Early years and formation of the Miracles
Robinson was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and was nicknamed "Smokey" as a child, because of his love of westerns. The name originally came when an uncle (who would take a young Robinson to see westerns) gave him the name "Smokey Joe", Robinson began being called "Smokey" whilst in his teens. In 1955, Robinson founded a group he called "The Five Chimes" with his best friend Ronnie White, and Northern High School classmates Pete Moore, Clarence Dawson, and James Grice. By 1957, the group was called "The Matadors" and included cousins Bobby Rogers and Claudette Rogers in place of Dawson and Grice. With Robinson as lead singer, the Matadors began touring the local Detroit venues. In 1958, Robinson met songwriter Berry Gordy, Jr., who co-wrote for them the single "Got a Job," an answer song to The Silhouettes' hit single "Get A Job." The group renamed itself The Miracles, and issued singles on both End Records and Chess Records before Robinson suggested to Berry Gordy that he start a label of his own.
In 1959, Gordy founded Tamla Records, which he soon reincorporated as Motown. The Miracles were among the label's first signees. Gordy and Robinson had a synergistic relationship, with Robinson providing a foundation for Motown's hit-making success and Gordy acting as a mentor for the budding singer and songwriter. By 1961, Gordy had appointed Robinson vice-president of Motown Records, a title Robinson held for as long as Gordy remained with the company.
Motown and The Miracles
The 1960 single "Shop Around" was Motown's first #1 hit on the R&B singles chart, and the first big hit for The Miracles. They scored many more hits over the years, including "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (1962), "Mickey's Monkey" (1963), "Ooo Baby Baby (1965), "The Tracks of My Tears" (1965), "Going to a Go-Go" (1965), "More Love" (1967), and "I Second That Emotion" (1967).
Besides penning hits for his own group, Robinson also wrote and produced hits and album tracks for other Motown artists. Mary Wells had a big hit with the Robinson-penned "My Guy" (1964), and Robinson served as The Temptations primary songwriter and producer from 1963 to 1966, penning hits such as "The Way You Do the Things You Do," "My Girl," "Since I Lost My Baby," and "Get Ready." Among Robinson's numerous other Motown compositions are "Still Water (Love)" by The Four Tops, "Don't Mess With Bill" by The Marvelettes, "When I'm Gone" by Brenda Holloway, "Ain't That Peculiar" and "I'll Be Doggone" by Marvin Gaye, "My Guy" by Mary Wells and "First I Look at the Purse" by The Contours.
Fellow singer/songwriter Bob Dylan described Robinson as "America's greatest living poet." Robinson's hit ballads also earned him the title "America's poet laureate of love." Over the course of his almost 50-year career in music, Robinson has over 4,000 songs to his credit.
After marrying Claudette Rogers, Robinson started a family, and named both of his children after Motown: his son was named Berry after the company's founder, and his daughter was named Tamla after the Motown imprint for which Robinson and The Miracles recorded.
The Miracles remained a premier Motown act through most of the 1960s. Albums were released as "Smokey Robinson & the Miracles" after 1965. By 1969, the group's fortunes began to falter, and Robinson decided to quit The Miracles so that he could remain at home with his family and concentrate on his duties as vice president. The group stopped recording and Robinson prepared to leave the group. Unexpectedly, however, their 1966 recording of "The Tears of a Clown" was released as a single in 1970, and became a #1 hit in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Due to the surprise success of "Tears of a Clown," Robinson was convinced to remain with The Miracles for a few more years. In 1972, he followed through on his original plans to leave the group, and The Miracles began a six-month farewell tour. On July 16, 1972, Smokey and Claudette Robinson gave their final performances as Miracles at the Carter Barron Amphitheater in Washington, DC, and Robinson introduced the group's new lead singer, Billy Griffin. The Miracles went on for a while, even having another #1 hit, "Love Machine," in 1976.
Successful solo career
Smokey Robinson began a low-key solo career while concentrating on his duties as vice-president of Motown, releasing his first solo LP, Smokey, in 1973. His first hit single, "Sweet Harmony" (1973), was dedicated to The Miracles.
In 1975, Robinson's solo career went into full-drive after the success of the #1 R&B hit "Baby That's Backatcha." Robinson's 1976 single "Quiet Storm" and its accompanying album typified a smooth, slow style of R&B that is today called "quiet storm." Other Robinson solo hits include "Cruisin'" (1979), "Being With You" (a UK #1 hit) (1981), "Tell Me Tomorrow" (1982), and "Ebony Eyes," a duet with labelmate Rick James (1983). He also recorded the soundtrack to the film Big Time (1977).
