The Atlantic - Latest Comments in Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

thewayoftheid — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:50:23 -0000

When I tell you that this is my FAVORITE song from the "Kang of R&B" please believe it. My 12 year-old behind would jam everytime it was on.

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

ejindc — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:31:31 -0000

Was that Christopher Reeve riding the bike?

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

pg — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:16:38 -0000

We discussed this on veryserious.org. The question was "How much of the plot of the movie did Bobby know when he wrote the song?" I mean he knew there would be proton packs but anybody could have told you that GB2 would have had them. I feel like he saw a rough cut of the movie that hadn't yet been mixed for sound and took notes while watching it.

I'm always impressed when songs are written for movies that summarize the plot or restate the central themes but were written by someone only tangentially involved. Scarface's excellent "street lights" from "south central" is like that also. I like in the video when he raised his dwayne waynes to to emphasize a point:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnyC-NPEPtk

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

hscfree — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:47:10 -0000

I still get chills when I think about the opening of "Do the Right Thing," with Rosie Perez showing the world the hot steps of the time. And I still remember all of the police officers dispatched to movie theatres around the country waiting for the "riots" to break out.

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

Andre — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 03:41:28 -0000

Did Donald Trump ever have hair of his own?

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

Shawn — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 20:44:40 -0000

Speaking of the summer of `89 and songs that have aged well, here's Soul II Soul:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVtCFolzgeg

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

largo161 — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:16:31 -0000

My first post!

TNC, is it coincidence that your song selections (aged well vs. not so much) were both written and produced by Babyface?

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

beth — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:19:01 -0000

Thank you--this made me happy. Watching the video again makes me realize that Lance Armstrong owes all his style to Bobby Brown.

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

Jamilah — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:18:15 -0000

Best.show.ever.

Whitney: Bobbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

J.W. Hamner — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:17:02 -0000

Puhleeaze. The only Summer related joint that is timeless is from my youth and 2 years later than TNC's.

Will Smith didn't always write songs about aliens and his kid. "Summertime" wins.

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

Destro Villain — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:37:43 -0000

I just saw the live video for 'My Prerogative' the other day and Bobby was on fire....man what happened??!!

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

leonardhatred — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:16:59 -0000

Skee Lo's "I Wish" is still one of the ultimate jams.

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

anysuchname — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:49:03 -0000

YES. I get this song stuck in my head randomly more often than I'd care to admit. Right in line with how well Mary J.'s "What's the 411?" holds up for me.

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

williamc — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:48:18 -0000

OHFG, I loved this jam back in the day! It was out the summer of our family reunion down in Miami back then, and my ma and I danced to it.

Good times.

Ghostbusters II is the first blockbuster movie that I remember actively waiting for ever. Vigo and the river of slime and all of it is one of the cakest movies to come out of that decade.

BTW, two of my favorite Bobby songs are ciphers: Something in Common, his duet with Whitney (pre-crack) and Get Away (that song can get some feet moving on a dance floor!)

Know I know why I follow this blog: within a month, I get to hear On Our Own and the Touch from Transformers the Movie.

Awesome!

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

Buzz Feedback — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:44:07 -0000

Bring back "Being Bobby Brown." Immediately.

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

trevortb — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:44:05 -0000

Speaking of New Jack Swing/Teddy Riley, I've always thought "Remember the Time" is by far MJ's best late-period song.

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

keith — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:43:31 -0000

long live spell check...geez - underrated.

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

Domonic — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:41:22 -0000

I might be biased cause even back in the day that nasal singing thing just didn't work for me. But my man Aaron Hall. I still bang that "I Miss You" joint.

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

karl — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:36:17 -0000

I'm gonna have to disagree with you on Keith Sweat. I'm still feeling I'll Give all my love to you.

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

keith — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:33:32 -0000

You know, I was getting ready to clown. Of all the Bobby B songs from the day, "Roni", "Rock Wit'cha", or my personal favorite "Every Little Step" - you went with the Ghostbusers. But you know what, this was an underatted Bobby B song, and hearing it again, I'll be damned if I didn't jam this back in the day!

Long live the Era of Rayon!

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

Domonic — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:31:33 -0000

Karl, I think you are dead on. Songs like "Every Little Step I Take" and most of the Guy songs do a great job of capturing the era (odd synth sounds, steady percussion) while displaying timeless elements like great melodies and playful, clever lyrics. Even something like "Piece of my Love" makes you work for it (if you overlook the "dumb b**** part in the background).

That said, TNC please don't break out any Keith Sweat. Talk about not holding up well.

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

karl — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:20:11 -0000

Most new jack swing has aged well to my ears. It kicked up the dry over-produced straight R&B sound of the 80's with just enough bits of house and hip hop to push things forward.

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

cdg — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:17:33 -0000

Bobby Brown does hold up well. I occasionally dust up my 'Remixes N the Key of B' cd (err, I mean fire up iTunes). Some classics on that joint. I saw that dude on his King of Stage tour! He opened for Ready for the World. Their stuff also holds up well...

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

trueboyblue — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:14:38 -0000

Yes! Rick Moranis!

Re: Songs That Aged Shockingly Well

Skybuddies — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:14:02 -0000

Am I right in guessing that "Fight The Power" has special resonance for you, with that unforgettable opening bit?... "Ninteen Eighty NIIINE! The sound of another summer!"