With a contract to Mercury Records (1975), McEntire began her professional career singing heavily pop-influenced ballads, a far cry from the neotraditionalist movement she would help lead a few years later.
"I Don't Want To Be A One Night Stand" became her first charting single in 1976. Her first Top 10 hit "(You Lift Me) Up to Heaven" followed four years later, and in 1982 she scored her first #1 hit with "Can't Even Get The Blues."
Frustrated at her limited commercial success, McEntire left Mercury and signed with MCA Records in 1984. 1984's "Just A Little Love" wasn't much different form her Mercury material and was only moderately successful. However, another album followed later that same year, titled "My Kind of Country." This was a return-to-roots record, complete with fiddles and steel. It was comprised largely of covers of classic country songs, as well as original songs such as "How Blue" and the Harlan Howard-penned "Somebody Should Leave", both of which reached #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
In the early 1990s McEntire expanded her audience by adopting a softer, more pop-oriented sound. She became one of the best-selling country artists of all time, releasing three volumes of greatest hits collections.
Since that first #1 hit in 1982, she's forked out 21 more chartbusters, which are all recapped on "Reba #1s" released on November 22nd, 2005. The 2-disc compilation features all 22 number one singles (according to Billboard magazine) in chronological order, including two new tracks "You're Gonna Be" and "Love Needs A Holiday." "Reba #1s" also contains 11 singles that reached the #1 spot in publications other than Billboard.
She won the Female Vocalist of the Year award from the Country Music Association four times in a row (a record she holds with Martina McBride), and had dozens of Top Ten hits during the 80s. For her contribution to the recording industry, Reba McEntire has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Blvd. In 1995, she was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
She is one of only six solo women (others include Shania Twain, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Taylor Swift), to win the Country Music Association's highest honor, "Entertainer Of The Year". McEntire continued to hit the charts through the 2000s, as well as appearing in television and film, most notably Tremors, a cult horror movie series, Forever Love, and One Night at McCool's. She also starred as Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun on Broadway, receiving critical acclaim.
From 2001 to 2007, Reba starred in the hit WB television show, Reba (with Texan actor Christopher Rich as her philandering ex-husband), even getting a visit from fellow country star Dolly Parton who played Reba's character's supervisor at a real estate firm.
Islands In the Stream
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I set out to get you with a fine tooth comb
I was soft inside
There was something going on
You do something to me that I can't explain
Hold me closer and I feel no pain
Every beat of my heart
We got something going on
It requires a dedication
All this love we feel needs no conversation
We can ride it together,
Making love with each other
Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between
How can we be wrong
Sail away with me
To another world
And we rely on each other, ah ha
From one lover to another, ah ha
I can't live without you if the love was gone
Everything is nothing when you got no one
And you walk in the night
Slowly losing sight of the real thing
But that wont happen to us and we got no doubt
Too deep in love and we got no way out
And the message is clear
This could be the year for the real thing
No more will you cry
Baby I will hurt you never
We start and end as one
In love forever
We can ride it together,
Making love with each other,
Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between
How can we be wrong
Sail away with me
To another world
And we rely on each other,
From one lover to another
The lyrics to Reba McEntire's song "Islands in the Stream" speak of a deep and enduring love between two individuals. The song begins with the singer reflecting on how they found peace and a sense of completeness when they met their partner. They express their dedication and determination to be with this person, feeling a strong connection that they can't quite put into words.
The chorus emphasizes the strength of their love, comparing it to islands in the stream, symbolizing their isolation from the rest of the world. They believe that nothing can come between them and that their love is unquestionable. They invite their partner to join them in a journey to a different world, relying on each other for support and companionship.
The second verse suggests that the singer cannot imagine their life without their partner and how everything would become meaningless without that love. They acknowledge that the world can be overwhelming and confusing, but they are confident that their love will endure. The lyrics convey a message of unwavering commitment, assuring their partner that they will never intentionally hurt them and that they are in this together for a lifetime.
Overall, the song portrays a deep and passionate love between two individuals who have found solace and belonging in each other's arms. It emphasizes the strength of their connection and their reliance on one another, not just as lovers but as partners in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby when I met you there was peace unknown
When I first met you, I experienced a sense of tranquility that I had never known before.
I set out to get you with a fine tooth comb
I made a thorough effort to pursue you and examine every detail of your being.
I was soft inside
Emotionally, I was vulnerable and susceptible to the influence of love.
There was something going on
There was an undeniable connection or attraction between us.
You do something to me that I can't explain
Your actions or presence have a profound impact on me that I struggle to put into words.
Hold me closer and I feel no pain
When you hold me tightly, any pain or negativity fades away and I am comforted.
Every beat of my heart
With every heartbeat, my love for you grows stronger.
We got something going on
We have a deep and meaningful connection, something special between us.
Tender love is blind
Gentle, affectionate love is oblivious to any flaws or imperfections.
It requires a dedication
Maintaining this kind of love requires commitment and loyalty.
All this love we feel needs no conversation
The love we share speaks for itself, and words are not necessary to express it.
