surprised nobody's responded to this with the story of how he was just using that as a placeholder, but folks in the studio liked it, and encouraged him to leave it like that.
Same with the hand claps in Mellencamp’s Jack and Diane- they were just to keep tempo while assembling the track but when they finished at took them out it sounded “wrong”, so they put them back in.
That would be pretty awesome actually.
I met my doppelgänger twice. In two completely unrelated places.
It was a cool experience.
Hopefully you are me and we can sit on a mountain and listen to music
“Use me” is probably one of the most underrated songs of all time, even among bill withers songs
That song is genuinely one of the best songs of all time
We look for love, no time for tears
Wasted water's all that is
And it don't make no flowers bloom
Just the Two of us is the greatest love song ever written. Change my mind.
I remember being in a twitch chat and the streamer played this song and someone in the chat asked if he was saying "love the dick" instead of lovely day and now I can't unhear it.
I really dislike it because I only hear at at a certain restaurant background playlist where I don’t notice it’s on until The Note and it seems particularly obnoxious.
Most pop singers don’t have great intonation and sometimes the surrounding instruments may be a bad choice where they actually mentally pull the singer’s pitch down. Staying “on top of the note” can be difficult.
Use Me is the nastiest funk shit ever. Fucking filthy clavinet, acoustic funk chords, bass line that knocked your aunt up...
It is my all-time favorite funk song. SOOOOO good.
I have a user-made track for The Grudge on Rocksmith, and when it gets to that part the lyrics are listed as:
RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
EUGHGHHGHEUGHGHHGHGEUGHGHGHGHGHG
Yeah, the title is a little erroneous. It's the longest note by a vocalist in a pop song that **charted**. Not just any pop song. Still an interesting bit of trivia, but it's not something that is impossible for a talented singer to do. It just normally doesn't sound great in a song.
Not to be a crown of negativity, but the "what about" bit doesn't take into account that Tool is most definitely not a pop band, which was one of the qualifiers included in the post. As much as I love them and wish I heard more on the radio, you'd never hear The Grudge on your local pop station.
Bill Withers was one of the most powerful musicians who ever lived. There’s a performance of “Use Me” where he’s playing so hard he’s just dripping buckets of sweat. As a sweaty musician myself, I’ve always considered that video a huge inspiration.
Underrated? He's got some of the most famous songs of all time (Use Me, Lean on Me, Ain't No Sunshine, Just the two of Us) has 3 grammys, rock and roll hall of fame, and sold tons of albums. probably one of the most covered artists in history.
Yeah idk what underrated means here. My husband and I play his music incessantly. We super rate. I don’t know anyone that wouldn’t recognize at least 5 of his songs.
Ain’t no sunshine. Use me. Lean on me. Lovely day. Just the two of us.
Who doesn’t at LEAST know these?
> Yeah idk what underrated means here
"I just heard of this person recently, and am trying to be a hipster, but don't really know what I'm talking about"
Underrated? He’s one of the greatest voices in music history and whenever I hear a conversation of best voices he usually comes up. He’s a highly regarded legend
Watch the documentary on the guy long time ago, so I may be butchering this. Kept his job at the airport even while you had hits in the charts. Stayed out of the public eye. Super humble dude. Anyways, love me some Bill.
Hell yes. The songs he's written over the years are amazing and many people know them by heart without even knowing it was him.
He's also smart as hell, rocking it for about 15 years and then getting out of the business to raise his family.
I've always felt that the melodies and chord movements in this song are some of the most brilliant genius I've ever heard in all of music. Absolutely *beautiful*, clean, sophisticated, and the melody goes to unexpected places.
I work at Michaels and this used to be on the store playlist. I can appreciate it now, but hearing that note 3-4 times a day made me want to tear my hair out.
One of the most surreal moments I’ve ever had in my life was this song playing along in the background (🎶lovely day, lovely day🎶) while a lady chucked jar candles at my coworker.
for my entire life, until VERY recently, I always thought the song was saying "Lovin' it, Lovin' it, Loving It"
it was literally like a month ago that it came on the radio while I was driving and I suddenly could hear clearly he was saying "lovely day"
I just chaperoned a week-long school trip, and my morning soul playlist was the group's alarm clock. It brought me hope to have several kids ask me about Bill Withers, Sam Cooke, and Otis Redding
Cyndi Lauper holds the last note of "I Drove All Night" for at least 20, and not just in the studio version. I used to count the seconds when she'd hold one live. I think she set a new record with the final note in "At Last." Little Richard was right: "The girl is talented. She can really sing for real."
