Living in San Francisco in the 1960s, he performed in a musical production called Women of the Blues, then joined a short-lived group of transvestite performance artists called The Cockettes in the early 70's (famed transvestite Divine was a member of the group as well). Sylvester can be seen in The Cockettes' outrageous short film Tricia's Wedding, lampooning the wedding of President Nixon's daughter Tricia, and in an eponymous 2002 documentary about the group.
In 1972, Sylvester supplied two cuts to Lights Out San Francisco, an album complied by the KSAN radio station and released on the Blue Thumb label. In 1973, Sylvester & his Hot Band released two rock-oriented albums on Blue Thumb (their self-titled debut was also known as "Scratch My Flower," due to a gardenia-shaped scratch-and-sniff sticker adhered to the cover). Signed a solo act to Fantasy Records in 1977, and working with the production talents of legendary Motown producer Harvey Fuqua. Sylvester later alleged that Fuqua cheated him out of millions of dollars.
Sylvester soon met his frequent collaborator Patrick Cowley. Cowley's synthesizer and Sylvester's voice proved to be a magical combination, and pushed Sylvester's sound in an increasingly dance-oriented direction; his second solo album - Step II (1978) - unleashed two disco classics: "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)," and "Dance (Disco Heat)." By this time both his live shows and recordings also recognizably featured the back-up vocals of Two Tons O' Fun: future Weather Girls Martha Wash and Izora Rhodes. 1979 brought three Billboard awards and an appearance in the movie, The Rose, starring Bette Midler.
Moving to Megatone Records in 1982, Sylvester quickly landed a Hi-NRG classic with "Do You Wanna Funk." He was close friends with other Megatone artists Linda Imperial and Jeanie Tracy. Sylvester was also very close to the legendary Patti LaBelle.
Later pressure from the label to "butch up" his image would result in him attending meetings in full-on drag. A drag photo shoot, which he staged and presented to label heads as a gag (calling it his "new album cover") would later grace the cover of Immortal after Sylvester died; it was the label's way of paying tribute to his spirit. In 1985, one of his dreams came true as he was summoned to sing back-up for Aretha Franklin on her Who's Zoomin' Who comeback album. His sole Warner Bros. album was Mutual Attraction in 1986; a single from the album, "Someone Like You," featured original cover art by Keith Haring.
Sylvester died of complications from AIDS on December 16, 1988. His good friend Jeanie Tracy took care of Sylvester during his last days.
In the late 1990's, performance artist Djola Branner (co-founder of the highly influential Pomo Afro Homos troupe) created his acclaimed solo piece and CD Mighty Real around the life of Sylvester.
On September 20, 2004 Sylvester's anthem record, You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real), was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame. A year later, on September 19, 2005, Sylvester himself was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for his achievement as an artist.
In 2005, a biography written by Joshua Gamson and titled The Fabulous Sylvester: The Legend, The music, The 70s in San Francisco was published.
2. Sylvester (Sylvester Larsen , born 1973) is a danish artist, who has released 4 albums. He is the son of Kim Larsen. See www.sylvesterlarsen.dk
I Who Have Nothing
Sylvester Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I, I who have no one
Adore you and want you so
I'm just a no one with nothing to give you but, oh
I love you
He, he buys you diamonds
Bright, sparkling diamonds
That he can give you the world but he'll never love the way
I love you
He can take you any place he wants
To fancy clubs and restaurants
But I can only watch you with
My nose pressed up against the window pane
I, I who have nothing
I, I who have no one
Must watch you go dancing by
Wrapped in the arms of somebody else when, darling, it's I
Who loves you
I love you
I love you
I love you
In the song "I Who Have Nothing," performed by Sylvester, the artist sings of his love for someone whom he believes is unreachable due to his lack of material possessions. The song describes his feelings of inadequacy and powerlessness, even though he is able to offer his deep love and devotion. He contrasts himself with another man, who can offer diamonds and fancy outings, but Sylvester believes that his love is much more genuine and that the other man could never truly love the object of his affections in the same way.
