Early Work
In the mid-1970s he was a sideman in Barry White's "Love Unlimited Orchestra", before creating Raydio, an R&B group, in 1977, with Vincent Bohnam, Jerry Knight, and Arnell Carmichael. Parker appeared briefly in the 1974 film "Uptown Saturday Night" as a guitar player. Parker also wrote songs and did session work for The Carpenters, Rufus and Chaka Khan,Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Leon Haywood, Temptations, The Spinners, Boz Scaggs, Rhythm Heritage, and Gladys Knight and the Pips.
Raydio
The group scored their first big hit, with Arista Records, "Jack and Jill" off of their self-titled album in 1978. The song was # 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, earning a Gold record in the process.
Their successful follow-up hit, "You Can't Change That" was released in 1979, off of the Rock On album. The song was a Top 10 hit, making it up to # 9 on the Billboard charts during the same year it was released.
In 1980, the group became known as Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio, and the group released two more albums: Two Places at the Same Time in 1980 and A Woman Needs Love in 1981.
During the eighties Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio had two Top 40 hits ("Two Places at the Same Time" - # 40 in 1980 and "That Old Song" - # 21 in 1981) and their last and biggest hit "A Woman Needs Love," released in 1981, went to # 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts, and # 1 on the R&B Charts for two weeks in 1981.
The Solo Years and Ghostbusters
Raydio broke up in 1981, while Ray Parker Jr. continued with his solo career, scoring six Top 40 hits, including the hit single "The Other Woman" (Pop # 4) in 1982 and "Ghostbusters" in 1984.
Parker was one the first black artists to venture into the then-fledgling world of music videos. He actually made two different videos for his hit "The Other Woman". The first was Halloween-themed and centered around a haunted castle with dancing corpses and vampires. The second was more performance-oriented, with Parker performing the song against a outer space background with backup singers. MTV initially refused to air either video because, at the time, no videos for black artists were shown and, in the case of the "haunted castle" video, Parker was depicted as having interracial relationships, which MTV didn't want to promote.
"Ghostbusters" was a title track of the Gold-selling soundtrack of the hit movie Ghostbusters (but the song has now sold upwards of 28 million units internationally according to Parker in 2007)[citation needed], starring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. The single was at #1 for three weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, and at #1 for two weeks on its Black Singles chart. The song was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1984 but lost to Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You" from The Woman in Red.
He also made an acting appearance on the 1980s sitcom Gimme a Break starring Nell Carter.
Controversy surrounding Ghostbusters
Parker was accused of plagiarizing the melody from Huey Lewis & the News song "I Want a New Drug" for his 1984 #1 hit theme to Ghostbusters, released only six months after Lewis' hit reached #6 in the Billboard Hot 100. This ended with Lewis suing Parker, and the pair settled out of court in 1995.
They returned to court once again in 2001, as Parker sued Lewis for breaching a confidentiality agreement forming part of their original out of court settlement which prohibited either side from speaking about it publicly. Lewis had revealed in a VH1 Behind The Music special that Parker had paid a financial settlement as part of the original agreement.
Continued Songwriting
Ray Parker Jr. also wrote and produced hits for New Edition ("Mr. Telephone Man"), Randy Hall, Cheryl Lynn ("Shake It Up Tonight"), Deniece Williams ("I Found Love") and Diana Ross. He also performed guitar on several songs on La Toya Jackson's 1980 debut album.
Raydio Discography
* Raydio (1978) #27 US
* Rock On (1979) #45 US
* Two Places at the Same Time (1980) #33 US
* A Woman Needs Love (1981) #13 US
* Greatest Hits (1982)
Ray Parker Jr. Discography
* The Other Woman (1982) #11 US
* Woman Out of Control (1983) #45 US
* Ghostbusters (Soundtrack) (1984) #6 US
* Chartbusters (1984) #60 US
* Sex and The Single Man (1985) #65 US
* After Dark (1987) #86 US
* I Love You Like You Are (1991)
* I'm Free (2006)
I Still Can
Ray Parker Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cause I still cant get over lovin' you
I've had a time when I cant you off my mind
No, I still cant get over lovin' you
Every time I run into your friends
I just have to ask them with who and where you've been
And when they tell me what I really didn't want to know
When I hear your name, I get going insane
Cause I still cant get over lovin' you
I cant turn you loose, though I know its self-abuse
I still cant get over lovin' you
Now Ive tried to get involved with someone new
But its just no use, cause I expect them to be like you, baby
I don't know what I'm gonna do
Cause every girl I date resembles you
Oh, help me, baby, I'm goin' crazy
I still cant get over lovin' you
No, oh, its tearin' my heart apart
Cause I still cant get over lovin' you
Girl, I'm so sad and it hurts me so bad
Knowin' you're with someone else (someone else), oh
Though I have no right to be, I'm filled with jealousy
Cause I want you for myself
And I'm not blamin' you, naw, baby
Its not your fault if you feel the way I do
And even though I wish that you'd still love me
It still wont change the way I feel for you
Girl, I cant forget cause its not over yet
I still cant get over lovin' you
Every breath you take, Ill be watchin' you, girl
Cause I still cant get over lovin' you, mmm
Theres no way that this thing is through, no
(I still cant get over) Not yet, I ain't through lovin' you
I'm gettin' mad (Lovin' you), girl, don't you ever try to leave, no, no
(I still cant get over) It'll be the last thing you'll ever do, oh
(Lovin' you)
(I still cant get over lovin you)
(Lovin' you)
[I still cant get over lovin' you)
(Lovin' you)
The lyrics to "I Still Can't Get Over Loving You" by Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio depict a person who is struggling to move on from a past relationship. The singer is filled with confusion and heartache because they are still in love with their ex-partner. Despite trying to get involved with other people, they constantly compare them to their ex and can't seem to shake their feelings. Even when they hear about their ex's current relationships, the singer can't help but feel jealous and want them back. The chorus repeats "I still can't get over loving you" emphasizing the singer's inability to let go.
