Smokey Robinson on Writing 'My Girl' for The Temptations, His Biggest Song Ever (Part 11)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ม.ค. 2023
- Watch the full interview now as a VladTV TH-cam Member - / @vladtv
Part 10: • Smokey Robinson Addres...
Part 12: • Smokey Robinson on Wri...
Part 1: • Smokey Robinson: My Da...
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In this clip, Smokey Robinson looks back on writing two of his biggest hits, "My Guy" and "My Girl," for Mary Wells and The Temptations. From there, he explains the competitive nature of Motown Records during the label's heyday and the way in which the vocalists had to compete to earn the right to sing the hit songs he wrote. Moving along, he talks about writing his first song with the legendary David Ruffin and earning a $1,000 bonus from Barry Gordy for penning his greatest hit. Lastly, he discusses the historical relevance of "My Girl" before calling the song his "International Anthem." - บันเทิง
When you make a song that stands the test of time you can’t beat that.
Yeah no shit
A good Song, will always stand the test of time . The Temptations is my all time Male singing group. Eddie K " Cornbread" Is my Favorite singer of the group . The other Motown singer is Marvin Gaye.
@@CantTellYou Ima songwriter/artist,i've written more songs than probably humanly possible,but making something timeless isn't just about the ARTIST. It's so many factors that have to go in your favor & even if you go against trends,you're probably going to end up on the outside looking in more than the inside.
@@daimonmarioperez9501 y e s!!! Eddie was No joke.🔥🔥🔥
"My Girl" is one of the greatest songs ever written, ever recorded. Timeless, Undeniable.
It is a crazy good song. Loved it since the first time I heard it.
❤️❤️❤️ I've been loving this song since I was a young kid I'm 55 I still love this song
The most classic iconic song Smokey Robinson ever written for The Temptations!
I know residual income must be nice
yes it is 💟! I don't care how old it is! ruffin, Kendricks, and Paul the best dancer dick Clark ask Paul was he a professional dancer!
Smokey is so cool. And humble. What an absolute legend. His music will live forever.
It’s crazy that no other notable platform has gotten Smokey story out in his own words. Give Vlad his credit.
Breakfast Club had a great interview with him. Smokey tells these stories in his book and his audiobook is self narrated although too short in my opinion. But I love these old Detroit stories.
The Tempts were something special! RIP! David, Eddie, Paul, Melvin, and Dennis.
I bet they all got Cadillacs in heaven an pulling up just like on temptations
David Ruffin was born to sing that song. Smokey was born to write it.
Perfect way to put it
I think Paul Williams would have sung it better.
Boy.. Smokey Robinson can sing his ass off ong 😂😂
@@icecreambeats101 As much as I love Paul, Ruffin was literally born for that song.
@@DamnWhoAsked I see your point. Paul Williams to me is like Ricky Bell of New Edition who was overlooked. Ricky voice to me was better than Ralph and Bobby.
My favorite song that Paul song lead was For Once In My Life
I'm so happy that Smokey, at 82, and Otis, get to experience their really true succes 🙏 much respect!
Damn...I never thought of it this way
AIN'T NOBODY COME TO SEE YOU OTIS!
@@marlowstanfield6815 let it go
Otis still alive ?
@@smadd3505 yes he is, still doing the Temps🙏 beautiful thing
"I Want A Love I Can See" is really an underrated Temptations song. That song slaps
Indeed!
Paul killed it
A whole vibe!
Yes
Paul Williams was sadly overlooked.
Paul's voice was so soulful, in my opinion he's one of the most underrated singers ever.
Yep my favorite temptation
Especially how that For Once in My Life hits
You gotta listen to “I want a love I can see”
@@eric.dangerfield another great song that highlights Paul's voice just seems like he put it all on the table on that other track
@@eric.dangerfield Love that song
That song is still both beautiful and catchy. Nothing today touches prime era Motown.
Facts and I’m 31 admitting that 😂
Facts. Probably the most impactful song ever made.
@@dreadheaddrevapebox6840 same im 31 from Michigan
Back in the 70's in Detroit, my Mom worked in a MD office. Smokey and Claudett, and their little boy, were three of the nicest, polite, clients she ever met in that large office you would ever meet! They were friendest people she had met in the MD office.
One day they came in and they came in with their little boy. He was dressed in an identical perform costume just like his dad. She said he looked adorable.
