Angela was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and began singing in church. Initially, she studied architecture at the Howard University, only performing to supplement her income.
In 1977, Angela decided to further her musical education, and recorded a demo song. After circulating the song around various recording companies, a chance meeting with Wayne K. Garfield (a music businessman), the demo was heard by the disc jockey Gary Byrd ('The Crown' etc), who was acquainted with Stevie Wonder. The connection led to Angela joining Stevie's backing group, Wonderlove. Whilst in Los Angeles with Stevie, Angela met singer Renรฉ Moore, and they began writing melodies together.
Renรฉ Moore is the the brother of the Rufus member, Bobby Watson, and played with the Brothers Johnson in the Seventies. Some of their early work involved Lenny Williams (on his 'Changes' album), sessions for Dolly Parton, Alton McClain and Destiny (on 'I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love', a song later covered by Stephanie Mills) and Lamont Dozier.
The duo released their self-titled debut album 'Renรฉ and Angela' in 1980 (featuring 'Free and Easy', 'Do You Really Love Me?' and 'I Don't Know Where Love Comes From'). This release was followed by 'Wall to Wall' in 1982 (featuring 'Secret Rendezvous' and 'Imaginary Playmate') and 'Rise' (featuring 'My First Love'), a year later in 1983.
The duo began to write and produce for other artists, as their reputation's grew. They produced songs for Janet Jackson's 1982 self-titled debut album, 'Janet Jackson', and wrote 'I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love' for Stephanie Mills in 1985.
Signing with Mercury Records in 1984, Renรฉ and Angela released the album, 'A Street Called Desire' a year later, an album which featured the songs 'Save Your Love (For Number 1)' "I'll Be Good" and 'Your Smile'.
The couple went their seperate ways in 1986, and both went on to solo careers with varying degrees of success.
My First Love
Renรฉ & Angela Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shadows of your smile will always remain
Beginner?s luck soon fades away, oh, baby
We go on, I will always stay
Long as I live (Long as I live, you will be my first love)
My first love (Girl, oh...)
Long as I live (You will by my first love)
I?ll keep an old candy-coated Valentine
Memories of you when you were mine
A tarnished ring on a tarnished chain, yeah
Time can?t change it, come sun or rain, yeah
Long as I live (Long as I live, you'll be my first love)
My first love (My first love, yeah, yeah, whoa, whoa)
Long as I live (Long as I live, ooh...)
My first love (My first love, always be)
Long as I live (Long as I live, you...)
My first love (First love, I choose you again, yeah)
Ooh, ooh, a tarnished ring on a tarnished chain, yeah...
Time can?t change it, come sun or rain
Long as I live (You will be my first love)
My first love (Oh...oh...) (Ooh...)
Long as I live (Yeah, baby)
My first love (I can't change it, oh, time can?t change it, no, no, no)
Long as I live (Long, long, yeah)
My first love (My first love, yes, you are, yes, you are)
Long as I live (Shadows of your smile still remain)
The song My First Love by Renรฉ & Angela speaks about the lasting love and memories from their first love. The first verse begins with the imagery of the silhouette of a perfect frame and how the shadows of the smile of their first love will always remain. The chorus repeats the sentiment that their first love will always hold a special place in their heart no matter the circumstances. The second verse mentions how they keep an old candy-coated Valentine and a tarnished ring on a tarnished chain as memories of their first love when they were together. The song concludes with the repetition that as long as they live, their first love will always be chosen again.
The lyrics in My First Love are relatable as many people can attest to the lasting impression and feelings associated with their first love. The use of imagery such as the silhouette of a perfect frame and shadows of a smile add depth to the song's emotion. The repetition and emphasis of the phrase "my first love" in the chorus reinforce the message of the song's theme.
Line by Line Meaning
Silhouette of a perfect frame
The outline of your body is flawless and beautiful.
Shadows of your smile will always remain
I will never forget the way your smile made me feel.
Beginner?s luck soon fades away, oh, baby
Our initial good fortune will eventually run out, my love.
We go on, I will always stay
Through all of life's ups and downs, I will never leave your side.
Long as I live (Long as I live, you will be my first love)
No matter how long I live, you will always be my first love.
My first love (Girl, oh...)
The love we shared in our youth will always hold a special place in my heart.
I'll choose you again
If given the chance, I would choose to be with you all over again.
I?ll keep an old candy-coated Valentine
I cherish the simple sentimental items that remind me of you, like this old Valentine.
Memories of you when you were mine
I often reminisce about the happy times we had together when we were together.