We can ride it together,
We can navigate through life's ups and downs as a team, supporting each other.
Making love with each other
Not only physically intimate, but also creating a deep emotional connection.
Islands in the stream
Our love is like isolated havens amidst the chaos of the world.
That is what we are
We define ourselves as these secluded and harmonious places of love.
No one in between
There is no one who can come between us and our love.
How can we be wrong
With such a strong and genuine love, it is impossible for us to be mistaken.
Sail away with me
Join me in embarking on an adventure and leaving the troubles behind.
To another world
Let us escape to a realm where our love can flourish without hindrance.
And we rely on each other, ah ha
We depend on one another, trusting and supporting each other unconditionally.
From one lover to another, ah ha
Our love transcends time and connects us intimately as one.
I can't live without you if the love was gone
If our love were to disappear, I would be unable to continue living without you.
Everything is nothing when you got no one
Without having someone by your side, everything loses its value and becomes meaningless.
And you walk in the night
As you traverse the darkness of life's challenges alone.
Slowly losing sight of the real thing
Gradually becoming blind to the true essence of love and its importance.
But that won't happen to us and we got no doubt
We are confident that we will never lose sight of the genuine love we share.
Too deep in love and we got no way out
Our love is so profound that there is no escape, nor do we desire one.
And the message is clear
The communication between us is transparent and unmistakable.
This could be the year for the real thing
This could be the time when we finally experience true and lasting love.
No more will you cry
I promise you, there will be no more tears of sadness or pain.
Baby I will hurt you never
I will never intentionally cause you any harm or hurt you emotionally.
We start and end as one
Our journey of love begins and concludes as a unified entity.
In love forever
Our love is eternal, enduring beyond the boundaries of time.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Maurice Ernest Gibb, Robin Hugh Gibb, Barry Alan Gibb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@clivesmith9377
"Islands In The Stream"
- Barry Manilow (Ft Reba McEntire), 2008.
Baby, when I met you There was peace unknown
I set out to get you With a fine tooth comb
I was soft inside There was something going on
You do something to me That I can't explain
Hold me closer and I feel no pain
Every beat of my heart We got something going on
Tender love is blind It requires a dedication
All this love we feel Needs no conversation
We can ride it together, ah-ha
Making love with each other, ah-ha
Islands in the stream That is what we are
No one in between How can we be wrong
Sail away with me To another world
And we rely on each other, ah-ha
From one lover to another, ah-ha
I can't live without you If the love was gone
Everything is nothing If you got no one
And you did walk in the night
Slowly losing sight of the real thing
But that won't happen to us And we got no doubt
Too deep in love and we got no way out
And the message is clear
This could be the year for the real thing
No more will you cry Baby, I will hurt you never
We start and end as one In love forever
We can ride it together, ah-ha
Making love with each other, ah-ha
Islands in the stream That is what we are
No one in between How can we be wrong
Sail away with me To another world
And we rely on each other, ah-ha
From one lover to another, ah-ha
Sail away
Ooooh, come sail away with me
Islands in the stream That is what we are
No one in between How can we be wrong
Sail away with me To another world
And we rely on each other, ah-ha
From one lover to another, ah-ha
Islands in the stream That is what we are
No one in between How can we be wrong
Sail away with me To another world
And we rely on each other, ah-ha
From one lover to another, ah-ha
@sylviamelvin9047
Barry is saved because of my prayers!!!đđđ
@alexsuszko
This is better than the original. What's with all the hate on Barry Manilow? If you don't like him, don't listen to his cover! I personally think that this version brings out the meaning of the song. No longer is it just words, but Barry and Reba have given it a meaning.Â
@kendraskeens9562
YES! this is my all time favorite duet she has ever done! it is SO much better than the original
@Judyp77
And when the plane crashed and most of Reba's band was killed, Dolly loaned Reba her own band until she could recover. Fantastic ladies these two are.
@jacquelinehunter7483
I'm a Bee Gees girl, but I like Barry and Reba, good for them giving it a go. I like that they did their own spin on it, But I still have to go with the Writer, the "Original- Barry" with Maurice and Robin. This is good too, I give them an A for effort. Just my opinion, we all have our own favorites. â€â€
@123456789jklmn
Both great artists.....each have their unique styles. Love Barry Manilow...I enjoy this version a lot. Thanks for sharing....
@debfan74
I loved this before they sang!! Barry and Reba both are legends in their fields and the way they did this song is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!
@Longbranchred1
OMG first time I have heard this! Now I will always think that Kenny and Dolly were the best at this, but this is awesome! REBA and Barry do a grand job here. Reba is my favorite singer/entertainer of all time. Thanks for this! They do their own version of this.....Can't get enough of this!!!!!!!!!!!!
@anetpepel23
BARRY YOUR THE GREATEST ONE AND REBA Â WELL Â THAT VOICE... BOTH OF YOU TOGETHER... MUSIC HEAVEN ON EARTH Â :) <3 :)
@brittany66079
Just got finished watching Gambler 4. Reba is so awesome.