Hyman began singing professionally in 1971 as part of the group The New Direction. She was also a member of Miami groups All The People and The Hondo Beat before forming Phyllis Hyman & the P/H Factor in 1974 and touring for two years before relocating to New York.
She became a featured vocalist on Norman Connors' album, You Are My Starship (1976) performing "Betcha By Golly Wow" and the duet "We Both Need Each Other" with Michael Henderson.
Hyman released her debut album on Buddah Records with Phyllis Hyman (1977), followed by Sing a Song (1979). After the second album, she signed with Arista, delivering: Somewhere in My Lifetime (1979); You Know How to Love Me (1979); Can't We Fall in Love Again (1981); and Goddess of Love (1983). She then joined Gamble & Huff at Philadelphia International for Living All Alone (1987); Prime of My Life (1991); and I Refuse to Be Lonely (1995), which was released posthumously.
Hyman's first solo Top Ten hit came in 1981 with "Can't We Fall In Love Again", a duet with Michael Henderson. The song was recorded while she was performing in the Broadway musical Sophisticated Ladies (1981), a tribute to Duke Ellington. She performed in the role for almost two years, receiving a Theatre World Award for Best Newcomer and a Tony Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. In 1992 she was voted 'Number One Best Female Vocalist' in the United Kingdom by Blues & Soul magazine readers. She has also been honored with a bronze plaque along the Philadelphia Walk of Fame, a tribute to the city's native and immigrant musical legends.
In addition to duets with Henderson, Hyman lent vocals to projects with Grover Washington Jr., Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner, Joe Sample, Lonnie Liston Smith, Jon Lucien, The Fatback Band, Chuck Mangione, The Whispers and The Four Tops. Some of these collaborations appear on One on One (1998).
She can be heard in movie soundtracks: for Too Scared to Scream ("I'll Be There"); The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh ("Magic Mona"); and School Daze ("Be One"). The latter two titles are included on In Between the Heartaches (2004), a compilation that also contains guest appearances and previously unreleased material.
On the afternoon of June 30, 1995, Hyman committed suicide, leaving a note to her fans, family and friends that read in part: "I'm tired. I'm tired. Those of you that I love know who you are. May God bless you." She was buried on what would have been her 46th birthday. For her stage presence and fashion sense, Hyman was often known as "The Sophisticated Lady".
At the coda of a particularly pretty and memorable tune from McCoy Tyner's "Looking Out" called "In Search of My Heart", Phyllis soulfully sings "Remember me!"
You Sure Look Good
Phyllis Hyman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As you light that cigarette
Watchin' you move in closer
This could be a night I might regret
I'm keepin' my options open
'Cause now we're dancin' slow
And deep inside there's a voice
But you sure look good to me tonight
It feels so good to me, so right
I can't take my eyes away from your little boy smile
You look so good to me, I'm gonna stay awhile
There's a chain reaction
When you put your hand on mine
Needles and pins I'm feelin'
Could it be the music or the wine
Makin' me feel so crazy
When you whisper in my ear
'Bout all the love we could make
I should be gettin' out of here
But you sure look good to me tonight
It feels so good to me, so right
I can't take my eyes away from your little boy smile
You look so good to me, I'm gonna stay awhile
You look good to me tonight
It feels so good to me, so right
Can't take my eyes away from your little boy smile
You look so good to me, I'm gonna stay awhile
You look good to me tonight
It feels so good to me, so right
Can't take my eyes away from your little boy smile
You look so good to me, I'm gonna stay awhile
You look good to me tonight
It feels so good to me, so right
Can't take my eyes away from your little boy smile
You look so good to me, I'm gonna stay awhile
In "You Sure Look Good," Phyllis Hyman describes a situation where she is torn between her desire to stay and the internal warning telling her to leave. She is in potential danger with a man who is smoking, and she is afraid that she might regret what might happen, but she cannot resist the allure of the moment. The singer keeps her options open because deep, she hears the voice within her that tells her to leave, but she still continues with the seduction of the moment. She recognizes the danger inherent in staying with this man, especially when he whispers enticing things into her ear about making love, but she still is hesitant to leave because he looks so good. The singer is decided to enjoy the heat of the moment, be swept away by the little "boy smile" of her partner, and to stay awhile with him.
Throughout the song, Phyllis Hyman engages in a debate with herself. She acknowledges the danger and possible consequences of the moment, but she is tempted to stay with this man who looks so good, and the danger of the moment keeps building up. It's a reflection of the constant struggle between the head and heart in people, where one understands a situation's dangers in their head but lets their emotions guide their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
I can feel the danger
I sense that this situation might not end well.
As you light that cigarette
Your actions seem reckless and impulsive.
Watchin' you move in closer
You're making me feel uneasy with your proximity.
This could be a night I might regret
I'm worried that I might make a decision I'll regret later.
I'm keepin' my options open
I'm not committing to anything just yet.
'Cause now we're dancin' slow
We're physically intimate, which makes me vulnerable.
And deep inside there's a voice
My intuition is telling me that something's not right.
Tellin' me I better go
I should leave before things get out of hand.
But you sure look good to me tonight
Despite all my reservations, I find you physically attractive.
It feels so good to me, so right
I'm tempted to throw caution to the wind and indulge in this moment.
I can't take my eyes away from your little boy smile
Your charming and innocent smile is captivating me.
You look so good to me, I'm gonna stay awhile
I'm tempted to stay in this situation, even though I know it might not be wise.
There's a chain reaction
Your touch is having a powerful effect on me.
When you put your hand on mine
Your touch is intimate and makes me feel vulnerable.
Needles and pins I'm feelin'
My emotions are heightened and I'm on edge.
Could it be the music or the wine
I'm trying to find an external reason for my intense feelings.
Makin' me feel so crazy
I feel like I'm losing control of my emotions and my sanity.
When you whisper in my ear
Your words and actions are intimate and seductive.
'Bout all the love we could make
You're enticing me with promises of physical pleasure.
I should be gettin' out of here
Deep down, I know I should leave this situation.
But you sure look good to me tonight
Despite my better judgment, I find you irresistible.
It feels so good to me, so right
I'm willing to take a risk for the possibility of pleasure.
Can't take my eyes away from your little boy smile
Your innocent and charming smile is captivating me.
You look so good to me, I'm gonna stay awhile
I'm willing to ignore my reservations and stay in this situation.
You look good to me tonight
Once again, I'm acknowledging your physical attractiveness.
It feels so good to me, so right
I'm still tempted by the possibility of physical pleasure.
Can't take my eyes away from your little boy smile
Your endearing smile is still captivating me.
You look so good to me, I'm gonna stay awhile
Despite my better judgment, I'm still tempted to stay in this situation.
You look good to me tonight
My physical attraction to you hasn't subsided.
It feels so good to me, so right
I'm still considering indulging in this situation.
Can't take my eyes away from your little boy smile
Your endearing smile is still having a powerful effect on me.
You look so good to me, I'm gonna stay awhile
Despite my better judgment, I'm still tempted to stay in this situation.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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