The group's sound was marked by Scotty Scott's fluid, melodic voice which featured on virtually all of their hits. Scotty's sound was so distinctive and likeable that, in his heyday, he was as recognizable as such noted R&B lead singers as Ronald Isley of The Isley Brothers.[citation needed]
In 1987, they enjoyed a career resurgence when "Rock Steady" hit #1 on the R&B charts, and it became their first Top 10 success on the Hot 100, reaching #7. The Whispers also founded the Black Tie record label.
In the 1990s, The Whispers joined the Capitol Records family releasing more favorites. Expanding their creative horizons, brothers Walter and Scotty cut “My Brothers Keeper”, a critically-acclaimed duet album in 1993, scoring another R&B hit with a cover of the Intruders' "I Wanna Know Your Name." The 1995 release “Toast to the Ladies” featured a collection of love songs dedicated to women all over the world. In 1997, the group moved to Interscope Records where they featured the works of Baby face once again with their album, "Songbook, Vol. 1: The Songs of Babyface”. Both albums charted on Billboard's top 100 albums.
Marcus stopped performing with the group in 1989 due to ill health and the Whispers vowed never to replace him when he died in 2000. In the new millennium, the group still performs around the world to thousands of loyal fans. The group has not made any personnel changes and still consists of Walter Scott, Wallace Scott, Nicholas Caldwell, and Leaveil Degree. They have taken the world by storm, selling out in various casinos and hotels, music venues, and they have a tremendous following throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa. However, they still find time for charity work with youth education, cancer organizations, 100 Black Men, and Domestic violence charities.
On September 23, 2003, The Whispers’ four decades of accomplishments were acknowledged when they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. On June 12, 2005, The San Francisco Chapter of the Grammy Awards presented the Whispers with the prestigious Governors Award, the highest honor bestowed by an Academy Chapter. They were also inducted into the Bay Area Blues Society Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2007, The Black Music Academy of America selected the Whispers to receive their “Living Legends” award.
They are one of only a few “old school” groups that can boast of having over 40 years in the industry with a worldwide fan base. The Whispers waited almost a decade to produce a new CD in 2005. This independent product, the first venture of their newly formed corporation Satin Tie Entertainment is a masterpiece entitled, “For Your Ears Only”. According to Walter, “This title was a way of saying to our fans that while we want everyone’s support, we very much want the support of our fans, who have been with us for many, many years.” It made its way up the Billboard chart immediately. In 2007, they release a DVD of their live concert entitled “The Whispers Live From Las Vegas”, the first of its kind. A CD soundtrack of the same concert was also released.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Seven Gold Albums, Two Platinum Albums, 12 Top Twenty Singles, 40 Charted Hits Since 1970, Four Decades of Pop & R & B FavoritesAmerican Music Award Nominees, Soul Train Award Nominees, Grammy Award Nominees
2003 Vocal Group Hall of Fame Inductees, 2005 S.F. Regional Grammy Governors Award
I
The Whispers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the middle of the ocean without a shore
I was afraid
That I'd break into a million tiny bubbles and evaporate
Into the sky
I was a mountain
Standing with my head above the clouds
I felt the rumbling
To my core
Oh I
Am I
Am I
Am I
Am I ready to be everything
That I need to be when it all begins to change
And fall apart
I fall
I fall
Fall apart
I fall
I fall
Am I ready to be
Everything
That I need to be when
It all begins
Do I let it all go
Let it all go
When it's all that I know
I just don't know if I can hold my own
You're not alone
But who will I be
Just wait and see
I'm feeling like I'm ready to fall
Into it all
Oh I
Am I
Am I
Am I
Am I ready to be everything
That I need to be when it all begins to change
Do I let it all go
When it's all that I know
I can hold my own
No I'm not alone
Who will I be
I'm ready to see
Ready to fall
And fall apart
I fall
I fall
Fall apart
I fall
I fall
Fall apart
I fall
I fall
Fall apart
I fall
I fall
I fall apart
The Whispers's song "I" is a plaintive and introspective piece that delves into themes of insecurity, fear, and uncertainty. The lyrics evoke the image of a wave in the middle of the ocean, vulnerable and afraid of breaking apart into a million tiny bubbles. The metaphor of the wave speaks to a sense of powerlessness and an awareness of one's own transience. The lyrics also describe the feeling of being a mountain with the head above the clouds, but sensing the rumbling beneath the surface that threatens to shake everything loose. The song addresses the question of whether the singer is ready to embrace the changes that will inevitably come, and to be the person that they need to be in order to face these challenges.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of tension between holding on and letting go. The repeated refrain of "Do I let it all go / When it's all that I know" captures this ambiguity. The singer is torn between the desire to cling to what is familiar and to take risks, to fall apart in order to become something new. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency and a desire to move forward: "I'm feeling like I'm ready to fall / Into it all." At the same time, there is a recognition that this process of transformation may be difficult: "I just don't know if I can hold my own." The song ends with a note of optimism and possibility: "Who will I be / I'm ready to see / Ready to fall / And fall apart."
