MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Now, it's time for the occasional feature we call "In Your Ear." That's where we ask some of our guests what they're listening to these days. Today, we're going to hear some music that inspires entertainer RuPaul. We spoke with him earlier this year about his hit show "RuPaul's Drag Race," and here are some of the songs he listens to.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "GONE ALREADY")
RUPAUL: Hey, this is RuPaul, and this morning I woke up with this song in my head. It's Faith Evans' "Gone Already."
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "GONE ALREADY")
FAITH EVANS: (Singing) It was over before we started. I was gone already, gone already. I was gone. Understanding now you're ready but I already been gone. I already been gone. I already been gone.
RUPAUL: I cannot get it out of my head. It's so beautiful, and I wish it had been a bigger hit. But she does a riff in there that just tears me up every single time. It just sends me over the top, and it's simply beautiful.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "GONE ALREADY")
EVANS: (Singing) ...know that I already gone. Already gone. Gone already. Understanding now you're ready. But I already been gone. I already been gone. I already been gone.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "CARRIED AWAY")
RUPAUL: The next song I'm listening to is "Carried Away," by Olivia Newton-John.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "CARRIED AWAY")
OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN: (Singing) There you are, shiny as a morning star. It's a figure of speech, but you're still out of reach. You never told me loving you could be so wrong and right. And it's going to be a lonely night.
RUPAUL: Now, let me tell you the story on this. The song was written by Barry Gibb for Barbra Streisand's "Guilty" album. Well, for whatever reason, Barbra passed on the song, and the song then wound up on Olivia Newton-John's 1981 album called "Physical." It is lovely.
And actually, when I talk about the Brothers Gibb - Barry Gibb - I actually, I get - tears come to my eyes because I love them so much. And something about the way Barry Gibb writes, and his sensibility, just speaks to my heart. And this is one of my favorite songs from him.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "CARRIED AWAY")
NEWTON-JOHN: (Singing) I'm carried away. Carried away. Carried away.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "WARM RIDE")
ANDY GIBB: (Singing) Come to me baby. I got something to say. I been changing your direction every step of the way.
RUPAUL: And I'm also listening to "Warm Ride" by Andy Gibb, the younger brother of the Brothers Gibb.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "WARM RIDE")
GIBB: (Singing) Warm ride, warm ride, baby it's the way you are. Warm ride, warm ride...
RUPAUL: It just is the epitome of the beauty and cinematic story that Barry Gibb is able to paint, not just with his lyrics but musically and - string arrangement. It grooves so well.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "WARM RIDE")
GIBB: (Singing) Now, I warn you woman, we are two of a kind. And we both know what's coming. We've got one thing in mind. I bring the pleasure, satisfaction you learn, and I got the strength to make you burn, baby, burn.
MARTIN: That was entertainer RuPaul, telling us what's playing in his ear. To hear our previous conversation with him, please go to our website. Go to npr.org, click on the Programs tab, and then on TELL ME MORE.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "WARM RIDE")
GIBB: (Singing) Warm ride, warm ride, we can reach the highest star. Why are we waiting for this love on the rise?
MARTIN: And that's our program for today. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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