In today’s age of love sex songs all it takes is coming up with the most vulgar and raunchy lyrics you can think of and radio will beat the listening audience into submission with it. But not too long ago we had a class of brothers that were making real music. These cool dudes were making classic cuts that will last for generations and generations. BMWK family we present to you five classic love songs that Trey Songz and these new dudes could never make! Check out our list and let us know what you think in the comments section.
Because I Love You – Lenny Williams
Let’s cut to the chase and just go hard straight out of the gate. You KNOW these new cats can’t make love music like this! Don’t even play. This song is regarded by some as the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time).
Some men need lots of women
For their passions to feel
But I want only you, girl
If it’s in, if it’s in, if it’s in God’s will
‘Cause I, ’cause I love you
Whew! I’m on to the next track. I dare you to go against me on this one.
I Miss You – Harold Melvin And The Bluenotes
Nowadays everybody gotta be a thug. These cats are singing I Miss You! Somebody out there has jacked up in their relationship and felt this pain before. You know it was you so stop playing LOL. He went out and even got a gig – a plain J-O-B eight hours a day all the overtime he can get.
Don’t do me like this, baby (Miss you, miss you)
Yeah, I’m on my knees, I’m begging you please
(Oh, I, Oh, I)
Oh, baby, baby, baby, baby, I miss you, baby
These new dudes are too proud to beg in 2011 on a record. Mess around and you just might get your girl back with this song.
I’ll Write a Song For You – Earth, Wind & Fire
When a band has a singer that they call “The Voice” do I need to say anymore? Who could kill those notes like Phillip Bailey? I have to admit this is one of my favorite jams.
Love is a symphony, hearts in one melody
‘Cause I write a song for you
Sounds never dissipate, they only recreate
in another place
There in your silent night
joy of a song’s delight
I write a song for you
You write a song for me
We write a song for love
This song is amazing. When is the last time you said that about a new cut?
The Look of Love – Isaac Hayes
Two words: Black Moses
The look of love is in your eyes
The look your heart can’t disguise
The look of love is saying so much more
Than words could ever say, yeah
I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know – Donny Hathaway
Donny Hathaway was an amazing talent and this is just more proof of that.
When I Wasn’t Making Much Money
You Know Where My Paycheck Went
You Know I Brought It Home To Baby
And I Never Spent A Red Cent
This is rhythm and blues. You can feel the soul in this song. I’m not feeling soul from any of these new school cats with the exception of a few like Anthony Hamilton, Musiq etc…
BMWK family did we hit the mark with the five that we picked? What others would you add to the list? Do you think that we’re wrong? Let us know in the comments section.
Jairo McMican says
I wonder why artist now focus on just making money instead of timeless music?
Lamar says
You know ain’t nobody listening to half of this stuff 5 years from now.
Deidre Tate says
LTD – Love Ballad / AS – Stevie Wonder
Lamar says
Good ones.
Denene Millner says
I keep every last one of these songs ON REPEAT in my house, particularly Donny Hathaway and the elements we know as Earth, Wind & Fire, plus anything and everything by Stevie Wonder. These brothers RESPECTED AND LOVED black women all the way down deep in their souls. These young ‘uns today love us only down to their… well, you know. I make a point of pointing this out to my babies every chance I get—even go to their classes and give lessons on lyrics. I always end the lesson imploring them to LISTEN TO THE LYRICS, not just regurgitate them by rote, and then let the words give them clues into whether the artist respects them. Donny? Stevie? EWF? Bill Withers? Al Green? Musiq? Maxwell? Anthony Hamilton? Those brothers LOVE THEM SOME US.
Great post, Lamar!
Lamar says
Thanks Denene! I do “music education” in the mornings with my 3 y/o. I pull up old classics and she loves them. Trying to incorporate an appreciation for good music from the jump. Half of the time the kids will recognize the songs from their movies and cartoons.
Denene Millner says
And you know what? They understand what we’re talking about if we bother pointing it out. My 12-year-old loves that new little group Mindless Behavior, but she also loves Stevie Wonder, Dwele and EWF and the like, and actually gets disgusted when she really listens to some rap songs and hears what they’re saying about girls. We don’t preach. We don’t tell them they can’t listen to the music they like. We just implore them to listen to the lyrics and consider what’s being said to and about them. Reasonable, smart kids will understand what you’re talking about, for sure, and get more discriminating taste because of it. (Dude, I could talk about this ALL DAY. LOL!)
Lamar says
Love what you’re doing. I’m gonna copy a few of those moves for my daughters. Teaching them to be critical thinkers about what they see and hear early can’t be bad at all!
