by Tara Pringle Jefferson
For the longest time (about two years or so) every time my husband called me, my cell phone would bust out Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You,” starting right at the chorus. “‘Cause some people want it all, but I don’t want nothing at all, if it ain’t you, baby, if I ain’t got you, baby. Some people want diamond rings, some just want everything, but everything means nothing if I ain’t got you.”
Every single time I hear that song, I remember the times when we lived in a little 20×20 apartment with a newborn, struggling to get groceries, or put gas in my car. But you know what? I was HAPPY living in that itty bitty apartment because he was there with me. It didn’t matter.
So AK has the anthem on my phone. I heard Usher’s “There Goes My Baby” a couple weeks ago and I was instantly hooked. Definitely makes up for that “Papers” song – y’all remember I wasn’t feeling that one at all. But this, I like it. It’s still a little edgier, but it’s sweet. It’s a grown man praising his girl. “There goes my baby, loving everything you do. Oh, girl, look at you!”
Of course I had to put in the request.
Me: Honey, have you heard that new Usher song?
Husband: Which one?
Me: Um, “There Goes My Baby”
Husband: *thinks for a minute* Yeah, I heard it. I think.
Me: What do you think of when you hear that song?
Husband: *thinks again* Um, it’s better than “Papers”?
Me: *sighing, wishing we didn’t think so much alike ALL the time* Yes, but besides that?
Husband: *finally getting where I’m going* Oh, you. I think of you.
Me: *not buying it, giving him major side-eye*
Husband: What?
Me: You should make that your ringtone for me.
Husband: *wrinkles his face* What? You can’t pick a song for me….
Me: But I think of you, thinking of me when I hear that song.
Husband: *side-eye*
So around and around we go. I’ll let you know what we did in the comments. Let the BMWK family weigh in. What’s your ringtone for your spouse? How did you pick it? Is the wife allowed to pick the song or vice versa?
Tara Pringle Jefferson is a freelance writer and blogger living in Ohio with her husband and two children. Visit her blog, www.theyoungmommylife.com, to read more of her observations about life, motherhood and love.
MrsDay says
Mine is “Tru Love” by Faith Evans.
.-= MrsDay´s last blog ..There Is Strength In Words =-.
Ed (@DJEdNice) says
Lol… I don’t know and can’t purport to speak for men as a whole, but in my experience, that much thought doesn’t go into ring-tones. I don’t have a ring-tone for my Mrs. Now that I think about it, I don’t have any ring-tones loaded on my BB; besides the fact that my phone is on vibrate most of the time…
I know I’m boring, it’s ok 🙂
.-= Ed (@DJEdNice)´s last blog ..SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE VOLUME 6 =-.
Brotha Tech says
The only personal ringtone I have is when I get a call from our home number – It’s a voice mail message of Mrs. Tech coaxing Lil’ Tech to say “Hi Daddy; I love you; can’t wait till you get home” in the message. Lil’ Tech nails the first two comments, but quickly resorts to the baby talk in order to the last statement out.
.-= Brotha Tech´s last blog ..Why Ill wait to jump on the 3D TV bandwagon =-.
Kisha says
Your conversation at the end is so funny and exactly what I did when I heard the song especially since I have there goes my baby by charlie wilson is it … for him. Thought it would be ‘cute’ for us to have there goes my baby for each other.
Christina says
My song is that new Monica “Everything to me”. his used to be the same, but I think it changed last week.
Carlton says
We only ever use the ringtones that come installed on our phones, however we always pick the one that we want on each others phone.
.-= Carlton´s last blog ..God’s Man | Job 29 | The Blessed Home =-.
Nikki says
Our ringtone for each other is “Dangerously in Love” by Beyonce. Ever since we both heard the song, we decided simultaneously that we wanted it as our ringtone and it stuck. I don’t think we’ll change it anytime soon, but he has the choice on his ringtone if he chooses to change it.
Fran says
i will always be there for you by ANQUETTE which was my song for him when we first met, used to jam it when we were together or apart. he does not have one for me,thinks its to cheesy i guess lol but for those of you who husband does have a ringtone for you awwwwwww!!
Staycee2 says
I feel so bad to tell you what my ringtone for him is….but here it goes. REGRET by LeToya Luckett! We were fighting when I assigned that ringtone for his incoming calls n never changed it! The only ringtones he has is the standard ringtones that came with his phone!!!!!!!!!!!
