They had their first U.S. hit in 1971 with "You're a Big Girl Now". Signing to Avco Records, The Stylistics began working with producer Thom Bell, who had already produced a catalogue of hits for The Delfonics, and songwriter Linda Creed. Bell imported the sweet soul techniques he had perfected with The Delfonics, and his arrangements worked perfectly with Thompkins' falsetto. The bittersweet lyrics from Creed were a key factor in creating hugely memorable music.
Their hits, distilled from three albums, from this period included "Betcha by Golly, Wow", "I'm Stone in Love with You", "You Make Me Feel Brand New" featuring a double lead with Love, "Stop, Look, Listen To Your Heart" and "You Are Everything". "You Make Me Feel Brand New" was the group's biggest U.S. hit, holding at #2 for two weeks in the spring of 1974, and was one of five U.S. gold singles the Stylistics collected. The Stylistics' smooth sound also found an easier path onto adult contemporary airwaves than other soul artists, and the group made Billboard magazine's Easy Listening singles chart twelve times from 1971 to 1976, with three entries, "Betcha By Golly, Wow," "You Make Me Feel Brand New," and "You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart)" reaching the Top 10.
The group split with Thom Bell in 1974, and the split proved devastating commercially to the group's success in the USA. Just as with The Delfonics, The Stylistics were to some extent a vehicle for Bell's own creativity. They struggled hard to find producers who could come up with the right material, and partnerships with Hugo & Luigi and Van McCoy were notably less successful. They left Avco for H&L Records and the Stylistics' popularity rapidly declined in the U.S., though their British popularity continued for the rest of the 1970s.
In 1980, James Dunn departed due to health problems, and James Smith left shortly thereafter. The group continued, recruiting new member Raymond Johnson, and releasing the album Some Things Never Change, in 1985. Johnson departed shortly afterward, leaving the group a trio. Love, Murrell, and Thompkins continued to tour until 2000, when original lead Thompkins left. Love and Murrell brought in two new members, Harold "Eban" Brown, formerly of the Delfonics, as lead ( who sounds amazingly like a young Russell Thompkins), and tenor Van Fields. The present group is featured live on the DVD's "The Stylistics Live at the Convention Center" (2006), as well as along with other artists of the '70's on the DVD "The Big Show."
In 2004, Russell Thompkins, Jr. started a new group, the New Stylistics, with the returning Raymond Johnson, James Ranton, and Jonathan Buckson. They are featured on the DVD "Old School Soul Party Live!," which was part of the PBS "My Music" series.
The Stylistics' catalog of hits have been mined frequently by other artists in recent years. Notable examples include "Betcha By Golly, Wow" covered by Prince, "You Are Everything" remade by Vanessa Williams, and "You Make Me Feel Brand New" redone by Boyz ll Men Roberta Flack and Simply Red. Mary J. Blige also used the chief line from the chorus of "You Are Everything" ("You are everything, and everything is you") in her 1997 hit "Everything." In 2006, Letoya Luckett used a similar sample to the background track of "You Are Everything" for the music to her hit single "Torn."
Betcha By Golly Wow
The Stylistics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Candyland appears each time you smile
Never thought that fairy tales came true
But they come true when I'm near you
You're a genie in disguise
Full of wonder and surprise
And betcha by golly, wowYou're the one that I've been waiting for forever
And ever will my love for you keep growin' strong
Keep growin' strong
If I could I'd catch a falling star
To shine on you so I'll know where you are
Order rainbows in your favorite shade
To show I love you, thinking of you
Write your name across the sky
Anything you ask I'll try, 'cause
Betcha by golly, wow
You're the one that I've been waiting for forever
And ever will my love for you keep growin' strong
Keep growin' strong
Betcha by golly, wow
You're the one that I've been waiting for forever
And ever will my love for you keep growin' strong
Keep growin' strong
Betcha by golly, wow
You're the one that I've been waiting for forever
And ever will my love for you keep growin'
The lyrics to The Stylistics' song "Betcha By Golly, Wow" convey the sense of wonder and awe that the singer feels towards their love interest. The opening lines, "There's a spark of magic in your eyes, Candyland appears each time you smile," suggest that the singer sees their beloved as a source of wonder and joy in their life. Indeed, the next line, "Never thought that fairy tales came true, but they come true when I'm near you," suggests a sense of disbelief that this happiness could be real, but also an acknowledgment that it is.
The singer goes on to describe their love interest as a "genie in disguise, full of wonder and surprise," emphasizing the magical, almost otherworldly quality that they possess. The chorus doubles down on this sense of awe, proclaiming that this person is "the one that I've been waiting for forever," and that their love for them will "keep growin' strong." The final verse adds a sense of devotion, with the singer professing that they would "catch a falling star" or "write your name across the sky" if it would show their love and dedication.
Overall, "Betcha By Golly, Wow" is a song that celebrates the transformative power of love, and the sense of wonder and joy that it can bring into our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a spark of magic in your eyes
Your eyes are so enchanting that they create a magical feeling.
Candyland appears each time you smile
Your smile is so sweet and joyful that it makes me feel like I'm in a magical land of candy.
Never thought that fairy tales came true
I never believed that fairy tales could actually happen in real life.
But they come true when I'm near you
Being with you makes me feel like I'm living in a fairy tale.
You're a genie in disguise
You have the ability to grant my wishes and surprise me in ways that are magical and unexpected.
Full of wonder and surprise
You are always full of amazing and surprising qualities that amaze me.
And betcha by golly, wow
I guarantee that you are amazing and wonderful beyond words.
You're the one that I've been waiting for forever
You are the person that I have been searching for and dreaming of being with for a long time.
And ever will my love for you keep growin' strong
My love for you will continue to grow stronger and stronger with each passing day.
If I could I'd catch a falling star
I want to do everything in my power to show how much I care for you, even if it means doing the impossible like catching a falling star.
To shine on you so I'll know where you are
I want to make sure that you are always happy and that you know how much you mean to me.
Order rainbows in your favorite shade
I want to bring color and joy into your life by getting you rainbows in your favorite colors.
To show I love you, thinking of you
Through these gestures, I want to show you that I am always thinking of you and that I truly love you.
Write your name across the sky
I want to make a grand gesture to show how important you are to me, like writing your name across the sky.
Anything you ask I'll try, 'cause
I will always try my best to fulfill your wishes and make you happy, because I care for you deeply.
Betcha by golly, wow
I am absolutely certain that you are the most incredible person I have ever met and I am lucky to have you in my life.
You're the one that I've been waiting for forever
You are the only one I have ever wanted and I am grateful to be with you.
And ever will my love for you keep growin' strong
My love for you will never die and it will always be strong, no matter what happens.
Keep growin' strong
My love for you will never fade away, it will only get stronger with time.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Linda Creed, Thomas Bell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@5efu4gitiarmendariz79
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@kja103
Real vocals, real bands.....im 60 yrs old, and no music today "feels" good like the CLASSICS!!
@AliageTaqi
My mom loved this song and played it so much.😊🥲
@ThePleezzy
Check out October London. It’s people still doing it it’s just not popular
@michaelmartin2589
When artists had voices
@BAKER22-l4u
Lol...Arguably the DUMBEST thing I've heard in years
@loristoneking5711
Yes. When artists had to be naturally talented and not manufactured.
@loristoneking5711
@@BAKER22-l4utoo bad you can't relate to what the person was saying.
@jimsmith9301
I can also hear: "People make the world go round!!"
@jaebryson4064
No autotune just all-out talent.
@OtavioSantiago-p9o
I was 17 years old when I gave this album to my high school sweetheart. I’m 70 now. Married 50 years..