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.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to revisit 2004 and highlight Romeo’s debut solo album, formerly of Immature. Titled “Food for Thought” and released on June 22nd, this project marked the singer’s change of name to Young Rome in an effort to distance himself from the youthful sound of his group, much like his bandmate Marques Houston had done a year earlier.
In the nineties, Hip-Hop reigned supreme, and every label CEO wanted a share of the lucrative R&B market. One strategy was to keep singers on their roster who could deliver catchy hooks, keeping everything in-house and saving money. Bad Boy had Carl Thomas, Death Row had Danny Boy, and Roc-A-Fella had Rell, our featured artist for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday
Growing up in the eighties, I was surrounded by incredibly talented male R&B singers who could deliver unforgettable love songs. Artists like Luther Vandross, Jeffrey Osborne, and Peabo Bryson dominated the airwaves, but Freddie Jackson was another voice that truly deserved recognition.