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 the King of Pop’s biopic continues to perform well at the box office, I wanted to revisit one of Michael Jackson’s overlooked solo albums, “Forever, Michael”, released in 1975, for my first Second Listen Sunday of 2026.
As Joe prepares for his upcoming Tiny Desk performance, it’s a fitting time to revisit “U Should Know Me,” one of the hidden gems in his catalog. This song, which he wrote and produced himself, first appeared in 1998 on the soundtrack for “Caught Up”, a hood drama starring Bokeem Woodbine and Cynda Williams.
As fans look forward to his upcoming co-headlining “Nights Like This” tour with Akon, Ne-Yo is smoothly transitioning into country music while still maintaining his R&B roots with his latest single, “Ms. Tundra.” This infectious track is the third release from his forthcoming tenth studio album, “Highway 79,” set for release on July 10 via Compound Entertainment.