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.
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.