Late Night Music Columbus Day/Saints Bye Week Edition Part 181......."R & B Kids"
Hope everyone enjoys their day
off tomorrow. Oh yeah, that's no one. It's amazing what I can
accomplish when the Saints don't play a football game.
In order to receive votes in this category, the majority of the band or the actual singer had to be a minor at the time or release. Also receiving votes in this category was "I Love Your Smile" by Shanice, "Sittin' Up In My Room" by Brandy, and "Please Don't Go" by Immature. The Jackson 5 and Stevie Wonder were left off because that was just too easy.
"I Can't Wait Another Minute"- Hi Five. These kids from Waco, Texas took the world by storm when their self-titled debut album produced this #8 Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1990. That same album would also produce the band's only #1 hit with "I Like The Way". One of the early acts of the soon to be uber successful Jive Records, Hi-Five sustained a solid following for a few more years. Unfortunately, lead singer Tony Thompson passed away, which was just the tip of the iceberg for the group. I'm glad we got one of the best soul slow jams of all time with this gem. This, like so many other same genre videos, seemed to jump back and forth from black and white and color quite often. This song remains, at least to me, the ultimate single of this particular genre, and picked right up where New Edition left off with R & B boy bands rise to prominence in the 1990's.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H7Ruei3nd0
"Ooh La La"- The Perfect Gentleman. Maurice Starr was determined to make his son a star in 1988 when his third incarnation of a boy band (which always seemed to turn to gold) including his namesake son toured with his prized possession, the New Kids On The Block. In 1990, they came out with their own album Rated PG which produced this single which peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It would prove to be the group's only appearance on the chart despite having the producer's son on the track. Despite their terrible haircuts (even for the 90's) this is a pretty catchy song, but this group just didn't have it, and boy are they missing it. To think that they opened for NKOTB, which was probably the hottest group in the world at the time, is pretty embarassing. That being said, we got a skating rink anthem to last us a lifetime with this song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAddModv-Kg
"Ready"- N Toon. These Atlanta kids jumped into the mainstream with this Tiny of Xscape and "Tiny and T.I." fame penned song when it jumped into radio/tv rotation in the summer of 2000. Led by former Klymaxx frontwoman Joyce Irby, they unfortunately kept a played out genre played out when this cheesy yet catchy song from their one and only album Toon Time. We also all know the story that I heard these idiots give the worst National Anthem I've ever heard at Smith Wills Stadium in Jackson.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW3g3dilM-A
"You Got It All"- The Jets. One day you guys are going to figure out how much I really love this song. This super cheesy video put the Jets near the top of the charts and put the singing Wolfgramms from Minnesota into musical lore for years to come. This Rupert Holmes penned song and beautifully sung number by then 12 year old Elizabeth Wolfgramm from the band's self-titled debut album peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987 and also peaked ironically on the Black Singles Chart at #2, despite no members of the group being black. Anyway, Elizabeth said herself that she practiced singing this song to her dog because she had no idea ho to sing to a man at such a young age. Someday, I will understand the reasoning for having the diner theme for this video. Maybe it was an 80's thing. That being said, this went on to be one of the most successful skating rink anthems of all time and made the Jets arguably one of the most successful musical families of all time. It's at this point where I must say that the Wolfgramm's mother was trying to make her uterus a clown car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sByNZekTwCI
"Iesha"- Another Bad Creation. People think I'm joking when I tell them that in 1991, the first CD I ever bought with my own money was Coolin' At The Playground You Know by the short lived Atlanta kid group Another Bad Creation. Michael Bivins, Dallas Austin, and Jermaine Dupri's discovery made a mainstream splash with this hit single from that same album. This single peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and established ABC as one of the most notable one album wonders of all time, as they would very soon disappear and disband fading off into the proverbial musical oblivion. I look back at this video 23 years later and have to laugh because there was a time when I really thought this was cool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDPIK7Fz_g4
"Cool It Now"- New Edition. Ready to feel old? The aforementioned Michael Bivins first burst on to the scene THIRTY years ago in 1984 when this single (which was also sampled by Another Bad Creation on the previously mentioned album- which also featured a New Edition cover song "Jealous Girl") from their self titled sophomore album peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the band's first major hit as Maurice Starr's discovery that would become one of the first and most successful boy bands of all time. This song was famously the first ever song to include any rap on the lead vocals to appear in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZUq6N7Gx1c