Suzette says
My ringtone for my husband is a sexy jazz number that’s really nice! I don’t think we should dictate what our husbands ringtone should be, or vice versa. As long as whatever he picks for me is something that I would like when I heard it. I’m cool with it. I think picking each others ringtone is too far.
Mrs. Pryor says
I like for my husband to pick the ringtone by himself instead of me picking it for me and vice versa. He is a big rap and hip-hop fan so just recently when he called his phone from my phone to locate it, it rang “my chick bad” by ludacris which made me very confident. My song for him is “back to the way we were” by London.
Fran says
@ staycee2 dont feel alone on your tone, when me and hubby fight i will change his ringtone to when a womans fed up by r kelly and forget to change it back sometimes too, but i try to change it after we are done as quick as possible… i wondered if i was the only one lol
Kimberly May says
The only ringtone that I have ever tolerated on my cell phone is for my hubby, and it’s “Words” by India Arie & Anthony David.
“…Can’t tell you nothing you ain’t already heard
No matter what I say it’s nothing but words
Just let me prove to you what I know is real
Let me express to you the way that I feel”
Tara @ The Young Mommy Life says
LOL @ some of these responses. 🙂
In the end, I’m just going to use the Usher ringtone as the one I hear when he calls. He assigned some song for me (I never heard it before) but it’s cute. It’s about loving someone forever and ever, so I’m cool with that. 🙂
.-= Tara @ The Young Mommy Life´s last blog ..it aint about babies =-.
Aja says
“I think of you, thinking of me when I hear that song”..This made me LOL.
Neither one of us use personalized ringtonges though. I think our phones are always on vibrate.
Damaras says
I have “Chocolate High” by India. Arie and Musiq Soulchild. I asked him to add “I just called to say I love you” by Stevie Wonder. I don’t think he ever did. But it definitely brings a smile to my face when I hear the ringtone for his call. My husband works at night. So for my wake up alarm in the morning, my phone plays “Good Morning” by John Legend.
Good morning,
Good morning love,
It’s my favorite love song,
I waited all night long,
For morning,
Good morning love
Before we start the day dear,
Im whispering in your ear,
Good morning
Nice way to start the day in my husband’s absence.
Lisa says
I don’t have a ringtone for my Mr. but I know he has “Miss Independent” by Ne-yo as his ringtone for me. Not sure if there’s something underlying there….LOL! No husband wants their wife to be TOO independent!
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..311 Days of Parenthood =-.
Niesha says
My ringtone for my husband is Game Over by Destiny’s Child….just love the chorus! It’s been this for a while and it makes me smile everytime he calls.
Ain’t no one like you
That makes me wanna
Kiss like you
Nobody ever could handle this
Like you
For anybody askin’
The game is over
MissJay says
My ringtone for my husband is “Heaven Must Be Like This” by the Ohio Players. I’m so old school! LOL But I love it. It comes in right before the chorus:
“…your love is devine..
Heaven be like this, it must be like this..
(Heaven must be..)heaven must be like this, it must be like this..”
Either I answer or it cuts off before going on. When we were dating I had Boyz II Men’s “That’s Why I Love You” off the “Full Circle” album. Check it out, it’s a beautiful song!
Bryan says
Picking a ringtone for your husband’s phone, that is just silly. The man can pick his own ringtone. Women, stop trying to think for your men and dictate his every move. As long as he picks up the phone when he answers, be satisfied. It kills me how much we focus on such little things and they are usually the wrong things. Except for what came installed on the phone, my wife and I don’t have ringtones. And as someone who usually doesn’t answer his phone in general, my wife understands that her call is the only one I’ll always answer. That’s what is important.
Tara @ The Young Mommy Life says
@Bryan – You’re right – it is silly. But in reading some of these responses, I have some new love songs to go check out. I’m not saying that it is SOOOOO important for me to pick his ringtone. It’s almost beside the point. What the song conveys is more important. 🙂
.-= Tara @ The Young Mommy Life´s last blog ..it aint about babies =-.
Ladybugg says
I have Chocolate High, by India.Arie and Musiq for my husband.
Anna says
I don’t have a ring tone for anyone, it just beeps once. I hate the sound of a phone ringing. I also get tired when I am at work making a call and I have to listen to a whole song to leave a messege. LOL. My husbands ring tone for me is “Computer Love”. Go figure. My daughter has the same song on her cell for both me and her dad. I aksed why, she said because I know it’s one of my parents. LOL. I’t Genuine’s Love You More”.(I just called her. I didn’t now what song she had). How sweet of her to pick that song for her parents.
eddie brite says
I use classic bell for everybody. Caller ID lets me know if I want to answer or let it go to voice mail.