The melancholic tone of the lyrics is communicated through the repetition of the phrase "I still can't get over loving you." The repetition of this line in the chorus reinforces the idea that the singer is unable to move forward from their past relationship. The line "Every breath you take, I'll be watching you, girl" shows a willingness to hold onto the past but also a sense of desperation and potential unhealthy attachment.
Overall, the song portrays the pain and difficulty of moving on from a past relationship, and how a person's emotions can be difficult to control. The lyrics are relatable to anyone who has experienced heartbreak and struggles with feeling stuck in a past relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm all confused and I don't know what to do
I'm feeling lost and don't know how to deal with my emotions
Cause I still cant get over lovin' you
Because I haven't been able to move on from my love for you
I've had a time when I cant you off my mind
There have been moments where I can't stop thinking about you
No, I still cant get over lovin' you
Despite my efforts, I still can't let go of my love for you
Every time I run into your friends
Whenever I see people you hang out with
I just have to ask them with who and where you've been
I can't help but inquire about your recent activities and companions
And when they tell me what I really didn't want to know
If they reveal things about you that hurt me, which I'd rather not hear
It only breaks my heart, it makes me want you more
It tears me apart and fuels my desire for you
When I hear your name, I get going insane
I start to lose my mind when I hear your name
I cant turn you loose, though I know its self-abuse
I can't bring myself to let you go even though it only causes me pain
Now Ive tried to get involved with someone new
I attempted to start a new relationship
But its just no use, cause I expect them to be like you, baby
It's hopeless because I compare everyone I meet to you and they never measure up
I don't know what I'm gonna do
I'm at a loss for what to do
Cause every girl I date resembles you
Every woman I date reminds me of you
Oh, help me, baby, I'm goin' crazy
I desperately need your help because I'm losing my mind
No, oh, its tearin' my heart apart
It's destroying me emotionally
Girl, I'm so sad and it hurts me so bad
I'm extremely sad and it's painful for me
Knowin' you're with someone else (someone else), oh
Because I'm aware you're with someone else
Though I have no right to be, I'm filled with jealousy
Even though I have no claim to you, I'm consumed by jealousy
Cause I want you for myself
Because I want to be with you
And I'm not blamin' you, naw, baby
I'm not holding you responsible, darling
Its not your fault if you feel the way I do
It's not your fault if you don't return my feelings
And even though I wish that you'd still love me
Although I want you to still love me
It still wont change the way I feel for you
It won't alter my love for you
Girl, I cant forget cause its not over yet
I can't forget about you because I still hope there's a chance for us
Every breath you take, Ill be watchin' you, girl
I'll keep an eye on your every move
Theres no way that this thing is through, no
I'm convinced that our relationship isn't completely over
Not yet, I ain't through lovin' you
I still haven't finished loving you
I'm gettin' mad (Lovin' you), girl, don't you ever try to leave, no, no
I'm getting angry and you better not try to walk away from me
It'll be the last thing you'll ever do, oh
It will be the final decision you make that ends our relationship
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, RAY PARKER JR DBA RAYDIOLA MUSIC
Written by: TYRONE CRUM, KEITH D. HARRISON, ROBERT JR. NEAL, ROGER PARKER, RALPH E. AIKENS, CLARENCE SATCHELL, CHRIS STOKES, SEAN MATHER, JUANITA CARTER, KELLY BALL, JAMES HARRIS, TERRY LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jenniferr9519
This song is so interesting. He begins very forthright, saying how much he misses her. He admits it's not her fault if she doesn't love him anymore. He admits to feeling jealous. He says he asks his friends with whom and where she's been, so he's not completely stalking her at that point. But as he goes on, and discusses how much being without her is tearing him apart, it seems the end is a culmination of heartbreak, self-abuse, and obsession. What an incredible talent Ray is. Definitely underrated.
@kelvinbryant7602
A very underatted song .One of my favorites.This song reminds of what I'm goin thru right now
@Eagles0690
You got all that from the song? That’s why this country is falling apart! Just enjoy the fucking music 😅😂
@freedom4mealways
Forty years later after this song/video hit the charts, pop lovers still can't get over loving Ray Parker's music. Truly a gifted entertainer!
@therealbigpeevpeavy8463
I don't think back in 1983 people realized that this song is really the stalker's anthem!!😋😋😋I'm a HUGE Ray Parker Jr. fan from way back when and love this song, but hearing it as a 16yr old back in 1983 vs. a grown man now....it hits so different!!! LOL!!! Still love it though!!
@t-bo2734
That only becomes clear late in the song.
@jamesward6935
RPJ even appropriated the title and the most-repeated line of the biggest hit of 1983. Of course, the sordid lines of that song went directly over most people's heads...
@courylanders4142
@@jamesward6935 Excatly!! He got the song from Every breath you take by the Police. And the ending lyrics are scary af!
@rodmoore1577
Lenny Williams "Cause I love you " has stalker all over it! I thought it was creepy the first time I heard it.
@spiraljoe1273
At 53 today, this is STILL in my ALL TIME TOP 10 FAVORITE singles - there is something about this song - the tempo, the vocal, the meaning, the simplicity yet elegance of the composition. or maybe just cus it was the 80's and soundtrack of my life, the fact that he is the first African-American man I had the hots for - whatever the reason, I just totally love it as much today as I did then.
Oh and talk about memories: The day this 45 vinyl finally hit the shelves at Camelot Music, I was 16 and just got my driver license and on my dinner break at my first job ever, I drove to the mall IN SNOW FOR MY FIRST TIME EVER because I had to buy this record.