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.
That Makes Two Of Us
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And yelling at the umpire at a baseball game
Window shopping, popcorn popping
Wading through the puddle in a Summer rain
And I'll bet you're kind to children and
Someday you'd like to be a mother too
And do you got a feeling when you're with me the way I do
Well that makes two of us
We're like birds of a feather
True love brings together
A precious few of us
That makes two of us
So you believe in wishes
While blowing out the candles on a birthday cake
Gentle hugs and lightning bugs
Staying up all night to watch the morning break
We've got so much in common
Given half a chance I'm sure you'll agree
One way to sum up forever is, you and me
[Chorus]
The lyrics to the song That Makes Two Of Us by Reba McEntire are about finding someone who shares similar interests and values. Reba sings about the things she likes to do, such as going on Sunday picnics, watching baseball games and walking in the rain. She believes that her partner enjoys these things too, along with other similarities like wishing on birthday candles and staying up all night to watch the sunrise. Reba feels a connection with this person, and wonders if they feel the same way about her. She then sings the chorus, expressing that they are like birds of a feather, and that true love brings together a precious few of them.
The song highlights the idea of finding someone who shares common interests and beliefs, and how this can lead to a successful and fulfilling relationship. By listing out these specific activities, Reba is painting a picture of what she values in life and in a partner. This kind of storytelling through lyrics is a common theme in many country songs, and helps to connect to the listener on a personal level. The chorus reinforces the idea that finding someone who is like-minded can be rare, and is something to cherish.
Line by Line Meaning
So you like Sunday picnics
You enjoy spending leisurely time in outdoor settings on Sundays
And yelling at the umpire at a baseball game
You get passionate about sports and aren't afraid to show it by expressing your opinion to the umpire
Window shopping, popcorn popping
You like to take your time browsing through stores without necessarily intending to buy anything, and enjoy snacking on popcorn while doing so
Wading through the puddle in a Summer rain
You don't mind getting a little wet and muddy while enjoying the refreshing feeling of Summer rain
And I'll bet you're kind to children and
You have a gentle and caring disposition towards children
Someday you'd like to be a mother too
You have maternal aspirations and would like to raise children in the future
And do you got a feeling when you're with me the way I do
Do you feel a connection with me when we're together, like I do?
Well that makes two of us
If you feel a connection with me when we're together, that means we share a mutual feeling
We're like birds of a feather
We have many interests and personality traits in common, like birds of the same species flocking together
True love brings together
Genuine love unites people
A precious few of us
There are only a handful of people who experience that kind of love
So you believe in wishes
You maintain faith in the power of making wishes
While blowing out the candles on a birthday cake
You make wishes while extinguishing the candles on a birthday cake
Gentle hugs and lightning bugs
You enjoy tender embraces and the twinkling lights of fireflies
Staying up all night to watch the morning break
You relish staying awake till dawn, watching the sky transform with the first light of day
We've got so much in common
Together, we share many things
Given half a chance I'm sure you'll agree
I'm confident that if given an opportunity, you'll concur
One way to sum up forever is, you and me
We are a match for eternity, and together we make forever complete
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JERRY FULLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind