by Tina Turner: More Than Just a Phenomenal Singer
While Tina Turner is best known as one of the greatest live performers and best-selling artists of all time, she was also a very talented songwriter. Behind many of Ike & Tina Turner’s biggest hits in the 1970s were lyrics and melodies penned by Tina herself. However, her songwriting skills often go unrecognized compared to her legendary status as a singer. Let’s take a deeper look at some of Tina Turner’s co-written songs and her impact as a songwriter.
One of Tina’s earliest co-writes was the soulful ballad “Black Coffee” from Ike & Tina’s 1972 album “Feel Good”. With its sparse instrumentation and emotive lyrics, “Black Coffee” shows Tina’s skill for crafting intimate songs about heartbreak and loneliness. The song tells the story of a woman drowning her sorrows in black coffee after a breakup, longing for her lost love. Tina’s raw vocals perfectly capture the melancholy mood. Lyrics like “I take a little sugar in my coffee/I take it black just like my men” paint a vivid picture and have made “Black Coffee” one of Tina’s most covered songs. Its understated beauty highlights Tina’s talent for penning emotionally resonant songs from a woman’s perspective.
Another major hit co-written by Tina was 1973’s “Nutbush City Limits”, which brought Ike & Tina to new commercial heights. The uptempo, funk-infused track paints a picture of Tina’s hometown of Nutbush, Tennessee with lyrics like “Well, the boys in the neighborhood always liked the way she walked/Folks in Nutbush used to call her ‘Sugar Dumpling’.” The semi-autobiographical nature of the lyrics, combined with Tina’s powerhouse vocals and the infectious rhythm, helped make “Nutbush City Limits” a crossover smash. It reached #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped cement Ike & Tina’s reputation as pioneering funk-rock artists. Tina’s gift for catchy storytelling songs with soul was on full display.
In 1974, Tina co-wrote and sang lead on another standout track, “Sweet Rhode Island Red”. Showcasing Tina’s impressive five-octave vocal range, the uptempo song tells the tale of a woman dreaming of escaping her small town life. With lyrics like “I’m gonna fly away on my Rhode Island red/Spread my wings and fly away from here instead”, Tina paints a vivid picture of yearning for freedom and adventure. Her powerful yet nuanced delivery brings the character to life. “Sweet Rhode Island Red” remains one of Tina’s signature songs and highlighted her songwriting talent for crafting empowering anthems with rich storytelling.
That same year, Tina co-wrote the two-part funk song “Sexy Ida (Part 1)”. Featuring Tina’s sultry vocals and suggestive lyrics, “Sexy Ida” introduced listeners to the glamorous title character. Lines like “Sexy Ida, you’re looking so fine/With your high heel shoes and your mini mini skirt so tight” paint a picture of Ida’s bold style and confidence. Tina’s knack for writing lyrics that capture vivid characters through suggestive imagery was on full display. While not a major hit, “Sexy Ida” showed Tina could craft playful, funky songs just as skillfully as emotional ballads.
In addition to her collaborations with Ike Turner, Tina wrote or co-wrote several tracks on her solo albums in the 1980s. 1984’s “Private Dancer” contained the song “Better Be Good to Me”, which Tina co-wrote with Terry Britten and Graham Lyle. The bluesy rock track highlighted Tina’s assertive attitude as an independent woman in the music industry. Lyrics like “You better be good to me/If you know what’s good for you, boy” conveyed Tina’s confidence and strength as she embarked on her successful solo career after leaving Ike. The song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, showing Tina still had a gift for writing hits.
On her 1986 album “Break Every Rule”, Tina co-wrote four songs, including the rocking title track. Featuring lyrics like “I’m gonna break every rule/I’m gonna do just what I feel”, the song celebrated Tina’s rebellious spirit and refusal to conform as she entered her 50s. It underscored Tina’s talent for penning empowering anthems that captured her no-nonsense attitude. She also co-wrote the album’s lead single “Two People”, a passionate duet with Bryan Adams that highlighted Tina’s skill for writing romantic lyrics.
Later in life, Tina continued writing and recording new music. Her 1993 album “What’s Love Got to Do with It” contained the song “I Don’t Wanna Fight”, which Tina co-wrote. The bluesy rock track saw Tina reflecting on past struggles and maintaining her independence. She co-wrote several other songs for her albums in the 1990s and 2000s as well. Even in her later career, Tina showed she still had a gift for crafting emotive lyrics that captured her life experiences and strong spirit.
While Tina Turner will always be remembered as one of the greatest live performers and most successful female artists of all time, her talents extended well beyond just her iconic singing voice. Behind many of her biggest hits with Ike & Tina Turner and throughout her legendary solo career were songs written or co-written by Tina herself. From intimate ballads to feel-good anthems to suggestive funk songs, Tina demonstrated a gift for crafting lyrics that brought vivid characters and stories to life. Her songwriting skills were an important, often overlooked part of her musical legacy. Tina Turner was truly a rare quadruple threat as a singer, dancer, performer, and songwriter who left an indelible mark on popular music.
