For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to take my readers on a trip to Canada and highlight Mrs. Deborah Cox and one of her signature songs, “We Can’t Be Friends.” The third single from her third album, “One Wish,” was written by Shep Crawford and Jimmy Russell, with Crawford also serving as the producer. R&B artist RL, from the group Next, joined Cox for this duet.
No matter how old you are, one of the toughest challenges when dealing with a breakup is when the other party still wants to be friends. Whether you’re still heartbroken or feeling a bit resentful, it isn’t easy to navigate a friendship with someone you were once romantically involved with.
RL opens the song as a man who realizes he had a good thing but finds himself putting on a front, pretending that there was nothing special about the relationship. I know I wasn’t the only high school senior who felt the pain in his voice when he sang, “Just months ago I was your man.”
Deborah’s verse captures the awkwardness of still having to be around your ex due to unavoidable connections like shared friends or family ties. Cox’s vocals convey the struggle of being torn and unable to let go, as there are constant reminders of happier times. She has always been a fantastic singer, and her voice flows smoothly over the production.
Naturally, since it was the 1990s, the song features a bridge where both singers showcase their vocal talents. There’s an underlying message that the two may eventually fall into a purely physical relationship, which isn’t suitable for either party. At its core, “We Can’t Be Friends” effectively depicts the challenges and complexities of transitioning from a romantic relationship to a friendship.
Cox and RL’s vocal efforts delve into lingering emotions, the difficulty of letting go, and the ultimate realization that love for your ex can sometimes prevent you from simply being friends.
Final Grade: A
“We Can’t Be Friends” is available on all streaming platforms.
As a longtime music enthusiast, I’ve often wondered how quickly record labels expect lead singers from groups to release solo albums. This question came to mind recently when my iPod played “So You Like What You See” by Samuelle. Listening to the song, I realized he would be a great choice for this week’s Second Listen Sunday.
You know the voice. The moment Michael Marshall starts singing the hook in Luniz’s “I Got 5 on It,” anyone who grew up in the nineties knows exactly what time it is. However, nearly a decade before that 1995 hip-hop classic, Marshall was already responsible for another instantly recognizable vocal.
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.