"Ain't Nobody Comin' To See You, Otis" Saying (video, information, & transcript), Part I

published by Jeannia Powell, Oct. 8, 2014
-snip-
This video replaces one that is no longer available. The video's publisher isn't related to me (that I know of).

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams post about the line "Ain't nobody come to hear you, Otis" from the 1998 The Temptations television mini-series. That mini-series is commonly referred to as "The Temptation movie".

Part I provides information about The Temptations and information about The 1998 The Temptation television mini-series. This post also showcases a YouTube video clip of a scene from that mini-series which includes the now iconic saying "Ain't Nobody Comin' To See You. Otis. A  transcription of that portion of that scene is also included in this post along with a  few comments from that embedded video's discussion thread.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/04/aint-nobody-comin-to-see-you-otis_7.html for Part II of this pancocojams series presents some examples of the quote "Ain't nobody come to hear you, Otis." that were used outside of that 1998 The Temptation television mini-series.

The content of this post is presented for cultural and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to David Ruffin who ad libbed "Ain't nobody comin' to see you, Otis" for that scene in The 1998 Temptations television min-series. Thanks also to The Temptations for their musical legacy. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
"Ain't nobody comin' to see you, Otis" is an African American diss (insult) and a clapback. This saying was ad-libbed in 1998 by actor Leon while playing the role of David Ruffin in the 1998 American television mini-series The Temptations.

That saying appears to be known and used much more often by African Americans than by any other people.

Although I'm African Amerian, I confess that I never watched the 1998 television series "The Temptations" (even though it happened to be filmed in my adopted home town of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). And I only became familiar with the saying "Ain't nobody comin' to see you, Otisat saying as a result of reading it several times in tweets in a couple of trending accounts of the Easter Sunday 2021 Verzuz "battle" between The Isley Brothers and Earth Wind & Fire.  Those tweets were written in reference to African American celebrity game show and talk show host Steve Harvey because (in the opinion of those writing those tweets) he was talking too much about himself during that life streaming show and therefore taking time away from those groups singing their hit R&B/Funk songs.

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"Diss" is an African American Vernacular English word that means "an insult".

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Here's informarion about the meaning of the word "clapback":
From https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clap%20back
"US, informal

: a quick, sharp, and effective response to criticism

Not to be confused with a garden-variety diss, a clapback is deemed by most as a targeted, often viciously acute comeback intended to place someone in much-needed check.
— Aaron Edwards and Ira Madison III"

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEMPTATIONS
"The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top 10 hit single "Cloud Nine" in October 1968, pioneered psychedelic soul, and was significant in the evolution of R&B and soul music.[1] The band members are known for their choreography, distinct harmonies, and dress style. Having sold tens of millions of albums, the Temptations are among the most successful groups in popular music.[2][3][4]

Featuring five male vocalists and dancers (save for brief periods with fewer or more members), the group formed in 1960 in Detroit under the name the Elgins. The founding members came from two rival Detroit vocal groups: Otis Williams, Elbridge "Al" Bryant, and Melvin Franklin of Otis Williams & the Distants, and Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams of the Primes. In 1964, Bryant was replaced by David Ruffin, who was the lead vocalist on a number of the group's biggest hits, including "My Girl" (1964), "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (1966), and "I Wish It Would Rain" (1967).[5] Ruffin was replaced in 1968 by Dennis Edwards, with whom the group continued to record hit records such as "Cloud Nine" (1969) and "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" (1970). The group's lineup has changed frequently since the departures of Kendricks and Paul Williams from the act in 1971.

[...]

The "Classic 5" lineup of the Temptations: David Ruffin (bottom left), Melvin Franklin (top left), Paul Williams (top right), Otis Williams (bottom right), and Eddie Kendricks (center) c. 1965.

[Photo description]

[...] 

Years active- 1960 to present"...

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INFOMATION ABOUT THE TEMPTATION MINI-SERIES
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Temptations_(miniseries)
"The Temptations is a four-hour television miniseries broadcast in two-hour halves on NBC, based upon the history of one of Motown's longest-lived acts, The Temptations. Executive produced by former Motown executive Suzanne de Passe, produced by Otis Williams and Temptations manager Shelley Berger, and based upon Williams’ Temptations autobiography, the miniseries was originally broadcast on November 1 and November 2, 1998. It was filmed on location in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1998. Allan Arkush directed the miniseries."...

