There’s no doubt that the Jackson Family is a musical dynasty. You can go anywhere in the world, and there’s a good chance you will hear a song by Michael or Janet on the radio. In the past, I’ve given some flowers to solo releases from Jermaine and Jackie, but for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to shout out 3T.
Taj, Taryll, and TJ, The three sons of the second oldest brother, Tito, made up the group. 3T was mentored by their late uncle Michael Jackson who signed them to his label MJJ Music. The group’s debut hit stores in November 1995, achieving triple platinum sales worldwide. While I could have picked a few songs from the group’s debut, I went with their contribution to the Men In Black soundtrack, “Waiting For Love.”
A lush ballad from the pen of writing trio John Howcott, Emanuel Officer & Donald Parks, “Waiting For Love” was produced by Craig Burbidge. The lyrics convey a message about a man expressing his desire for a woman he has been waiting for. He wants her to stop pretending and wasting time and give in to their attraction. He promises to take his time and be gentle with her, catering to her every desire. The chorus reveals that he has been waiting for her patiently and anticipates being with her.
The song’s bridge showcases the man’s intense feelings for the woman and desires to be with her. He can sense the passion in her eyes and believes that her sighs are a sign of his desire. He reassures her that he will take good care of her as he doesn’t want her to deny what she feels inside. He advises her to relax, let go of her feelings, and not deny their attraction.
Overall, “Waiting For Love” is a song about a man who has been waiting for a woman and desires her with all his heart. He is willing to do anything for her and wants to make her feel loved and appreciated. The song promotes honesty, passion, and the courage to express one’s feelings.
Per the norm of the music business, 3T never achieved the success of their debut. The group departed Sony and decided to sign to a label in France. They released their cover of Lionel Richie’s ‘Stuck on You,’ with positive reception. However, the release coincided with Michael Jackson’s trial (subsequently acquitted), which caused radio stations and TV networks to pull back from playing 3T’s songs and videos. Shortly after, their auntie Janet had her Super bowl fiasco leading to another setback. Nevertheless, they could drop a successful EP in the streaming age with the right producers and marketing push.
Final Grade: B+
Waiting For Love from the Men In Black soundtrack 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.