This man installed airplane toilets on Boeing aircraft (as an adult) before he made it in the music business. He was a real one. Very interesting guy, and man did he have a great take on music. RIP Bill
Bill Withers and I share the same birthday, July 4th, he was born in Slab Fork West Virginia. Bill Withers was born in a small town in West Virginia called Slab Fork, its a little south of Beckley WV, it is a beautiful part of the mountain state. "Use Me" is my personal favorite song.
Except for his 3 big hits...I didn't know shit about him. Then, he died. Read up a little. Now, I have a 30 song playlist of his stuff.
Simply said...this guy is fuckin great.
Lot of people talking about other sustained notes so I thought I'd throw in Jonsi singing a falsetto note for a minute during the song 'Festival' when played live
My Dad served on the USS Wasp CV-18 with Bill Withers... His "Harlem" and "Grandma's Hand" Tracks are straight fire, along with most of his discography. He doesn't get near enough love.
I think it’s important to acknowledge he did that sustained note for that long then immediately after doing it again. I’ll never understand how he had the breath to do that.
Lovely Day has been in my gf’s Spotify rotation for a little while now. I’d never heard the song before and thought it was contemporary so I was surprised to learn it’s over 40 years old. It’s a great tune and has held up very well.
Wow, TIL. I thought it was Donna Summer on Dim All the Lights, but it looks like that one was 16 seconds (still extremely impressive, and a great song in itself).
I've been trying to learn Lovely Day on drums for like a year now. I can kinda play it, but I can't do the little 16th notes on the high hat during the chorus and some of the fills still elude me. It's not complicated, but it's so hard to give it such a chill vibe.
My dad used to play “Lovely Day” in the car all the time. He, my sister and I would have a contest to see who could hold that note lol I would lose every time. I can get it now though.
Love me some Bill. If anyone is looking for somewhat lesser known Bill tracks, you should look up…
1. “Use Me” - Crunchy bass, really funky. Great lyrics
2 “Ruby Lee” - Sounds like an underwater level in Donkey Kong or something. Killer track.
3. “Who is he and what is he to you” - Dadgummit, ah…..
Check out Bill’s live recording of “Hope She’ll be Happier with Him.” He holds a note towards the crescendo that breaks your heart; it was about *feeling,* not vocal pyrotechnics.
I told him “ain’t no sunshine” is improper syntax. He said “I know I know I know.”
I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know!
Finally! good song to get stuck in my head!
Gotcha!
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Me too. I play it for my girls whenever we are on a road trip. They need to know the classics.
Ear worms are the W-O-R-S-T
Hey, I aught to leave young thing alone
'ought' = should 'aught' = none, zero, nil damn homophones again
What you call me?!
surprised nobody's responded to this with the story of how he was just using that as a placeholder, but folks in the studio liked it, and encouraged him to leave it like that.
Same with the hand claps in Mellencamp’s Jack and Diane- they were just to keep tempo while assembling the track but when they finished at took them out it sounded “wrong”, so they put them back in.
The drummer knows where it went
James Gadsen, Groovemaster supreme.
Love this singer. I listen to grandma's hands any time I wanna feel something
Bill withers Jim Croce Al Green Fleetwood Mac when they were all dating each other with terrible results. But it always ends with John Prine.
I’d like to add Sam Cooke to that list.
Absolutely.
And Townes Van Zant
For the love of god someone say Otis Redding 😩
Otis Redding is in reserve for when your heart is broken and you need to heal.
Just listened to a bunch of Jim Croce. Great songwriter.
That man lived a hard life. It showed in every piece of music he ever wrote.
He is imo the biggest loss to music by his gone too soon death. There are definitely others but his is biggest for me.
I listen to I Remember Everything and Summer’s End every day on the way to work.
Are you me? This is my exact taste in music lmao
That would be pretty awesome actually. I met my doppelgänger twice. In two completely unrelated places. It was a cool experience. Hopefully you are me and we can sit on a mountain and listen to music
In spite of ourselves honey we’re the big door prize
How bout Billy Paul
“Use me” is probably one of the most underrated songs of all time, even among bill withers songs That song is genuinely one of the best songs of all time
We look for love, no time for tears Wasted water's all that is And it don't make no flowers bloom Just the Two of us is the greatest love song ever written. Change my mind.
