Benny Burns, Senior
Even if you don’t know their name, you’ve probably heard some of Earth, Wind, and Fire’s music. For example, most people have heard their hit “Boogie Wonderland” or their song “September,” which calls for a yearly replay on September 21st. The group, including musicians Junior Wells, Philip Bailey, and Maurice White on vocals, has put out several albums over the years, with one of their best being their 1979 release entitled I Am. This album includes some of their biggest hits such as the aforementioned “Boogie Wonderland” in addition to some songs that aren’t as well known. For example, while the album’s opener “In The Stone” is just as good as any of their other big songs, it is not as popular amongst listeners. This song is about love and its uniting forces. The next song is similar in theme but focuses on the singer and how much he cares for his girlfriend. However, the following track seems to signal a sad ending for the two of them as the singer is wondering what he has “After The Love is Gone.” He seems to have found someone new however, going off of “Let Your Feelings Show.”
While “Boogie Wonderland” is one of my favorite songs of theirs, it is much more of a party song. This song is less about relationships and more about dancing, partying, and overall simply having fun. The next song, entitled “Star,” mainly explores how it is inevitable that life will get tough at times. In the following track, “Wait,” the singer confesses his feelings and hopes that they are reciprocated. The last two songs on the album, entitled “Rock That!” and “You and I” are about how things in the world may be rough, but if we work together, we can make it through difficult times. If you have never heard of the band Earth, Wind, and Fire, this album is a great starting point and displays their talent through the album’s variety of songs, regardless of their individual popularity.