Day 18: Patti LaBelle, Own My Own | 30-Day Song Challenge 🎶

On Day 18 of the 30-Day Song Challenge, we take it back to 1986 where Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald slay on no. 1 hit, “Own My Own.”

Embracing the trendiness of social media, The Musical Hype unleashes its own, month-long version of the 30-Day Song Challenge.

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Day 18 Prompt: A song from the year you were born

So, Day 18 of the 30-Day Song Challenge makes me reveal my age – ugh! The prompt: A song from the year you were born.  Well, since I’m trying to keep things authentic, and even though I’ve been told I have a babyface and can pass for younger, I was born in 1986. Yeah, now that’s totally out there.

1986 does have some great music, though I will say, there were bigger, better years during the 80s but, can’t change my birth year unless I lie.  So, with that said, I go for one of my favorite duets of all time, “Own My Own” courtesy of Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald.

Patti LaBelle definitely experienced a resurgence of sorts in 1986.  She’d had success prior to this, most notably with LaBelle before going solo (“Lady Marmalade” is iconic).  Even so, “Own My Own” gave the R&B vet a number one hit – on the pop charts! Clearly, this gorgeous, lush duet between two awesome, distinct, and powerful voices propelled her album, Winner in You, to no. 1 on the Billboard 200, and her sole platinum-certified album from the RIAA.

Not only does “On My Own” feature two legendary musicians, it’s written and produced by a legendary team: Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager.  The form features standard sections (verses, chorus, bridge), but isn’t written ‘predictably’ either.  Patti LaBelle sings the first verse, singing incredibly expressively while also showing tremendous control. She follows with an abbreviation of the chorus essentially. As for Michael McDonald, he matches her on the second verse, also singing with great expression, followed by the full-fledged chorus:

“On my own
Once again, now
One more time
By myself.”

They then sing collaboratively on the bridge, followed by a Patti chorus, another McDonald verse, and the most powerful chorus yet, performed jointly.  Both vocalists let loose on that extended closing chorus, and who would have it any other way! We know Patti can blow the rafters off! Mike too honestly!

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Patti LaBelle • Winner in You • MCA • 1986

Day 18: Patti LaBelle, “Own My Own” (30-Day Song Challenge) 🎶 [Photo Credits: Brent Faulkner, MCA, The Musical Hype, Pixabay]

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