Anna says
eddie brite April 13, 2010 at 9:20 pm
I use classic bell for everybody. Caller ID lets me know if I want to answer or let it go to voice mail.
~~~~~~~~~
I really do need to add some type of tones. I can’t see my screen w/out my glasses, once I answered my phone and it was someone I just didn’t feel like talkig to at the moment. I learned my lesson though, keep my glasses nearby. LOL.
Jonesi says
@Tara – I completely get what you were saying in your post. It isn’t a big deal yet it’s something fun to banter over. I’m not really into ringtones anymore but I remember one time I called my husbands phone for some reason and was pleasantly surprised to hear “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder. My heart melted because honestly he didn’t have to take time to even do it…oh and in the early stages my tone was “You Should Let Me Love You” by Mario 🙂
Staceey and Fran yall are FUNNY!!!! HAHAHA Regret is the JAM!
Staycee2 says
@ Fran & Jonesi, I luv that song and he has no idea that’s his ringtone!!!!! But I must say, after reading this I changed it to “The Best In Me” by Marvin Sapp. Although, I must say if he had his choice he would have my tone as Usher’s U Got It Bad!!!! IJUSTLUVMESUMHIM!!!!!!!!!
LJ says
This is too funny (and cute)! I haven’t done personalized ringtones in my phone in the last few years, but I keep meaning to again! My favorite one was a special recording he made for me – “Heyyyyyy baby, it’s ya main man Mac. What’s up, what’s up WHAZZZUP?” I think it’s still saved on my old phone, I might try to use it again!
Harmonee says
@Staycee2: My ringtone for the hubby is “I Love Me Some Him” by Toni Braxton…lol. 😉
chivalry35244 says
My wifes ringtone is love calls by kem. Thinking about changing it to your all I need by marvin and tammy
Ruby Griffin says
my ringtone for my spouse is, ms. Patti and mr.micheal….On my own….
Martina says
My ringtone for my husband is Monica’s My Everything. It was If this isn’t love by J Hudson. I update it every couple of months. I don;t think you should pick the others ringtone . It should be a song that he or she thinks describes the other.
Tonia says
My ringtone for my hubby is “For You” by Kenny Lattimore. It was the song for our first dance at our wedding.
Trance Music says
I enjoyed your post and am saving the feed for future posts. Thanks!
KC says
‘I cant stop loving you’ by Kem!!! Thats my joint!!!
Brokenbandsofgold says
If You Were Here Tonight by Alexander O’Neal because we love that song. But also because I love the line “If you could only read my mind, you’d know how much I do believe…” Since being separated, I’ve had to rely on my beliefs and faith. A lot!
Felicia Mason says
I used to have Motivation by Kelly Williams (for very personal reason…lets just say I overstand what the meaning of that song is about) but just this past week end I changed it to Knight Rider….because he is my Knight Rider…he has a robot voice telling him that his wife is trying to reach him on his cellular device.
april says
This is too funny….a joke me and my husband have always had, i like his butt, i think its sexy. he says im gay..lol. i Say im not gay cuz i only like your bootie..lol. So hi Ringtone is “In Love Wit Cha Bootie” by John Blu Ft. Jeremih, Will (of day 26), Ben One & Slick. LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!
Anson Owen says
This story is humorous to me. Simply because my ringtone for my wife is ‘there my baby’ the first time I heard it I immediately thought of my wife I had to have it. I chose it not her, and I choose all the ringtones for my phone that reminds me of her, that’s how it should be.
Dorothy says
My ringtone for my husband is “I Love Me Some Him” by Toni Braxton. Enough said!
KEENYA says
SADLY, MY RINGTONE FOR MY HUSBAND IS FOOL FOR YOU BY CEE-LO AND HIS RINGTONE FOR ME IS BITTERSWEET BY FANTASIA. ;(
Michele Smith says
My ringtone for my hubby is ~DANCE FOR YOU~ BY BEYONCE
Sumitra Dean says
My ringtone from my husband is blah for me & the ringtone for my husband’s ex-wife Is wedding bells what the heck! My ringtone for him Is the man I wanna by by Chris Young bc Thats the man I hope & pray I inspire him to be
THU-60AW60 says
kproof Bum
袋 非常用持出袋 【防災の日 】 says
釣り竿 Flexte
Tequila says
“Pretty Brown Eyes” by Mint Condition. Self explanatory. I believe his is the same for me. We love the same music, we think so much alike.