i’m every woman

This is another song that was famously ‘hijacked’ by a later version. Long before Whitney Huston convinced so many people it was her song, the wonderful Chaka Khan released this original in 1978, written by Ashford and Simpson. You just know I prefer Chaka.

(Yes, all five women in the video are Chaka)

Whatever you want, whatever you need
Anything you want done baby, I’ll do it naturally
‘Cause I’m every woman
It’s all in me, it’s all in me
I’m every woman
It’s all in me
Anything you want done baby
I do it naturally
I’m every woman
It’s all in me
I can read your thoughts right now
Every one from A to Z
I can cast a spell of secrets you can tell
Mix a special brew, put fire inside of you
Anytime you feel danger or fear
Then instantly I will appear, ’cause
I’m every woman
It’s all in me
Anything you want done baby
I do it naturally
Oh, I can sense your needs like rain onto the seeds
I can make a rhyme of confusion in your mind
And when it comes down to some good old fashioned love
I got it, I got it, I got it, got it, baby, baby
I’m every woman
It’s all in me
Anything you want done baby
I do it naturally
I’m every woman
It’s all in me
I can read your thoughts right now
Every one from A to Z
I ain’t braggin’, ’cause I’m the one
Just ask me, ooh, and it shall be done
And don’t bother to compare
I’ve got it, I’ve got it, got it got it, got it
I’m every woman
I’m every woman
I’m every woman
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Nickolas Ashford / Valerie Simpson
I’m Every Woman lyrics © Emi April Music Inc., Nick O Val Music Co Inc

I am always irritated when a song gets ‘hijacked’ by a later cover version. There are numerous examples, but I am not going to get into that now. Take a great song that was a reasonable hit, then a ‘superstar’ records it later. Suddenly, everyone associates it with the ‘superstar’, especially those too young to have ever heard the original.

For me, this is one of the worst examples.

In 1978, Chaka Khan left the band Rufus, and embarked on a solo career. I already liked her a lot, and had some of the records of ‘Rufus and Chaka Khan’. So I bought her debut album ‘Chaka’ that year, and really liked it. On the album was a truly great song, (in my opinion) written by the talented duo of Ashford and Simpson, called ‘I’m Every Woman’.

Ten years later, Whitney Huston recorded the song, which is now often known or introduced as ‘Whitney Huston’s I’m Every Woman’ GRRR!!

So here is the delightful Chaka, with the original -and best- version.