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.
Who?
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh who's gonna love you like I do
Who
And who you gonna find to do the things that I do
Before you say goodbye
Better think about it one more time
Tell me who
Who
Who you gonna find that can take you any higher
Before you put me down
Better stop and look around
And tell me who
Who who who who
You just might just find a match
That can kindle your desires
But what could is just one candle
When what you need is fire
So tell me who
Who who who who
Before I let you go
One thing I've got to know
Tell me who
Who gonna love you like I do
Who who who
Who you're gonna find that can do the things that I do
Who who who ..
The song "Who" by Reba McEntire is about a woman who is questioning her partner's decision to leave her. She asks "who's gonna love you like I do" and "who you gonna find to do the things that I do" before urging him to think about his decision one more time. The song is essentially about the fear of being replaced and the belief that nobody will ever be able to match the love and affection she has given to him.
The lyrics are emotional and powerful, with Reba's strong voice conveying the pain and sadness of lost love. The repetition of the word "who" emphasizes the desperation and urgency in her voice as she tries to persuade him not to leave. The second verse mentions how he might find someone else who can kindle his desires but she highlights the fact that one single candle cannot replace the fire that they had together.
Overall, the song "Who" is a plea to not be forgotten and an attempt to make him realize that he won't find anyone else who can love him the way she did.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh who's gonna love you like I do
The singer questions who will love the person they're addressing as much as they do.
And who you gonna find to do the things that I do
The singer asks who the person they're addressing will find to do the things they do.
Before you say goodbye
The singer urges the person they're addressing to think about their impending decision one more time.
Better think about it one more time
The artist reiterates their earlier suggestion of careful consideration before making a final decision.
Tell me who
The artist prompts the person they're addressing to provide a response to their previous questions.
Who ever held you tighter
The singer inquires about who has ever held the person they're addressing tighter than they have.
Who you gonna find that can take you any higher
The singer asks who the person they're addressing will find to take them to greater heights.
Before you put me down
The artist warns the person they're addressing to not dismiss them or their feelings.
Better stop and look around
The artist suggests the person they're addressing should pay attention to themselves and their surroundings before making any decisions.
You just might just find a match
The artist admits that the person they're addressing may find someone who matches them in some way.
That can kindle your desires
The singer explains that this match may be able to ignite the person they're addressing's passion.
But what could is just one candle
The artist questions the practicality or effectiveness of a single small light (i.e. a match) in a larger scheme.
When what you need is fire
The singer argues that the person they're addressing needs a much stronger, larger source of energy (i.e. a fire) rather than just a small spark.
Before I let you go
The singer acknowledges that they have a say in whether or not the person they're addressing stays in their life.
One thing I've got to know
The singer states they need an answer to a specific question.
Who gonna love you like I do
The artist rephrases their earlier question, asking who will love the person they're addressing as much as they do.
Who you're gonna find that can do the things that I do
The artist repeats their previous inquiry, asking who the person they're addressing will find to do the things they do.
Who who who
The singer repeats their prompting for an answer.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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