Couldn’t have had a better choice than David Ruffin singing lead
I play Melvin Franklin in the Broadway play “Ain’t Too Proud.” Thank you Smokey for writing this classic. It’s an honor to perform it every night 💙
Amazing
Following your channel
This is a great play. Saw it in Detroit. Keep up the good work!
My ex took me to that on Broadway, I wanted to go back and see it again
I saw the play in Chicago last year
You guys did an amazing job!
Wow! Smokey Robinson is a living LEGEND!! This man BUILT Motown. A brilliant performer in his own group the Miracles and a tremendous song writer and producer for the other Motown acts!!
Smokey "Okay" Robinson
'Ooo baby baby' is one of my ALL time favorites!
I'm 36 years old and THAT is a classic in my household! My son in 10 years old and HE knows that song. I thank God that I was able to experience,very many years later, a beautiful time in music!!
I’m 23 right behind ya ♥️♥️
Smokey, Berry, and all of MoTown 🦋🔥
If no one has said it yet this man is the GOAT
The goat at what?
That GOAT shit needs to stop. He’s a great songwriter. Top 3 American ever.
@@jamesstewart8377 well yea that's basically what I said right?
@@cyphergreg8855 lol
Greatest songwriter ever most others were duos LA Babyface. Holland Dozier Holland etc smokey stands alone!
My guy and my girl were the classics that defined a generation. You hear it today and you can hear the magic of the music at the time in society and of that era.
Smokey is a Class Act ! That generation’s music was mostly about love, the Blues and partying. Somewhere we went wrong and a lot of the music isn’t at healthy !
It's when hiphop the music companies tried swapping RAP with it everything went wrong😭2000s music up to now smh
"I've got so much honey the bees envy me" -- personification at its absolute finest. Great, great lyric!
My Girl is THE Ruffin song of all songs, but listen to the background harmonies and vocals from the other 4 Temps and what Smokey said was right; all were great singers (even Mr. 'Ain't Nobody Comin To See You Otis' HAHA) and combined they were a force to be reckoned with!
Exactly!
All of them could sing including
Otis.
Smokey is the man! He wrote a best biggest hit on the worldwide.
Bruh it's amazing how sharp Smokey Robinson's mind is, how good he looks, and how amazing his speaking voice still is. GIFT FROM GOD!! 🙏🏾💙🙏🏾🤞🏾💯
3:20, (aside from giving me chills), asserts everything that anyone in music always knew and realize until this day. As phenomenal a tenor as Eddie the "K" was, Ruffin's gospel-tinged tone will always be up there among only the very Elite. Excellent time capsule for all to see here.
I have always played oldies in my house so my kids and grandkids appreciated the great music from my teen and adult years. They loved it. When my 12 y/o grandson (he’s 29 now) got his IPod, the first song he put on it was My Girl. To me, at 75 years old, My Girl will always be one of the greatest songs ever written.
The way he's breaking things down musically....
How he would listen to their voices and how it was sound. What he wanted to sound like 50 years from now...
GENIUS...
Indeed. Completely different than the absolute trash that’s out now.
Otis sho could sing too. I think that is Otis singing my all time favorite Don't Send Me Away. Check it out!
Smokey wrote a song for The Temps called, “Don’t Look Back”. My God, it’s a beautiful song ❤❤❤
Love that song. Paul Williams led that.
Great song to dance the Temptation walk on 🕺💃
@Craig Hall favorite song with Paul on lead, with Eddie hitting those hi notes on background, outstanding. "So if you just put your hand in mine, we're gonna leave all our troubles behind, keep on walking, Don't Look Back"
His memory is impeccable
This interview is an educational experience! Love it!❤️
There are classics and there are timeless classics and Smokie here made timeless classics . the songs they made during that era has stood the test of time even more than any other, its amazing. the decades before and after will never measure up to what these guys did with Motown, those songs have traveled everywhere
Smokey has ALWAYS been my fave writer & producer.
"I want a love I can see" by Paul Williams is a great song . He simply killed it . Y'all get a chance listen to it
Yesss
When Paul was drunk singing at the piano I felt that shit lol
I don’t think I’ve ever seen more greener eyes in my life 👀 💚 wow
I have a close friend who could pass for Smokey's brother ....he has light skin ....curly hair and green eyes ......problem is .....he can't sing.
What a humble down to earth man...
Oldies will never die
Smokey Robinson! What a treat!
