In 1986 it seemed you could not escape this song, "Lean On Me" by Club Nouveau. I was in college and it was all over the radio. When you walked around it was coming out of car windows passing by, it was on people's boom boxes, and played at all the parties (it was a popular one to dance to). It was a cover of a song originally done by Bill Withers in 1972.
Lyrics:
Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrowBut if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow
Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you won't let show
Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on (lean on me)
For it won't be long
'Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
Just call on me brother when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on
Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
We be jammin'
We be jammin' hey yeah
We be jammin'
We be jammin'
We be jammin' man hey
We be jammin'
Just call on me (when you need a friend)
Call on me (oh baby now)
Call on me (when you need a friend)
Call on me (oh baby now)
Call on me (when you need a friend)
Call on me (oh baby now)
Call on me (when you need a friend)
Call on me (oh baby now)
Members included Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy, Samuelle Prater, and Valerie Watson. Their debut album, Life, Love and Pain, was released in 1986 and spawned four hits: "Jealousy" (which was a response song to Timex Social Club’s hit "Rumors"), "Situation #9", "Lean on Me" and "Why You Treat Me So Bad" which was later used in the Puff Daddy song "Satisfy You".
"Lean on Me" hit #1 on the American music charts for two weeks, and was also #1 on the dance charts. In 1987 it won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for Bill Withers, as the writer.
Club Nouveau’s song "Step by Step" appeared on the 1987 movie soundtrack for Madonna vehicle, "Who’s that Girl".
Club Nouveau was short-lived. By 1988 Foster and McElroy left to become producers and work with other bands. Prater (she performed the female lead vocals on "Lean On Me") left to pursue a solo career. David Agent and Kevin Irving joined the band as replacements, and they released 4 more albums, that did not regenerate the popularity of their debut.
Up to the present date, Club Nouveau sometimes regroups to record new material.
Lyrics:
Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow
Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you don't let show
Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
( From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/c/club-nouveau-lyrics/lean-on-me-lyrics.html )
Somebody to lean on
If there is a load you have to bear
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road
I'll share your load
If you just call me
So just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on
Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
Lean on me...
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