Sunday Night Selections: Quiet Storm Edition

This summer I've stumbled across an interesting realization. I'm black. Who knew? I mean I've started, or in some cases - restarted, doing all sorts of things that would be considered "typical" for a black male to do. I was in front of the television more times than not during the NBA Finals, I've had more than my fair share of fried food, and I've started finding black women attractive again.

"Wow," I know. But all those things aside, the one thing I've been getting into lately is something I've never really been fond of -- R&B music. Sure, I've always liked rap, hip-hop, jazz, and other so-called "urban" genres of music, but rhythm and blues was never my cup of tea.

Until now. And I'm not talking the pop or rap-infused R&B. I'm talking the R&B that you only hear late at night on your FM dial. Radio's most "romantic couple of hours." Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to welcome you to the 1st ever "Quiet Storm Edition" of Sunday night Selections...

The Breakup
Bobby Womack - "If You Think You're Lonely Now"
Bobby's a spiteful lover. He's not singing break up songs about how much he misses his girl or how he did her wrong. Oh, no. Oh, no. Bobby's talking -- damn near preaching to his girl about how she's gonna miss HIM. That's real. Bobby ain't singing in the rain over no female. He's tellin' her, "Hey, you gonna be the one sleeping alone tonight. You'll miss me when I ain't there to rub your back." Tell 'em Bobby.

Also see: K-Ci's cover

The May-December Relationship
Ready for the World - "Love You Down"
From Soulbounce.com
..."Love You Down," a song about a once-taboo type of May-December romance. When Melvin started the song with the lyric "It never really mattered too much for me, that you were just too damned old for me," you knew that he meant serious business. And later when he sang "Let me love you down, even if it takes all night" in the chorus, business gave way to copious amounts of pleasure. The song is rather tame by today's standards, but it just oozes sex. Melvin's promise to love you long time aside, the instrumentation is what takes this song from quaint slow jam to bedroom banger. The radio edit is cool, but the extended album version, with its longer bridge and Melvin's ad libs toward the end, prolongs the loving. No Viagra necessary.

See also: INOJ's cover

Time To Buy New Bedsheets
Teddy Pendegrass - "Turn Off The Lights"
If the "Cha Cha Slide" is the instructional song for dancing, "Turn Off The Lights" is the instructional song for sensual lovemaking. For those of you that have never heard it, the song is nothing but a series of commands. There's no saying please or asking what to do next. It's simply "do this:"
Verse 1: Step 1 - turn off the lights. Step 2 - light a candle. Step 3 - take a shower. Step 4 - Mr. Nasty Time.
Verse 2: Step 1 - turn off the lights. Step 2 - come to me. Step 3 - let's get cozy. Step 4 - Mr. Nasty Time.
There's even instructions for those of you who are "more advanced."
Verse 4: Step 1 - TURN 'EM OFF Step 2 - Mr. Nasty Time.


Puppy Love
LL Cool J - "I Need Love"
I know, I know. This song doesn't fall under the category of R&B as it's obviously a rap song, but it's my blog so I can put whatever I want here. To me this late 80s 'rap ballad' is one of the most perfect "I want you sooo bad" love songs. And not in a sexual way, but in that "I can't help but think about you every waking minute of the day" way.
True story: I made a "mixtape" for the first girl I truly loved and I made it a point to include this song. It was a bit out of place as the rest of the CD was full of songs that had some meaning to us, no matter how (in)significant, but I wanted this song on there as I felt it did a pretty good job of explaining how I felt. I can remember writing my little heart out when it came time to explain this song's placement for the included booklet I was giving her. Man...those were good times. What does all of that have to do with this song or post? Not much, but I felt that someone would enjoy me sharing that story.
Watch The Video