The label's second most-successful all-female singing group after The Supremes, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas were known for a churchier, more southern-styled soul than the Supremes, as typified in Motown hits such as "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave", "Jimmy Mack", "I'm Ready For Love", "My Baby Loves Me", "Nowhere to Run", and, their signature song, "Dancing in the Street".
The group had its origins in Detroit, Michigan in 1957, and had initially gone by the name The Del-Phis. It originally was a quartet comprising childhood friends Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford, Annette Beard, and original lead singer Gloria Williams. Williams left after a failed single on the Checkmate label, leaving the quartet as a trio. They changed their name to The Vells signing a deal with Motown's Mel-o-dy label, and singing background for established Motown performers such as Mary Wells and Marvin Gaye before signing a new deal with Motown's Gordy label on September 21, 1962, after which the group changed its name to Martha and the Vandellas.
In 1964, the Vandellas' lineup changed with Betty Kelley replacing Sterling. In 1967, Kelley was fired and was replaced by Martha's younger sister, Sandra "Lois" Reeves. In 1969, Ashford was also fired and replaced by Sandra Tilley. The lineup of the Reeves sisters and Tilley continued after Martha's return from an institution after suffering a nervous breakdown. The group disbanded following a farewell concert, held at Detroit's Cobo Hall on December 21, 1972., however, Reeves still performs with sister Lois and another Reeves sister, Delphine.
Heat Wave
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something inside (inside)
Stars to burnin' (ooh)
And I'm filled with desire
Could it be a devil in me
Or is this the way love's supposed to be?
It's like a heat wave
Burnin' in my heart (like a heat wave)
I can't keep from cryin' (like a heat wave)
It's tearin' me apart
Whenever he calls my name
Soft, low, sweet and plain,
I feel, yeah, well,
I feel that burnin' flame
Has high blood pressure got a hold on me
Or is this the way love's supposed to be?
It's like a heat wave
Burnin' in my heart (like a heat wave)
I can't keep from cryin' (like a heat wave)
It's tearin' me apart
(Ooooh, oooh, heat wave)
(Ooooh, oooh, heat wave)
Sometimes I stare in space,
Tears all over my face
I can't explain it, don't understand it
I ain't never felt like this before
I don't know what to do, my head's in a haze
It's like a heat wave
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
(Well, it's alright, girl)
Whoa-ho yeah
(Go ahead, girl)
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
(Well, it's alright, girl)
Ho yeah
(Ain't nothin' but love, girl)
Don't pass up this chance
It sounds like true romance
Don't you know it's like a heat wave?
Burnin' burnin'
Burnin' burnin' burnin'
Burnin' burnin' burnin'
Burnin' burnin' burnin'
(repeat and fade out)
"Heat Wave" is a song about the rush and passion of falling in love. The singer realizes that whenever she is near her lover, "something inside starts to burnin'" and she is filled with desire. She can't keep from crying because the overwhelming feeling is "tearin' me apart." She wonders if this intense desire is normal, or if something demonic has hold of her. She longs for her lover to call her name softly and sweetly so that she can feel the "burnin' flame" of love. She can't explain her intense emotions, and it makes her feel as if "my head's in a haze."
The song uses the metaphor of a heat wave to describe the intensity and passion of love. The singer feels as if her heart is on fire whenever she is with her lover. She wonders if this is how love is supposed to feel or if there is something more to it. The song captures the feeling of being in the throes of love, with all the confusion and chaos that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Whenever I'm with him (ooh),
Every time I'm with him,
Something inside (inside)
My emotions,
Stars to burnin' (ooh)
Become intense,
And I'm filled with desire
And I feel a strong need for him.
Could it be a devil in me
I wonder if there's something wrong with me,
Or is this the way love's supposed to be?
Or if this is how love is meant to be felt and experienced.
It's like a heat wave
My feelings are as strong and powerful as a heat wave,
Burnin' in my heart (like a heat wave)
Burning up in my heart,
I can't keep from cryin' (like a heat wave)
Making me so overwhelmed and emotional that I can't stop crying,
It's tearin' me apart
Enough to break my heart.
