You know that slide guitar lick. It’s thick, honey-dripped, and unmistakable. Honestly, if you grew up in the 90s or spent any time near an Adult Contemporary radio station, Bonnie Raitt Something to Talk About basically lived in your ears. It’s one of those rare tracks that feels like it’s always existed, a permanent fixture of backyard BBQs and long highway drives. But the story of how it actually became a hit? It’s kind of a miracle.
Before 1989, Bonnie Raitt was a "critic's darling." That’s usually industry code for "talented but broke." She had been dropped by Warner Bros. after nearly two decades of making incredible music that just didn't move the needle commercially. Then Nick of Time happened, followed by Luck of the Draw in 1991. Suddenly, the woman who spent years opening for blues legends in smoky clubs was the biggest star in the world.
The Mystery Song That Sat on a Shelf for Seven Years
People usually assume a hit like this is written specifically for the artist. Nope. Not even close. Bonnie Raitt Something to Talk About was actually written by a Canadian songwriter named Shirley Eikhard.
Shirley was a powerhouse in her own right—a Juno winner who’d written for the likes of Cher and Anne Murray. She actually wrote "Something to Talk About" way back in the mid-80s. She pitched it to Anne Murray, who really liked it. Murray even wanted to name her 1986 album after the song. But here’s the kicker: Murray’s producers didn’t think it was a hit. They passed.
The song sat in a pile of tapes for seven years. Seven years!
Bonnie Raitt eventually found it on a demo tape Shirley had sent her ages ago. Raitt later admitted the tape had probably been sitting on her shelf for two years before she even listened to it. When she finally did, she was floored. She didn't just like the song; she understood the swagger of it.
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The recording process was magic. Produced by Don Was, the track captures that perfect "live" feeling. It’s not over-polished. You can hear the grit. When Bonnie finished the recording, she didn't send a formal letter to Shirley. She just called her up and played the finished track into Shirley's answering machine. Imagine coming home, hitting "play" on your machine, and hearing Bonnie Raitt singing your song. Shirley said she was basically numb with shock.
Why the Lyrics Still Hit Different
The song isn't just a catchy tune. It’s a clever, slightly snarky take on small-town gossip.
The lyrics describe two people who aren't actually together yet, but everyone thinks they are. They’re standing a little too close. They’re laughing a little too loud. The town is whispering. Instead of getting offended or hiding, the narrator basically says, "Well, if they’re going to talk anyway, why don't we actually give them a reason?"
"Let's give 'em somethin' to talk about / How about love?"
It’s a brilliant psychological flip. It turns the "shame" of gossip into a catalyst for a new romance. It's relatable because we've all been in that "will-they-won't-they" phase where the outside pressure actually makes you realize, Wait, I actually do like this person.
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Breaking Down the Chart Success
When it dropped in May 1991, nobody could have predicted just how huge it would be.
- Peak Position: It hit #5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Grammy Glory: Bonnie won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1992.
- Longevity: It stayed on the charts for 20 weeks.
What’s wild is that Bonnie was competing against the biggest pop titans of the era. We're talking about Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Oleta Adams. For a 41-year-old blues guitarist to take home that trophy was a massive statement. It proved that "grown-up" music had a massive, underserved audience.
The Iconic Slide Guitar and the "Raitt Sound"
You can’t talk about this song without mentioning the guitar. Bonnie Raitt is arguably the greatest slide player of her generation. She plays a 1965 Fender Stratocaster (mostly), and her technique is distinct because she uses a glass bottle neck on her middle finger.
In Bonnie Raitt Something to Talk About, the guitar acts like a second voice. It’s sassy. It answers her vocal lines. That "swampy" blues feel is what kept the song from feeling like a generic pop fluff piece. It had teeth.
The music video, directed by Matt Mahurin, played into this perfectly. It wasn't some high-concept sci-fi short film. It was just Bonnie and her band—including the legendary bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson—looking cool, playing hard, and leaning into the "small town" vibe with shots of people dancing and embracing.
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Common Misconceptions About the Track
- "She wrote it about her husband." Actually, no. While Bonnie has written many personal songs (like "Nick of Time"), this was Shirley Eikhard’s brainchild.
- "It was her first hit." Technically, she’d had some minor chart success in the 70s with "Runaway," but this was her first and only Top 10 single on the Hot 100.
- "It's a country song." While it has rootsy vibes and Shirley Eikhard had country success, the production is pure blues-rock with a pop sheen.
How to Get That "Bonnie" Vibe Today
If you’re a musician trying to capture that sound, or just a fan wanting to dive deeper, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, the tuning. Bonnie often uses open tunings (like Open G or Open A) for her slide work. This allows those big, resonant chords to ring out while she slides. Second, it’s all about the "pocket." The song isn't fast, but it’s heavy. It breathes.
For the listeners, if you love this track, you really need to check out the rest of the Luck of the Draw album. "I Can't Make You Love Me" is the obvious follow-up—it’s heartbreaking and sits on the opposite end of the emotional spectrum from the flirtatious fun of "Something to Talk About."
Actionable Insights for Fans and Musicians
If you're inspired by Bonnie Raitt's journey with this song, here's what you can actually take away from it:
- For Songwriters: Don't throw away your demos. If a song is good, it's good forever. It might just be waiting for the right voice to find it. Shirley Eikhard’s seven-year wait turned into a career-defining royalty check.
- For Curators: Dig deeper into the credits. If you like the sound of this track, look up Don Was. He produced some of the best-sounding albums of the 90s, including works for The Rolling Stones and Iggy Pop.
- For Guitarists: Practice your "vibrato" on the slide. Bonnie doesn't just hit a note; she makes it wobble and sing. It’s about the soul in the fingers, not the speed of the scales.
Bonnie Raitt’s success with this song changed the industry. It forced labels to stop ignoring female artists over 40. It showed that the blues could be "pop" without losing its soul. Most importantly, it gave us a killer track that still sounds just as fresh today as it did on that first answering machine playback.
To really appreciate the craft, listen to the live versions from her 1994 tour. The solos are extended, the groove is deeper, and it’s a masterclass in how to keep a hit song feeling alive decades after it was recorded.