Imagination is at the core of creativity. Music has often provided an escape (however temporary) from reality. Given some of the options that persons pursue to escape reality, I don’t think that an addiction to music is all that bad for your health. Sometimes it is great to unplug, logoff, turn off or whatever you need to do to let your mind’s eye do some work. One of the best teachers of music I ever had would often have us close our eyes and listen to the music. When you do that you are not interrupted and your only influenced by the music itself.
Let's delve into the mesmerizing world of "Nights Over Egypt" by The Jones Girls.
Who Were The Jones Girls?
The Jones Girls were an American R&B vocal trio of sisters from Detroit, Michigan, United States. Consisting of Brenda, Shirley and Valorie Jones, the Jones Girls first signed and recorded for GM Records in 1970. The group consisted of sisters Brenda (December 7, 1954 - April 3, 2017), Valorie (April 17, 1956 - December 2, 2001) and Shirley Jones (born September 22, 1953). They performed as backup singers for Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, Aretha Franklin, and Le Pamplemousse.
They worked with Diana Ross from 1975 to 1978 and were the backup singers on Linda Clifford's 1978 album If My Friends Could See Me Now. They also performed on Tower of Power's disco-themed 1979 album Back on the Streets. Their biggest hit was "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else". The song hit the Billboard Magazine Top 40 at number 38 in May 1979. It became a gold record.
"Who Can I Run To", from the band's self-titled 1979 debut album, was covered by Xscape in 1995. Their cover version became a number 1 R&B and number 8 pop hit.
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Unpacking the Meaning of "Nights Over Egypt"
So, what is "Nights Over Egypt" about? The song describes a girl who used to rule Egypt, and then met a king who became her partner. The lyrics also talk about the beauty of the moonlit nights in Egypt, with women wearing veils and dancing to music. This explanation is based on the lyrics of ‘Nights Over Egypt’.
Outside of the wonderful musical production (which I could go on and on for days about), part of the appeal of this classic soul track is the story full of imagery, full of imagination. Reality is what it is: real. I’m hoping that we get back to some of the more imaginative creations of music for both artists and fans alike. It seems that we’ve moved into an era where more often than not the story lines in songs owe more to non-fiction than fiction. This is not surprising because this has even become a trend in the literary world.
Ivan Orr is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, performer, and writer. A native of Charlottesville, Virginia Ivan was involved with the forming and nascent days of The Music Resource Center as its first Program Director.
The Jones Girls - Nights Over Egypt (Audio)
Chart Performance and Legacy
Here's a glimpse at some of The Jones Girls' notable chart achievements:
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| Song Title | Peak Position (Billboard) |
|---|---|
| You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else | 38 |
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tags: #Egypt
