The moments I cherish, with every beat of my heart

What’s That Song?

If you guessed Three Times a Lady by The Commodores, you are correct!

Today’s Bill Campbell What’s That Song, Three Times a Lady was released in 1978 and was the only Mototown song to reach Top 10 on Billboard’s Top 100 list that year. Written by Lionel Richie and sung by Commodores, Three Times a Lady was not inspired by any woman. It was his father who provided the inspiration behind the tune. One day out of the clear blue, Lionel’s dad stood up and proclaimed his feelings about her. Many of us suspect when a man makes a statement like that, something is afoot and he’s guilty. Lionel and his sister queried their father, “Dad, are you OK?” Their father responded with, “She’s a great lady, she’s a great mother, and she’s a great friend.”  According to a discussion between Richie and Johnny Carson, Lionel explained that the tune came about as a result of his father’s toast, and part of that story is that you can never repay your parents for all they’ve done for you. Shortly after that interview, Lionel’s dad called him and said, “Son, I saw your interview with Johnny Carson. I was very touched by the fact that you said you can never repay your parents for all they’ve done for you. But let me ask you a question, Would you try? Would you try to repay your parents as much as possible?’ [laughs] So when the royalty check came out he was looking for his check… I’ve spent the rest of my life trying to pay him off for ‘Three Times a Lady.’” [background story credit: Billboard.com]

Did you know…

• Three Times a Lady was nominated for two Grammy awards, Song of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus.
• In 1979, Three Times a Lady won an American Music Award and a People’s Choice award.
• Artists covering Three Times a Lady include Nate Harvell (1978, reaching #23 on the Billboard Country chart) and Conway Twitty (1983, reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in the late winter of 1984).
• Three Times a Lady elevated the Commodores to a higher level of fame with Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Cashbox all naming them top R&B group of 1989.

Three Times a Lady

Thanks for the times
That you’ve given me
The memories are all in my mind
And now that we’ve come
To the end of our rainbow
There’s something
I must say out loud
You’re once, twice
Three times a lady
Yes you’re once twice
Three times a lady

And I love you
When we are together
The moments I cherish
With every beat of my heart
To touch you to hold you
To feel you to need you
There’s nothing to keep us apart
You’re once twice
Three times a lady
And I love you
I love you
(Three Times a Lady lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC)

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