Spokesmanship
Smokey Robinson is the spokesman of the Great American Smokeout, which takes place annually one week before Thanksgiving. It's a day when smokers quit smoking for at least a day. In 2006, It takes place on November 16th.
Later years
During the mid-1980s, Robinson fell victim to cocaine addiction. His recording slowed, and his marriage to Claudette faltered; the two were divorced in 1986. Robinson eventually overcame the addiction and revitalized his career, scoring hits in 1987 with "Just To See Her" and "One Heartbeat." Also in 1987, British band ABC scored a US and UK hit with their tribute to Robinson, entitled "When Smokey Sings". In 1988, Robinson published his autobiography, Smokey, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Upon Motown's sale to MCA in 1988, Robinson resigned from his position as vice-president. After one last album for Motown, Love, Smokey (1990), Robinson departed the company. He released one record for SBK Records, Double Good Everything (1991), the same year he won a Soul Train Music Award for Career Achievement. Eight years later, he returned to Motown, which by then was a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and released Intimate (1999).
Since then, Robinson has continued to periodically perform and tour. In 2003, Robinson served as a guest judge for American Idol during "Billy Joel Week." He issued a gospel LP, Food for the Spirit in 2004. A new album of pop standards from the early 20th century, Timeless Love, was released in June 2006. It was originally recorded with a jazz combo, but strings were added after the fact, giving the album more of a lush sound but removing much of the jazz feeling of the disc.
In 2004, Robinson's company, SFGL Foods, launched a special brand of gumbo called "Smokey Robinson's 'The Soul is in the Bowl' Gumbo." [1].
In May 2006, at its 138th Commencement Convocation, Howard University conferred on Robinson the degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa.
Smokey Robinson is scheduled to appear on Duets on Fox along with Randy Travis, Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan, Dionne Warwick, Aaron Neville, Clint Black, Michael Bolton, Kenny Loggins, Brian McKnight, Macy Gray, Richard Marx, and Cyndi Lauper. David Foster will be a judge.
On 27th October 2006 Smokey appeared on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.
Because Of You
Smokey Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh
Now I′m not a stranger to feeling good
Neither devil nor angel am I
I may not have loved as many as I could
But you're one of the ones I just had to try
The second time was twice as nice
One more time, do it again
That′s the best it's ever been
Ooh-wee baby
The number one song's on the radio
I′ve heard it a thousand times or more
Why it sounds better I don′t really know
But it's never sounded quite this good before
Before we′d touch, before we'd kiss
It never sounded quite like this
One more time, play it again
That′s the best it's ever been
(Kiss me one) ooh (kiss me twice)
The second time was twice as nice
One more time, do it again
That′s the best it's ever been
The whole world seems brand new
I feel like I do
Because of you (because of you)
Because of you (because of you)
Because of you
So strange, but just because of you
Everything I do, it's just like I′m never
(Never, never, never)
I′ve changed, I'm like a brand new me
Oh, feeling seemed to be
Better than ever
Better than ever
The whole world seems brand new
Whole world
I feel like I do
Because of you (because of you)
Because of you (because of you)
Because of you
You kiss me one, you kiss me twice
The second time was twice as nice
One more time, do it again
That′s the best it's ever been
You touch me once, you touch me twice
Second time was twice as nice
One more time, do it again
That′s the best it's ever been
(You touch me once) oh-woah (you touch me twice)
The second time was twice as nice
One more (time), do it (again)
That′s the best it's ever been
(Love me once, love me twice) together means better (twice as nice)
One more (one more time), do it (again)
That's the best it′s ever been
Kiss me (once), kiss me (twice)
(The second time was) twice as nice
(One more) one more babe, (do it again)
That′s the best it's ever been
(Love me once) love me (love me twice)
Oh yeah (second time was twice as nice)
One more (time), do it (again)
That′s the best it's ever been
(Kiss me once) let′s baby (kiss me twice)
(The second time was twice as nice)
In the song "Because of You" by Smokey Robinson, the lyrics express the singer's feelings of joy and contentment in a romantic relationship. The opening lines establish that the singer is familiar with happiness and has experienced both positive and negative aspects of love. They acknowledge that they may not have loved as many people as they could have, but the person they are currently with is someone they had to try.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the singer's pleasure in being with their partner. It highlights the experience of being kissed and touched by them, suggesting that each subsequent time feels even better than the previous one. The repetition of "one more time" and "do it again" signifies the desire for their intimate moments to be repeated, as it brings them immense happiness.