A tarnished ring on a tarnished chain, yeah
Even though the ring and chain may be worn and old, they still hold a special meaning to me.
Time can't change it, come sun or rain, yeah
No matter how much time passes, my love for you will always stay the same, regardless of the weather.
My first love (My first love, yeah, yeah, whoa, whoa)
You were my first love, and that experience has had a lasting impact on me.
Long as I live (Long as I live, ooh...)
I will love you for the rest of my life.
My first love (My first love, always be)
You will always be the special person who taught me about love.
Long as I live (Long as I live, you...)
As long as I am alive, my love for you will never die.
My first love (First love, I choose you again, yeah)
I would choose you again if I could go back in time.
Sometimes, it's really hard to believe, yeah
There are moments where I struggle to accept that our love did not endure the test of time.
Long as I live (Yeah, baby)
My love for you will carry on throughout my entire life.
My first love (I can't change it, oh, time can't change it, no, no, no)
I cannot change how I feel about you, and the passage of time will not diminish my love.
Long as I live (Long, long, yeah)
For as long as I am alive, I will always love you.
My first love (My first love, yes, you are, yes, you are)
You will always be the first person I loved, and nothing will ever change that.
Long as I live (Shadows of your smile still remain)
The memory of your beautiful smile will stay with me for as long as I live.
Lyrics ยฉ Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID LEWIS, WAYNE LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnvandehey7002
1:48 to 2:17 is the hook for me in this beautiful 1983 slo-jam
Lyrics:
Silhouette
Of a perfect frame
Shadows of your smile
Will always remain
Beginner's luck soon
Fades away, oh, baby
We go on
I will always stay
Long as I live
(Long as I live
You will be my first love)
My first love
(Girl, oh)
Long as I live
(You will by my first love)
My first love
(And I'll choose you again)
I'll keep
An old candy-coated Valentine
Memories of you
When you were mine
A tarnished ring
On a tarnished chain, yeah
Time can't change it
Come sun or rain, yeah
Long as I live
(Long as I live
You'll be my first love)
My first love
(My first love
Yeah, yeah, whoa, whoa)
Long as I live
(Long as I live, ooh)
My first love
(My first love, always be)
Long as I live
(Long as I live, you)
My first love
(First love
I choose you again, yeah)
Ooh, ooh, a tarnished ring
On a tarnished chain, yeah
Time can't change it
Come sun or rain
Long as I live
(You will be my first love)
My first love (Oh, oh) (Ooh)
Long as I live (Yeah, baby)
My first love
(I can't change it, oh
Time can't change it, no, no, no)
Long as I live
(Long, long, yeah)
My first love
(My first love
Yes, you are, yes, you are)
Long as I live
(Shadows of your smile still remain)
@traviswallace9998
I know Angela Winbush's Father and Brother. They lived on the same block as me growing up. Reverend Winbush (Her Dad) lived in the corner house at 4673 Penrose, I lived 4 houses down at 4663 Penrose, and her brother Joc lived 2 houses further down from mine at 4655 Penrose.
Brother Joc is a Car salesman.
I chatted with her about 6 months ago on messenger about her Dad's health. He's still chugging along in his early 90's
Angela is a St.Louis Native and Northwest High School Grad (*Now defunct - closed)
This is my favorite song from this duo
@andrewprice3744
Angela Winbush is so underrated. What a woman can sing๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
@bombay3201
Underrated by who?
@johnbarron2269
She is AS UNDERRATED as it can get.-REAL TALK, TO EVERYONE WHO CAN SEE THIS.
@johnbarron2269
@bombay3201ย BOM
Bombay3201, Angela Winbush is underrated by 98%( ninety-eight percent) of the WORLD. The lady is BAAAAAAD, with a microphone, and as a songwriter, record producer, and a keyboardist. She is the EPITOME of AN ALL-AROUND PERFORMER.-PERIOD
@angelacooper3812
I agree!! That voice is pure!! ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
@nicoleagnew9025
Oh how I miss R & B songs like this. Angela Winbush has such a POWERFUL voice. She can SANG. I was a child when this came out back in the 80s. This is definitely an original. Truly a Classic ๐ฏ
@JohnSmith-pp6dk
Like I always say,the original is always the best.
@gregoryburton1241
Damn, the violin has to be the sexiest instrument ever created. Great song!
@theoriginalone9030
The strings in the beginning are SICK! It lets you know thereโs something powerful coming, they smashed this track.
@Tee-kk6tj
I was just thinking that the string quartet is ๐ฅ