- published: 21 Jul 2009
- views: 987
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE (born 10 January 1945) is a British rock singer-songwriter. Born and raised in London, he is of Scottish and English ancestry. Stewart is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold over 100 million records worldwide.
He has had six consecutive number one albums in the UK, and his tally of 62 UK hit singles includes 31 that reached the top 10, six of which gained the number one position. He has had 16 top ten singles in the US, with four reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2007, he received a CBE at Buckingham Palace for services to music.
With his distinctive raspy singing voice, Stewart came to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with The Jeff Beck Group and then with Faces, though his music career had begun in 1962 when he took up busking with a harmonica. In October 1963 he joined the Dimensions as a harmonica player and part-time vocalist, then in 1964 he joined Long John Baldry and the All Stars. Later, in August 1964, he also signed a solo contract, releasing his first solo single, "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl", in October of the same year. He maintained a solo career alongside a group career, releasing his debut solo album An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down (US: The Rod Stewart Album), in 1969. His early albums were a fusion of rock, folk music, soul music and R&B. His aggressive blues work with The Jeff Beck Group and the Faces influenced heavy metal genres. From the late 1970s through the 1990s, Stewart's music often took on a new wave or soft rock/middle-of-the-road quality, and in the early 2000s he released a series of successful albums interpreting the Great American Songbook.
Paul Mark Oakenfold /ˈoʊkənfoʊld/ (born 30 August 1963) is an English record producer and trance DJ. He was voted the No1 DJ in the World twice in 1998 and 1999 by DJ Magazine.
Paul Oakenfold describes his early life as a "bedroom DJ" in a podcasted interview with Vancouver's 24 Hours, stating he grew up listening to The Beatles. Later 21-year-old Oakenfold and Ian Paul moved to 254 West 54th Street. Studio 54's Steve Rubell ran the place and only allowed popular people inside. Oakenfold and Paul used fake passes to sneak into places in New York where they met Maze, Bobby Womack and Bob Marley, whom they also interviewed, claiming to be NME and Melody Maker journalists.
Oakenfold's musical career began in the late 1970s, when he started playing soul in a Covent Garden wine bar. Here, he met Trevor Fung as well as Rumours in London where he played Earth, Wind and Fire and popular British bands. In 1984, he spent several months in New York City's West Harlem. During this time hip-hop was the most popular sound in the area (see 1984 in music). He began breaking into the mainstream as he was working as an A&R man for Champion Records. At that time, he signed DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, as well as Salt-n-Pepa. Oakenfold appeared on the Blue Peter BBC programme for children with a breakdancing crew. He became a promoter and British agent for the Beastie Boys and Run-D.M.C.. Since then, he appeared at The Project in Streatham playing soul and jazz music.
[Verse 1:]
Girl if I didn't have a plan
Could I be your man still
And if you couldn't watch cable
Would you be able to understand
And if I couldn't buy you diamond rings
Take you out and things
Or do nothing special
Would you deal
Would stick around and chill
Would you keep it real
Tell me
[Chorus]
Would you be here if I had nothin
Would you be here if I was strugglin
If I had nothin
Would you be here at any cost
Would you be here if I didn't have a boss
At any cost
Would you be here to pay the rent
Would you be here no benefits
Girl if that was it
Would you be here if I gave up
Straight outta luck
Would you give a what
[Verse 2:]
Girl if all hope was gone
We didn't have a phone
Would you stay at home with me
How long would you stay by my side
If I applied
And wasn't qualified, babe
What if I was finish
And you should do nuthin else with it
Would you forget it
Girl do you swear to tell the whole truth
Nothing but the truth
I'm listen baby
[Chorus:]
Would you be here if I had nothin
Would you be here if I was strugglin (if I was stugglin)
If I had nothin (if I had nothin)
Would you be here at any cost
Would you be here if I didn't have a boss
At any cost
Would you be here to pay the rent
Would you be here no benefits (no benefits)
Girl if that was it
Would you be here if I gave up
Straight outta luck
Would you give a what
[Hook 1:]
The day may come
When things ain't going to good
So for my sake I gotta be sure
Who I'm choosing is all the way with it
And outta line
I don't want to get caught in sticky situations
Girl
You'll never know you might not be so cold you might get a little older
[Chorus 2x]
Would you be here if I had nothin
Would you be here if I was strugglin
If I had nothin
Would you be here at any cost
Would you be here if I didn't have a boss
At any cost
Would you be here to pay the rent
Would you be here no benefits
Girl if that was it
Would you be here if I gave up
Straight outta luck
Would you give a what
[Hook 2:]
What if I was ugly
And struggling
And crummy
Would ya love me
If I was grungy
A little dingy
Would you still be with me
If I was ugly
And struggling
A little bummy
Would ya still love me
If I was crummy
And stuggly
Would you hug me
[Repeat Chorus]