Luther Vandross, “Dance with My Father” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 67^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Dance with My Father” by Luther Vandross.   

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 67^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Dance with My Father”, performed by 🎙 Luther Vandross. 

Theme & Lyrics ✍

“If I could steal, one final glance / One final step / One final dance with him…” 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B artist 🎙 Luther Vandross was one of the smoothest vocalists in the game, period.  His final studio album, 💿 Dance With My Father, debuted at no. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 and became the biggest album of his career (certified double platinum).  Sadly, his health was poor when Dance With My Father was released, and he died two years later aged 54.  The album’s biggest song is 🎵 “Dance with My Father”, which earned moderate success on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Back when I was a child / Before life removed all the innocence / My father would lift me high / And dance with my mother and me and then…” “Dance with My Father” recounts the joyous times that Vandross experienced with his late father.  It is a celebratory record that longs for one more dance – one final time spent with him, best exemplified by the chorus, in several variations:

“If I could get another chance

Another walk

Another dance with him

I’d play a song that would never ever end

How I’d love, love, love

To dance with my father again.”

Vandross never seems to break a sweat as he sings, performing with incredible finesse, refinement, and utmost sophistication.  Even when “Dance with My Father” the key change occurs prior to the third verse, Luther retains a sense of poise. He’s commanding throughout, even if he eschews gospel histrionics and endless vocal runs. Further making this 🏆 Grammy-winning record epic beyond the songwriting (Vandross and 🎼 ✍ Richard Marx), and elite vocal performance is the production (Vandross), firmly planted in adult contemporary R&B.  Notably, 🎙 Céline Dion covered “Dance with My Father” on the 2005 Luther Vandross tribute album, 💿 So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross.

Final Thoughts 💭

All told, 🎵 “Dance with My Father” is an excellent, incredibly moving, and thoughtful record.  Yes, Luther has had bigger hits – 🎵 “Endless Love”, 🎵 “Here and Now” and 🎵 “Never Too Much” come to mind –but this is, undoubtedly one of his best too.

🎙 Luther Vandross • 💿 Dance with My Father • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 📅 2003

Luther Vandross, “Dance with My Father”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 67 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  The Musical Hype, Sony Music Entertainment]