Album: Power of Peace (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the only original track on Power of Peace, Santana's collaborative album with The Isley Brothers. The song was written by Santana drummer Cindy Blackman Santana, Carlos' wife, who also contributes lead vocals.
  • Cindy Blackman Santana wrote the tune back in 1997, and suggested it to her husband for possible inclusion on Power of Peace as she thought it might suit Ron Isley's soulful voice.

    "Carlos liked the idea and we took the song down to the studio and played it for everybody, mainly for Ronnie, to see if he would want to perform it," Cindy recalled to Billboard magazine. However, Ron Isley didn't think it was quite right for him, so Carlos suggested his wife should take on the lead vocals.

    Cindy admitted to being intimidated about singing in front of Ron Isley, who is one of her vocal heroes. She recalled: "I said…'Ronnie, you can't look at me. I don't want you looking at me when I do it,' because singing in front of that guy is very intimidating. And it just kind of blossomed from there."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Yacht Rock!

Yacht Rock!Song Writing

A scholarly analysis of yacht rock favorites ("Steal Away," "Baker Street"...) with a member of the leading YR cover band.

John Lee Hooker

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.

Jimmy Webb

Jimmy WebbSongwriter Interviews

Webb talks about his classic songs "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman" and "MacArthur Park."

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete BlondeSongwriter Interviews

The singer/bassist for Concrete Blonde talks about how her songs come from clairvoyance, and takes us through the making of their hit "Joey."

P.F. Sloan

P.F. SloanSongwriter Interviews

P.F. was a teenager writing hits and playing on tracks for Jan & Dean when he wrote a #1 hit that got him blackballed.

Which Songs are About Drugs?

Which Songs are About Drugs?Fact or Fiction

"25 or 6 to 4" to "Semi-Charmed Life" - see if you can spot the songs that are really about drugs.