Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire
In honor of one of the most outstanding, soulful groups in musical lore, the various artists on Interpretation: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire perform emotional remixes of Earth, Wind & Fire's classics, and each artist puts their own unique imprint on their track.
Chaka Khan expressively croons on "Shining Star." Earth, Wind & Fire released the song in 1975 on an album titled That's the Way of the World, a soundtrack album for a movie of the same name, in which they starred. Khan puts her signature groove on this song which also has smooth guitar and drum work. The song inspires listeners to believe in themselves and emotes a feeling of self-worth, with lines such as, "Yeah yeah, when you wish upon a star, dreams will take you very far. When you wish upon a dream, life ain't always what it seems, oh yeah. What you see on nights so clear in the sky so very near. You are a shining star no matter who you are." Khan really gets into the song and makes you trust what she is singing to your very core.
Next is "Be Ever Wonderful," from poignant songstress Angie Stone. Released originally by Earth, Wind & Fire on their 1991 album, appropriately entitled The Ballads, Stone emits a cool beat, as soothing guitar play accompanies her silky voice. There is also drum work but it doesn't overthrow the effectiveness of the track. Stone tells her partner to continue to be as they are and not to alter themselves because they are perfect in their current form, with lines like, "Be ever wonderful, alright. Stay as you are. Time is right, for you tonight. Find your place in the broad daylight. Stay as you are alright, and be ever wonderful."
Kirk Franklin does a commendable remix of one of Earth, Wind & Fire's most monumental songs, "September." He begins the track with a declaration, "This is a tribute right now and it's about to go down." Then, he breaks into the enduring lyrics with some slight variations from the original, such as, "Do you remember when it was like September. Before you were cold like December/And I remember that day when you surrendered/The season it won't last/Tell me you remember when your heart felt like September." The original rhythm still resonates but the initial lyrics still flow better, despite Franklin's best efforts.
Another classic Earth, Wind & Fire love song, "After the Love is Gone," is sung by the R&B group, Mint Condition. Each member blends their lustrous voices in harmonious balance against the even piano play on this track, as they utter the traditional lines such as, "To love was all we could do. We were young and we knew in our eyes/Something happened along the way and yesterday was all we had, and after the love is gone, how could you lead me on/Oh oh oh after the love is gone, what used to be right is wrong, can love that's lost be found." Lead singer Stokley Williams, bassist Ricky Kinchen, guitarist Homer O'Dell, pianist Larry Waddell and keyboardist/saxophonist Jeffrey Allen do this song true justice as they croon about love that has changed, but not for the better.
Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire has artists trying to show their appreciation for a great band who changed the face of music and brought joy to their fans for years. For the most part, the artists maintain the integrity of each song with some slight drifts now and again that throw off some of the songs to some degree.