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Often called ‘The King Of Ballads’, singer/songwriter Richard Marx has been in virtual hiding for the last seven years. Only difference is that while he was ‘hiding’ he added some pretty famous names to his résumé. ‘NSYNC, Barbra Streisand, Vince Gill, 98 Degrees, Luther Vandross, Kenny Rogers, and Michael Bolton have all had hits with Richard Marx penned songs.
He worked as a producer and songwriter in genres ranging from teen pop and country to even semi-classical and jazz. His efforts paid off this year when he was awarded the highest honour a songwriter can get – a Grammy Award. And now with My Own Best Enemy, his first solo CD since 1997, it is time for us to hear some Richard Marx songs sung by Richard himself.
In an EXCLUSIVE interview with The Record, Richard Marx talks to Sonal D’Silva about his artistic inspiration, why he hates explaining his songs, his biggest regret, and how one fan wondered whether he was a murderer.
TR: Your album is called My Own Best Enemy. Are you your own best enemy?
RM: I think really what I’m saying is that I thrive on adversity. I think I do better when things are a little tougher. When things are too easy I lose interest in them so I find ways to complicate them to get myself interested.
That’s not to say that I’m self destructive because there’s a big difference, but I think that when it comes to my personal life and my career I just seem to thrive on adversity. Ultimately it seems to do well for me, I seem to do better so instead of me being my own worst enemy, I’m my own best enemy I guess. It’s just a phrase that I thought was kind of interesting.
TR: Do you have a favourite song off the new album?
RM: I really don’t and I don’t know how many years I’ve been making records, 17 years or whatever, I don’t think I’ve ever picked a favourite. Because when I’m just finished an album as I have in this case all these songs are so fresh to me and are so new that I can’t pick a favourite. It’d be like picking a favourite son! I really love every song on this record. Maybe a year from now I might be able to point to a song on the album and go ‘That’s my favourite song’ but I don’t even know. I don’t think I could do that on any of my old albums either.
TR: So even while writing your biggest hits, like say 'Right Here Waiting', you didn’t know at the time that they would be huge?
RM: Never. I’ve never had that experience. I’ve never written a song that I thought was a hit. I’ve never thought that. I know other people have. I did not even want to put 'Right Here Waiting' on my album! I thought it was too personal. I didn’t think anyone else would understand it. It was like a love letter between my girlfriend at the time, who is now my wife. So let’s put it this way, if you want to know what’s going to be a big hit, don’t ask me ‘cause I don’t know!
TR: You won your first Grammy this year for the song 'Dance With My Father' with Luther Vandross. Did you think it was your turn this time?
RM: No I think it was Luther’s turn. To be honest with you, I’m very proud to have co-written that song with him. I helped write it musically but lyrically it was all him. It was a tribute to his father, it was a very personal statement that he made that I think people really reacted to with that lyric and I can take no credit for that. I think that the recording academy was really honouring Luther and I was just proud to be his co-writer.
On the night I just wish he could have been with me to accept the award. It was a really weird night because as a songwriter that’s about as good as it gets – Song Of The Year at the Grammys. But I couldn’t really celebrate [because Luther was away recovering from a debilitating stroke]. It was sad, it felt wrong.
TR: You are known for your meaningful lyrics. Does it put pressure on you that people are listening quite that closely?
RM: That’s a really good question. I don’t think it is pressure but I am aware sometimes, especially on this new album, that people were going to really pay attention. The only thing that’s a little tricky about it is sometimes people assume that if it’s a new song, it’s a reflection of what you’re feeling or going through now. And it’s not necessarily the case.
I’m happy, I would say that I’m one of the happiest people I know but I’ve certainly had periods of profound sadness, depression and heartache and those are the kind of things that are interesting to me to write about.
And you know I can’t really worry about it. People are going to misinterpret some of these songs and I think that’s kind of cool. I love when people get songs wrong. I love when people take something from a song that’s totally not what I intended!
TR: What’s the most bizarre interpretation you’ve had for one of your songs?
RM: Well I’ve actually had people ask me if 'Hazard' was about me – in other words I’ve had people ask me if I murdered a girl or was accused of murdering a girl! And I just look at them like ‘You’re kidding me right?!’ People take songs so literally. That’s probably the oddest one.
TR: You’re going to have to put a disclaimer on your albums now.
RM: Exactly! ‘The following songs are not necessarily truly eventful’.
You can read the rest of our cover story on Richard Marx in the August 2004 issue of The Record Music Magazine available at your local newsagent.
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