“‘Cause I know in my heart That my life ends and starts with you”
It took almost til the end but we finally get some New Edition in here.
Yes, it’s hard to talk about old school music without mentioning the premiere boy band (though pretty much grown ass men by the time of this song) of the 1980’s right up to the start of the 90’s.
Whether it was their first album when they were actually teens to their follow-up when they replaced Bobby Brown with Johnny Gill right up to the time of this song when the band brought Bobby Brown back to make it a six-man group, the group has always been the go-to R&B group. For those younger generation who grew up on One Direction and earlier than that with Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync, this group was our version of that and they were real and spectacular.
“I’m Still In Love With You” was sort of their last major hit which came out in 1995. A year that I’ve arbitrarily picked as the end of the Golden Age of Old School music (hey, it’s my list so there). It’s an R&B pop ballad that’s classic New Edition.
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.
Through the Shattered Lens 