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.
Strange
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a bed of Kleenex
Stuffin' chocolates in my mouth
On the phone with my best friend cussin' my ex
He broke my heart
Felt like the world had ended
I cried myself to sleep
Thinkin' I can't get over him
Strange, talk about luck I woke up
And, the sun was shining
Strange, I ought a be in bed with my head
In the pillow cryin' over us
But I ain't, ain't love
Strange
Got half a mind to spend my whole paycheck
On one of those dresses
Those strapless black ones
That are so famous for teaching lessons
Dropped by his place
Picked up the rest of my things
He'll tell me I look good
I'll laugh and say yeah I will in time
Strange, talk about luck I woke up
And, the sun was shining
Strange, I ought a be in bed with my head
In the pillow cryin' over us
But I ain't, ain't love
Strange
Strange, talk about luck I woke up
And, the sun was shining
Strange, I ought a be in bed with my head
In the pillow cryin' over us
But I ain't, ain't love
Strange
Strange
Strange, talk about luck I woke up
And, the sun was shining
Strange, strange
In Reba McEntire's song "Strange," the singer initially finds herself in a pit of despair following a breakup. She is lying in bed surrounded by tissues, eating chocolates, and speaking with her best friend on the phone as she curses her ex. She is heartbroken and feels as though the world has ended. The singer is crying herself to sleep thinking that she will never get over him. However, when she wakes up, she discovers that the sun is shining, which she finds strange because she expected to spend the day in bed crying.
Feeling better than she expected, the singer decides to spend her entire paycheck on a black strapless dress, which is famously known for teaching lessons. She eventually stops by her ex's house to pick up the rest of her belongings, and he tells her that she looks good. She laughs and tells him that she'll look even better in time. She finds it strange how she's feeling much better than before, despite expecting to be doing the opposite.
Line by Line Meaning
I laid there feeling sorry for myself
Starts with feeling self-pity, lying in bed amidst a heap of tissues
Stuffin' chocolates in my mouth
Eating chocolates as a means of self-comfort
On the phone with my best friend cussin' my ex
Talking with my closest friend, venting about my ex-partner and using expletives to let out the negative emotions
He broke my heart
The partner has caused immense pain and suffering by acting in a way that leads to a broken heart
Felt like the world had ended
The pain is so profound and all-encompassing that it feels as if everything has come to a halt
I cried myself to sleep
The pain is so overwhelming that it causes tears and sleeplessness
Thinkin' I can't get over him
Feeling helpless and unable to move on from the breakup
Strange, talk about luck I woke up
Unexpectedly, there is a sudden realization that the day has begun, and luck seemed to have magically changed
And, the sun was shining
The sunshine brings in hope and happiness after a period of sadness and despair
I ought a be in bed with my head
Despite the sadness and heartbreak, one is not sulking and crying in bed but out of it, which seems unusual
In the pillow cryin' over us
Expected to be shedding tears over lost love, still, there is an upbeat mood that defies insurmountable odds
But I ain't, ain't love
The emotional roller coaster of love defies one's expectations and experience
Got half a mind to spend my whole paycheck
A fleeting thought to blow up money on something that would bring temporary happiness
On one of those dresses
An expensive purchase that is fitting for the moment to look good and stylish
Those strapless black ones
Refers to the classic, elegant, and sexy black dress without sleeves
That are so famous for teaching lessons
A black dress is known to impart class, style, and confidence, irrespective of the occasion
Dropped by his place
A visit to the ex-partner's place to retrieve the remaining things
Picked up the rest of my things
The process of moving on from the past involves collecting the remaining things and letting go of the relationship
He'll tell me I look good
The ex-partner may make flattering remarks, but that will not affect the mood or outlook anymore
I'll laugh and say yeah I will in time
The person has a positive spirit of moving on from the past and not affected by flattery or empty promises
Strange
It is strange how a change in perspective can bring about a change in fortune and outlook
Strange
It is strange how love can bring a range of emotions and experiences that are unexpected and varied
Strange
It is strange how things can suddenly change and bring happiness when we expect none
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Major Bob Music, Inc. / Rio Bravo Music, Inc. / Castle Bound Music, Inc. / Hanna Bea Songs, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NEIL THRASHER, JASON SELLERS, WENDELL MOBLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
kbarnett Barnett
Reba is so amazing. When her singing starts, the story begins and all the way through she has your attention.
Pandoraearth
Every single one of her songs is awesome. NEVER STOP SINGING REBA WE LOVE YOU
Dakota Syrovy
I love the fact that Reba just has that voice that just makes you want to listen.
Brian Crilley
Absolutely!!!!
Nini Daniels
She has a magnificent voice
mlccH
Magical voice beautiful artist
Eric Springer
One of her best ever!! Love this song!! I love how Reba keeps up with the times and stays right with the younger generation but also keeping us older fans very interested in her rockin' country sound!! U Go Reba!!!!!!!!
Terry Burgess
I love her music so much. She is great.
Kallie Leonard
I LOVE THIS SONG!!! Reba your awesome!
LisaNC832
Reba is like a fine wine, gets better and better with time. She is one amazing lady and so talented. I love this song and video. You go girl!!