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TRANSCRIPT OF THE SCENE FROM THAT TELEVISION MINI-SERIES THAT INCLUDES THIS SAYING
From https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0164292/characters/nm0502442 The Temptations (TV Mini-Series 1998) 
"David Ruffin : I'm the one sellin' the records. They're comin' to see me.

Otis Williams : They're comin' to see the Temptations.

David Ruffin : Ain't nobody comin' to see you, Otis! You wish you could work it the way I do, but you can't! Because there is only one David Ruffin. And without him, the Temps ain't nothin' but a group in SEARCH of a David Ruffin. Matter of fact, I been thinkin'. We should call the group David Ruffin And The Temptations. Yeah, that sound good to me. Y'all beggin' me not to leave you.

[sings]

David Ruffin : "And I refuse to let you go." Yeah, David Ruffin And The Temptations. Whatcha think?

Otis Williams : [stands up]  That ain't never gonna happen."
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This was a fictionalized scene that supposedly occurred during a rehearsal. David Ruffin was on drugs (crack) and the other members of the group were warning him that he would be fired if he didn't stop using drugs. In reality, David Ruffin was fired in 1968 because his drug use interferred with the Temptation's recording and tours. 

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COMMENTS ABOUT THE SAYING "AIN'T NOBODY COMIN' TO SEE YOU, OTIS"
(Numbers added for referencing purposes only.)

From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wNj3xSMEUM&ab_channel=ChristinaMarie

The Temptations (Ain't Nobody coming to see you Otis), published by Christina Marie on Feb.20, 2018 
1. BetterThanEmril, 2019 
"Thank you David Ruffin for giving me clapbacks to people that get on my damn nerves I say this a lot in real life situations 😂"
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Reply
1. tulipanegradesign, 2019
"Me too, lololol"

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Reply
3. Mattakusisgreatness, 2020
"For real"

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4. JoanRudith, 2019 
"My fear is that eventually Leon's entire career of playing every black man in music history throughout the 90s and 2000s, he will most be remembered for this one line!! lol But he WILL be remembered for generations to come regardless!

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Reply
5. Diggy22, 2019
"Funny thing is, that line was improvised 😂"

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Reply
6. Ava Symone, 2020
"And what's crazy is he improvised that line after they had specifically  asked him to please stop adliving and adding in his little improvised lines yet....it became the best scene in the movie and The one line he is most known for"

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Reply
7. Melissa Smith, 2019
"Damn that hurt... but it’s so funny cause it’s true

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8. shelita gaskins, 2019
"😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 I crack up every time I hear this line! 😂😂😂😂"

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Reply
9. Mr. E.O.M, 2019
"Kills me everyrtime.. 💀😂🤣"

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10. soulman2000
"Let’s be honest, ANYONE could’ve filled Otis’s spot in the group. Otis was never the powerhouse singer and showman Ruffin. He didn’t have the gruff and soul of Dennis. He didn’t have the charisma and  presence of Eddie. David, Eddie and Dennis definitely were irreplaceable. They were the voices. I find it hilarious that the members that start the group are usually the ones with the least talent and always the last livin members."

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11. Maddie61188, 2019
"This line is for dudes what "Bye Felicia" is for females lol"

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Reply
12. La Fleur de la Paix, 2019
"Iconic"

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13. mssmmns, 2020
"It's the truth, though. Hell , 60 years later and we still don't know how Otis sounds. But we know David, Eddie, Melvin, Dennis, and Ollie."

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14. Lakesha Fletcher, 2020
"Black people everywhere growing up watching this and repeating this line everytime someone got on our nerves 🗣️aint nobody coming to see you Otis! Period lmao"

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15. Jay Philly, 2019
"Ain't nobody coming to see you Fizzle Pop (Omarion's voice)."
-snip-
This commenter images what he thinks that the Hip Hop artist Omarion would say in response to Hip Hop artist Fizzle Pop's song that disses Omarion. More comments about the Fizzle Pop/Omarion diss and imagined clapback can be found Part II of this pancocojams series.

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From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ8BqQOeVes&ab_channel=BlackintheDayTV
The Temptations Movie - David Ruffin (1998), published by Black in the Day TV•Aug 2, 2020 [This video clip is embedded in this pancocojams post.]

1. A dot J dot, 2020
"Ain't nobody coming to see you Otis"

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Reply
2. Ayana Hale, 2021
"I say this randomly throughout the day without provocation."

