RnB | Through the Shattered Lens

The song of the day is tied in with my Twitter Follow Friday. I’m going way back old school. For most of my friends and family this is not too way back, but for the other half I know anything that didn’t come out during the last 10-15 years is way, way back. With that out of the way I present to your viewing and listening pleasure “Whip Appeal” by Babyface.

This particular slow jam from Babyface’s 1989 LP album Tender Lover was a particular favorite of RnB fans from 1989 and beyond. I know that it was a major hit from 1990-91 during the prom season. Even after 1991 after I had graduated it stayed quite popular with everyone especially couples. I mean this song has romance written all over it. I wouldn’t be surprised if the sudden baby boom of 1990 and a few years was due to just this particular one song.

Whip Appeal

Somebody told me
There’d be trouble at home
‘Cause we never talk a lot
When we spend time alone
So how are we supposed to know
Know when something is wrong
Well, we’ve got a right to communicate
It keeps a happy home

And no one does it like me
And no one but you
Has that kind of whip appeal on me

Keep on whippin’ on me
Work it on me
Whip all your sweet sad lovin’ on me
Keep on whippin’ on me
Work it on me
Whip all your sweet sad lovin’ on me

When we go to work
How the day seems so long
The only thing I think about
Can’t wait ’til we get home
‘Cause we got a way of talking
And it’s better than words
It’s the strangest kind of relationship
Oh, but with us it always works

And no one does it like me
And no one but you
Has that kind of whip appeal on me

Whatever you want
It’s alright with me
‘Cause you’ve got that whip appeal
So work it on me
It’s better than love
Sweet as can be
You’ve got that whip appeal
So whip it on me

Keep on whippin’ on me
Work it on me
Whip all your sweet sad lovin’ on me
Keep on whippin’ on me
Work it on me
Whip all your sweet sad lovin’ on me

And no one does it like me
And no one but you
Has that kind of whip appeal on me

[HOOK 4 times]

Keep on whippin’ on me
Work it on me
Whip all your sweet sad lovin’ on me
Keep on whippin’ on me
Work it on me
Whip all your sweet sad lovin’ on me

I had to go old-school RnB with my next pick for Song of the Day. Being a child of the 80’s I was a fan of New Edition, but it wasn’t until the start of the 90’s that I really got into them as I was in high school at that time. High school meant girls and girls meant dances, dates, slow dances and everything else in-between and afterwards.

It was hard not to go to high school dance and prom and not have New Edition ballads in the DJ list. While New Edition’s Can You Stand the Rain was released in 1989 it definitely got major airplay in 1990 and beyond. This was the first true ballad from the group with their new member Johnny Gill who had replaced Bobby Brown who had left the group to go solo. To say that I still love this song even 20 years after I first heard it would be an understatement. This is the jam for couple who have hit a rough patch but who endure to stay together.

Just listening and watching the music video sadly reminds me that RnB ballads are not the same now as they have been in the past. To say that they sure don’t make RnB music like this would be an understatement. Y’all youngings can have your Chris Brown, Ne-Yo and all the new RnB upstarts. I say they still can’t hold a candle to New Edition and this song definitely makes my point for me.

Can You Stand the Rain

(Johnny)
On a perfect day I know that I can count on you. When that’s not possible, tell
me can you weather the storm?

(Ralph)
Cause I need some body who will stand by me through the good times and bad
times she will always, always be right there.

Chorus
Sunny days everybody loves them tell me baby can you stand the rain? Storms
will come, this we know for sure(this we know for sure). Can you stand the rain?

(Johnny)
(yeah yeah) Love unconditional I’m not asking just of you. and girl to make it
last I’ll do whatever needs to be done.

(Ralph)
But i need somebody who will stand by me, when it’s tough she won’t run she
will always, be right there for me.

Chorus
Sunny days every body loves them, tell me baby can you stand the rain? Storms
will come (Ricky) I know I know all the days won’t be perfect (this we know for
sure) but tell me can you stand it, can you stand the rain?

Can you stand the rain (4x)

(Rick)No pressure, no pressure from me baby (this we know for sure) cause I want
you and I need you and I love you girl.

(Ralph) Will you be there for me?

(Mike) Come on baby lets go get wet.

Can you stand the rain (10x)

(Ralph)
Can you stand the rain?
Will you be there girl?
Storms will come for sure.
Can you stand the rain?

(Johnny)
Yeah it’s hard but I’ll know I’ll be right there baby yeah yeah yeah.