I remember at the height of “Human”‘s success, someone (I’m fairly sure it was Donnie Simpson on BET’s “Video Soul”, but I’m not 100% positive) remarking that it was the “hardest” sounding slow jam that he’d ever heard. That’s the truth. Slow jams were…well, soft. “Human” was sensitive, but the beat kicked. Producers Jimmy Jam… Read More “Human” by The Human League (1986)
“Home Again” exists in a weird musical space. To this day, you don’t hear many songs by men, about the platonic relationships between men. Men expressing feelings towards other men (unless they are related by blood or are sexual in nature) is still pretty taboo–so taboo that I even started a podcast talking about it… Read More “Home Again” by New Edition (1996)
“Helplessly In Love” is historically notable because it marked the first time the members of New Edition worked with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. Jam & Lewis would ultimately help steer the ship that took New Edition over the teen idol hump and worked closely with the group their most artistically credible albums, 1988’s Heart… Read More “Helplessly In Love” by New Edition (1987)
Jon Secada is one of those dudes who was huge for a minute, but mention his name to anyone under 35 and you will get universal blank stares. “Heaven Is You” comes from his third English-language album, 1997’s Secada. Jon shored up his R&B bona-fides by working with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, who’d spent… Read More “Heaven Is You” by Jon Secada (1997)
Five Star Jamz 