In the 154th edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on โI Can See Clearly Nowโ by Johnny Nash.
The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ! Throwback Vibez ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.ย The records that grace this column are older, but that doesnโt necessarily mean that theyโre ancient โ no fossils ๐ฆด! All genres of music are welcome. In the 154th edition of Throwback Vibez ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ (2023), we recollect and reflect on ๐ต โI Can See Clearly Nowโ, performed by ๐ Johnny Nash.ย
โI can see clearly now the rain is gone / I can see all obstacles in my way.โ Those lyrics hail from the 1972 classic, ๐ต โI Can See Clearly Nowโ. โI Can See Clearly Nowโ was performed, written, and produced by ๐ Johnny Nash, who incorporated pop, reggae, and soul into his music. A no. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, the sing also earned Nash his sole certification from the RIAA (a gold single). โI Can See Clearlyโ appears as the seventh track on Nashโs 1972 album, fittingly titled, ๐ฟ I Can See Clearly Now.
So, what makes โI Can See Clearly Nowโ the bomb diggity โ the sugar honey iced tea? Well, expressive and exuberant lead vocals from Johnny Nash play a sizable role.ย Also, the positive vibes of the songwriting truly put the cherry on top. The first verse, excerpted above, continues: โGone are the dark clouds that had me blind / Itโs gonna be a bright, bright, sun shiny day.โ Similarly, in the second verse, Nash speaks about โThat rainbow Iโve been praying for,โ signaling surefire happiness! If thatโs not enough, in the bridge, Nash sees โNothing but blue skies.โ Ooh-wee! The production matches the exuberance of the lyrics and singing, making this easily one of my favorite songs my elementary music teacher played (back in the 90s, by the way).ย Sadly, Nash died at the age of 80 in 2020 but his iconic song lives on forever!
๐ Johnny Nash โข ๐ฟ I Can See Clearly Now โข ๐ท Sony BMG Music Entertainment โข ๐ 1972
Johnny Nash, I Can See Clearly Now: Throwback Vibez ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ No. 154 (2023) [๐ท: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sony BMG Music Entertainment; John Alan Sperry, PIRO via ย Pixabay]