For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I wanted to take my readers back to 1985 and show some love to Cherrelle and her second album, “High Priority.” Reuniting with producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, the bulk of the album was led by the single “You Look Good To Me”.
The catchy lyrics describe a potent fascination with another person. Cherrelle is mesmerized by the man’s way of walking and talking, which takes away all control. The remainder of the song muses on the significance of both physical attraction and character in a love affair, but ultimately concludes that she is not in love yet and needs to experiment more before settling down.
The next single, “Saturday Love,” is still a personal favorite forty years later—a duet with Alexander O’Neal. The essence of “Saturday Love” is a song about connection. The physical connection between lovers, the emotional connection that bonds them together, and the habit of connection, even when they can’t physically be with each other every day. The lyrics detail a countdown through the week to the day when their love can be celebrated.
“Artificial Heart” was the third single in which Cherrelle explores that cold corner of love where emotion is replaced by habit. Produced by the legendary duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the track features shimmering synths and a quietly haunting groove. Beneath its glossy surface lies a deep pain — the kind that doesn’t scream but instead sighs. Cherrelle’s voice, a blend of silk and sorrow, perfectly captures the moment when a woman realizes that the connection she once cherished has become mechanical.
The final single was a UK-only release titled “Will You Satisfy.” The production snaps with funk and elegance, but it’s her delivery that sells the truth: satisfaction isn’t just physical, it’s emotional. This is Cherrelle telling the listener — and her lover — that real intimacy is about reciprocity. She’s not asking for validation; she’s demanding presence. Every note feels intentional, turning a sensual slow burner into a declaration of self-worth. Long before empowerment anthems became mainstream, Cherrelle was already singing about
While Cherrelle isn’t always mentioned among the other ’80s songstresses, “High Priority” easily avoids the sophomore slump.
Final Grade: B+
“High Priority” is available on all streaming platforms.
My introduction to Nate Dogg goes back to Dr. Dre’s 1992 debut, The Chronic, and the song “Deeez Nuuuts.” Even then, something about Nate’s voice set him apart from everybody else. He wasn’t just singing on rap records. He was bringing soul, gospel, street knowledge, and West Coast cool into the same space. He set the standard for hook singers in hip-hop, and dare I say, he’s still vastly underrated.
For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to give Stevie Wonder his due as he prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his masterpiece, “Songs in the Key of Life,” on tour. While the easy choice could have been “Knocks Me Off My Feet”—a classic that still resonates fifty years later—I chose “From the Bottom of My Heart,” the second single from his twenty-third studio album, “A Time to Love,” released in 2005.
It’s hard to believe that an iconic singing competition like American Idol has produced only two Black male winners in its more than two-and-a-half-decade history. Jamal Roberts made history last year when he won the show, following Ruben Studdard’s well-deserved victory in Season Two.