Lovergirl

Teena Marie's big hit

I had forgotten about this song until a trip around YouTube listening to Sheena Easton and Sheila E had the algorithm suggest this song to me. I had forgotten how great this song is.

From wiki:

Mary Christine Brockert (March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010), known professionally as Teena Marie, was an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, musician, composer, and producer. She was known by her childhood nickname Tina before taking the stage name Teena Marie and later acquired the nickname Lady T, given to her by her collaborator and friend Rick James. She was known for her distinctive soprano vocals, which caused many listeners to believe she was black. Her success in R&B and soul music, and loyalty to these genres earned her the title Ivory Queen of Soul. She played rhythm guitar, keyboards, and congas. Teena Marie was a four-time Grammy Award nominee.

In 1982, Teena Marie got into a heated legal battle with Motown Records over her contract and disagreements about releasing her new material. The lawsuit resulted in "The Brockert Initiative", which made it illegal for a record company to keep an artist under contract without releasing new material for that artist. In such instances, artists are able to sign and release with another label instead of being held back by an unsupportive one. Teena Marie commented on the law in a Los Angeles Times article, saying "It wasn't something I set out to do. I just wanted to get away from Motown and have a good life. But it helped a lot of people, like Luther Vandross and the Mary Jane Girls, and a lot of different artists, to be able to get out of their contracts."

After the legal battle was over, she signed with Epic and this song came off her second album with them, Starchild. This was the fourth album she wrote and produced herself, not an easy feat during the 70s and 80s. This song and album were the biggest of her career. Take that, Berry Gordy!

A couple of notable things about the video. First, we see her playing guitar in sections, not something you frequently saw from a female artist in the 80s. The other is that it’s directed by Cicely Tyson. Best that I can tell, this is the only time she directed in her long career.

Sadly, we lost her in 2010, but her music lives on. Enjoy your song of the day!