Next to New Edition, one performer who I always make time to see any time they are in my city is Eric Roberson. I’ve lost count of times I’ve witnessed Erro wreck shop on stage. One performance that sticks out was in 2016 at The Birchmere in Alexandria. During a “Do The Same For Me” performance, Eric brought his dad on stage to sing the song with him.
Eric’s fans are aware of his close relationship with his father, and in honor of Father’s Day tomorrow, I wanted to highlight the song for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday. The closing track from his 2014 album, The Box, “Do The Same For Me,” features the production talents of Terry Poindexter.
The beat starts with a melodic feel, and Eric croons the lyrics, “I don’t just love who you are /I love who you were and who you’re gonna be/
Hopefully, you’ll see that I’m a simple man/Do all I can/Hope you’ll do the same for me, baby. Eric’s tenor comes through as fine-aged cognac, and any man who has ever been in love will feel the sincerity in his lyrics.
In the second verse, Pop gets his chance to shine. From the moment he sings, “As we go through life,” you hear the wisdom and knowledge of a man guided by the Song of Solomon. Concurrently father and son are singing a track about the unison of marriage.
Eric’s lyrics passionately convey the message of requesting equal respect, love, and support from a partner they have already received. The song also emphasizes the importance of reciprocity, equal treatment, and being there for each other in a healthy relationship. It serves as a reminder to appreciate each other’s efforts and to treat each other with kindness and respect.
While the song came out eight years into my marriage, had Eric released it in 2008, “Do The Same For Me” would have easily been a part of my wedding playlist.
Final Grade: A
“Do The Same For Me” from The Box is available on all streaming platforms.
For a quick background on the song, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Muw-zM7hz2k
And if you want to see the magic behind Eric’s process, click here: https://ericrobersonmusic.com/pages/the-process
Growing up in the nineties, movies aimed at a melanin audience often featured soundtracks that had to be just as flavorful as the films themselves. This week, for Slow Jam Saturday, I want to take a trip back to 1993 and highlight one of the slow jams from the soundtrack of “Menace II Society”.
Last week marked two significant anniversaries for one of the greatest artists of all time, Mr. Prince Rogers Nelson. It’s only fitting that I show him some love for Second Listen Sunday. The first anniversary was on the 21st, commemorating nine years since his passing. The second anniversary was on the 22nd, celebrating the 40th anniversary of his seventh studio album, “Around the World in a Day.”
One of my most significant decisions late last year was to pledge to Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. At the time of this writing, I am in Atlantic City for my fraternity’s Regional Conference, where I will represent my chapter, Beta Alpha Omega. In that regard, I believe the perfect song for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday is “The Best Man I Can Be.”