Legend. A true legend
"Ok." Smokey's humility is top of the charts too.
Smokey is definitely one of histories greatest song writers.
Why he keeping answering “ok”?! That’s the equivalent of D.L. Hughley’s “sure”. 😂😂😂
Lol its like a filler statement or acknowledging he’s listening/following along
His tone is like "And?* 😄
It's just a way of acknowledging a question.
Cuz smokey old,
Like get to the damn point. Lol
VLAD like telling people their own history...
like "MF, I know.... Ok, AND???" Lol
He old school he ain’t gone talk to much 😂 that ok Had be laughing because it’ sounds to me like what’s your really want to know
They love leaving Smokey out of the GOAT producer convo! They must've forgot or something! Smokey is a bad man and his songs transcend any generation! Respect!
“You wrote “My Girl” for The Temptations.”
“Ok”
😂 damn he said that like it wasn’t a big deal
@Mustang I was thinking the same thing!! He's just like "Ok, I did. No Biggie". That's a True Legend!!
I am HYSTERICAL 😭😂😂😂
It's called being humble.
Classy-cool(for real), and humble!
My Girl is Iconic the song been around nearly 60 years And still relevant because any young couple can relate to it. Thats Legendary 💯
The absolute greatest song writer who ever did it not to mention singer! An absolute musical genius God blessed him with supreme spirit,his music will last forever WOW!!!!
The greatest singer of all time. David Ruffin! 🙏🏽
I throw Marvin, Luther and Sam Cooke in that discussion, but I'm not mad at anybody who feels that way either. David was amazing!
MJ
@@hellgangcyron257 not even close
@@hellgangcyron257 an argument can be made for entertainer. But singer no. Ruffin murders Michael
David was great but so was Marvin Junior of the Dells
I still say David Ruffin was the coldest ever to touch a mic
I could watch these interviews until the end of time.
Need more of these legends getting a chance to tell there story
David’s voice is absolutely dreamy & my favorite ❤
That G he got in 1965 was the equivalent of 10K back then! 🔥🔥🔥
we need more David ruffin stories
Exactly
And Eddie Kendrick
No u don't lol
He is such a lovely man, and so humble for being one of the absolute greatest musical creators of all time.
We need more motown interviews glad!
David Ruffin is "My Girl" on a sunny day 4 ever.
I'm 74yrs old a Songwriter & Songwriting Inventor of "The Songwriting Theorem" (Feb 2022). I have no words for the Music I grew up with. R&B & RocknRoll. The Blues, Jazz, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Brazil, World Music. The last 4 yrs in Hard Rock Fan Clubs (still learning)!! Can't thank Smokey, Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, & Marvin Gaye enough!! Legends & an Era!!!
This man is about to turn 83. I share the same birthday. He doesn’t look 83 & he is still a brilliant speaker! Phenomenal.
He sung with the Miracles ,but him at this age still doing it,as good as ever ,is a miracle.
My Girl was released in 1964...$1,000 in 1964 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $9,574.10 today. It also 'spent better' meaning you could do a great deal more with $10,000 then than you can now. Great story!!
This man is the Goat 🐐 of Goats 🎉
Smooth og he will and always be prolific with that pen 🖊️
Lol I love the way he just says "ok" when Vlad is talking
GenX have no idea what they missed, such a beautiful era Motown was throughout the 1960s and the earlier part of the 1970's
Gen X-er here. I grew up listening to Motown thanks to my mom. MANY Gen Xers did.
I'm gen X...we didn't miss it at all...motowns music is the soundtrack to most of the gen x lives...in all actuality that's probably why we exist
I'm Gen X and I grew listening to motown artist and watched Motown 25 as a kid. I think you mean Millennials.
@@TheRealMsBlu no, I know who I meant, don't assume things kid
@@bigolebot relax buddy we get it you LIVED IT just be grateful our age group admires the music too to keep it going. Peace ✌️
Hands down the greatest person Vlad ever interviewed
his “ok.” gives me life every single time he says it
The background harmonies for “The Way You Do The Things You Do” were crazy good.
I wish there was a way to hear each member’s isolated vocals on that song. Especially for David though cuz he was killing it, singing higher than Eddie actually.
A Love I can See best cha cha song ever, I will always think of my brother when I hear it, it was the last time I got to dance with my brother at my 60th birthday bash he just flowed with the beat sooo smoothly. RIP Cliff❤
I love how he says ok
Vlad please keep these types of video going!! We need to hear from the OG’s!
