Philip Bailey Says 1975 Hit 'Reasons' Drew From a One-Night Stand
Updated
Updated · Rolling Stone · Jun 6
Philip Bailey Says 1975 Hit 'Reasons' Drew From a One-Night Stand
3 articles · Updated · Rolling Stone · Jun 6
Summary
Philip Bailey says Earth, Wind & Fire’s 1975 ballad “Reasons” was inspired by a one-night stand with a woman who was already in a relationship, not by enduring romance.
In Questlove’s new documentary, Bailey recalls waking up and hearing the woman “talking to her dude” on the phone, then jokes that anyone who used the song at a wedding got the wrong message.
The revelation undercuts the track’s long-held image as a wedding and slow-dance staple, a misunderstanding echoed in the film by Anderson .Paak, H.E.R., and Barack and Michelle Obama.
Questlove’s Earth, Wind & Fire documentary premiered at Tribeca and reaches HBO on June 7, pairing the anecdote with a broader look at the band’s history and Maurice White’s leadership.