Welcome to the first edition of a possible new weekly series I like to call Slow Jam Saturday. Anyone who knows me will attest to the fact that I prefer ballads and slow jams to any up-tempo material. Therefore, my new series will highlight my favorite slow jams and ballads from my favorite artists. One of my favorite singers, Jon B., returns to The Birchmere Music Hall in Alexandria Hall on August 29th. Therefore, I chose to highlight some of Jon’s solo work and songs he has written for other artists as the first artist for Slow Jam Saturday.
Jon B. hit the scene in 1995 with the release of his debut single; the Babyface assisted “Someone To Love,” which also appeared on the soundtrack to Bad Boys. On May 23rd, 1995, Bonafide arrived in stores and was supported by the singles “Pretty Girl” and the final single “Isn’t It Scary,” which serves as my first pick for Slow Jam Saturday.
“Isn’t It Scary” is the tenth song on Jon’s debut and serves as a Mr. Steal Your Girl anthem. With its lush harmony and pristine vocals, “Isn’t It Scary” was a secret weapon in my single days. Nevertheless though, in 2021, someone will try to look at the lyrics for some internet clout in an attempt to cancel Jon. However, we as grown men know that if you are not handling your business in every avenue when it comes to your woman, someone else will.
“Isn’t It Scary” is also the perfect transition into the sensual track that follows “Burning 4 You.” Twenty-six years later, the song still holds up for me with its messages and is always a highlight whenever I see Jon live. For my DMV readers, I highly encourage you to check out Jon B. later this month when he performs. Tickets are available for purchase at The Venue’s Box Office and Ticketmaster.com.
Final Grade: A
Bonafide 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.