R&B fans recently received some great news when R&B legend Raphael Saadiq announced he would extend his one -man show titled No Bandwidth! I was blessed to see his reunion tour with Tony! Toni! Toné! in 2023 and I look forward to seeing his next show this fall at The Theater At MGM in Oxon Hill, MD.
For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to travel back to 1995 and showcase one of my favorite tracks from Saadiq’s catalog, “Ask Of You.” I first heard the song on the soundtrack to John Singleton’s 1995 film “Higher Learning” .Saadiq had previously provided songs to Singleton previous two films so it’s no surprise that they would work together again.
Inspired by Singleton’s relationship at the time with Tyra Banks (who also had a role in Higher Learning). Written and produced by Saadiq, the lyrics focus on the notion that physical closeness is a crucial way to express love, while also highlighting the significance of emotional bonds and mutual affection.
In the song’s chorus, Saadiq expresses a desire for his partner’s love, indicating his readiness to return it with his own care and loyalty. The phrase “Just give me all your lovin’, girl, I’ll do all the rubbin'” conveys an eagerness to bring pleasure and satisfy his partner’s needs.
The second verse touches upon the narrator’s wish for a genuine friend who can enhance their relationship. It implies that he seeks not only physical closeness but also a substantial emotional connection. His hope for his partner to reach out underscores this longing for intimacy and reciprocated feelings. The bridge reveals profound emotions from the narrator towards their partner. The depiction of constantly imagining their partner’s face indicates a deep emotional bond.
The lyrics communicate the narrator’s readiness to go above and beyond to receive affection from their beloved, showing strong commitment and dedication. With repeated phrases like “Just give me all your lovin’, girl, I’ll do all the rubbin'” as well as “I’ll kiss you anywhere, yes, love, even there,” it is evident that Saadiq is enthusiastic about meeting their partner’s desires and engaging in physical intimacy. These displays of warmth signify deep admiration and love toward their significant other while emphasizing an unwavering willingness to please them at any cost.
While Saadiq’s pen game for a love song was already validated on the first three album with his group, “Ask of You” was something special and still holds up thirty years later.
Final Grade: A
“Ask Of 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.