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Reply
3. A dot J dot, 2021
" @Ayana Hale  😆😆😆😆"

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Reply
4. SUEDUCE, 2021
"That’s my part 😂😂😂"

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Reply
5. J Nichole, 2021
"My favorite line in the whole movie!"

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Reply
6. Adrianne King, 2021
"A Classic....lol...and then he said you  wish you could work it the way I do..(to Otis)🤣"

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7. Don Marco, 2021
"Leon said the actor who played Otis was actually offended when he said “Ain’t nobody come to see you Otis”, as you can tell by his face reaction"

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8. D Clark, 2021
""I'm the one selling the records. They comin to see ME!" Ouch lol. But he had a point, David had the main spotlight in the group."

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Reply
9. Mel Clark, 2021
"Exactly!!!  Some stuff is just the TRUTH!"

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10. Shamiirian Da Entertainment, 2020
"Classic Lines in black cinema"

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Reply
11. JJ Rome, 2021
"Facts!"

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From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6lsdVZEong&ab_channel=FOXSoul
"Ain't Nobody Coming to See You Otis' - The Mike & Donny Show" published by FoxSoul, May 5, 2020

Leon was one of the guest on this talk show.

Warning: Some profanity is used in this conversation. 

Comments:
1. Jessica Spears, 2020
"LMAOO the fact "aint nobody come to see you otis" was a freestyle makes me respect Leon as an actor SO much more"

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2. Derek Crichton, 2020
"And who doesn't love pullin out that line, "AIN'T NOBODY COMIN TO SEE YOU OTIS!!""

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This concludes Part I of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Four Motown Recordings Of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post provides information about the Rhythm & Blues song "I Heard It Though The Grapevine" and showcases four Motown examples of that song. The featured artists who are featured in this post are Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Marvin Gaye, and The Temptations.

Note: These four examples aren't the only recordings of "I Heard It Though The Grapevine" by Motown recording artists.

The content of this post is presented for entertainment, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, the composers of this song. Thanks also to all the featured singers and musicians. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and the publishers of these examples on YouTube.

Hat tip to Mitchell McCann who sent me an email requesting a pancocojams post about "I Heard It Though The Grapevine".

Click https://play.google.com/music/preview/T6sajmrpnxg2jcq4zawy2lvdbk4?lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kp-lyrics for lyrics to this song.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Heard_It_Through_the_Grapevine
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" is a song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for Motown Records in 1966, and made famous by Marvin Gaye in a single released in October 1968 on Motown's Tamla label.

Smokey Robinson & the Miracles released a cover in their 1968 album, Special Occasion. Whitfield produced a version with Gladys Knight & the Pips, which Gordy releases as a single in September 1967, and which went to number two in the Billboard chart. The Marvin Gaye version was placed on his 1968 album In the Groove, where it gained the attention of radio disc jockeys, and Gordy finally agreed to its release as a single in October 1968, when it went to the top of the Billboard Pop Singles chart for seven weeks from December 1968 to January 1969 and became for a time the biggest hit single on the Motown label (Tamla).
The Gaye recording has since become an acclaimed soul classic, and in 2004, it was placed on the Rolling Stone list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. On the commemorative 50th Anniversary of the Billboard Hot 100 issue of Billboard magazine in June 2008, Marvin Gaye's "Grapevine" was ranked 65th. It was also inducted to the Grammy Hall of Fame for "historical, artistic and significant" value.

In addition to being released several times by Motown artists, the song has been covered by a range of musicians including Creedence Clearwater Revival, who made an eleven-minute interpretation for their 1970 album, Cosmo's Factory; and has been used twice in television commercials – each time using session musicians recreating the style of the Marvin Gaye version: the 1985 Levi's commercial, "Launderette", featuring male model Nick Kamen, and the 1986 California raisins promotion with Buddy Miles as the singer for the clay animation group The California Raisins.

