Written by Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan
Recorded by Aretha Franklin and George Michael
There are many amazing Aretha Franklin songs with outstanding bridges, and I hope to get back to those – but why start with this one? I honestly have no good reason other than I recently heard the song and said, “hey, that’s a nifty bridge!”
The Queen of Soul and The Careless Whisperer himself, pop icon George Michael are both gone – but this shiny pop duet lives on. The song tells the tale of a couple who each spent years battling through bad relationships and romantic letdowns, but were motivated to endure, knowing that someday, they would meet their true love: each other.
After taking the lead on alternating verses, Aretha and George join voices in the chorus and songwriters Climie and Morgan pay tribute to one of the greatest pop duets of all time, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
When the river was deep, I didn't falter
When the mountain was high, I still believed
When the valley was low, it didn't stop me,
I knew you were waiting, I knew you were waiting for me.
After some more verses and another chorus, we get to the bridge. Lyrically, the bridge doesn’t offer us too much new information. It’s more of a summary or exclamation point to what they’ve been through individually and where they are now:
So we were drawn together through destiny
I know this love we share was meant to be…
But there’s something musical that I love about this bridge, and something that adds to the story more than the words themselves. The bridge begins with a subtle rhythmic change, thanks to some triplets. This allows things to get a little funky, but still, so smooth. Despite a musical departure from the chorus, the song moves into the bridge easier than walking through a doorway, and then, wham!, we’re seamlessly right back into a chorus and into the good time celebration of this song.
Franklin and Michael are two of the greats of the Twentieth Century, and while this duet doesn’t surpass their individual efforts, it’s a great song with a wonderful bridge. Some readers might dismiss this song, but for those of you who appreciate it, I knew you were waiting, I knew you were waiting for me.
-MJK
Recorded by Aretha Franklin and George Michael
There are many amazing Aretha Franklin songs with outstanding bridges, and I hope to get back to those – but why start with this one? I honestly have no good reason other than I recently heard the song and said, “hey, that’s a nifty bridge!”
The Queen of Soul and The Careless Whisperer himself, pop icon George Michael are both gone – but this shiny pop duet lives on. The song tells the tale of a couple who each spent years battling through bad relationships and romantic letdowns, but were motivated to endure, knowing that someday, they would meet their true love: each other.
After taking the lead on alternating verses, Aretha and George join voices in the chorus and songwriters Climie and Morgan pay tribute to one of the greatest pop duets of all time, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
When the river was deep, I didn't falter
When the mountain was high, I still believed
When the valley was low, it didn't stop me,
I knew you were waiting, I knew you were waiting for me.
After some more verses and another chorus, we get to the bridge. Lyrically, the bridge doesn’t offer us too much new information. It’s more of a summary or exclamation point to what they’ve been through individually and where they are now:
So we were drawn together through destiny
I know this love we share was meant to be…
But there’s something musical that I love about this bridge, and something that adds to the story more than the words themselves. The bridge begins with a subtle rhythmic change, thanks to some triplets. This allows things to get a little funky, but still, so smooth. Despite a musical departure from the chorus, the song moves into the bridge easier than walking through a doorway, and then, wham!, we’re seamlessly right back into a chorus and into the good time celebration of this song.
Franklin and Michael are two of the greats of the Twentieth Century, and while this duet doesn’t surpass their individual efforts, it’s a great song with a wonderful bridge. Some readers might dismiss this song, but for those of you who appreciate it, I knew you were waiting, I knew you were waiting for me.
-MJK
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