Originally Posted by
WaitingWatchingLookingForAChance
I've been listening to this song for years and trying to figure out why I can never fully get into it, why it seems to be lacking something. I think ejluther gave me the key at last; the "Go to him" sections are pretty darn tight. Everything comes together on these parts- a strong melody line that practically compels you to sing along at full strength; the musical arrangement is particularly strongest on these sections with a strong, robust brass section bolstering it's catchiness; and the melody line gives you something you can really sink your teeth into vocally.
By contrast, the chorus is the weakest link. There ain't much to do with it and even then, the backing vocals do ALL the heavy lifting. The lead has little to do in selling the chorus and even then, the lines could be sung freeform- there's not much to deal with as far as phrasing, so in the end, the lead just comes off as tossing off a couple of lines that have no real emotional impact.
I think the issue is that the hook here ISN'T the hook. The hook, the best part of "He's All I Got" is the part before the chorus.
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