The Atlantic - Latest Comments in Back To Life

Re: Back To Life

FOARP — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:48:00 -0000

9 years old when this came out, always felt Sade more when it came to Brit RnB, but giving it another listen it sounds a lot better.

Re: Back To Life

tg — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:57:17 -0000

"We are the 70s now.": Thanks for confirming that we're officially old, bro. Thanks a lot.

Re: Back To Life

Juba — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:47:25 -0000

Its funny, I was overseas when "Keep On Movin'" dropped and that song ITSELF was a monster, then that "Back To Life" dropped and everybody forgot "Keep On Movin'", sort of like how "Billie Jean" was beasting until "Thriller" dropped and took things to a hysteria never before seen.

Re: Back To Life

PBomb — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:48:55 -0000

One of my absolute favorite songs. I can still remember pretty much all of the lyrics. 1989? Wow, I thought that song came out in the early 90's.

Re: Back To Life

Ta-Nehisi Coates — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:19:26 -0000

Yeah, you're right. I forgot all about that. I've actually heard it done that way.

Re: Back To Life

sansouci — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:11:26 -0000

On point about British R&B. I think they were doing some amazing stuff and really recognized the potential of hip hop beats before US R&B did. And before that let's not forget Sade's noveau jazz stylings. Caron Wheeler, my god the talent though now I hear more potential in her voice than actualization. Twenty years later and their work still gives me chills. And on the point of fashion maybe because I was in college than I love the fashion, I think it's exuberant, creative and achieves its own flair.

Re: Back To Life

Jennifer D. — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:56:13 -0000

Great song I remember well. Hilarious hair.

Re: Back To Life

hector23 — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:20:15 -0000

more than hip hop or R&B this is an example of hip house or just house music viewed through the lens of the late 80s.

and compared to a lot of the clothes being worn in the 80s early 90s this passes off as about average

Re: Back To Life

Juba — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:13:04 -0000

That whole British late 80s R&B movement was the perfect complement to the Golden Age of Hip-Hop. Not only did I love what Jazzie B was doing with Caron Wheeler (still one of my fav. R&B vocalists ever) and Soul II Soul, but Carl McIntosh was still killing it with Loose Ends, Lisa Stansfield had her monster hit "Been Around the World", Neneh Cherry was rocking "Buffalo Stance", even Mica Paris and Five Star made some waves...

What a great time to be a teen...

Re: Back To Life

odub — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:30:59 -0000

Forgot to post this with my comment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vCzgG_jTo4

it's the intro to "Belly" where you can hear how the Soul II Soul acapella is used.

Re: Back To Life

odub — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:30:25 -0000

TNC: I didn't grow up listening to V103 so I could be mistaken but Frank Ski probably had the good sense to play the acapella mix of "Back to Life" not so he could "bring" the drums in but because Soul II Soul had the even better sense to drop the drums in halfway into the song. In other words, the genius of going 30+ seconds before hearing those drums actually should be credited to the group rather - in this case - to the DJ.

I wouldn't exactly recommend the movie as a whole (though it's much more interesting and ambitious that I initially gave it credit for) but Hype Williams opened "Belly" by rocking the same acapella and you can see/hear how it builds tension until the moment where the drums drop.

We do the same thing with this song at the club and the audience is pretty into it though I think a lot of them are confused why we're playing the acapella. (It helps to start clapping your hands in anticipation, just to give folks some kind of beat to step to).

Re: Back To Life

Teknontheou — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:02:53 -0000

Speaking of black British R&B/Soul artists, I *just* found out that Junior, of "Mama Used To Say" fame, was British. Like, yesterday. Never would have guessed it.

Re: Back To Life

MAJeff — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:15:35 -0000

This song is just so damned good.

Sitting here watching it, looking at the MTV logo on it, and reminiscing about the days when you could actually flip to MTV to see music and not "reality" shows about self-indulgent, spoiled, wastes of DNA.

Re: Back To Life

Aunt B — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 08:28:18 -0000

If you don't stick the "Bedford" in there, none of the folks who love him will know who you're talking about.

Ha.

And if you want something to find simultaneously horrifying and hilarious, check out Nashville's lovely fiberglass monstrosity: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/3289

Re: Back To Life

Persia — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 08:23:44 -0000

Man, that was my soundtrack that summer too. Probably the first 'real' hip-hop album I ever bought.