"Crazy Things I Do"- Sammie. Before that horrible national anthem I mentioned earlier, N Toon had opened for then up and coming kid R & B star and Miami native Sammie. This single from his 2000 debut album From The Bottom To The Top peaked at #26 on the Billboard R & B Charts and received moderate airplay on national urban radio stations. I was glad to see Sammie make a comeback a few years ago after several years out of the spotlight. I always thought he had talent, but Dallas Austin (which seemed to always spell disaster) mismanaged his career badly in his early years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr-ykl4DpWw
"Crazy"- The Boys. These brothers from Carson, California made one last blast on the charts in 1990 when their follow up self-titled album produced this #1 R & B Chart single in 1990. Despite heavy marketing which included the band making appearances on every kid game show of the time (think "Double Dare", "Fun House", and "Finders Keepers" just to name a few) their second album failed to live up to expectations, but did produce this cool single for to avoid being the dreaded one album wonder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TzePE4ufMI
"Anything"- 3T. These offsprings of Tito Jackson and nephews of Michael Jackson made their attempt at soul legend status with this single from their 1995 debut album Brotherhood. It peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and would easily be their most successful song of their career. These guys pop up at random times as a musical enigma, most notably on the "We Are The World Haiti" single and video as the "holy crap we're only here because our uncle wrote the song" guys. Unfortunately for these teenagers, they came along at the wrong time when the boy band genre especially in the soul genre was beginning to die down before it picked back up again a few years later. But who are we fooling? Do any of us believe that 3T would have been bigger? Yeah didn't think so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBoX-wYhs-U
"Before You Walk Out Of My Life"- Monica. OMG! I used to think Monica was SO SEXY! Well, let's be honest I still do. This 15 year old sensation released this single from her critically acclaimed debut self-titled album in 1995. This soul anthem peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and established Monica as a true diva who was going nowhere. For some reason, this official video can't be found right now. At 15, Monica looked dang near 21 and commanded a stage and screen like a true professional before she was even old enough to drive a car. Monica has gone on to enjoy a rather successful career prolonged partially by her breakthrough at such a young age with a mature voice and look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snQi_k2Rnd0
"Age Ain't Nothing But A Number"- Aaliyah. Here was another diva that would have out done even Monica's success before her tragic death at 22. This single was the title track of 15 year old Aaliyah's debut album quickly established Aaliyah as yet another quickly maturing teenager on the R & B diva on the fast growing mainstream circuit. Despite Aaliyah's growing popularity and the popularity of the album, this single only peaked at #75 on the Billboard Hot 100, but remained a fan favorite until her death in 2001. I always wanted to see Aaliyah's birth certificate because I refuse to feel like a pedophile watching this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRwhm-B6yNI
"Tell Me What You Want Me To Do"- Tevin Campbell. Before he was chasing male prostitutes, Tevin Campbell was making appearances on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and releasing soul ballads like this 1991 hit for the then 15 year old's debut album T.E.V.I.N. which peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of his biggest hits of his successful career in the 90's. If you really want to hear a dude with an awesome voice, check out his high note at 3:27 of the video. Wow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytNWcB1Iydo
BONUS VIDEOS- (young groups that just missed the cut).
"Baby, I'm Yours"- Shai.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iOQ3RWngIM
"Motown Philly"- Boyz II Men.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHzkICG47LU
"Before I Let You Go"- Blackstreet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC6TnBx0HIU
"My First Night With You"- Mya.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0qoxlVYyTU
"More Than A Woman"- Aaliyah.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAbxS-6XsMY
"Dim All The Lights"- Donna Summer. No reason, just awesome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgyAGSJSdOc
The original kids
Hi Five
Aaliyah
Monica
The Jets
N Toon
In order to receive votes in this category, the majority of the band or the actual singer had to be a minor at the time or release. Also receiving votes in this category was "I Love Your Smile" by Shanice, "Sittin' Up In My Room" by Brandy, and "Please Don't Go" by Immature. The Jackson 5 and Stevie Wonder were left off because that was just too easy.
