The Queen of Hip Hop Soul, Ms. Mary J. Blige, has just launched her “For My Fans Tour,” featuring special guests NE-YO and Mario. It’s been twenty-seven years since I last saw Mary live. The year was 1998, and she was supporting her third album, “Share My World,” with a tour that included opening acts Usher and Next.
While both openers set the stage on fire, my memories of MJB are less than favorable, and I’ve never paid to see her live again after that tour. However, we will attend the concert since my wife is a die-hard NE-YO fan. Furthermore, after her run on “Power Book II,” I’m open to giving Ms. Blige another chance.
In the spirit of the tour, I want to show some love for “I Don’t Want to Do Anything” (featuring K-Ci Hailey of Jodeci) for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday. Although it was never officially released as a single, “I Don’t Want to Do Anything” has become a staple on nineties R&B Quiet Storm playlists. The song was written and produced by DeVante Swing, a member of Jodeci.
As fans of nineties R&B know, Mary and Kci were dating when the song came out, and you can hear their passion in the track. I Don’t Want To Do Anything Else,” the singers reveal their intense wish to experience love reciprocally. In his Southern soul style, Kci delivers the first verse about his frustration with ineffective communication with his partner. The chorus emphasizes that their lives revolve around love by repeating, “If lovin’ you is all that I have to do, I don’t wanna do anything else.”
Mary J. Blige expresses in the second verse that she performs all actions for her lover yet feels that something essential remains absent. The third verse shows how the couple comes together by expressing their wish to connect through love and mutual commitment. During the bridge section, the performers show their dedication to each other and readiness to do whatever it takes to sustain their relationship. At the same time, the outro confirms their mutual love and devotion.
The tour would be perfect if MJB performed this song and brought out Mario to fill in for Kci on stage. I remain skeptical about that possibility but regularly watch the Uptown Unplugged version uploaded to YouTube. Nevertheless, three decades after the song’s release, “I Don’t Want To Do Anything Else” continues to capture the essence of love’s power and the longing to be close to one’s partner.
Final Grade: A
“I Don’t Want to Do Anything” is available on all streaming platforms.
Seth Rogen continues his successful relationship with Apple TV in his latest comedic series, “The Studio.” Rogen and his longtime collaborator, Evan Goldberg, direct all ten episodes and write three. Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, and Frida Perez write the remaining episodes.
Director Geremy Jasper attempts to modernize the rock opera genre in his sophomore film, “O’Dessa,” available on Hulu. Jasper also pens the film’s screenplay. Rising actress Sadie Sink portrays the titular character, a farm girl searching to recover a cherished family heirloom. She travels to a strange and dangerous city, where she meets her one true love, Euri Dervish (Kelvin Harrison Jr.). To save his soul, she must put the power of destiny to the ultimate test.
Academy Award nominee Peter Craig collaborates with fellow nominee Ridley Scott to adapt Dennis Tafoya’s novel Dope Thief for television. Airing on Apple TV, this eight-episode series stars Oscar nominee Brian Tyree Henry in the lead role and also features Wagner Moura, Marin Ireland, Kate Mulgrew, Nesta Cooper, Amir Arison, and Ving Rhames.