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.
They Asked About You
Reba McEntire Lyrics
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Out on the town
Feeling so sure of myself
Meeting some friends
Sharing some laughs
Not thinking of anything else
Then one of them leaned over my shoulder
And all at once the party was over
[Chorus]
They asked about you
And suddenly it all came back to me
Then all the walls around my heart
Came crashing at my feet
When they asked about you
(Oh) They asked about you
I was doing OK
Until they asked about you
How could they know
What it would do
All they did was mention your name
And just like that
The hurting was back
That's when I knew nothing had changed
What a time for old memories to find me
Just when I thought I'd put 'em behind me
[Chorus]
These lyrics from Reba McEntire's song "They Asked About You" depict a powerful moment of emotional vulnerability and heartache experienced by the singer. The song begins on a lively note, with the singer out on the town on a Saturday night, feeling confident and carefree in the company of friends. However, this moment of joy is abruptly interrupted when one of the friends casually brings up the subject of the person who is no longer in the singer's life. This simple mention of their name triggers a flood of emotions within the singer, causing the walls they had built around their heart to come crashing down.
The chorus serves as the emotional climax of the song, as the singer reflects on the impact of being reminded of the person they once loved. The lyrics capture the visceral nature of heartbreak and how memories of a past relationship can resurface unexpectedly, overwhelming even when one believes they have moved on. Despite trying to convince themselves that they were doing okay without their former partner, the mere mention of their name brings back all the pain and longing they had tried to bury.
The lyrics also highlight the power of memories and how they have the ability to resurface at the most inconvenient times, disrupting one's sense of peace and closure. The singer is caught off guard by the rush of emotions triggered by the mention of their ex-partner, realizing that the pain of their absence has not truly faded as much as they had hoped. The turmoil and heartache that the singer feels in that moment are palpable, illustrating the lasting impact of a past relationship on their emotional well-being.
Overall, "They Asked About You" delves into the raw and complex emotions of heartbreak and nostalgia, portraying how a simple question or mention of a past love can unravel the carefully constructed facade of moving on. The lyrics encapsulate the bittersweet reality of reminiscing about a lost love and the enduring presence of that person in the singer's heart, even as they try to navigate life without them. The song poignantly captures the vulnerability and longing that comes with being reminded of a former love, resonating with anyone who has experienced the pain of a broken heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Saturday night
It was a fun and carefree evening
Out on the town
I was enjoying the nightlife
Feeling so sure of myself
Confident in the moment
Meeting some friends
Socializing with acquaintances
Sharing some laughs
Laughing and having a good time
Not thinking of anything else
Focused on the present and not dwelling on the past
Then one of them leaned over my shoulder
Someone brought up your name unexpectedly
And all at once the party was over
The mood shifted and memories flooded back
They asked about you
Bringing up your name caused a flood of emotions
And suddenly it all came back to me
Memories of you resurfaced unexpectedly
Then all the walls around my heart
The emotional barriers I built up came crashing down
Came crashing at my feet
I was overwhelmed by emotions
When they asked about you
Your name brought back painful memories
(Oh) They asked about you
The mention of you stirred up old feelings
I was doing OK
I was coping and moving on
Until they asked about you
Your name derailed my progress
How could they know
They had no idea of the impact mentioning you would have
What it would do
Trigger a flood of emotions and memories
All they did was mention your name
Just hearing your name was enough to bring back the pain
And just like that
Instantly, the hurt returned
The hurting was back
I was reminded of the pain of losing you
That's when I knew nothing had changed
Despite my efforts, the pain of your absence remained
What a time for old memories to find me
The timing of the memories was unexpected and unwelcome
Just when I thought I'd put 'em behind me
I thought I had moved on from the pain of losing you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., BILL AND KIM NASH PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILL NASH, KIM NASH, FREDDY WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind