Today’s classic soft rock song of the day is “You Are the Woman” by Firefall. Released in August of 1976, right when I was heading off to my freshman year of college, this single popped all the way to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, #8 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #6 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart.
“You Are the Woman” is distinguished by the peppy flute part, played by bandmember David Muse. The song was written by Rick Roberts, Firefall’s lead singer at the time. Here’s what he recalls about the song:
“When that chorus and tune jumped into my head I realized I was [not] creating…one of the great works of art in history…[but rather] a bouncy little pop ditty… I was stumped for several months about where the verses should go lyrically. Then I realized I was over thinking it. I took a more simple approach, and the verses were finished in a day or two.”
“Just a bouncy little pop ditty.” Yeah, that’s about right.
“You Are the Woman” was the first and most successful of Firefall’s three big mid-70s hits. The others were “Just Remember I Love You” (#9 in 1977) and “Strange Way” (#11 in 1978). The group, with mostly newer members, continues to tour today.
And here’s your daily bonus video of the day, a later iteration of Firefall performing “You Are the Woman” on the Nashville Now television program, complete with inane interview by the show’s host, Ralph Emery. Not sure why, because they really weren’t a country act, but any exposure is good exposure, right?