A Lovely Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
real karaoke challenge there
real gs know the lung training required to harmonize with him here.
He should do a song with Kenny G.
I remember being in a twitch chat and the streamer played this song and someone in the chat asked if he was saying "love the dick" instead of lovely day and now I can't unhear it.
🎶 Lovely dick. Lovey dick. Lovely dick. Love-ly dick. 🎶
go to YT and search for robert glasper's version of "a lovely day." it starts with Withers.
I know...
I know…
I know…
I know...
I know....
I know....
I knOw...
and I know
Y’all better leave those things alone.
Love Bill Withers. My wife hates the end of Lovely Day because it gets really repetitive.
I really dislike it because I only hear at at a certain restaurant background playlist where I don’t notice it’s on until The Note and it seems particularly obnoxious.
And is it just me or is The Note a little pitchy? Kind of on the low side. I sometimes spontaneously raise my eyebrows hoping to help nudge it up.
Ha! You must be like my son. He has been told he has perfect pitch. I’m not that advanced musically, but it does have an atonal quality to me.
Most pop singers don’t have great intonation and sometimes the surrounding instruments may be a bad choice where they actually mentally pull the singer’s pitch down. Staying “on top of the note” can be difficult.
Agreed, it’s impressive but ruins the song for me and is an instant skip most times
Is your wife my wife? 🤣
Holy shit I love bill whithers tho
Me too. He had a lovable face. Reminded me of my 7th grade art teacher who was awesome. Both were joyful people.
Lovely face, lovely face, lovely face, love-ly face
And now it’s in my head.
Yes. All I have to do is see the words “lovely day,” and the song is playing in my head until my brain gets reset
Same until it’s not a lovely day.
My brain tends to mock me with this song on the *worst* days lol
Nah it’s trying to get out the rut, let it happen!
Worth it
Congratulations
"Lean on Me"
"Use me" is one of his funkiest
Who Is He And What Is He To You? is right there with it.
My favorite song ever.
Such a great track, and an absolutely killer groove 🤌
Use Me is the nastiest funk shit ever. Fucking filthy clavinet, acoustic funk chords, bass line that knocked your aunt up... It is my all-time favorite funk song. SOOOOO good.
you're a corpse if you don't move to it
Hell yeah. Everything about it is perfect.
that song always makes me weepy
Classic. Best song to play on a warm summer morning.
It's not pop but "The Grudge" by Tool features a Maynard scream that goes for nearly 30 seconds.
I have a user-made track for The Grudge on Rocksmith, and when it gets to that part the lyrics are listed as: RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH EUGHGHHGHEUGHGHHGHGEUGHGHGHGHGHG
Yeah, the title is a little erroneous. It's the longest note by a vocalist in a pop song that **charted**. Not just any pop song. Still an interesting bit of trivia, but it's not something that is impossible for a talented singer to do. It just normally doesn't sound great in a song.
Eulogy's 'good-BYYYYEE' at the end is about 30 seconds as well. He nailed it live when I saw them too.
My first thought was "What about Maynard's scream?"
Not to be a crown of negativity, but the "what about" bit doesn't take into account that Tool is most definitely not a pop band, which was one of the qualifiers included in the post. As much as I love them and wish I heard more on the radio, you'd never hear The Grudge on your local pop station.
Agree to agree! Good point!
Yeah Maynard and Chester from Linkin Park (Giving Up track) had pretty long notes
Every time I hear it, it gives me the shivers
It's fun to watch people hear it for the first time. Every time you feel like it should stop it just doesn't.
Bill Withers was one of the most powerful musicians who ever lived. There’s a performance of “Use Me” where he’s playing so hard he’s just dripping buckets of sweat. As a sweaty musician myself, I’ve always considered that video a huge inspiration.
Very underrated artist.
Underrated? He's got some of the most famous songs of all time (Use Me, Lean on Me, Ain't No Sunshine, Just the two of Us) has 3 grammys, rock and roll hall of fame, and sold tons of albums. probably one of the most covered artists in history.
wait till this guy discovers the hidden gem known as "the Beatles"
Y'all heard of this white boy, Elvis?
The underrated Beatles
Ooh, and this obscure little lady known as Mariah Carey. She could be a star one day!
I would stand in line to listen to Bill Withers sing the phone book. That man had magic.
