After a three-year hiatus, Heather Headley returns to the music scene with a new album, Only One in the World.
Rolling out recently caught up with Headley and she revealed the inspiration for each song on her new album.
Check out her thoughts below:
Only One in the World:
I wrote this song with Keith and Robin. The song is a testimony to the way
I feel when I’m with my husband. Play Anytime of the day!
The Reason:
The first time I heard this I thought it would be so perfect sung by a
woman. It’s a beautiful song. It just tells that when you find true love,
that person becomes a bigger reason to do everything. You want to be a
better person because of them. Play everyday and then repeat!
Because You Need Me:
Chris Mann, Keith Thomas, Liz Rose and I sat together to write this song and
it haunted me for a while after. I couldn’t get the melody out of my head.
I think after I had our son, I really understood the sentiment that someone
really needed me. I could wake up and move on every day because he and his
daddy needed me! I’m so happy that Chris could join me on the record. He is
an amazing talent, and he’s getting ready to do his own amazing things this
year.
Bring Him Back:
The guys always get a bad rap … and in some (not many) cases, we ladies
don’t treasure the relationships and men we have. So I wanted to write a
song about that. When you mess up that badly, and you need a miracle, you
go to, confess, and beg the only One who can pull off such miracles and help
you. Play this one whenever you feel the urge to turn your windows up and
sing really loudly in the car … at least that’s what I do.
Run to You :
The minute I heard this song back in high school, I loved it and knew that
one day I’d sing it, even if only in the shower. It is one of the most
beautiful songs, with the most amazing lyrics. Whitney did it amazingly,
and her stamp on it will always remain. I have to sing it in the show and
wanted to include it on the album as a little pre-show treat for the
audience.
A Little While:
This was the first song Keith and I ever wrote together. I still can’t
believe I was so open and trusting with him to talk [and] write about my mother
and a family situation so close to my heart; one that I’m very private
about . My mother just heard it for the first time, and it was very
emotional for us. But, I now see that the song is a testimony for so many
women who’ve dealt with divorce and being single. It’s a victory song for
them. So, we raise our hearts to my mommy and all the others out there …
River Deep Mountain High:
When I go out to do my private shows, this is always one I must do. I love
this song. It’s so much fun. But, even more so, my husband loves it. It’s
become my little anthem for him, so I had to include it… For him! If you
love somebody, or you’re hoping to … Listen and repeat!
One Last Cry:
I remember hearing this song back in high school and stopping what I was
doing to soak it in. It’s a sad, yet beautiful song about trying to move on.
I knew I wanted to include it when we started the project.
Superwoman:
This is the woman’s anthem! Karyn White sang it, and I hope it will have a
resurgence now. Even now, whenever I sing this in my shows, women get up and
yell the words back at me. It’s a great song, and I’m honored to borrow it
for this project.
Hey Mama:
This song was sent to me a few days before we were getting ready to finish
the album and began mastering it. I heard it and loved the playful nature of
it, but really loved the hook, the groove and how it was put together. The
icing was that it was my little brother’s song and production. So, I called
him up and said that we should try it, and here it is. I’m really happy to
introduce him to the world. He’s a great producer, and I’m excited to see
all that comes from him.
I Wish:
This song was written for our son before I knew he was going to be a son! I
was in the early stages of pregnancy and was thinking about what I would
want to say to my child — whoever was in there — and so this is my note
to him. It was the first song I ever wrote for him. I was so in love with
him and not aware that that love was only starting to grow.
Home:
This has been one of my favorite Broadway songs. I start or end my shows
with this song and knew that I wanted to use it in the same capacity here on
the album. This is one of the best songs ever written for the stage. I’m
honored to sing it!
