DeBarge, Motown’s eighties answer to The Jackson 5, was introduced to a whole new era of fans when one of Hip Hop goats, The Notorious B.I.G., sampled their 1983 classic “Stay With Me” for the remix to “One More Chance.” “Stay With Me” appeared on the group’s third album, In a Special Way. For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to highlight that album’s second and final single, “Love Me In a Special Way.”
The group’s lead singer, El DeBarge, wrote, composed, arranged, and produced the song. He blended his modal tenor vocals with high falsetto notes. The song features a melodic solo by Stevie Wonder, the group’s label mate at the time. In simplest terms, “Love Me In a Special Way” is a song about the desire for a unique and more profound connection in a romantic relationship.
El addresses his partner, stating that their charm initially won them over, but now he’s for something more meaningful and unique. He desires a deeper level of affection that surpasses the typical approaches and strategies employed to win someone’s heart. Throughout the song, El acknowledges that he’s not an average man easily swayed by sweet talk and empty promises. He wants his partner to understand that they need something more unique and authentic in their relationship.
El’s falsetto urges their partner to dig deeper and find new ways to connect with them on a deeper level because what worked before may not be enough to sustain their love and relationship. Overall, the song is a plea for a deeper and more authentic connection in a romantic relationship and a warning against relying on surface-level tricks and tactics to win over a partner.
While artists such as Tamia, Immature, and Kim Burrell have successfully covered the song, there’s something special about El’s vocals. Forty years later, “Love Me in a Special Way” still emphasizes the importance of individuality in love and the need for partners to truly understand and appreciate each other’s unique qualities to sustain a lasting and meaningful relationship.
Final Grade: A
“Love Me in a Special Way” from In A Special Way is available on all streaming platforms.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to revisit 2004 and highlight Romeo’s debut solo album, formerly of Immature. Titled “Food for Thought” and released on June 22nd, this project marked the singer’s change of name to Young Rome in an effort to distance himself from the youthful sound of his group, much like his bandmate Marques Houston had done a year earlier.
In the nineties, Hip-Hop reigned supreme, and every label CEO wanted a share of the lucrative R&B market. One strategy was to keep singers on their roster who could deliver catchy hooks, keeping everything in-house and saving money. Bad Boy had Carl Thomas, Death Row had Danny Boy, and Roc-A-Fella had Rell, our featured artist for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday
Growing up in the eighties, I was surrounded by incredibly talented male R&B singers who could deliver unforgettable love songs. Artists like Luther Vandross, Jeffrey Osborne, and Peabo Bryson dominated the airwaves, but Freddie Jackson was another voice that truly deserved recognition.