Laura Branigan

Laura Branigan

A little something about Laura Branigan
In many respects, Laura Branigan was to the early/mid 1980s what Celine Dion has been to the mid/late 1990s. Both have an impressive vocal range, both sang pop ballads penned by other artists, and both recorded hit singles that dominated charts around the world. Each even had a hit with the same song: Branigan's recording of "The Power Of Love" gave her a hit in 1988, while Dion took the song to number one in 1994. Born and raised in upstate New York, Branigan's 1982 debut album - Branigan - immediately put her on the map, thanks in large part to the success of her recording of "Gloria." The original version of this Italian song had already been a hit in parts of Europe just a few years earlier, but in impressive fashion Branigan introduced American and British audiences to the powerful pop ballad. Having established herself with her first outing, a string of hits followed over the course of the 80's for Branigan. From her 1983 album Branigan 2 had a top ten hit with "Solitaire," another English version of a former European hit. She also had success with Michael Bolton's "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You." The following year she had an international hit with "Self Control." Another Italian song originally penned by one of the writers of Gloria, the complex, haunting "Self Control" was a departure from the love ballads Branigan is best known for, and showed more stylistic range than her previous works. The song was her and her biggest seller to across Europe, outselling the original in many markets. Branigan continued to string together hits, including "The Lucky One" and "The Power Of Love," though the chart success and frequency began a slow decline after "Self Control." Branigan has dabbled in acting as well as continuing to record, and word is new material is on the way.

Lyrics featured below: "Self Control", "Gloria" , "The Power of Love"

Self Control

Oh the night is my worldCity lights painted girlsIn the day nothing mattersIt's the night time that mattersIn the night no controlThrough the wall something breakingWearing white as you're walkingDown the street of my soulYou take my self, you take my self controlYou've got me living only for the nightBefore the morning comes a story's toldYou take my self, you take my self controlAnother night another day goes byI never stop myself to wonder whyYou help me to forget to play my roleYou take my self, you take my self controlI, I live among the creatures of the nightI haven't got the will to try and fightAgainst a new tomorrowSo I guess I'll just believe it like tomorrow never comesI said nightI'm living in the forest of a dreamI know the night is not as it would seemI must believe in somethingSo I'll make myself believe it, this night will never goOh, oh.Oh, oh.Oh the night is my worldCity lights painted girlsIn the day nothing mattersIt's the night time that mattersI, I live among the creatures of the nightI haven't got the will to try and fightAgainst a new tomorrowSo I guess I'll just believe it like tomorrow never knowsI said nightI'm living in the forest of a dreamI know the night is not as it would seemI must believe in somethingSo I'll make myself believe it, this night will never goOh, oh.Oh, oh.You take my self, you take my self control...

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Gloria

Gloria, you're always on the run now
Running after somebody,
you gotta get him somehow
I think you've got to slow down
before you start to blow it
I think you're headed for a breakdown,
so be careful not to show it

You really don't remember,
was it something that he said?
Are the voices in your head calling, Gloria?
Gloria, don't you think you're fallin'?
If everybody wants you,
why isn't anybody callin'?
You don't have to answer
Leave them hangin' on the line,
oh-oh-oh, calling Gloria
Gloria (Gloria),
I think they got your number (Gloria)
I think they got the alias (Gloria)
that you've been living under (Gloria)
But you really don't remember,
was it something that they said?
Are the voices in your head calling, Gloria?

A-ha-ha, a-ha-ha, Gloria,
how's it gonna go down?
Will you meet him on the main line,
or will you catch him on the rebound?
Will you marry for the money,
take a lover in the afternoon?
Feel your innocence slipping away,
don't believe it's comin' back soon

And you really don't remember,
was it something that he said?
Are the voices in your head calling, Gloria?
Gloria, don't you think you're fallin'?
If everybody wants you,
why isn't anybody callin'?
You don't have to answer
Leave them hangin' on the line,
oh-oh-oh, calling Gloria
Gloria (Gloria),
I think they got your number (Gloria)
I think they got the alias (Gloria)
that you've been living under (Gloria)
But you really don't remember,
was it something that they said?
Are the voices in your head calling, Gloria?

(Gloria, Gloria, Gloria, Gloria, Gloria)
(Gloria, Gloria, Gloria, Gloria, Gloria)
[fade out]

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The Power of Love

The whispers in the morning
Of lovers sleeping tight
Are rolling like thunder now
As I look in your eyes

I hold on to your body
And feel each move you make
Your voice is warm and tender
A love that I could not forsake

(first chorus)
'Cause I am your lady
And you are my man
Whenever you reach for me
I'll do all that I can

Lost is how I'm feeling lying in your arms
When the world outside's too
Much to take
That all ends when I'm with you

Even though there may be times
It seems I'm far away
Never wonder where I am
'Cause I am always by your side

(repeat first chorus)

(second chorus)
We're heading for something
Somewhere I've never been
Sometimes I am frightened
But I'm ready to learn
Of the power of love

The sound of your heart beating
Made it clear
Suddenly the feeling that I can't go on
Is light years away

(repeat first chorus)

(repeat second chorus)