) The Night I Fell In Love (1985) & the very platinum Give Me The Reason (1986) and so on...
Jay Wad
Luther is very unique, even the rhythm and even the musical arrangements of Nat Adderley, Jr. Background, and etc is no comparison when it comes to Vandross' work!
Manny G. Forever
This man has so many timeless hits. I love this song!!
Andile Dlamini
Every now and again I whip out my Luther collection and I always find other Gems that I never paid attention to. Definitely one of my favourite musicians ever
qmitch2
One of my favorite Luther jams, along with "Its Over Now", "The Sweetest One", & "Make Me a Believer".
wandermusic27
I used to kill this back in 1988 on cassette tape! The other song from the "Any Love" album Ioved was " For You To Love"! Glad to see this posted!!
Garvin Wilson
Yassss me to lol.
Glenn Peters
I only have the first 7 of his albums on vinyl,all bought as they came out,I still haven't got them all yet but I intend to get everything !! such a talent & such a legend R.I.P Mr Vandross
Andile Dlamini
Where and how have you managed to get them? I'd like to also get his collection on vinyl.