Jam Slow
Mar 07 '01
The Bottom Line Jam Slow is simply my favorite slow jams at the time, with a pattern to the way the songs were picked.
I believe the year was 1997. It might have even been late 1996. I was freshly out of a relationship and would stay away from the love game for about two years. But that didn't mean I wasn't a sucker for love. Just that after a two year relationship that had more downs than ups, I didn't mind being alone again. That being said, I still envisioned how I was going to secure my bride and was as much a sucker for slow jams as I was for love.
Now what does all this have to do with a romance mix? Well soon after the end to my two year relationship I decided that I was going to be creative with my slow jam mix tapes. There was going to be meaning behind the tapes. I would choose the songs based on their content and create some sort of series that I can update every year when new slow jams become favorites of mine. My creation became Jam Slow (I thought the title Slow Jams was a bit trendy) and now I simply call them J Slow (yes Jennifer Lopez copied me for her new album title).
The goal was to create (I act like I actually created the music or something) a tape that showed the many phases of relationships. The courting, the honeymoon phase where nothing can go wrong, the small problems, the larger problems, breakup?, makeup?, and then in the end, marriage and children. Now this may sound like some sort of fantasy, but that's what was in my mind at the time. I wanted to put the music in that exact pattern.
On to the original Jam Slow. I will list them in the order I recorded them to tape.
I Believe I Can Fly R. Kelly
I know this does not seem like a love song per say. It's actually a very uplifting song that means different things to many people. I just thought it was awesome and wanted it on the tape anyway, so I figured it could have a love tone as well as the uplifting tone it provides. My tape, I can break my own rules.
Falling by Montell Jordan
This should actually be the first song on the tape. It's probably the one song on this tape that most of the even hardcore r&b fans won't recognize. He sings, "Falling for you, and I just can't help myself, baby I'm falling for you." This one song really showcases Montell as a vocalist. It's simply beautiful.
Knocks Me Off My Feet by Tevin Campbell
This is a remake of the classic Stevie Wonder song. This song was on the soundtrack to the Martin Lawrence movie, Thin Line Between Love and Hate. It still perplexes me how a talent such as Tevin Campbell can't make it in today's music while so many kiddie figures who can't sing a lick are hot. Oh well. "There's something about your love that makes me weak and knocks me off my feet," is the classic hook, if you didn't already know.
For Your Love by Stevie Wonder
This is not a famous Stevie Wonder song from the 70's. It's actually his only hit song in the 90's. It's a great song where Stevie tells his woman that he would do anything for her love. If anyone could court a woman, it would be Stevie. "And for your love, I would do anything, just to see that smile upon your face. For your love, I would go anywhere, just you tell me and I'll be right there."
Down Low by R. Kelly
Ok, here I break another rule and it's another R. Kelly song. And I also break it because the song is great and at the time I was playing it alot. In my mention of the pattern of relationship that I wanted to follow, there was no mention of going behind anyone's back and stealing their girl. I don't condone that. Yet, the song is so simply smooth, that I couldn't leave it out. He sings, "You want me, but he needs you. Yet your telling me that everything is cool. Trying to convince me, baby, to do as you say, just go along and see things your way, and keep it on the down low." Pretty shady there for a romance tape. Sue me.
Nobody by Keith Sweat featuring Athena Cage
This is a Keith Sweat song that has been slept on lately. Maybe it's because his music lately hasn't been stellar. But with this song, we are back on track of the love pattern. "Who can love you like me, nobody, who can sex you like me, nobody, who can lay your body down, nobody," is what Mr. Sweat and Ms. Cage sing to each other.
Stay Gold by Stevie Wonder (live version)
This is not necessarily perceived as a love song in the romantic type of way. Yet it's my favorite Stevie Wonder song of all time and if I really thought about it, could be my all time favorite song. This song was originally recorded in 1983 for the movie The Outsiders. I couldn't find the song until Stevie released a live album in the mid 90's. The song is about how in life, nothing can stay the same. So the goal is to stay gold for as long as you can. And I think that happens in relationships as well. You want your loved one to be the same person he/she always was for as long as he/she can. But outside things change people such as money, status, jobs, etc.. and Stevie says that he wants us to stay pristine for as long as we can.
I'm Still In Love With You by New Edition
This is my favorite of all New Edition tunes. It has Ralph Tresvant on lead and Ricky Bell seconding him. It's about how he is in love with his girl even though she's now not in love with him. Ricky sings, "Time passes so fast babe, I wish it would last babe, cause I know in my heart that my life ends and starts with you, and baby I know that this feeling that I'm feeling won't let me go, cause you're the first true love I've ever known." It's just tight. And it's also the first song in the pattern that shows signs of break up.
When Will I See You Smile Again by Bell Biv Devoe
Yes, Bell Biv Devoe had a slow jam or two. Ricky Bell, the only member of BBD that could actually hold a tune, sings on this one. He says, "Girl you see that I, I apologize, tell me what to do to get through to you, girl it's not the same, I know I was to blame, just tell me when will I see you smile again." Ricky screwed up and he's paying for it. On to the break up songs.
