"You Bring Me Joy"
Song by Anita Baker
from the album Rapture
Released1986
Genre
Length4:24
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)David Lasley
Producer(s)Michael J. Powell
Music video
"You Bring Me Joy" on YouTube

"You Bring Me Joy" is a song written by David Lasley originally recorded in 1980 by Norman Connors featuring the vocals of Adaritha for Connors' Take It to the Limit album. It was released as a B-side single in 1980 on Arista Records.[1] American R&B singer and songwriter Anita Baker covered the song for her second studio album, Rapture (1986), produced by Michael J. Powell.[2][3]

In 1990, Lasley released the song on his Soldiers on the Moon album, a live studio recording with David Benoit on piano, Jeff Porcaro on drums and Abraham Laboriel on bass, and produced by Jeffrey Weber. Jonathan Widran of AllMusic described "This collection sports...sensuous originals including "You Bring Me Joy" from Anita Baker..."[4]

Yolanda Adams gave a tribute performance of "You Bring Me Joy" to Anita Baker at the 2018 BET Awards honoring Baker with the Lifetime Achievement Award.[5]

Critical reception

The song received notable critical praise and mention in numerous record reviews and reviews of Anita Baker's live performances.[6]

Stephen Holden of The New York Times wrote "In the verses of David Lasley's beautiful pop-gospel ballad 'You Bring Me Joy,' Miss Baker's voice looped from phrase to phrase in the manner of Sarah Vaughan. Then, for the song's climactic declarations, she became a pure gospel singer, testifying with a stirring fervor and directness."[7]

Jeff Tamarkin of Billboard describes Baker's performance of "the devastating David Lasley-written 'You Bring Me Joy' to kick the show into high gear and create the charged mood that was sustained throughout."[8]

Of the Sunday night Irvine Meadows show of singer Anita Baker, Steve Eddy wrote of the songs "The most notable Sunday evening was "You Bring Me Joy" a David Lasley tune that has a pleasing Gospel tinge."[9]

Lenny Kravitz, in his book Let Love Rule called "You Bring Me Joy" by Anita Baker "one of the sweetest R&B ballads."[10]

References

  1. ↑ "You Bring Me Joy - Norman Connors | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  2. ↑ "You Bring Me Joy - Anita Baker | Song Info | AllMusic". Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  3. ↑ Johnson, Connie (December 28, 1986). "Anita Baker Breaks Out of Pop Pack". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Soldiers on the Moon - David Lasley | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  5. ↑ Cirisano, Tatiana (2018-06-25). "Yolanda Adams Covers Anita Baker's 'You Bring Me Joy' For Epic Tribute at 2018 BET Awards: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  6. ↑ Holden, Stephen (1986-07-06). "Black Female Vocalists Banish Formula Pop". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  7. ↑ Holden, Stephen (1986-06-28). "JAZZ FESTIVAL; Anita Baker Debut At Avery Fisher Hall". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  8. ↑ Tamarkin, Jeff (October 18, 1986). "Talent In Action". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 42. p. 25.
  9. ↑ Eddy, Steve (September 15, 1987). Santa Ana Orange County Register. p. 114.
  10. ↑ Vernon, Polly. "My life and times: Lenny Kravitz talks about his new memoir, Let Love Rule". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
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