Expert: Bong Santos - 7/26/2007

Question
i'm trying to find out the artist who sang live again, a ballad song in the 70s.  the only clue i can give you is that the vocalist is female.  sounds like sergio mendes, silver convention and three degrees type of music.

Answer
Dear Dong,

1977 when that song was a big hit here in the Philippines. No one would ever thought that the 20 year old singing on that record would someday become a major star.

The name of the lead vocalist: GLORIA ESTEFAN. LIVE AGAIN was performed by GLORIA's band MIAMI SOUND MACHINE out of their 1977 debut album RENACER/LIVE AGAIN. Written by RAUL MURCIANO, CARLOS OLIVA and JUAN GIORDANO, the song was the b-side of their debut single YOU'VE BROKEN MY HEART but it was the b-side who got all the airplays. GLORIA was then billed as GLORIA FAJARDO, her maiden name before marrying band leader EMILIO ESTEFAN in 1978. Here's its lyrics:

LIVE AGAIN / MIAMI SOUND MACHINE

When you turned and walked away
You said all you had to say
It was over
You just couldn’t understand
How deeply I had given all my love to you
I was left alone in tears
Our life together had become a memory
And as far as I can see
There was darkness
And I had nothing left inside but pain and sorrow
I had no plans for my tomorrow
And I had to find a reason
That would make me live again
Live again

Now today
I feel my life is worth living
I have someone who is giving
Someone to share each new day
Someone who will always stay
When I think of yesterday
It all seems so far away
I’m so happy
And I feel as my life has just begun
And that the world is gonna be mine
It is this feeling deep inside me
That has made me live again
Live again
Live again

Maraming salamat po!!

BONG M. SANTOS
Manila, Philippines