(At Your Best) You Are Love

Album: Age Ain't Nothing but a Number (1994)
Charted: 27 6
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was written and originally recorded by The Isley Brothers and included on their 1976 Harvest For The World album. The Isleys' version was dedicated to their mother.
  • The song was revived and turned into a slow jam by American singer Aaliyah for her debut studio album Age Ain't Nothing but a Number. Released as the record's second single, it peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
  • The track was produced by R. Kelly (Aaliyah was R. Kelly's manager's niece). With the release of Age Ain't Nothing but a Number, rumors started circulating of a relationship between Aaliyah, who was 15 at the time and Kelly. It was later revealed the pair married on August 31, 1994, and Aaliyah had lied about her age on the marriage certificate. The marriage was annulled the following February when Aaliyah's parents found out.
  • Drake is a huge fan of Aaliyah and in 2010 he sampled part of her refrain from this for his Thank Me Later track "Unforgettable." Four years later singer Tamar Braxton sampled this song on her Calling All Lovers cut "Let Me Know."
  • In 2015 Frank Ocean recorded a cover, dropping the rendition on his Tumblr page to mark what would have been Aaliyah's 36th birthday. A slightly different version was also included on his visual album Endless the following year, which featured string arrangements by Radiohead guitarist Johnny Greenwood, played by the London Contemporary Orchestra. The credits for Endless reveal that the song was recorded at London's Abbey Road studio made famous by The Beatles.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnston from The Doobie BrothersSongwriter Interviews

The Doobies guitarist and lead singer, Tom wrote the classics "Listen To The Music," "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove."

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.