Leavin' by The Tony Rich Project
Tony Rich was a vastly underrated singer/songwriter. I believe he helped Babyface write a few tunes. This song is about how he is tired of the lies in his relationship and is leaving. He sings, "Said I'll be leavin', I'm looking for my wings in the sky, my journey's long over and my body's tired, so when I'm leavin' I'll make sure I'll tell you goodbye, I know somebody really loves me, but I gotta be leavin'." This was actually misplaced by me in the whole pattern of things, and I'll tell you why in the next song.
Can You Stand the Rain by New Edition
This song is actually supposed to be before Leavin'. The reason that it's not is because the previous two songs were from New Edtion and their sub group Bell Biv Devoe. I didn't want three songs in a row from the same people. So this may seem a bit out of place in the pattern of things.
This song is probably the most famous New Edition song ever. Johnny Gill sings lead while Ralph T and Ricky Bell also have some solos. Ralph sings, "Sunny days, everybody loves them, tell me baby, can you stand the rain." In this song they are asking that their girl/girls need to be able to stand the tough times, through the good and bad, in their life. As I told you before, it seems out of place and would have been better in front of the previous song.
Never Can Say Goodbye by the Jackson Five
Even though Tony Rich just told his girl that he's leaving, little Michael Jackson says that he can never say goodbye. Mike sings, "Everytime I think I've had enough I start heading for the door, there's a very great vibration that pierces me right through the core. It says turn around you fool, you know you love her more and more." So maybe there is chance for reconciliation in my pattern?
How Could You by K-Ci and JoJo
Well according to K-Ci and JoJo, maybe not. They are too hurt and are heartbroken. K-Ci sings, "Ain't no more blue left in my sky, only cloudy mornings, and this is like rain, you left behind all of those memories, in the corner of my mind."
This was their first released single as a duo. It wasn't officially released from their album, but from the soundtrack to Bulletproof with Adam Sandler and Damon Wayans. It was later included on the Love Always album. It's a very emotional song and is the main reason I bought their first album.
If You Think You're Lonely Now by K-Ci Hailey
Yes, this is the same K-Ci from the previous song. Like I said, I break my rules many times on this tape. This is a remake of the classic Bobby Womack song and it's brutal. The hook is simply, "If you think you're lonely now, wait until tonight." We may have to hold off on the thought of reconciliation after that song.
Lately by Jodeci (live version)
I know, K-Ci and JoJo came from Jodeci. So really, I have them three songs in a row. And I said I didn't want to do that with New Edition. But the song after this one just didn't fit before this one. This is a remake of a Stevie Wonder song. They slow it down and actually improve on the original in my opinion. It's a song where the man thinks his girl is cheating on him. "I'm a man of many wishes, hope my premonition misses, but what I really feel, my eyes won't let me hide, cause they always start to cry." There's actually a funny episode of Martin starring Martin Lawrence where he sings with Jodeci and changes that line to, "I'm a man of many wishes, I hope my baby Gina does the dishes." Anyway, Jodeci is ready to leave their girl.
Unbreak My Heart by Toni Braxton
"Don't leave me in all this pain, don't leave me out of the rain, come back and bring back the smile, come and take these tears away," is how the song opens. If you see the video, her man, Tyson dies, but I think this song works on the relationship level as well. It's Toni asking her man to "unbreak her heart". Time for reconciliation.
Everytime I Close My Eyes by Babyface
This is Babyface with Mariah Carey singing in the background. It's about how the love of Face's life makes him feel. Check out these lyrics. "It feels like springtime in winter, it feels like Christmas in June. It feels like heaven has opened up these gates for me and you." Face has it down pat. So the breakup pattern is over and now it's time to get back together.
Lady In My Life by Michael Jackson
Michael is fierce on this song. "There'll be no darkness tonight, lady your love will shine, just put your trust in my heart and meet me in paradise." There are two or three ballads that really stand out in Mike's career and this is one of them.
Love U 4 Life by Jodeci
Jodeci is sure represented strong on this album. Things have moved fast since they last said their girl was cheating on them as this is a wedding song. Or at least many couples use this at their weddings. It's actually a song that encompasses all that I was trying to do with this tape. It's about how a man and a woman have problems in their relationship, but it is put in the past and now they are ready for love. "Do you believe in love and the promise that it gives, I want to love you for life, cause your love is why I live," is the hook. It's an awesome song.
The Day by Babyface
This is the last song on this long romance mix. It is the culmination of an entire relationship, at least in my mind. It has to do with Babyface and his wife having their first child. The lyrics are very meaningful and actually a work of art. He sings, "Oh such tears of joy I've never known, I can't remember, it's like a song I've never heard, I've never sung, but know the words." That is how he describes the day he met his son for the time. I can't think of any better way I can describe the way I felt when my two sons were born.
Well, that's it. Jam Slow. The second edition of Jam Slow was an absolute failure (called Jam2Slow) and I think I threw it off a cliff. So if I ever decide to write another thesis on this topic, I'll write it about the third rendition of the J Slow series.
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Member: Garrett M. Gonzales
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