"I Can't Wait Another Minute"- Hi Five. These kids from Waco, Texas took the world by storm when their self-titled debut album produced this #8 Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1990. That same album would also produce the band's only #1 hit with "I Like The Way". One of the early acts of the soon to be uber successful Jive Records, Hi-Five sustained a solid following for a few more years. Unfortunately, lead singer Tony Thompson passed away, which was just the tip of the iceberg for the group. I'm glad we got one of the best soul slow jams of all time with this gem. This, like so many other same genre videos, seemed to jump back and forth from black and white and color quite often. This song remains, at least to me, the ultimate single of this particular genre, and picked right up where New Edition left off with R & B boy bands rise to prominence in the 1990's.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H7Ruei3nd0
"Ooh La La"- The Perfect Gentleman. Maurice Starr was determined to make his son a star in 1988 when his third incarnation of a boy band (which always seemed to turn to gold) including his namesake son toured with his prized possession, the New Kids On The Block. In 1990, they came out with their own album Rated PG which produced this single which peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It would prove to be the group's only appearance on the chart despite having the producer's son on the track. Despite their terrible haircuts (even for the 90's) this is a pretty catchy song, but this group just didn't have it, and boy are they missing it. To think that they opened for NKOTB, which was probably the hottest group in the world at the time, is pretty embarassing. That being said, we got a skating rink anthem to last us a lifetime with this song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAddModv-Kg
"Ready"- N Toon. These Atlanta kids jumped into the mainstream with this Tiny of Xscape and "Tiny and T.I." fame penned song when it jumped into radio/tv rotation in the summer of 2000. Led by former Klymaxx frontwoman Joyce Irby, they unfortunately kept a played out genre played out when this cheesy yet catchy song from their one and only album Toon Time. We also all know the story that I heard these idiots give the worst National Anthem I've ever heard at Smith Wills Stadium in Jackson.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW3g3dilM-A
"You Got It All"- The Jets. One day you guys are going to figure out how much I really love this song. This super cheesy video put the Jets near the top of the charts and put the singing Wolfgramms from Minnesota into musical lore for years to come. This Rupert Holmes penned song and beautifully sung number by then 12 year old Elizabeth Wolfgramm from the band's self-titled debut album peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987 and also peaked ironically on the Black Singles Chart at #2, despite no members of the group being black. Anyway, Elizabeth said herself that she practiced singing this song to her dog because she had no idea ho to sing to a man at such a young age. Someday, I will understand the reasoning for having the diner theme for this video. Maybe it was an 80's thing. That being said, this went on to be one of the most successful skating rink anthems of all time and made the Jets arguably one of the most successful musical families of all time. It's at this point where I must say that the Wolfgramm's mother was trying to make her uterus a clown car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sByNZekTwCI
"Iesha"- Another Bad Creation. People think I'm joking when I tell them that in 1991, the first CD I ever bought with my own money was Coolin' At The Playground You Know by the short lived Atlanta kid group Another Bad Creation. Michael Bivins, Dallas Austin, and Jermaine Dupri's discovery made a mainstream splash with this hit single from that same album. This single peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and established ABC as one of the most notable one album wonders of all time, as they would very soon disappear and disband fading off into the proverbial musical oblivion. I look back at this video 23 years later and have to laugh because there was a time when I really thought this was cool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDPIK7Fz_g4
"Cool It Now"- New Edition. Ready to feel old? The aforementioned Michael Bivins first burst on to the scene THIRTY years ago in 1984 when this single (which was also sampled by Another Bad Creation on the previously mentioned album- which also featured a New Edition cover song "Jealous Girl") from their self titled sophomore album peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the band's first major hit as Maurice Starr's discovery that would become one of the first and most successful boy bands of all time. This song was famously the first ever song to include any rap on the lead vocals to appear in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZUq6N7Gx1c
