Shalamar, Somewhere There’s A Love | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 136^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2025), we recollect and reflect on “Somewhere There’s A Love” by Shalamar.  

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 136^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2025), we recollect and reflect on “Somewhere There’s A Love” performed by Shalamar.

“Somewhere there’s a love just for me.” Indeed, Shalamar.  In “Somewhere There’s A Love”, the third track on the trio’s 1980 gold-certified album, Three for Love, Howard Hewett (lead vocals), Jody Watley, and Jeffrey Daniel believe that love exists! Hewett admits in the first verse, “Though I’ve been hurt before / It doesn’t mean I’ll never try anymore.” Right on, Howard! Ernest “Pepper” Reed, William Shelby, and Otis Stokes penned “Somewhere There’s A Love.” The legendary Leon Sylvers III produced this sleek, 1980s R&B ballad. 

“Somewhere There’s A Love” is a gorgeous, compound duple ballad. The songwriting, from a technical perspective, is fantastic thanks to the distinct harmonic progression as well as the arrangement/orchestration. Fittingly, “Somewhere” features a lush sound and top-rate production. Among the instrumentation that stands out are the bass, shimmering keys, drums, and the orchestra, including brass and, of course, strings.  The backdrop superbly accompanies the ripe vocals of Hewett, particularly his delightful, utterly divine falsetto.  He brings the melodies and lyrics to life brilliantly. While his falsetto dominates early, he also shines when he returns to his chest voice, showing the sheer power, range, and versatility of his pipes. With the strong, love-touting backing by Watley and Daniel, Howard does a fine job of selling the fact that love is worthwhile, even if it’s brought you down in the past: “I dreamt that when it [true love] comes / I’ll really know how true love feels / And I won’t let go.” Ultimately, “Somewhere There’s A Love” proves to be another timeless, surefire classic by Shalamar.