Shameeka Shy Ayers says
We MUST add “Would You Mind?” – EWF and is Keith Sweat “old school” yet? (please say ‘yes’…)
Lamar says
Cause I, never ever, felt this way in my heart before *arms stretched out, fists balled up, doing the 2 step*
I feel a PT II coming on.
Tara Pringle says
Now I got the visual in my head. Thanks, Lamar! LOL
Tara Pringle says
I’ve been known to fuss up a storm when my sister points to Trey Songz as someone who’s making great music, but I have to admit….I haven’t heard most of these songs.*ducks behind the counter* Not making excuses, but my parents were really into jazz (George Benson? George Duke? Al Jarreau? That’s the soundtrack of my childhood) and MJ. And some Stevie Wonder thrown in. And, okay, okay, my mom is a huge EWF fan.
Don’t revoke my editor position. LOL.
Lamar says
Wow my mouth is open Tara, I forget that you’re known as “The Young Mommy” *drafts up pink slip*
Just kidding. Listen to all of the songs. (Those five songs will take about 1.5hrs) and let me know what you think about then. I would love to hear you opinion.
Brother Jamil says
Hey, Lamar….POW!!!! You and Ronnie hit this one out of the park. Thanks for letting me be a part of this thread, Bro…peace!
Lamar says
Now it’s official that you’ve signed off on it. ha ha
Lamar says
Do yall see how these 5 dudes are dressed at the top of this post? Do you? Line them up to 5 cats in skinny jeans that are sagging and I’ll go with this bunch 10 out of 10 times.
Jackie H. says
What y’all know about “A Song For You” by Donny Hathaway…timeless…Great post Lamar!
Jackie H. says
What y’all know about “A Song For You” by Donny Hathaway…timeless…Great post Lamar!
Lamar says
Jackie you not even old enough to say you met Donny Hathaway on campus after a performance. If you tell me that this time I’m not believing you about anything else LOL.
Lamar says
Jackie you not even old enough to say you met Donny Hathaway on campus after a performance. If you tell me that this time I’m not believing you about anything else LOL.
Cebaker71 says
I would have to add Marvin Gate’s “Distant Lover” to the mix.
Anonymous says
I used to love that Harold Melvin album cover. I think I was the only high schooler in love with Teddy Pendergrass in the 90s. I used to think I want a husband like Teddy in Close the Door and I got him. 😉
Patrick Polk says
I totally agree with this article!! I’m only 29 and even I realize that the love songs from the 70s & 80s were ten times more powerful than the music we have today!!(thanks moms, lol) My wife(27) and I were just having this conversation the other day. “Heaven Must Be Like This”~~The Ohio Players, “Always & Forever”~~Heatwave, “Lets Stay Together”~~Al Green, “Moments In Love”~~The Art Of Noise, etc.!!!!!!! Old school music tends to get down in your soul and stay with you for the rest of your life!! There are only a handful of “bruhs” that have put out music like this in the last 10-15 years!! Like Raheem DeVaughn, Jaheim, Robin Thicke, and Maxwell to name a few. I can definitely see a 2nd and 3rd list of great music poppin’ up!!
And for the record Lamar & Shameeka, the actual title of “Would You Mind” by Earth, Wind & Fire is “Loves Holiday”, lol!! People mistake the title since those exact words are in the first verse!! STAY BLESSED
Marty says
That Donny Hathaway piece is a new one on me. Yes, very nice five spot.
Jason says
Kenny Latimore did a good job with that Donnie Hathaway song
Aaron Noplaysoff Briggs says
Pretty Brown Eyes- Mint Condition, I Wanna Know- Joe, almost ANYTHING Maxwell, Babyface, Brian McKnight, R. Kelly, etc. I agree that there has been a disconnect and a change, and the soul that was in music is missing in some aspecs, i.e. Trey Songz, Chris Brown, etc. There’s a certain belief and faith instilled in the artists behind the worlds greatest love songs. They believed in something larger than themselves and had a level of faith that keeps a love relationship going. Nowadays, that faith in something greater has gotten a bit scarce. Money is the motivation for most performers now. Love is so far from many peoples’ minds. There are some, as you all would call them “new school cats” that hold true to the formula laid out by the ones before them like Robin Thicke, Raheem Devaughn, Frank Ocean, John Legend, Jill Scott, Marsha Ambrosius, Ledisi, I could go on and on. They believe in that greatest gift God gave called love, and their music reflects that. Even soe hip hop artists can speak to the topic of love i.e. Common. While it may not be in the forefront like its content shows thta it should, it’s still there. It’s unfortunate that in order to come up in this industry, you have to strip it down and sex it up, and that speaks to an entirely different issue in it of itself. We just have to search a little bit harder for it.
SWNY says
Peabo Bryson “Feel The Fire” should be added to the list.
jrstovall eichelberger says
Here is a good one. Never Had a Love Life this by Tavares