The late George Michael successfully transitioned from a boy band to a successful soul artist with his debut solo album Faith in 1987. Michael had already scored four successful singles when the fourth single, “One More Try,” hit the airwaves.
The duration of this ballad lasts nearly six minutes. It narrates the story of a young man who is reluctant to initiate or resume a new relationship due to his past emotional wounds. However, towards the end of the song, he succumbs to temptation and sings the title for the only time.
“One More Try” is a song that captures the struggle of letting go of a failing romantic relationship. George, the singer, expresses his feelings of being trapped in a situation that no longer brings him happiness. The lyrics convey his diminishing ability to control the situation. The chorus emphasizes the significance of prioritizing self-preservation over the desire to salvage the relationship. Ultimately, George discloses that he is prepared to move on and possesses the strength of self-love to do so.
Final Grade: A
“One More Try” from Faith is available on all streaming platforms
There are some albums you revisit because of nostalgia, and then there are albums you return to because they remind you just how high the standard used to be. Anita Baker’s Rapture falls into that second category. Released in 1986, the album did more than make Baker a star. It helped define what sophisticated, grown R&B could sound like without losing any soul, sensuality, or personality.
Gwen Stefani had already established herself as a significant force with No Doubt when she released her debut solo album, *Love. Angel. Music. Baby* in 2004. This week, while my iPod was on shuffle, one of my favorite songs from that project, “The Real Thing,” came on. Although the original version has an upbeat new-wave feel, the Slow Jam Mix takes it to another level and is the perfect choice for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday.
Unless you’re a music purist, mentioning Randy Jackson from the famous family is likely to elicit a joke. However, any serious Jackson fan knows that Randy had musical achievements long before the punchlines. Before he was old enough to buy a drink, he had already co-written “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” and “Lovely One” with Michael Jackson.