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.
Searching
Luther Vandross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking 'round for the warmth of the light
There was fog on the road
So I guess no one saw me arriving
I was tired and awake for some time
Then my lights hit a welcoming sign
It said if you're alone
If you want to
Searching, searching
(For so long)
Searching
(Searching)
Searching, searching
(I just wanted to dance)
Searching
Stepped outta the night
It was brighter inside
Someone come and asked me my name
Taken back by surprise
When I saw with my eyes
A girl in a love's disguise
She said stop, stop, stop
Get out your heart
What I've got's hot stuff
The night is ours
Coffee glass that had fell from my hand
Like a child couldn't quite understand
What was I doin' there
Far away from nowhere, on my own
I was tired and awake for some time
Just the light playing tricks with my mind
Was she there in a crowd
Was the music too loud, was I dreaming
Searching, searching
(For so long)
Searching
(I don't want romance
I just want my chance, searching)
Searching, searching
(Yeah)
Searching
Just came by here by chance
Only wanted to dance
No news, no her, no, no, no one
Taken back by surprise
What's in front of my eyes
This girl in a love's disguise
She said stop, stop, stop
Get out your heart
What I've got's hot stuff
The night is ours
Searching, searching
(For so long)
Searching
(For so long)
Searching, searching
Searching
She said stop, stop, stop
Get out your heart
What I've got's hot stuff
The night is ours (baby)
She said stop, stop, stop
The song "Searching" by Luther Vandross tells a story of a man who is wandering aimlessly in the night in search of warmth and light. He stumbles upon a nightclub where he is taken aback by the sight of a girl in a love's disguise who invites him to stop looking and just dance with her. The lyrics evoke a sense of longing and loneliness, with the singer searching for something that he may not even know he needs.
The repeated phrase "searching, searching" emphasizes the singer's persistent desire to find something or someone to fill the void in his life. The girl's invitation to dance represents a temporary escape from the monotony of his daily life, and possibly even an opportunity for him to find love and connection. However, the song ends on an ambiguous note, leaving it up to the listener to determine whether or not the singer finds what he is looking for.
Line by Line Meaning
Hit the town in the cold of the night
I went out in the night, in the cold, to find something or someone to give me warmth and comfort.
Looking 'round for the warmth of the light
I was searching for light, which could mean guidance, warmth, or even companionship.
There was fog on the road
The road was unclear and difficult to navigate.
So I guess no one saw me arriving
I felt invisible and alone, as though no one even noticed me.
I was tired and awake for some time
I was restless, and perhaps had not slept in a while.
Then my lights hit a welcoming sign
Something caught my attention and made me feel welcome and invited.
It said if you're alone
This place could offer me comfort if I was alone.
You can make this your home
I could make this place my own and feel at home here.
If you want to
It was up to me to decide if I wanted to stay and make this place my home.
Searching, searching
I kept searching and looking, hoping to find what I was looking for.
(For so long)
I had been searching for a long time.
Searching
I was still searching and hoping to find my way.
(Searching)
I was searching, and nothing was going to stop me.
I just wanted to dance
All I wanted was to have fun, let loose, and dance.
Stepped outta the night
I emerged from the darkness, both physically and metaphorically.
It was brighter inside
The atmosphere inside was more inviting and comforting than the outside.
Someone come and asked me my name
Someone came up to me and wanted to know more about me.
Taken back by surprise
I was surprised and taken aback by something or someone.
When I saw with my eyes
My own eyes confirmed what I was seeing.
A girl in a love's disguise
I was surprised to see a girl dressed up in a way that signified love or affection.
She said stop, stop, stop
She wanted me to pause and listen, maybe even stop searching.
Get out your heart
She wanted me to open up my heart and let her in.
What I've got's hot stuff
She had something to offer me that was exciting and desirable.
The night is ours
We could share something special together, just for that night.
Coffee glass that had fell from my hand
I dropped my coffee cup, indicating my surprise or shock.
Like a child couldn't quite understand
I felt like a child, unsure and unaware of what was happening around me.
Far away from nowhere, on my own
I felt alone and disconnected, like I was far away from everything and everyone.
Was she there in a crowd
I couldn't find her in the crowd, or perhaps I was wondering if she was even real.
Was the music too loud, was I dreaming
I was questioning my own senses and wondering if I was imagining things.
(I don't want romance
I wasn't looking for a romantic relationship.
I just want my chance, searching)
I was just searching for something that could offer me a chance to have fun and enjoy myself.
(Yeah)
An expression of excitement.
Just came by here by chance
I stumbled upon this place by accident, without any particular intention or plan.
Only wanted to dance
I was solely interested in having a good time and dancing.
No news, no her, no, no, no one
I was free from my usual troubles and worries, including any thoughts of a specific person.
She said stop, stop, stop
She paused me again, wanting me to focus on her.
The night is ours (baby)
We could share the night together in a meaningful way, something intimate and special.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL ADRIAN SLADE, MAURO MALAVASI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@breakevenbernie8543
Still great
Whos watching 2024 pls
@madeline824
I was at this concert, aged 16. By pure chance we had seats at the front - absolutely spectacular!
@MrLisaFischer
Wow you are lucky
@juliewebb8976
Amazing concert I was there to,miss him so much one of a kind 😢
@lamontgardner5120
This is one of the best comments ever on YouTube! Im so jealous! Lol!
@nicolemonrue
My mother LOVED Luther Vandross and Marvin Gaye. And i know his music because of her
@conshygirl592
We don't search for old songs, we search for old memories❤
@evangelistkennyhamptonjr
The Goat And His Background Singers Are The Best
@terrymellan9469
the chemistry between Luther and Lisa is so clear to see
@benjaminirizarry2531
We lost him way too soon. No one today comes close to what Luther gave us. Thankfully, we have his music to keep his memory alive.