There’s no question that Canadian singer Tamia is unsung. While she has six Grammys nominations and numerous other awards, mainstream success has yet to be in the cards. I was a month into my first overseas assignment in England when she released her third album, More.
Tamia was enjoying success from the Hip Hop crowd thanks to her vocals on the Fabolous bop “Into You which was bad on her 1998 “So Into You.” That song set the stage for the first two singles from More, “Officially Missing You” and “Questions.” Both songs received moderate airplay on Urban AC radio stations.
For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I decided to give some flowers to the third single, “Still.” The song was written by Johntá Austin, Bryan Michael Cox, and Jermaine Dupri, with the production of Dupri and Cox. a sweet, romantic track about the enduring and unbreakable love she shares with her partner. I’ve always felt that Tamia gave the creatives some insight into her relationship with her husband, Grant Hill, which is why the song comes across so organic.
The song celebrates the fact that their love for each other has only grown stronger over time, despite the challenges that any long-term relationship may face. In the first verse, Tamia speaks about how their love has only improved with time and how they still get excited whenever they are alone.
The chorus reiterates how their love still feels like the first time they met and how they continue to act like teenagers despite being married with children. They talk for hours on the phone while apart, and her partner still writes letters and sends flowers regularly.
Tamia acknowledges that, like all couples, they confront difficulties but never permit those to devastate their relationship. She elaborates on how they manage disagreements and emphasizes how it fortifies their bond. Tamia contemplates that her significant other is still the man she adores and loves.
“Still” is a song that truly showcases the unbreakable strength of genuine love. Tamia and her partner have faced numerous challenges, but their love has only grown stronger as time has passed. The key to their lasting relationship is their unwavering commitment to always showing each other love and respect.
While Tamia hasn’t released a project since 2018, “Still” is a timeless ballad and one of my favorites in her catalog.
Final Grade: A
“Still” from More is available on all streaming platforms.
If there were ever a question on Jeopardy with a category about R&B bands and the question centered on Cameo, I’m sure it would be on one of their signature songs, “Candy” or “Word Up!”
For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to venture to the Wolverine State and show some love to “Whose Is It,” the lead single from Melvin Riley Jr.’s solo album “Ghetto Stories.”
From his early days in the family group Wings of Faith, Mr. Gill was born to make music. However, as R&B fans know, Johnny Gill’s initial release with Atlantic Records failed to make a significant impact when it first came out. The 1983 self-titled debut showed a strong voice struggling to adapt to a studio that couldn’t properly utilize its power.