TONYA MOSLEY, HOST:
This is FRESH AIR. Kendrick Lamar's single "Luther," a duet with SZA, from his latest album GNX, has spent several weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The track features a sample of Luther Vandross' beloved 1982 rendition of "If This World Were Mine," a song originally written by Marvin Gaye and first recorded by Gaye and Tammi Terrell in 1967. Rock critic Ken Tucker has been revisiting all three versions and shares his thoughts on why this song continues to resonate across generations.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LUTHER")
LUTHER VANDROSS: (Singing) If this world were mine.
KENDRICK LAMAR: (Rapping) Hey, Roman numeral seven, bae, drop it like it's hot. If this world was mine, I'd take your dreams and make 'em multiply. If this world was mine, I'd take your enemies in front of God, introduce 'em to that light, hit them strictly with that fire. (Vocalizing).
KEN TUCKER, BYLINE: With the song "Luther," Kendrick Lamar stakes his claim as that rare thing, a great hip-hop ballad singer. Lamar samples Luther Vandross' "If This World Were Mine." That's Vandross' croon you heard in the opening music, with Kendrick singing and wrapping his own love lyric all around it. In the context in which this song appears on Lamar's album GNX, "Luther" serves as a soothing interlude, a bit of intimacy on a collection more often characterized by boasting and aggression. The way Lamar invites SZA to join him as a singing partner here, it's obvious he's steeped in the soul music tradition of a song that was a hit five years before he was born.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LUTHER")
KENDRICK LAMAR AND SZA: (Singing) If it was up to me, I wouldn't give these nobodies no sympathy. I'd take away the pain. I'd give you everything. I just want to see you win, want to see...
VANDROSS: (Singing) If this world...
LAMAR AND SZA: (Singing) I can't lie, I trust you. I love you. I won't waste your time. I turn it off just so I can turn you on. I'ma make you say it loud. I'm not even tripping. I won't stress you out.
TUCKER: OK, now let's hear what Kendrick Lamar loved about that 1982 Luther Vandross single. Luther is at his swooniest here, his voice pouring out a sweet syrup that swirls around Cheryl Lynn's tart, vinegary vocal. Not widely known for his duets, Vandross is at once generous and completely commanding here. When he sings the words, if this world were mine, you kind of wish God would just hand him the keys.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "IF THIS WORLD WERE MINE")
VANDROSS: (Singing) If this world were mine, I would place at your feet all that I own. You've been so good to me. If this world were mine, I'd give you the flowers, the birds and the bees. And with your love beside me, that would be all I need. If this world were mine, I'd give you anything.
CHERYL LYNN: (Singing) If this world were mine, I would make you a king with wealth untold. You could have anything. If this world were mine...
TUCKER: Kendrick Lamar's verses in "Luther" are about the promises he makes to a troubled woman he loves, assuring her that her life will get better with him. The author of "If This World Were Mine" is Marvin Gaye, whose own lyric in 1967 describes a dreamier scenario than Lamar's, as we might expect from one of the great romantics in pop history. Where Lamar speaks of flowers of love that struggle to grow through the cracks of tough city streets, Gaye creates for Tammi Terrell an easier world of bright sunshine and illuminating moonlight. The exquisite delicacy of the singing conveys the atmosphere in which such beauty can flourish.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "IF THIS WORLD WERE MINE")
MARVIN GAYE: (Singing) If this world were mine, I would place at your feet all that I own. You've been so good to me. If this world were mine, I'd give you the flowers, the birds and bees. For with your love inside me, that would be all I need. If this world were mine, I'd give you anything.
TAMMI TERRELL: (Singing) If this world were mine, I'd make you a king with wealth untold. You could have anything. If this world were mine...
TUCKER: This duet with Tammi Terrell isn't as famous as others of theirs, such as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" or "You're All I Need To Get By." In fact, this song was the B-side of another hit - "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You." But listening to "If This World Were Mine," you can hear why first Luther Vandross and then Kendrick Lamar wanted to make sure we never forgot the shimmering beauty of its majestic melody and its hopeful sentiment.
MOSLEY: Ken Tucker is FRESH AIR's rock critic. He reviewed Kendrick Lamar's song "Luther," from his latest album GNX, and two versions of the song it samples.
Tomorrow on FRESH AIR, Melinda French Gates talks with me about her new book "The Next Day," which reflects on motherhood, grief, philanthropy and life after divorce. Gates is the former co-chair of the Gates Foundation and founder of Pivotal Ventures, which is focused on advancing women and families. I hope you'll join us. To keep up with what's on the show and get highlights of our interviews, follow us on Instagram - @nprfreshair.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LUTHER")
SZA: (Singing) In this world, concrete flowers grow. Heartache - she only doing what she know. Weekends get it popping on the low. Better days coming for sure.
VANDROSS: (Singing) If this world were...
LAMAR AND SZA: (Singing) If it was up to me, I wouldn't give these nobodies no sympathy. I'd take away the pain. I'd give you everything.
MOSLEY: Our interviews and reviews are produced and edited by Phyllis Myers, Ann Marie Baldonado, Lauren Krenzel, Therese Madden, Monique Nazareth, Thea Chaloner, Susan Nyakundi and Anna Bauman. Our digital media producer is Molly Seavy-Nesper. Roberta Shorrock directs the show. With Terry Gross, I'm Tony Mosley.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LUTHER")
LAMAR AND SZA: (Singing) If it was up to me, I wouldn't give these nobodies no sympathy. I'd take away the pain. I'd give you everything. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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