"The Secret Garden" is classic and the remake with User, LLCJ, Robin Thicke and Tyrese can't touch it.
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Originally Posted by Headliner
Now this is my speed. Damn this is a good record and the first time I've heard it.
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Sade has the best live band I've ever heard. It's the same core group guys that's been recording music with her for the last 25 years. With a few additions along the way. I got her Lovers Live concert from 2000 on DVD, and there's a full concert of her from this year on youtube that is just as good, or better than the one in 2000.
I saw parts of the show and it looks really good like you said. I love watching concert DVDs, especially when the live vocal, band and presentation is spectacular. I have MJ, BB King, Prince, Beyonce, Kanye West, Luther, and Janet concerts all on DVD. Sade and Mariah will likely be next on my concert DVDs to get list as well as the man I want to mention:
Babyface - legendary songwriter and producer but also greatly talented musician and singer. I have been listening to his greatest hits album all week. His smooth as butter vocals is his signature.
That's pretty cool that it's the first time you've heard that song. They play it on my local quiet storm radio. Think I discovered it as a teen. Funny thing is Dr.Dre was one of the members of World Class Wrecking Crew. He's in the picture.
Yes, yes Babyface was the definition of smooth. There's a really good vocal performance he had on the Arsenio Hall show. I'll post it eventually. The thing I liked about his old school performances were that he sounded exactly like he did on the record. There's so many artists that sound terrible live. Luckily we don't seem to have that problem with old school artists.
Listened to all of those videos you posted, lovely. I'm looking forward to that Arsenio performance. His music is truly soulful but in a smooth and calming style. In a way, Babyface is kind of underrated in the industry as an artist. Maybe because he was so phenomenal as a song writer/producer. The man wrote classic hits for Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, TLC, Bobby Brown, Toni Braxton, Madonna, Mary J, Whitney Houston, his own groups After 7 and Milestone, and many others.
These videos are proof that your statement about Babyface in his live performances sounds like the record and has the ability to hit those notes with perfection, and just deliver a beautiful performance overall is remarkable. I enjoyed all of those especially "Where Will You Go?" and the El DeBarge duet. The stage settings were great presentations. Haven't seen, heard about or listened to Pebbles in a minute so that was also a treat.
Here's another incredible Babyface performance with Stevie Wonder. It's from his 1997 MTV concert DVD that I plan on getting:
Wow that's incredible. Stevie brought a whole different type of element to that performance.
Clique, have you ever heard this song? There's two different versions to it. Both with the same exact lyrics. The first version was used on Karyn White's 1988 album. The second version was used on Babyface's 1991 album. I'm thinking the second version is more Babyface produced/mixed.
I have heard the second version as my mother use to play it all of the time. The Pebbles duet too. First time hearing the Karyn White version and it is very good (it is same song/same artists after all), but I prefer Babyface's version and I'm probably biased because that's the version I've always known.
One more live duet. Remember when Destiny's Child performed "Cater 2 You" to Magic Johnson/Nelly/Terrance Howard? This time it's Babyface & Usher singing "Cater 2 You" to Destiny's Child:
In the 90's, I knew for sure if a song was produced by Babyface because it had "the babyface sound". If you listen to Tony Braxton, After 7 and Jon B songs from the 90's, they all had that same similar sound. The pitch they were sung, and the sound/pitch of the chorus also had a babyface sound to it.
By the way, have you heard Sax in the Garden? It's basically a sax/jazz version of the Secret Garden:
I have heard that version on my local R&B/Soul station. That sax is bad! I love it.
As for Babyface I hope someone who may not know about his music and talent can see some of the stuff we posted here. The man deserves the recognition. You are completely correct in your "Babyface" sound assessment. Many prolific producers have their sound from Teddy Riley to Timbaland.
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