EMILY BINDIGER is a NY singer who has performed on hundreds of recordings, including commercials, movie soundtracks, industrials and records, as well as concert stages worldwide. For several decades she has been a first call studio singer of industry renown. You may not know her name, but you’ve heard her voice.

National jingles include campaigns for Advil PM, Downy, Pepsi, Wendy’s, DHL, Kodak, Crest, Verizon, Bounty, American Express, Gillette, Toyota, Hanes, and Disney World, among many others. She has sung on “One Life to Live” and “Live with Regis and Kathie Lee,” in musical comedy skits on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and “The Drew Carey Show,” and can be heard on dozens of movie soundtracks including Woody Allen’s “Bullets Over Broadway” and “Everyone Says I Love You,” “Donnie Brasco,” “The Hudsucker Proxy,” “Michael Collins,” “Mission to Mars,” “The Stepford Wives,” “A Chorus Line,” and the animated feature “The Tune.”

The list goes on and on.

I’ve known Emily through those decades and worked with her and recognize her as a pro’s pro – my highest accolade.

So when it came time to record this CD, she was a no brainer. And she did not disappoint. Rather, she came in totally prepared and used all her studio craft to turn in a terrific vocal in record time. The session was a blast and I don’t think she hit a sour note in the entire two hours.

The lady can sing.

As to the song, when Julia and I first started exploring subjects for Conversations With Wise Women In My Life, certainly one of the first subjects that came up was food. Women just love food! (Men don’t?) But women talk food whereas men are more likely to talk football. I’ve sat squirming through many dinner parties where the women get going on recipes and diets and favs and all things related.

So Hungry started out to be about food, but moved on in the second half to other more far reaching insights to hunger. Why? It just seemed like that’s where the song wanted to go — knowing the two characters performing it. And what better way to present the lust for food and success than in a tango?

The song was simply a blast to work on and I think both ladies really turned it out!

One thing for sure – we laughed a lot.

Hungry

Music and Lyrics by Peter Link

First Woman

What’s that you got on your plate, Lady

It looks just like something I’m dying to eat

So chocolaty gooey deliciously sweet

The pastry chef’s triumphant piquant sweet treat

I find myself ravenous

Filled with an avarice

Weak-kneed and flushed

With a rising heat

 

Watching you swoon

From across the room

I am eyeing your spoon

With jealousy

Simply put

GIVE IT TO ME!

I’m hungry!

 

I’m hungry

I’m famished

I’m craving

I’m itching

I’m thirsty

I’m starving

Insatiable

A bottomless pit

If I could, I’d quit

 

No an’ I can’t get no satisfaction

Chasing ev’ry wild attraction

Life’s become a mad distraction

Always being hungry

I’m hungry!

Second Woman

However, hunger comes in many colors …

For instance …

 

What’s that you got on your mind, Tootsie

You’re livin’ a life that I’m dyin’ to try

You’re pushin’ ahead with that look in yer eye

As you grab at each chance and you reach for the sky

I’m simply too tenuous

But find myself envious

Filled with ambition

But much too shy

Watching you soar

From across the floor

And my mind’s in a roar

With jealousy

Simply put

Wish it were me!

I’m hungry!

 

I’m hungry

I’m famished

I’m craving

I’m itching

I’m thirsty

I’m starving

Insatiable

Two bottomless pits

Two voracious misfits

 

No an’ I can’t get no satisfaction

Chasing ev’ry wild attraction

Life’s become a mad distraction

Always being hungry

I’m hungry

Why can’t we just calm the rabbit down?

 

JW So …

What if we changed the ultimate aim?

EB Yeah, what if we changed the game?

 

What would you change in your life, dear Jules

 

JW I’d wish contentment with all I require in life

I’d wish to turn off the pain of desire

And I’d wish to cool down this raging fire

 

EB Ah the malaise of your life’s discontent

It troubles you so

In your hunger and lust

And the thirst to succeed …

 

JW Why don’t we stop

Oh and just be at peace

With the good life that God has given us

 

JW Simply put

Why don’t we cool the desire

EB I’m hungry to cool down the fire

JW I’m hungry to just be myself

BOTH I am hungry to stop being hungry

Hungry to stop being hungry

 

No an’ I can’t get no satisfaction

Chasing ev’ry wild attraction

Life’s become a mad distraction

Always being hungry

Hungry …

Hungry!