Michael J Thomas – Only Love

 

There is something beautiful about artists whose insight into the human condition and world affairs allows them to create works that truly meet the moment, help us transcend our anxieties and capture our hopes for a brighter, kinder and more compassionate world.

Michael J Thomas’ soaring soprano driven power ballad “Only Love” is more than simply the latest infectious single from the saxophonist’s popular EP Stream’n Love. Originally co-written and recorded by vocalist Jordan Smith it is an essential anthem for our time – a heartfelt yet empowering musical message that offers a way forward from the dark times, fears and challenges of 2020 into a brighter day. Thomas’ belief in the lyrics that “Only love can save us now/Keep the world from burning down. . .Only love can look inside the human heart/And see us for who we are…” inspired him to take the extraordinary step of releasing “Only Love” as a dual single that includes both an instrumental version and a vocal version showcasing the multi-talented musician’s equally soulful talents as a singer.

Thomas, who became an instant contemporary urban jazz sensation when his single “Baby Coffee” stayed at #1 on the Billboard National Smooth Jazz Airplay and Smooth Jazz Songs charts in 2017/2018, has been on a momentous roll this past year and a half. “I’ll Never Love Again,” his explosive re-imagining of the Lady Gaga hit from “A Star is Born,” became his second #1 Billboard smash, dominating the smooth jazz airwaves throughout 2019. Thomas’ cleverly titled, silky light funk follow-up single “Sippin’ The Yak” hit #2 on the charts, remained in the Top 5 for nine weeks, and rounded out 2020 on Billboard’s Year-End Smooth Jazz Songs chart at #5.
Like those tracks, “Only Love” was produced by Trammell Starks, Carl Griffin, and Thomas. It features keys, synths, strings, and percussion by Starks (who also did the string arrangements), in addition to Chris Blackwell on guitars, Sam Sims’ on bass, and Louis K Newsom on drums, with backing vocals by Chantae Cann.

“While we originally recorded it before the events of 2020 unfolded, it’s definitely more relevant than ever now, not only because of concerns related to the pandemic but our political climate where so many people are at odds with each other,” Thomas says. “It’s about digging deeper down into our hearts, being kind and having respect for people and letting that be our guiding purpose so that love may prevail. We’re releasing it in time for Valentine’s Day, but as much as I love a good romantic love song, only the true spirit of universal love can save us.”

Listen to Only Love on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 6/5).

Michael J Thomas – I’ll Never Love Again

While everyone’s been going (literally) Gaga over “Shallow,” the #1 hit single from the Oscar nominated film A Star is Born, powerhouse indie saxophonist Michael J Thomas — keeping the momentum of his hit album Driven (which garnered the #1 Billboard hit Baby Coffee) going — finds a deeper, more profound connection to the film’s heartbreaking closing band “I’ll Never Love Again.” Using his lyrical, richly soulful soprano to convey Lady Gaga’s array of emotions without words, Thomas explores the subtle nuances and gripping intensity of the song’s gorgeous melody. He eases effortlessly from a state of gentle elegiac grace towards a crescendo that bursts with the musical equivalent of sorrowful tears and a celebration of a grand life that was.

Thomas says, “My music biz mentor, Carl Griffin, called me with excitement about a week before I went to the Grammy’s this year and said he just watched the new A Star Is Born movie. The last song of the movie, “I’ll Never Love Again, performed by Lady Gaga caught his ear and he said he could hear my soprano sax as the lead melody. He sent me a You-Tube link to listen and I instantly connected with it. I could hear the ideas of what he was hearing. It’s a beautifully written song by a great team of songwriters including Lady Gaga and Natalie Hemby, and when I watched the movie it really put the entire meaning in perspective. Although the movie is a remake in its third version, the story-line stands true today. Many creative people struggle with mental illness and turn to substance abuse as a coping mechanism.”

Listen to I’ll Never Love Again on Smooth Jazz Buzz (Playlist 5/4).