Steve Smith: Engelbert Humperdinck brings the romance, Kiss strips down – Daily News

About the Song

Engelbert Humperdinck, whose rich, velvety baritone has captivated audiences for decades, stands as one of the most iconic figures in popular music. Often dubbed the “King of Romance,” Humperdinck’s career has spanned over five decades, yielding a treasure trove of chart-topping hits and enduring classics. Among his most beloved songs is the timeless ballad, “Love Is All.”

Released in 1976, “Love Is All” marked a turning point in Humperdinck’s artistic journey. While he had previously achieved success with upbeat pop tunes like “Release Me” and “Jivago,” “Love Is All” showcased his ability to deliver heartfelt ballads with an emotional depth that resonated with listeners worldwide.

The song’s opening notes, a delicate interplay of piano and strings, set the stage for Humperdinck’s captivating vocals. His voice, imbued with a warmth and sincerity that disarm even the most jaded hearts, weaves a tapestry of love’s enduring power. The lyrics, penned by the renowned songwriting duo of Carole Bayer Sager and Bruce Kifer, paint vivid imagery of a love that transcends trials and tribulations, emerging stronger with each passing day.

“Love Is All” is more than just a song; it’s an anthem for romantics and dreamers, a testament to the transformative power of love. Humperdinck’s delivery elevates the song from a mere ballad to an emotional masterpiece, imbuing each word with an aching vulnerability that resonates deeply with listeners.

The song’s enduring popularity is a testament to its universal appeal. “Love Is All” has been covered by countless artists, from Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion to Luther Vandross and Elton John, each bringing their unique interpretation to the beloved ballad. Yet, it is Humperdinck’s definitive rendition that remains etched in the hearts of millions, a timeless reminder of love’s enduring power.

“Love Is All” is a cornerstone of Humperdinck’s illustrious career, a song that has solidified his status as a true icon of romantic music. With its poignant lyrics, captivating melody, and Humperdinck’s masterful vocals, “Love Is All” stands as a timeless testament to the enduring power of love, a song that will continue to touch hearts for generations to come.Engelbert Humperdinck and his wife Pat present their new

Video 

Lyrics: Love Is All

Yesterday
I knew the games to play
I thought I knew the way
Life was meant to be
But now there’s you
My foolish games are through
Now at least I have found
Just what makes this whole world
Turn aroundLove is all I have to give
Love is all, as long as I shall live
So take it all
And I’ll always be there when you call my name
I know now that love is allEvery night
I long to hold you tight
Until the mornin’ light
Shines in your eyes
So love me now
We’ll get along somehow
Won’t you please take my hand
And together, forever, we’ll stay

Love is all I have to give
Love is all, as long as I shall live
So take it all
And I’ll always be there when you call my name
I know now that love is all

You Missed

HE WROTE THESE WORDS AS A LIGHTHEARTED TRIBUTE TO A FRIEND — BUT NO ONE KNEW IT WOULD BECOME THE ANTHEM OF HIS FINAL BATTLE. Back in 2017, during a charity golf event at Pebble Beach, Toby Keith found himself sharing a cart with the legendary Clint Eastwood. Clint was nearing his 88th birthday, yet he was still working, still directing, and still full of life. Toby, curious about how the Hollywood icon stayed so sharp, asked for his secret. Clint’s answer was simple but profound: “I just don’t let the old man in.” Toby was so moved by that philosophy that he went straight home and turned those words into a song. When he recorded the first demo, Toby actually had a bad cold. His voice was unusually gravelly, tired, and raw. Clint heard that “imperfect” version and insisted it stay exactly that way for his 2018 movie, The Mule. Back then, it was just a quiet, soulful track that most of the world barely noticed. Everything changed in 2021 when Toby received his stomach cancer diagnosis. Suddenly, the song he wrote for Clint became the story of his own life. Those lyrics were no longer just a tribute—they became a daily prayer for strength. The world finally felt the true weight of that song in September 2023. Toby stepped onto the People’s Choice Country Awards stage to accept the Icon Award. He was visibly thinner, and his hands trembled slightly, but his spirit was unbroken. He joked about his “skinny jeans,” then he began to sing. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Overnight, a song from five years prior surged to the top of the charts. After playing his final trio of shows in Las Vegas that December, Toby peacefully passed away on February 5, 2024, at age 62. Clint Eastwood later shared a photo of them together, a final salute to his friend. Time eventually catches up to everyone, but Toby Keith showed us all how to face it with dignity, courage, and a guitar in hand. Do you remember the title of this final, powerful masterpiece by Toby Keith?

HE WAS 70, STRUGGLING TO STAND, AND THE INDUSTRY HAD ALREADY WRITTEN HIM OFF — UNTIL HE COVERED A TRACK BY A ROCK STAR HALF HIS AGE AND BROKE THE WORLD’S HEART. By 2002, Johnny Cash was a man surviving on memories. He had outlived most of his peers. His record label of nearly three decades had abandoned him. His health was a wreckage of diabetes, pneumonia, and failing nerves. There were moments in the recording booth when his producer, Rick Rubin, could hear the literal sound of a voice breaking. Then Rubin presented him with a raw, industrial rock song about the depths of depression and self-harm. Cash made one simple change — replacing a profane lyric with “crown of thorns” — and transformed a young man’s angst into his own final testament. The music video was shot inside his shuttered museum in Nashville, a place crumbling under the weight of dust and silence. June Carter was there, looking at him with an expression of profound, tragic realization. She would be gone in three months. He would follow her just four months later. When the original songwriter finally saw the footage alone one morning, he broke down. He later admitted that the song no longer belonged to him. The video went on to win a Grammy and was hailed by critics as the greatest music video ever filmed. It has been streamed hundreds of millions of times since. But its true power isn’t in the numbers or the awards. It continues to haunt us two decades later because it is the sound of a man who has stopped running from the end — a man who sat down in the fading light and finally told the absolute truth.

NO ONE KNEW WHY TOBY KEITH KEPT VISITING THE OK KIDS KORRAL EVERY WEEK DURING HIS FINAL 2 YEARS — EVEN AS HIS OWN CANCER WAS TAKING OVER… UNTIL A NURSE FINALLY TOLD THE TRUTH In 2006, Toby Keith launched a foundation for children battling cancer, inspired by the loss of his lead guitarist’s 2-year-old daughter to a tumor in 2003. By 2014, he turned that vision into reality, opening the OK Kids Korral in Oklahoma City—a sanctuary where families of pediatric patients could stay for free. Then, in 2021, the world stopped when Toby was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Yet, instead of retreating into his own pain, Toby began appearing at the Korral every week. He wasn’t there to sign autographs or put on a show. He would simply stand in the quiet hallways, watching the children go about their days. Outsiders assumed he was inspecting the building. The staff figured he was there to lift spirits. But following Toby’s passing in February 2024, a veteran nurse finally shared what really happened. She had asked him why he pushed himself to come when he was so exhausted. Toby leaned heavily against the wall and whispered: “These kids showed me how to be a warrior long before I ever had to fight for my own life. I’m just here to pay my respects—while time still allows.” The world believed Toby Keith built the Korral to rescue those children. In reality, it was those children who were quietly holding him together at the end. What remained a secret until his very last visit—just 11 days before he slipped away—was how Toby stopped in front of a single name on the memorial wall: the little girl whose story began it all two decades earlier. He stood there in total silence, longer than anyone had ever seen him stay in one place.