Composition
By 1966, Barrett Strong, the singer on Motown Records' breakthrough hit, "Money (That's What I Want)", had the basics of a song he had started to write in Chicago, where the idea had come to him while walking down Michigan Avenue that people were always saying "I heard it through the grapevine".[1] The phrase is associated with black slaves during the Civil War, who had their form of telegraph: the human grapevine.[2][3] Producer Norman Whitfield worked with Strong on the song, adding lyrics to Strong's basic Ray Charles influenced gospel tune and the single chorus line of "I heard it through the grapevine".[4] This was to be the first of a number of successful collaborations between Strong and Whitfield.[5]

Motown recordings
Producer Norman Whitfield recorded "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" with various Motown artists. The first known recording is with the Miracles on August 6, 1966, though there may also have been a recording with the Isley Brothers, or at least Whitfield intended to record it with them; however a track has not turned up – some Motown historians believe that a session may have been scheduled but cancelled.[4][7][8][9] The Miracles' version was not released as a single due to Berry Gordy's veto during Motown's weekly quality control meetings; Gordy advised Whitfield and Strong to create a stronger single.[7] The Miracles version later appeared on their 1968 Special Occasion album, and a slightly different take, possibly from the same session but unreleased, appeared on the 1998 compilation album, Motown Sings Motown Treasures.[10]

Marvin Gaye's version was recorded in spring 1967, and is the second known recording, though was also rejected by Gordy as a single, and would also later go onto an album, In the Groove. The third recording was in 1967 with Gladys Knight and the Pips in a new, faster arrangement. Gordy accepted the new arrangement and the Gladys Knight version was released as a single in September 1967, reaching number 2 in the charts. When Gaye's album with his version of Grapevine was released in August 1968 radio disc jockeys were playing the song, so Gordy had it released as a single in October, and it went to number one in December.

In 1968, Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers recorded a version for their debut album based on Gladys' recent hit; however, after hearing the Marvin Gaye version, they felt they'd made the wrong choice.[11] In 1969, Whitfield produced a version for the Temptations "psychedelic soul" album, Cloud Nine, in which he "brought compelling percussion to the fore, and relegated the piano well into the wings".[12] In 1971, the Undisputed Truth became the final Motown act to record the song in its Marvin-styled version. The song was also covered by the Chi-Lites on their 1969 debut album Give It Away.

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These videos are presented in chronological order by their publishing dates on YouTube with the oldest video given first.

Example #1: I Heard It Through The Grapevine-Gladys Knight and the Pips [1971]



wingtipvortex Uploaded on May 14, 2008

Love this tune to bits! Creedence version is brilliant, this one is double brilliant!!
-snip-
Here's a link to the Creedence Clearwater Revival version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93S_l0qZrXA
-snip-
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread:
Okon “Herbsman” Umoh, 2014
"No disrespect to Marvin, but this version takes the biscuit. There is just so much funk, soul, personality and attitude in this one."
-snip-
The idiom “takes the biscuit” is usually given as “takes the cake” (meaning, “wins the prize”).

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Lou Hutson, 2014
"Motown had the genius idea of having more than one of their artists record the same song. Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight hit heard it through the grapevine out of the park!"

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iluvmusicals21, 2014
"Love Gladys' version, though Marvin's has more airplay."

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kelamo, 2014
"This is from the very first episode of Soul Train!"

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Example #2: Marvin Gaye I Heard It Through The Grapevine (1968)



Rene Zwaap, Uploaded on Feb 25, 2009
Favorietje

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Example #3: Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - I Heard It Through the Grapevine



KingRizlaa, Uploaded on Jan 27, 2010

Original version
-snip-
Selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread:
Matt S, 2014
"This was the first recorded version, in 1966. It wasn't released until much later. Marvin Gaye's version was the second one RECORDED (1967) but was initially rejected as a single and put on Gaye's "In The Groove" album (1968). DJs played the song on the radio and forced Motown to make it a single. Gladys Knight and the Pips' version was the first one RELEASED but the third RECORDED..."

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shomzlezilebovic, 2014
"what about temptations version?"

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Frank Janssen, 2014
"+shomzlezilebovic According to The Originals.be this is the sequence of recording (not release!!) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1966), Isley Brothers (1967) [unreleased], Gladys Knight & The Pips (1967) [n°1 R&B], Willie Bobo (1967) , Marvin Gaye (1968) [n°1 R&B, US & UK], King Curtis (1968) , Temptations (1969), Chi-Lites (1969) , Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970) , Undisputed Truth (1971) , Maggie MacNeal (1971) , Average White Band (1977) , Joe Cocker (1978) , Slits (1979) , Bettye LaVette (1980) , Roger (1981) [n°1 R&B], Flying Pickets (1984) , Tuxedomoon (1987) , Marisa Monte (1989) , F.M. (1991) [hardrock-version], B.J. Scott & Doug Duffy (1994) , Soultans (1996) , The King (1998) , Michael McDonald (2003) , Amy Winehouse & Paul Weller (2008)
NB: these are the well-known versions, not every version nor the best .... The Slits did a good job butchering this song! ;-P"