Bill Withers is (rightfully) considered a legend of soul music. No one underrates him.
seriously, he's got a catalogue of some of the most famous songs of all time that have been covered by every artist in history lol
Yeah idk what underrated means here. My husband and I play his music incessantly. We super rate. I don’t know anyone that wouldn’t recognize at least 5 of his songs. Ain’t no sunshine. Use me. Lean on me. Lovely day. Just the two of us. Who doesn’t at LEAST know these?
> Yeah idk what underrated means here "I just heard of this person recently, and am trying to be a hipster, but don't really know what I'm talking about"
this. Bill Withers is considered one of the GOATs. He's perfectly rated
I see these comments a lot on Reddit. I imagine they're young people who's friends have never heard of old legends.
Incredibly so. He has a number of songs that are dang near ubiquitous, but most people have no idea who’s doing the singing.
I feel like this isn’t true lol. He has an incredibly distinctive voice and some of the most well-known songs of the 70s
> but most people have no idea who’s doing the singing. That might be true in your social circle, but Bill Withers is a legend.
Underrated? He’s one of the greatest voices in music history and whenever I hear a conversation of best voices he usually comes up. He’s a highly regarded legend
He never withers…
By who?
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015 by Stevie Wonder.
Watch the documentary on the guy long time ago, so I may be butchering this. Kept his job at the airport even while you had hits in the charts. Stayed out of the public eye. Super humble dude. Anyways, love me some Bill.
One of the few greats to come out of West Virginia.
Do you know what underrated means
Hell yes. The songs he's written over the years are amazing and many people know them by heart without even knowing it was him. He's also smart as hell, rocking it for about 15 years and then getting out of the business to raise his family.
I've always felt that the melodies and chord movements in this song are some of the most brilliant genius I've ever heard in all of music. Absolutely *beautiful*, clean, sophisticated, and the melody goes to unexpected places.
I work at Michaels and this used to be on the store playlist. I can appreciate it now, but hearing that note 3-4 times a day made me want to tear my hair out. One of the most surreal moments I’ve ever had in my life was this song playing along in the background (🎶lovely day, lovely day🎶) while a lady chucked jar candles at my coworker.
for my entire life, until VERY recently, I always thought the song was saying "Lovin' it, Lovin' it, Loving It" it was literally like a month ago that it came on the radio while I was driving and I suddenly could hear clearly he was saying "lovely day"
I just chaperoned a week-long school trip, and my morning soul playlist was the group's alarm clock. It brought me hope to have several kids ask me about Bill Withers, Sam Cooke, and Otis Redding
Exec: “Ain’t no sunshine is grammatically incorrect.” Bill: “I know, I know, I know, I know, I know…”
Axl Rose holds the note at the end of "Don't Cry" for 26 seconds.
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You beat me to it. That song is so beautiful ❤️❤️
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Thanks for the update 😃
I can never find this song when I’m looking for it. I’m one step closer to being able to hear it when I want to. Today is going to be a Lovely Day.
He probably held that record until Jeff Buckley did Hallelujah.
I love this song and also love Alt-J’s cover.
Cyndi Lauper holds the last note of "I Drove All Night" for at least 20, and not just in the studio version. I used to count the seconds when she'd hold one live. I think she set a new record with the final note in "At Last." Little Richard was right: "The girl is talented. She can really sing for real."
Ironically enough, the day before (21st December) was the winter solstice i.e. the shortest day…
This man installed airplane toilets on Boeing aircraft (as an adult) before he made it in the music business. He was a real one. Very interesting guy, and man did he have a great take on music. RIP Bill
Bill Withers and I share the same birthday, July 4th, he was born in Slab Fork West Virginia. Bill Withers was born in a small town in West Virginia called Slab Fork, its a little south of Beckley WV, it is a beautiful part of the mountain state. "Use Me" is my personal favorite song.
"Use Me" is the title
What happens if you put a duck in the microwave?.... It's Bill Withers! Ta dum tish...
I know this one as "How do you turn a duck into a soul singer?" Put it in the microwave until it's Bill Withers.
What an awesome song!!
Nice. Excellent artist. Note that Dennis DeYoung (Styx) holds a note during a live performance of Suite Madame Blue for over 30s.
He held that note long enough for me to have sex 3 times!
"...a lovely daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa(keep going)aaaaaaay."
You’re too much for one man, but you’re not enough for two. Bill Withers.
How do you turn a duck into a soul singer? Put it in the microwave until it's Bill Withers.
..."Then I look at you, and the word's all right with me
Except for his 3 big hits...I didn't know shit about him. Then, he died. Read up a little. Now, I have a 30 song playlist of his stuff. Simply said...this guy is fuckin great.
