Monday, October 13, 2014

"Give Me Your Love" (Curtis Mayfield)

When Curtis Mayfield created the soundtrack for Super Fly (1972), he didn't just pull 9 songs from his back catalog or write some random stuff that was barely related to the film.  He took the time to read the entire script and wrote music and lyrics that commented specifically on the plot and inner workings of the characters' minds, exploring their hopes, doubts, and desires.
"Give Me Your Love" is written from the point of view of "Georgia," the steadfast girlfriend (played by Sheila Frazier) of the film's protagonist, "Priest" (played by Ron O'Neal).  In the film, "Priest" is looking to make one last, big drug deal and then plans to leave the business for good.  Whereas everyone else around him—from his cohorts to crooked cops—is trying to convince him to stay in the drug game, "Georgia" is the only one who really sees the toll it has taken on him and encourages him to leave it all behind.  The lyrics of the song express her unconditional love and her sole desire for "Priest" to succeed so they can be together.
"Give Me Your Love" underscores the (in)famous slow-motion scene where "Priest" and "Georgia" get freaky in a bubble bath, right after she implores him to stop shutting her out emotionally.  The track's undulating congas and insistent bassline provide a funky, Latin-tinged foundation for the lush strings, delicate piano, and Mayfield's falsetto vocals.  It's gritty and beautiful at the same time, which I think perfectly captures the relationship between the two characters.


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