Born in Coshocton, Ohio, United States, the daughter of a disc jockey, Williams became interested in singing while in high school. Her family moved from Ohio to Los Angeles in the 1960s. Williams and her sisters once appeared on the television show Jack and Jill as The Williams Sisters. She returned to Ohio in 1977, and sang in the girl group Wild Honey (with bandmate Freddi Poole), but soon decided to go back to Los Angeles to launch a solo career. Former Fifth Dimension member Ron Townson put Williams in his band Wild Honey. After that stint, she found work as a session musician, working with artists such as Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Stephanie Mills, and Gordon Lightfoot. Williams sang on the original version of Joe Sample's "The Survivor", and met producer David Crawford while working with his group Klique. After doing much session work, she secured a recording contract with A&M Records which released her debut album Vesta in 1986. The album became a modest seller on the R&B Albums Chart and it featured her first Top 10 R&B hit "Once Bitten, Twice Shy", which also became her only UK hit.
Her 1988 sophomore release, Vesta 4 U, produced the Top 10 R&B hits "Sweet Sweet Love", "4 U", and "Congratulations", with the latter peaking at #55 on the Hot 100 chart, her only single to appear in that chart. This would also be her most successful album, and her only album to appear on the US Billboard 200, peaking at #131. In 1991, Williams released her third album entitled Special, and the title track as a single. That single became her highest charting song on the R&B chart at #2, but sales of the album were less than that of Vesta 4 U. Her next album, 1993's Everything-N-More, produced only the minor R&B hit "Always".
In 1989, Polygram Records purchased A&M Records. Williams' 1998 album Relationships was released under the Polygram name, and it became a modest seller and appeared on the R&B chart. After this album, A&M/Polygram Records parted ways with her. She continued to be a session singer, landing spots on albums by such artists as Phil Perry, Howard Hewett, and George Duke.
In 2000, Polygram released a compilation album, featuring songs from Williams and CeCe Peniston, another Polygram artist.
In 2007, Williams released an album of R&B songs on Shanachie Records entitled Distant Lover. Produced by Chris "Big Dog" Davis, it featured songs originally recorded by Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Sade, and Deniece Williams.
Williams portrayed a saloon singer in the 1993 film Posse, directed by Mario Van Peebles. She also had a hit with the SWV song, "Rain", with the smooth jazz musician, Norman Brown.
Special
Vesta Williams Lyrics
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Ooh... ooh...
Yeah
Ooh... ooh... ooh
Never thought I'd find a lover
Who could love me like no other, Sugar
Now I'm spellbound in your hands
You're more than twice a man
The more I'm in your arms the more I need you
I look in your eyes I feel you
The way you hold me, feels so right, (So right)
The way you make me feel is oh so special
My baby and I just gotta let you know, feels so right
You make me feel so special, darlin'
On and on it, gettin' stronger
You just make me feel so special
Nights of passion, filled with moonlight
Makes the moments with you so right, baby
You have made my life so grand
Don't know how glad I am that I have your love
The more I'm in your arms, the more I need you
No matter where I am I feel you
The way you kiss me it feels so good (So good)
I love the way you make me feel so special, darlin'
And I just gotta let you know
That it feels so right
You make me feel so special, darlin'
On and on feeling stronger
Oh... oh... oh... oh... oh
Ooh, ooh, yeah
(Oh... oh... oh...)
Ooh, the more I have your love, the more I need you
If I had to change the world, I would to keep you
The way you love me, don't ever stop (Oh, oh)
There's no one who could make me feel so special, baby
And I just gotta let you know
That it feels so right
You make me feel so special, baby
On and on gettin' stronger
Oh... oh... oh... oh... oh
Special (Special)
Special, special (Yes, you are, baby)
Special (Yeah)
You make me feel so special (You make me feel so good)
Special (Baby)
Special (I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I) special
(Special, hey)
You make me feel so special (Special, baby, ooh, ooh)
Special, baby,
Feels so right you make me feel so special
(Special, baby, bay, oh, oh)
My love (My love),
And it feels so right when you oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
In Vesta Williams's song "Special," the singer expresses her surprise that she has found a lover who can love her like no other. She is completely devoted to this man, and he makes her feel so special. She is spellbound in his hands and loves the way he holds her. The more she is in his arms, the more she needs him. The singer is completely enamored with her lover and the nights they spend together, filled with moonlight and passion. Even though she doesn't know how she got so lucky to have him in her life, she is grateful and thankful for his love.
The lyrics of "Special" convey the deep love and affection one can have for another person. The singer's devotion to her lover is palpable through her lyrics. She is grateful for his love and the way he makes her feel. The way he holds her and the nights they spend together are what make her feel special. The song is a beautiful expression of love and affection that is sure to resonate with anyone who has found that special someone in their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Never thought I'd find a lover
I didn't expect to find someone to love me like you do
Who could love me like no other, Sugar
You love me in a way that no one else ever has before, my love
Now I'm spellbound in your hands
I'm completely under your enchantment
You're more than twice a man
You're not just a regular man, you're twice as great
And I love you
I truly love you
The more I'm in your arms the more I need you
I can't get enough of being close to you
I look in your eyes I feel you
When I gaze into your eyes, I feel your love and presence
The way you hold me, feels so right, (So right)
The way you embrace me is exactly how it's meant to be
The way you make me feel is oh so special
You make me feel exceptionally cherished and loved
My baby and I just gotta let you know, feels so right
My love and I have to express how perfect this all feels
You make me feel so special, darlin'
You make me feel unique and valued, my dear
On and on it, gettin' stronger
These feelings grow stronger every day
Nights of passion, filled with moonlight
Our romantic trysts under the moonlight are so memorably intense
Makes the moments with you so right, baby
Those special moments we share feel absolutely perfect, my love
You have made my life so grand
You've elevated my life to great heights
Don't know how glad I am that I have your love
I can't express enough how thankful I am for your love
No matter where I am I feel you
I always feel your presence, even when you're away
The way you kiss me it feels so good (So good)
Your kisses are beyond pleasurable
And I just gotta let you know
I need to tell you
If I had to change the world, I would to keep you
I would do anything in the world to keep you in my life
There's no one who could make me feel so special, baby
No one else could make me feel as cherished as you do, my love
Special (Special)
You're special
Yes, you are, baby
You truly are special, my love
You make me feel so special (You make me feel so good)
You make me feel so uniquely loved (you make me feel amazing)
(I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I) special
You specifically make me feel special
Writer(s): Attala Zane Giles, Vesta Williams Copyright: Captain Z. Publishing, Almo Music Corp., Vesta Seven Music, MCA Music Publishing A.D.O. Universal S
Contributed by Caroline E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.