The Echoes of a Feeling: Gary Wright’s Love Is Alive
The enduring power of love’s resilience, even amidst the complexities of life.
Ah, Love Is Alive. Just the title itself whispers of a time when music seemed to resonate with something deeper, something more universal. Gary Wright, a name perhaps not as instantly recognizable as some of his contemporaries, gifted us with this gem back in 1976. It climbed to number two on the Billboard Hot 100, a testament to its infectious melody and the yearning it captured so perfectly. Think back to that year – the bicentennial celebrations, the changing tides of music, the burgeoning sounds of progressive rock mingling with the soulful melodies of the era. Love Is Alive fit right into that landscape, a song that could be both danced to and pondered over.
Wright, already a respected musician from his time with Spooky Tooth, stepped into the solo spotlight with this album, Light of the World. It was a bold move, a departure from the heavier sounds of his previous work. And it paid off. Love Is Alive wasn’t just a hit; it became an anthem of sorts, a soundtrack to countless memories for those who were listening back then. It’s a song that, even now, can transport you back to a specific moment, a feeling, a time when life seemed a little less complicated, a little more hopeful.
The beauty of Love Is Alive lies in its simplicity. It’s not overly complex, either musically or lyrically. The lyrics speak of love’s enduring nature, its ability to survive even the toughest storms. “Something’s in the air, a certain kind of feeling,” Wright sings, and you know exactly what he’s talking about. It’s that feeling of connection, that spark of hope, that belief that love can conquer all. It’s a sentiment that resonates across generations, but for those of us who remember the song’s initial release, it carries a particular weight, a nostalgic echo of a time gone by.
The instrumentation is pure 70s magic. The swirling synthesizers, the driving rhythm section, the soaring vocals – it all comes together to create a sound that is both familiar and fresh. It’s a sound that evokes images of dimly lit discos, of long drives with the windows down, of quiet moments shared with someone special. It’s a sound that is inextricably linked to a specific era, yet somehow transcends it.
Love Is Alive isn’t just a song; it’s a time capsule. It’s a reminder of a simpler time, a time when music had the power to truly move us, to make us feel something real. It’s a testament to the enduring power of love, and a reminder that even in the face of change and uncertainty, that feeling, that spark, can still be found. So, close your eyes, turn up the volume, and let the music take you back. Back to a time when Love Is Alive was more than just a song; it was a feeling. A feeling that, for many of us, still resonates today. It’s a testament to Gary Wright’s talent, and a reminder of the magic that music can create.