Exactly I always wonder why people like vlad , no jumper etc don't interview the legends like this like I get there rap culture but stuff like this is classic
They played My Girl multiple times at work this past week! It’s timeless.
Smokey Deserves He's Flowers 💐💯👍
My all-time favorite song in the whole world
These Smokey Robinson clips are so awesome!
I like hearing from true Legendary people I hope we can get more interviews especially while we still have them here
0:42-0:59
I PROMISE MY GIRL IS MY FREAK'N FAVORITE LOVE SONG IN THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY EDDIE AKA CORNBREAD AND DAVID RUFFIN'S VOICES ON THERE. THAT SONG IS TIMELESS. YOU CAN HEAR THAT A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW, AND STILL FEEL THAT IN YOUR (SOUL) THE (EXACT) SAME WAY. RESPECTFULLY BUT THE BEST SONGS SMOKEY WROTE WERE THE ONES THAT WERE FOR OTHER PPL. 😬💙💙🤷🏾♀️
Also...I think the temptations dance moves on My Girl added to it...dope song...and we all think about the temptations moving around to it...especially during that breakdown 🔥
This clip must go viral so vlad can get an otis interview. The Temptations are the greatest singing group ever. PERIOD.
Four tops
@@erickennedy3322 agreed
Smokey is like that cool great uncle or grandpa that has great stories for days.
REAL LEGEND and SINGER/SONGWRITER right here!
What a legend. So happy Vlad did this interview!!!! Listened to Motown all my young live. Long live Smokey!!!
I love Smokey more today than yesterday.
Yes bro those harmonies. Takes special talent to blend and not sound flat etc
I love Smokey saying "Ok" Hahahahahha!
Epic interview Glad
I saw some of the video how smokey was working,training the
original temps where RUFF was
reading some sheet music 🎵🎶🎵. omg my girl! the way you do the things you do! thank you for being real!
Legendary interview kuddos
Incredible work vlad I’m glad I clicked on this clip
Smokey is another phenomenal musician we have left.
This may sound dumb, but it's so weird to me knowing that there's still alot of ppl around that were alive during the 40s, 50s, and 60s. I was born in 1990 so back then it didn't feel that long ago but now that we're in 2023, I'm like omgg that seemed like such a long time agooo. These ppl have lived through such exciting times throughout history, there's so many things they've seen during time. And I love hearing old stories from the previous generations. The 60s is still my favorite decade for music, fashion, and pop culture! If it wasn't racist toward Black ppl back then, I wish I had grown up around the time of the 40s and 50s, so I can live that mid century life too. I don't fit in to today's world, with the Tik Tok, promiscuity, and openly sexually explicit media. 😬 I'm an old lady inside. Traditional af.
Respect vlad for this interview not many legends get interviews on these platforms need more
I will build you a castle with a tower so high
It reaches the moon
I'll gather melodies from birdies that fly
And compose you a tune
Give you lovin' warm as mama's oven
And if that don't do
Then I'll try something new. Smokey is badddd!!!!
Funny thing about that song is smokey was at a baseball game and said he was bored ......and wrote the complete song in 20 minutes ......would take me over a year to write a song like that ......don't forget .....he also wrote what love has joined together ......also done by the temptations.
It would be easier to take the wet from water .....or the dry from sand .....than for anyone to try to separate us .....or stop us from holding hands ....cause I love you ....
Oh I love you from the bottom of my heart ......and what love has joined together .....what love has joined together ......can nobody take it apart ......pure magic .....who else could have thought of those lyrics?
@@charlesljones2454Yes. And the beautiful late Mary Wells!!!
Music Royalty👍🏾
America's greatest living poet.
No wonder smokey music so great he wants every song to mean something
Smokey was one of those guys who could write a hit song at the drop of a hat. When most songwriters struggled to write even one great song, it was absolute child's play for Smoke. 🚬
If it wasn't for Smokey there would not have been a Motown. I was upset when they closed their doors. Now all we have is rap music speaking about killing each other and how much syrup they drink.
The production is awesome as well
Didn't know smokey wrote that!! Still sing this lovely song til this day!
My Girl is my dad's ring tone for when my mom calls him. They have been married 40 years.
Love this 🔥🔥🔥
I hope Smokey is receiving his money still