We Move As One
(Album: Eyes of a Woman)
By John Wetton
agnetha-forever is proud to present a famous artist who has worked with Agnetha on her album “Eyes of a Woman”. John Wetton can look back to a long career as a song writer, musician and vocalist. He still is in business together with his partner Geoff Downes with his newest release “Icon”. You don’t remember the name John Wetton? Maybe, but you do remember the band ASIA and the song “Heat of the Moment”, I bet. Oh, yes, this one! Of course! An all-time classic.
I’m honoured that John gave permission to publish his thoughts and memories about the two days he spend working with Agnetha at the Polar Studios in Stockholm during the production of the “Eyes of a Woman” album.
I wrote "We Move As One" for Agnetha’s album “Eyes of a Woman” in 1984/5 and worked with her when she recorded the song at Polar. I had the pleasure of hearing the track again recently at a radio interview. I could not help but think of her. It was written for her alone, not in the ABBA style but in ASIA style (my band at that time), me writing the song from the point of view of a female. Not easy!
It turned out exactly as I had imagined, it was written SPECIFICALLY for Agnetha - I was asked to do that. I knew her vocal range and style obviously from the wonderful performances on ABBA records and it was a pleasure to write the song. My partner Geoff Downes wrote the bridge and we performed the song at Polar with her. I would like to let her know that I am humbly at her service any time she would like another song. She is a lovely, inspirational person and in that respect it’s easy to write for her. As far as changing male to female I just had to imagine myself in her shoes which was not easy but women sometimes like my songs - I have had my material covered from Cher, Heart , Lana Lane and others but Agnetha was special. She is a disarmingly modest woman and the song did not exist before I started writing it as a vehicle for her alone. It was as near perfect as I could wish. The music came first, marginally, but only as a canvas on which to place the lyric and melody. It was an honour which I would repeat in a heartbeat and must thank the Polar Organization for their hospitality and welcome to me while I was there.
On a personal level, two days, especially working in under any studio regime is not a long time. Long enough for me to reassure you that Agnetha is very professional, intelligent and personable, she was there the whole time, not at all aloof, great sense of humor and - most of all - she possesses a serene vulnerability, which makes her even more likeable and something, if I ever wrote again for her, would be at the forefront of my mind. Where “We Move As One" is fairly bombastic in its announcement of happiness, she really shines when taking on a more sympathetic role (Name of the Game, The Winner Takes it all) because of this endearing quality that she has. Emotional vulnerability with powerful inner strength. That`s what it is.
Could I give her a better review? No. From all the people I have worked with she would be at the top.
I would like to wish her the best in whatever she chooses to do, she is such a lovely person, with a gorgeous voice. Finally I wish her health, happiness, peace and whatever she wishes for herself.
Sincerely,
John Wetton
(January 2006)
Thank you so much for this outstanding report, Sir! And if the lady ever contacts you to write another song for her, please don’t forget to invite me to the studio.
Visit John Wetton’s website: http://www.johnwetton.co.uk
Buy John’s album “Icon” at amazon:
We Move As One
By John Wetton and Geoff Downes
We stand apart
But everything reminds me of your smile
In my heart
You are always with me all the while
Cause it’s you, you all the way
Leaving me with no more to say
We move as one,
We move as one.
I’m insecure
I just can’t face the dealings of this world
And while I’m yours
You’ll never have to find another girl
We are two changing forever
But when two make it together
Chorus:
We move as one,
We move as one.
We move as one, move as one.
We move as one, move as one.
We move as one, move as one.
We move as one.
Hear me call
I’ll keep on running to your loving arms
If this is all
I want no more, everything is calm.
Cause it’s you, you all the way,
Leaving me with no more to say.
Chorus
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