"Crazy Things I Do"- Sammie. Before that horrible national anthem I mentioned earlier, N Toon had opened for then up and coming kid R & B star and Miami native Sammie. This single from his 2000 debut album From The Bottom To The Top peaked at #26 on the Billboard R & B Charts and received moderate airplay on national urban radio stations. I was glad to see Sammie make a comeback a few years ago after several years out of the spotlight. I always thought he had talent, but Dallas Austin (which seemed to always spell disaster) mismanaged his career badly in his early years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr-ykl4DpWw
"Crazy"- The Boys. These brothers from Carson, California made one last blast on the charts in 1990 when their follow up self-titled album produced this #1 R & B Chart single in 1990. Despite heavy marketing which included the band making appearances on every kid game show of the time (think "Double Dare", "Fun House", and "Finders Keepers" just to name a few) their second album failed to live up to expectations, but did produce this cool single for to avoid being the dreaded one album wonder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TzePE4ufMI
"Anything"- 3T. These offsprings of Tito Jackson and nephews of Michael Jackson made their attempt at soul legend status with this single from their 1995 debut album Brotherhood. It peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and would easily be their most successful song of their career. These guys pop up at random times as a musical enigma, most notably on the "We Are The World Haiti" single and video as the "holy crap we're only here because our uncle wrote the song" guys. Unfortunately for these teenagers, they came along at the wrong time when the boy band genre especially in the soul genre was beginning to die down before it picked back up again a few years later. But who are we fooling? Do any of us believe that 3T would have been bigger? Yeah didn't think so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBoX-wYhs-U
"Before You Walk Out Of My Life"- Monica. OMG! I used to think Monica was SO SEXY! Well, let's be honest I still do. This 15 year old sensation released this single from her critically acclaimed debut self-titled album in 1995. This soul anthem peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and established Monica as a true diva who was going nowhere. For some reason, this official video can't be found right now. At 15, Monica looked dang near 21 and commanded a stage and screen like a true professional before she was even old enough to drive a car. Monica has gone on to enjoy a rather successful career prolonged partially by her breakthrough at such a young age with a mature voice and look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snQi_k2Rnd0
"Age Ain't Nothing But A Number"- Aaliyah. Here was another diva that would have out done even Monica's success before her tragic death at 22. This single was the title track of 15 year old Aaliyah's debut album quickly established Aaliyah as yet another quickly maturing teenager on the R & B diva on the fast growing mainstream circuit. Despite Aaliyah's growing popularity and the popularity of the album, this single only peaked at #75 on the Billboard Hot 100, but remained a fan favorite until her death in 2001. I always wanted to see Aaliyah's birth certificate because I refuse to feel like a pedophile watching this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRwhm-B6yNI
"Tell Me What You Want Me To Do"- Tevin Campbell. Before he was chasing male prostitutes, Tevin Campbell was making appearances on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and releasing soul ballads like this 1991 hit for the then 15 year old's debut album T.E.V.I.N. which peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of his biggest hits of his successful career in the 90's. If you really want to hear a dude with an awesome voice, check out his high note at 3:27 of the video. Wow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytNWcB1Iydo
BONUS VIDEOS- (young groups that just missed the cut).
"Baby, I'm Yours"- Shai.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iOQ3RWngIM
"Motown Philly"- Boyz II Men.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHzkICG47LU
"Before I Let You Go"- Blackstreet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC6TnBx0HIU
"My First Night With You"- Mya.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0qoxlVYyTU
"More Than A Woman"- Aaliyah.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAbxS-6XsMY
"Dim All The Lights"- Donna Summer. No reason, just awesome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgyAGSJSdOc
The original kidsHi FiveAaliyahMonicaThe JetsN Toon
posted by General 5A Pigott at 8:42 PM
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