The second verse introduces the idea that hearing a specific song on the radio has a heightened effect on the singer after being with their partner. The song may be familiar and widely heard before, but it now sounds better than ever. This could symbolize how the singer's perception of the world has completely changed because of their love for this person. The repeated phrase "never sounded quite like this" emphasizes the unique and powerful impact of their relationship.
The bridge section of the song reinforces the transformative effect that being with their partner has had on the singer. It suggestively states that because of them, everything the singer does feels different, almost as if they have become a new person. They feel better than ever and are grateful for the positive changes that their partner has brought into their life.
In the final chorus, the repetition of "because of you" reinforces the idea that the singer's happiness and new perspective on life are directly attributed to their partner. The lyrics suggest that the relationship has brought about a sense of renewal and rejuvenation, making the entire world feel brand new. The repetition of phrases like "kiss me once" and "do it again" reiterates the joy and satisfaction that the singer derives from their partner's affection.
Overall, "Because of You" is a song that celebrates the transformative power of love. It portrays the singer's deep appreciation for their partner, as being with them has brought immense joy and a newfound sense of self. The lyrics emphasize the pleasure of physical intimacy and highlight how their love has made everything in the world feel better than ever before.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh
Expressing a feeling of surprise or excitement
Now I'm not a stranger to feeling good
I have experienced happiness before
Neither devil nor angel am I
I am neither completely evil nor completely good
I may not have loved as many as I could
I may not have been in love with as many people as I had the potential to
But you're one of the ones I just had to try
You are one of the people I felt compelled to be in love with
You kiss me one, you kiss me twice
You have kissed me once, and then repeated it for the second time
The second time was twice as nice
The second time you kissed me was even more enjoyable than the first
One more time, do it again
Please kiss me one more time, repeat the action
That's the best it's ever been
This is the most satisfying it has ever been
Ooh-wee baby
Expressing excitement or admiration towards the person being addressed
The number one song's on the radio
The most popular song is currently playing on the radio
I've heard it a thousand times or more
I have listened to it numerous times
Why it sounds better I don't really know
I am unsure why it sounds better than before
But it's never sounded quite this good before
However, it has never sounded as great as it does now
Before we'd touch, before we'd kiss
Before we engaged in physical intimacy
It never sounded quite like this
The song never had this level of impact or significance
One more time, play it again
Please play the song one more time
Before us, it was never as special
Prior to our relationship, it did not hold the same deep meaning
That's the best it's ever been
This is the peak enjoyment I have experienced from the song
The whole world seems brand new
Everything feels fresh and unfamiliar
I feel like I do
I feel the same way I did
Because of you (because of you)
Due to your influence or presence in my life
So strange, but just because of you
It is unusual, but solely because of you
Everything I do, it's just like I'm never
Every action I take feels completely new and different
I've changed, I'm like a brand new me
I have transformed, I am now a completely different version of myself
Oh, feeling seemed to be
The emotions I experience appear to be
Better than ever
More satisfying than ever before
You touch me once, you touch me twice
You have touched me once, and then repeated the action for the second time
Second time was twice as nice
The second touch was even more pleasurable than the first
One more time, do it again
Please touch me one more time, repeat the action
That's the best it's ever been
This is the highest level of satisfaction I have experienced
Love me once, love me twice
You have loved me once, and then repeated the act of loving me for the second time
Together means better, twice as nice
When we are together, the experience is enhanced, it becomes even more enjoyable
One more time, do it again
Please love me one more time, repeat the act
That's the best it's ever been
This is the peak level of satisfaction I have experienced from your love
Kiss me once, kiss me twice
You have kissed me once, and then repeated the action for the second time
The second time was twice as nice
The second kiss was even more enjoyable than the first
One more time, do it again
Please kiss me one more time, repeat the action
That's the best it's ever been
This is the most satisfying it has ever been
Love me once, love me twice
You have loved me once, and then repeated the act of loving me for the second time
Oh yeah, second time was twice as nice
Oh yes, the second time you loved me was even more enjoyable than the first
One more time, do it again
Please love me one more time, repeat the act
That's the best it's ever been
This is the peak level of satisfaction I have experienced from your love
Kiss me once, let's baby kiss me twice
Please kiss me once, and let's have another kiss after that
The second time was twice as nice
The second kiss was even more enjoyable than the first
One more time, do it again
Please kiss me one more time, repeat the action
That's the best it's ever been
This is the most satisfying it has ever been
Love me once, love me twice
You have loved me once, and then repeated the act of loving me for the second time
One more time, do it again
Please love me one more time, repeat the act
That's the best it's ever been
This is the peak level of satisfaction I have experienced from your love
Writer(s): William Robinson Jr.
Contributed by Bentley N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.