Line by Line Meaning
I was a wave
I felt like I was a wave in the midst of the ocean, without any particular direction or end.
In the middle of the ocean without a shore
I was in a place where I had no clear path forward or any definitive goals to strive for.
I was afraid
The uncertainty of my situation made me feel anxious and uneasy.
That I'd break into a million tiny bubbles and evaporate
I was concerned that my identity or sense of self would disappear indefinitely, leaving me with nothing but a scattering of isolated thoughts and feelings.
Into the sky
I imagined myself vanishing into the atmosphere, escaping from the world entirely.
I was a mountain
I felt like an immovable force of nature, solid and unchanging.
Standing with my head above the clouds
I was towering over everything else, overcome with a sense of power and control.
I felt the rumbling
Despite my solid appearance, I could feel something deep within me shifting and trembling.
Deep beneath the surface I can feel it shaking me loose
Underneath my facade, I was starting to come apart at the seams.
To my core
These feelings were coming from the very center of my being.
Am I ready to be everything
I questioned whether I had the strength and resilience to create a new identity for myself in the face of adversity.
That I need to be when it all begins to change
I wondered if I had the resources to adapt and adjust as my surroundings evolved and transformed.
And fall apart
I feared that everything around me was collapsing, and I was unable to stop or slow it down.
I fall
I am breaking down and descending into chaos.
Fall apart
Everything around me is disintegrating, and I am powerless to stop it.
Do I let it all go
I considered whether I should try to cling to my old identity and the world I used to know or to let them go entirely.
When it's all that I know
The idea of letting go is daunting because it means leaving behind everything familiar and comfortable.
I just don't know if I can hold my own
I doubted whether I could manage to cope with this amount of instability and uncertainty on my own.
You're not alone
However, I am reassured that there are people who can support me and help me through hard times.
But who will I be
Despite this, I wonder who I will become in the future and what my new life will look like.
Just wait and see
For now, I have to simply accept the unknown and wait for things to unfold at their own pace.
I'm feeling like I'm ready to fall
Despite my fears, there is a sense of exhilaration and excitement about the possibility of transformation and growth.
Into it all
I am willing to dive headfirst and embrace whatever lies ahead for me.
I fall apart
Despite my resolve, I know that I will continue to feel a sense of chaos and dissolution as I undergo this process.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Justin Lev, Megan Burtner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adrienne Robinson
I'm a Whispers fan because my late mother loved them so much. I remember her playing their albums over and over. Naturally I began loving them too. To hear their music makes me feel close to my mother. She was truly the best mom. I miss her so much.. She passed on in 2013. I'm way grown, but oh if I could hear her voice, get one more hug, or sit and watch Law and Order with her, etc... Y'all know the rest. RIP MOMMA I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU SO MUCH. 🌹 ❤️
Adrienne Robinson
@Gwendolyn Spence My prayers and condolences to you. Thank you for your message and prayers.
Trent Douglas
To truly appreciate this sound you must have a soul. I have been a loyal whispers fan for over 30 years. And I'm only 50. Nobody can duplicate the way they convey intimacy and Love with word like these guys. Thanks!!
Michelle Lloyd
Amen
Savannah
You know God has truly bless these guys.They are by far my favorite group ever.My husband and I have live our love by the music they have made.Nick was a terrific song writer he knew just what a woman needs and Scotty and Walter sang them so beautifully.They make you want to be in love and stay there too.Marcus,Levell and Nick background voices are so smooth and the harmony is amazing.Love you .....THE WHISPERS
Mr. Cyrus F Watkins
The whispers music has gotten me through a lot of good times and sad times growing up..looking for love..finding love...being in love and sometimes breaking up..I guess that's sometimes a part of life..either way..this music is truly one of the soundtracks of my life. May God bless and protect each and every member of the Whispers and their families always.
Anthony Clemons
Most definitely, really music ❤️
Gloria
God bless u!
Gloria
Love ur comment,perfectl response,could have said it better myself.. Ty
Belinda Sierra
Best group ever the lyrics, love at its best kinda music.♡