"Very Special" by Debra Laws

Song#:  0709
Date:  08/15/1981
Debut:  94
Peak:  90
Weeks:  5
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  This tune hung on the bottom rungs of the chart for five weeks while reaching #11 R&B. Laws was part of a musical family and two of her other siblings, Eloise and Ronnie, would also put songs on the charts. Ronnie provided the male vocals on this tune. While this would be her only pop entry, she would have a couple more reach the R&B chart. Her album "Very Special" would be only one of two solo discs that she would put out. She continued to tour and support other acts like The Commodores in addition to getting work in theater and film.

ReduxReview:  I like her voice, but I can't say that the song really stands out for me. It's an alright R&B mid-tempo tune and the addition of the male voice is nice, but while it has definite sections, I can't really immediately pick out what the chorus is here. I think the lack of a definitive, memorable hook probably kept it from going higher on the pop chart.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  In 2002, Jennifer Lopez released the single "All I Have." It was a hit and it ended up reaching #1. A portion of this Laws song was sampled for the recording. The sample obviously contains Laws' voice and is all throughout the track. Both the original songwriters and the record label gave permission to use the sample, but Laws contended that she did not give permission for its use and should have been under California law. She filed suit against Sony and lost. The decision was upheld by the court of appeals.

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