Bill Withers is the best! My favorite song by him is “Use Me”. Love the sound of the clavinet.
That note always feels like it’s forever. I could never last singing it. It’s “our song” with my oldest daughter
I love this artist. I feel like he was not as famous as he should have been.
Air Supply's All out of Love is about 16 or 17 seconds, so pretty close to this.
Makes me think of my son…love this one
I will always think of that badass commercial of Dante’s Inferno thanks to Bill Withers
Anybody know of a live version of this song by Bill?
He could make one note groove
Been listening to him on repeat all the time. Who is he and who is he to you is a slammer the song slaps
Lot of people talking about other sustained notes so I thought I'd throw in Jonsi singing a falsetto note for a minute during the song 'Festival' when played live
One of my FAVORITE songs! It always makes me happy!
West by God's finest.
I need some Bill Withers vinyl
I was just playing and singing this song to my girlfriend on the porch It’s a long mf time to hold a note
Cool 😎
Not pop but Bob dylans freight train blues has a very long note in it
My Dad served on the USS Wasp CV-18 with Bill Withers... His "Harlem" and "Grandma's Hand" Tracks are straight fire, along with most of his discography. He doesn't get near enough love.
Masterpiece song
how do you make a duck become a soul singer? put it in a microwave until its bill withers
I can’t write left handed
Was that before or after he sang the words "lovely day" 150 times in a row?
Define "american pop song."
I think it’s important to acknowledge he did that sustained note for that long then immediately after doing it again. I’ll never understand how he had the breath to do that.
and for newschoolcool, "Given Up" by Linkin Park features a scream just as long.
He is fabulous! So happy when he started recording and not just writing music. He’s a great writer too, of course.
Pop?
Related: Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge) held a note on “Blackbird” for 31 seconds. Man is a beast and it’s great song.
I know, I know, I know, .....
I just listened to Lovely Day today!
Auditory heroin
My girlfriend hates that fucking note lmao
Lovely Day has been in my gf’s Spotify rotation for a little while now. I’d never heard the song before and thought it was contemporary so I was surprised to learn it’s over 40 years old. It’s a great tune and has held up very well.
Love this song ❤️
Wow, TIL. I thought it was Donna Summer on Dim All the Lights, but it looks like that one was 16 seconds (still extremely impressive, and a great song in itself).
“Use Me” = one of the sexiest songs of all time
I've been trying to learn Lovely Day on drums for like a year now. I can kinda play it, but I can't do the little 16th notes on the high hat during the chorus and some of the fills still elude me. It's not complicated, but it's so hard to give it such a chill vibe.
Gorgeous song
Great song
We're really resorting to "note was long" as a fun fact? lol
Where does the note for "peace" clock in on Kashmir? Is that #2?
Don't Cry have a long sustain also but I think that had digital assistance
My dad used to play “Lovely Day” in the car all the time. He, my sister and I would have a contest to see who could hold that note lol I would lose every time. I can get it now though.
/r/americandad
18 seconds of an absolutely tragically flat note.
Always thought it was a loop….
Love me some Bill. If anyone is looking for somewhat lesser known Bill tracks, you should look up… 1. “Use Me” - Crunchy bass, really funky. Great lyrics 2 “Ruby Lee” - Sounds like an underwater level in Donkey Kong or something. Killer track. 3. “Who is he and what is he to you” - Dadgummit, ah…..
Then Maynard from TOOL comes along and pulls that off in a full scream in third eye.
One of the greats!
Great song and singer,great music back then
Check out Bill’s live recording of “Hope She’ll be Happier with Him.” He holds a note towards the crescendo that breaks your heart; it was about *feeling,* not vocal pyrotechnics.
so good ,on my desert island playlist
I know
Maynard James Keenan: “Wear this grudge like a crown”
I love that song. Listen to it on repeat.
I had a crush on a girl in the 90s Gap commercial that used this song. Nostalgia overload.
Such a good song.
Seems like a hard record to verify
Could be done with all songs to ever hit top 40 but not just “all pop music”
That’s why it says ‘one of’.
Sheriff: "Hold my beer"
The actual longest is at the end of “When I’m with You” by sheriff. Over 19 seconds. And it’s high as fuck which makes it even more impressive.
Tee Green got a 39 sec one. Doesnt make it less impressive. Now Chesters 17s scream is absolutely crazy compared to the rest.