Neo-soul artist Eric Benét is gearing up to embark on the “R&B Invitation Tour” alongside fellow singers Joe and Musiq Soulchild. Yesterday, I gave some flowers to Musiq Soulchild, and for this week’s Second Listen Sunday, Eric Benét is the recipient.
Following his divorce from Oscar Winner Halle Berry, Benét recorded the therapeutic “Hurricane.” With his heart healed, the singer returned to delivering heartfelt ballads and seductive slow jams on this fourth album, “Love & Life”. The first single,” You’re the Only One,” is a ballad that would feel right at home on a Debarge album.
The song was co-written by Demonte Posey, Greg Gerard, and George Nash Jr. and produced by Benét. In this track, Benét explores regret, nostalgia, and a deep longing to restore a lost romantic relationship. The lyrics reflect on a finished relationship during which the narrator considers the emotional pain and heartbreak experienced by their partner. They desire to revisit the past to correct their mistakes and heal the emotional wounds that led to their separation.
The mid-tempo “The Hunger” was the album’s second single. Here, Benét writes about love, want, and passion. The song’s lyrics echo an overwhelming need for connection and physicality, implying physical and emotional needs. Benét employs vivid images and intense expressions to sincerely convey his feelings about a woman.
The tune speaks to romantic desire—the sensual thrill and the emotional support a committed relationship offers. The repeated theme of “hunger” echoes an appetite for love and the struggles that accompany fulfilling it.
The album’s final single was “Chocolate Legs.” No stranger to songs about lovemaking, Benet delivers a song that discusses the need for emotional and physical intimacy with someone. The song demonstrates his desire for warmth and comfort in the face of the world.
The lyrics reflect on the world and how difficult living in an enviable, noisy city is. ‘There is something that should purify him and raise his heart,’ Benét writes, a desire for a break, a home away from the madness. The chorus is dedicated to the wish for his mate to “wrap them chocolate legs ’round me,” which refers to sexual desire and the healing effect it provides. The lyrics reflect that their bond and love can lighten his burdens and improve everything when he returns home. In the “chocolate legs” metaphor, the partner’s cocoa skin rubbing against his symbolizes their sex bond.
The remainder of the album finds the crooner exploring the numerous facets of relationships to significant effect and would end up garnering two Grammy nominations. Since its release, Benet has continued to deliver quality projects.
Final Grade: B+
“Love & Life” is available on all streaming platforms.