Sylvester's use of imagery throughout the song also adds to the depth of his emotions. He sings that he can only watch the person he loves dancing with someone else while he is left standing outside, his nose pressed against the window pane. He paints a picture of himself as a small and insignificant figure, as he professes his love to someone who may not feel the same way. The lyrics of the song are simple yet powerful, as they convey the message of a love that is strong enough to persist through difficult circumstances.
Overall, "I Who Have Nothing" is a poignant expression of love that transcends material possessions. It is a reminder that what truly matters in a relationship is the strength of one's affection for another person, and that love can exist even in the absence of wealth or status.
Line by Line Meaning
I, I who have nothing
I am a person who has no possessions, no fortune, and no power.
I, I who have no one
I am a person who has no one to love or to be loved by.
Adore you and want you so
I love and desire you very much.
I'm just a no one with nothing to give you but, oh
I am an insignificant person who has nothing valuable to offer you except my love.
I love you
I have strong and deep affection for you.
He, he buys you diamonds
Another man buys you expensive and luxurious things.
Bright, sparkling diamonds
The diamonds are high-quality and have a brilliant shine.
But, believe me, dear, when I say
Trust me when I tell you.
That he can give you the world but he'll never love the way
He may offer you everything the world has to offer, but he can never love you the way I do.
I love you
I have strong and deep affection for you.
He can take you any place he wants
He has the ability to take you anywhere you desire.
To fancy clubs and restaurants
He can bring you to elegant and high-class establishments.
But I can only watch you with
However, I can only watch you from afar with no power to take you out.
My nose pressed up against the window pane
I stand outside, looking longingly through a window, wishing I could be with you.
Must watch you go dancing by
I am forced to watch you as you dance with someone else.
Wrapped in the arms of somebody else when, darling, it's I
You are embracing with someone else while I am desperately wishing it were me.
Who loves you
I am the one who has strong and deep affection for you.
I love you
I have strong and deep affection for you.
I love you
I have strong and deep affection for you.
I love you
I have strong and deep affection for you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Giulio Mogol Rapetti, Carlo Donida, Mike Stoller, Jerry Leiber
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
AMarie Sampson-Burgess
This song is timeless....Sylvester is timeless, a crown jewel
thickbrianq
Love Sylvester, saw him several times! He is timeless and eternal! Love the 11 minute cut of this as well.
dewrosejl
Loved his voice! I'll bet if he lived, he would have created some more hit recordings that would have been legendary.
Immortal_beloved_
Sylvester is soooo missed😔 such talent !!! ❤️🎶
Ricky Pilcher
A hauntingly beautiful version of this great song. I love it!
Gregory Davis
Pure perfection. I remember the DJs used to pump this during the late night. The dance floor at the Lost and Found in DC would be so crowded all you could do was stand and grind. Those were the days!
Gussie Williams
I remember Sylvester in the 70's. He could sing and had lots of stage presence.
Tim O.
Stunning song featuring Sylvester's searing vocals. Like many , we were so fortunate to experience Sylvester in his prime ( late 1970's ) LIVE in concert. It was amazing..tight sound, great musicians- I can't recall if Patrick Cowley on that tour played keyboards ( possibly Tip Wyrick did ) and Martha & Izora DID sing additional vocals. The energy in the club that night was electric. Sylvester in one of his bejeweled caftans, turban, great makeup ; dry ice disco fog, killer light show and Numbers superlative sound system: McIntosh speakers powered by Klipsch speakers..A special , life long memory. He touched us all with his brand of magic. And then was taken away at such a young age. I know he's tearing it up in Heaven..
George Marinho
Maravilhosa!!
Dany Herszkowicz
GREAT SONG !!! I USE TO DANCE HIS MUSIC !! WE´LL NEVER FORGET SYLVESTER,. DISCO FUNKY FOREVER IN OUR SOULS !!!!