Whenever he calls my name
Every time he calls out to me,
Soft, low, sweet and plain,
In his sweet, low voice,
I feel, yeah, well,
It makes me feel,
I feel that burnin' flame
The same intense passion and desire for him.
Has high blood pressure got a hold on me
I wonder if my high blood pressure is causing this,
Or is this the way love's supposed to be?
Or if this is just how love is supposed to feel like.
Ooooh, oooh, heat wave
Oh, a strong feeling of heat and passion,
Sometimes I stare in space,
Often I just space out and stare blankly,
Tears all over my face
Tears streaming down my face
I can't explain it, don't understand it
I can't make sense of this overwhelming feeling,
I ain't never felt like this before
I've never felt anything like this ever before.
Now that funny feelin' has me amazed
Now this funny feeling just confuses me,
I don't know what to do, my head's in a haze
I don't know how to react, I'm in a state of confusion.
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yes, that's how it is,
(Well, it's alright, girl)
It's all okay,
Whoa-ho yeah
Wow, it is just so intense,
(Go ahead, girl)
Just let yourself go, girl,
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yes, that's how passionate it feels,
(Well, it's alright, girl)
It's all good, girl,
Ho yeah
Yes, it's very overwhelming,
(Ain't nothin' but love, girl)
It's just pure love, girl.
Don't pass up this chance
Don't let this moment slip away,
It sounds like true romance
It's what true romance feels like.
Don't you know it's like a heat wave?
Yeah, it's like an intense wave of passion.
Burnin' burnin'
Burning, burning,
Burnin' burnin' burnin'
Burning, burning, burning,
repeat and fade out
The intensity of my emotions keeps building up until it ends.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Levine, James Valentine, Jesse Royal Carmichael, Mickey Madden, Ryan Michael Dusick
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@no7734
Music so moving can change your entire perspective of things, like this song.
The memory still burns into my mind to this day.
I went to a simple dance party alone with lots of students, the purpose of me attending this school party was to meet a guy there, I guess you can say my platonic "date", we weren't together, I only knew this man for a few months. I remember wearing just a simple white dress and had my hair in big curls that landed down to my shoulders and wearing only one coat of mascara. I was waiting by the DJ and he decided to play some oldies. People were dancing and everyone was having a good time.
This song played as my "date" entered the school gym, I never noticed how handsome he was until that night. He was wearing a black biker jacket and levis jeans, his jawline was sharp and his cheeks were deeper than how I would usually see them. He had his hair slicked back and his bright smile lit the room with a dash of confidence in his step.
My heart JUMPED the moment Martha Reeves powerfully sang that first verse, he was greeting other people with that gorgeous smile while he was walking in... Then I realized as he was glancing left and right with those beautiful hazel eyes, he was trying to look for me.
My casual behavior disappeared, I was a nervous wreck. He was walking closer to my direction and I quickly ran into the bathroom across the gym with my face burning and my hands sweating. Looking at my reflection my arms and face were completely red. After I freshened up, I couldn't even speak right. I stepped out of the restroom and I immediately found him walking around and I just stood there mesmerized by his presence and looking at him for I don't know how long. When he finally saw me, I couldn't stop trembling. He licked his lips and smiled as he was cutting through the crowd not leaving his eyes from mine.
However in the end, we didn't end up together, I lost touch with him. But every time I listen to this song I think of that unforgettable night. Music is supposed to move you at a time of crisis or bliss. That is when you know the music is raw and real when it touches the right spot in your soul.
@ABritInThePhilippines
This is totally awesome...
@drivinsouth651
They are the hottest girls in rock and Motown and they are the heatwave! Absolutely, fabulous! Mucho Caliente! Thanks for posting!
@billytaylor8154
They be jumping.
@user-gj7tc6gt2p
Thanks for using the word "awesome". I feel it's not used enough these days...
@nativegemini81
Same here!
@anapittre9147
@@drivinsouth651
@sammiddleton6619
This is one of the songs that will still be talked about in 100 years time, absolutely timeless.
@purpledragon115
It isn't even talked about today
@ElronHumpperdink
NoMercy edgy response
@richardpetrey1400
Amen!!!! They don’t make them like this anymore!!!!!!!!!!