For those singers out there performing without a band (and there are a lot of you), here’s another tune to add to your repertoire of backing tracks. I arranged this in the style of The Pointer Sisters rather than Springsteen’s original version ’cause their arrangement included piano and a great organ solo. Could there be a better reason? Just take out the lead vocal track (in this case tenor sax) and you’re good to go.
There are many song titles about stuff burning: “Light My Fire”, “Fire and Rain”, “Ring of Fire”, “Great Balls of Fire”, “Fire on the Mountain”, just to name a few. This one cuts right to the chase – it’s just “Fire”. Bruce Springsteen wrote this for Elvis and sent him the demo in 1977, but Presley died soon after. Springsteen couldn’t record it himself as he was in litigation with his former manager at the time, so The Pointer Sisters pounced and took it to #2 on the charts in ’78. It turned out to be one of their biggest hits. Sorry, Bruce…
The lyrics to “Fire” can easily be altered to accommodate male or female vocalists. The male interpretation comes across as somewhat threatening (as many Springsteen songs do), while the female take is annoyingly flirtatious – I want you, no I don’t, I want you, no I don’t. We perform this one as a duo – boy takes one verse, girl takes the next. Everything’s more fun that way, don’t you agree?
“You say you don’t like it/but girl I know you’re a liar/cause when we kiss..oohh….fire.” Oh, man… Elvis would have so nailed this one.
Watch the ladies perform it on the link below:
Stageworthy Backing Tracks by Dave Zobrist 