For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I want to give a shoutout to Miguel and his seductive track “Teach Me” from his debut album. Miguel had already made a name for himself in 2005 when he appeared on the show “Blowin’ Up: Fatty Koo.”
He continued to make waves in the industry by penning hits and album tracks for artists like Jaheim, Musiq Soulchild, and Usher. However, he truly found his footing with his debut album, “All I Want Is You,” which featured back-to-back hits like “All I Want Is You,” “Sure Thing,” and “Quickie.”
While any of those songs would be great selections for Slow Jam Saturday, I want to highlight the album track “Teach Me.” Written by Miguel and Darnley Scantlebury, with production by State of Emergency, “Teach Me” explores the desire for both emotional and sexual connection with another person.
Miguel’s lyrics convey his longing to be with someone and to feel their emotions. He acknowledges that he cannot fully understand love on his own and that he needs guidance to appreciate all that love has to offer.
The title and chorus repeat the word “teach” because that is precisely what he wants. He needs to be instructed, trained, and led by his lover because only they can bring out the love within him to shine, satisfy his deepest desires, and let loose all his inhibitions.
Erotic fantasies are all over the lyrics, which are also focused on sensuality and sexual desire. He sings about things such as exploring people’s erotic fantasies, making them sob, and having a “filthy mind.” He wants to intimately know all of the things his lover wants and desires the most.
In the song’s bridge, we’re invited to explore new frontiers and “show me the way you want to go,” as well as take part in these wild new journeys. We’re also shown how exploring new frontiers can be invigorating and exhilarating, while also reminding us to appreciate our bodies and the sensations they can experience.
While “Teach Me” was never a single and doesn’t get the same mention as Miguel’s hits, it’s a staple in his catalog.
Final Grade: A
“Teach Me” from “All I Want Is You” is available on all streaming platforms.
My introduction to Nate Dogg goes back to Dr. Dre’s 1992 debut, The Chronic, and the song “Deeez Nuuuts.” Even then, something about Nate’s voice set him apart from everybody else. He wasn’t just singing on rap records. He was bringing soul, gospel, street knowledge, and West Coast cool into the same space. He set the standard for hook singers in hip-hop, and dare I say, he’s still vastly underrated.
For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to give Stevie Wonder his due as he prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his masterpiece, “Songs in the Key of Life,” on tour. While the easy choice could have been “Knocks Me Off My Feet”—a classic that still resonates fifty years later—I chose “From the Bottom of My Heart,” the second single from his twenty-third studio album, “A Time to Love,” released in 2005.
It’s hard to believe that an iconic singing competition like American Idol has produced only two Black male winners in its more than two-and-a-half-decade history. Jamal Roberts made history last year when he won the show, following Ruben Studdard’s well-deserved victory in Season Two.