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Example #4: The Temptations - I Heard It Through The Grapevine



Will Common Published on Sep 15, 2013

Copyrights owned by Motown Records (1969). Lead by Eddie Kendricks & Dennis Edwards, Narrating of a man hearing of his own relationships deception through the grapevine. This is their cover version. Originally done by Glady Knight & The Pips in 1967 and was made famous by Marvin Gaye a year later.

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Visitor comments are welcome.

The Temptations - Beauty's Only Skin Deep (lyrics, video, comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases the 1966 R&B song "Beauty's Only Skin Deep" by The Temptations. This post also includes comments about the meaning & the history of that folk saying.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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LYRICS - BEAUTY'S ONLY SKIN DEEP
(Writer(s): Norman Whitfield & Edward Holland, Jr.)

So in love, sad as could be
'Cause a pretty face got the best of me.
Suddenly you came into my life
And gave it meaning and pure delight.
Now, good looks I've learned to do without
'Cause now I know it's love that really counts
I know beauty's only skin deep.
Yeah yeah yeah.
Beauty's only skin deep.
Yeah yeah yeah,

Now, you speak your words warm and sincere
And let me know that your love is here.
A pretty face you many not possess
But what I like about you is your tenderness.
A pretty face may be some guys taste
But I'll take lovin' in its place,
'Cause I know beauty's only skin deep.
Yeah yeah yeah.
Beauty's only skin deep.
Yeah, yeah yeah.

Now, friends ask what do I see in you.
But it goes deeper than the eye can view.
You have a pleasing personality
And that's an ever lovin' rare quality.
Now, show me a girl, a girl that's fine
And I'll choose the one with true lovin' ev'ry time,
'Cause I know beauty's only skin deep.
Yeah yeah yeah.
Beauty's only skin deep.
Yeah yeah yeah.
So if you're lookin' for a lover
(Oh, yeah) don't judge a book by its cover.
(Oh yeah) She may be fine on the outside
(Oh yeah) but so untrue on the inside.

Source: www.lyrics007.com

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SHOWCASE VIDEO - Beauty Is Only Skin Deep - Temptations



gmonath, Uploaded on Feb 17, 2012

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COMMENTS ABOUT THIS RECORD
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty_Is_Only_Skin_Deep
"'Beauty Is Only Skin Deep' is a 1966 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label. Written by Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland, Jr., and produced by Whitfield, the song was a number three pop hit and a number one R&B hit in the United States.[1]

The song's theme is inner beauty, and its value over physical appearance. David Ruffin sings lead on this song, relating the story of a man who's become frustrated with dating pretty women with "ugly" attitudes. He now praises his current girl, whom he does not find as physically beautiful, but feels that her personality more than makes up for it. "She may be fine on the outside/but so untrue on the inside", is a typical lyric from the song."

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TRIVIA COMMENTS ABOUT THIS SAYING
"Beauty's But Skin Deep" is a poem by John Davies of Hereford
from 1616.

"There is also an old jingle, author unknown, which parodies the famous beauty line. It reads:
'Beauty is but skin deep, ugly lies the bone;
Beauty dies and fades away, but ugly holds its own'."

Source: http://www.trivia-library.com/b/origins-of-sayings-beauty-is-skin-deep.htm

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The saying "beauty it's just skin deep, but ugly, it's to the bone" is found in this song/rhyme that is included in Thomas W. Talley's 1922 collection Negro Folk Rhymes: Wise & Otherwise:

LOVE IS JUST A THING OF FANCY
Love is jes a thing o' fancy,
Beauty's jes a blossom;
If you wants to git yo' finger bit,
Stick it at a 'possum.

Beauty, it's jes skin deep;
Ugly, it's to de bone.
Beauty, it'll jes fade 'way;
But Ugly'll hoi' 'er own.

Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/27195/27195-h/27195-h.htm Talley's Negro Folk Rhymes [p. 2]

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Thanks to The Temptations for their musical legacy. Thanks also to the composers of this song, and to the publisher of this video on youtube.

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Visitor commeents are welcome.