What Happened To the Real Love Songs?

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(ThyBlackMan.com) Let me start off by saying that I am not that old. But at 45 I would consider myself to be old school and I’m not talking the 1990’s.

I remember back in the day when a group was called a band, they really were a band. The members actually played instruments and they had soloists that could really hold a note. There was Earth, Wind and Fire, The SOS Band, The Average White Band, Rufus and Chaka Khan and of course Frankie Beverly and Maze. It’s funny how guy groups are called boy bands, but not one plays an instrument.

I also remember the balladeers and songbirds. Songs were written so beautifully the lyrics and the instrumentation would bring tears to your eyes.

While driving to work one morning I heard Feel the Fire by Peabo Bryson on the radio. I could barely drive up the circular ramp to the parking garage because I was too busy bobbing my head and moving my hips to this oldie but goodie.

For those of you that have no idea who I am talking about go and check him out on You Tube. For you others you know where I’m coming from. Feel the Fire had always been my cut. Yep there I go revealing my age again.
Now this leads me to ask, “What happened to the real love songs? You know the ones that made you cry?” The ones with the lyrics that made you yell “I feel ya” or “I know what cha’ talking about”. Songwriters back then wrote lyrics that spoke to your soul.

Today the so called love songs getting the majority of air time are not love songs at all. They are filled with nothing but sex, with a brother wanting to know how soon he can hit that. Or some females may be talking the same. Rarely is the subject of love is mentioned. No! Wait a minute. Love is mentioned. The name just changed. It’s called a bootie call.

Yes the lyrics have changed, even though it still goes by the same name, a love song. Let’s make a comparison of the two.

Trey Songz Kinda Lovin’ versus Marvin Peabo Bryson’s Feel the Fire.

Kinda Lovin’

If you were the music then you know I’d be the speaker
And if I was smoking then you know you’d be the reefer
And if I was standing on the block I’d keep you in my sock

Then you have Peabo Bryson’s Feel the Fire.

Something that you told me stayed in my head
All night long
You wanted me to love you
When you said softly
Reach out and touch me
My love is in your hands

Feel me
I want to feel the fire, yeah
Feel me
I want to feel you, oh
And if I should lose your love
For any reason, any reason at all
Then let my record show
I gave you all the love I know

Well you can see the lyrics speak for themselves. I think some of these young singers should take a few lessons from the greats like Marvin Gaye, Teddy and the Isley Brothers for starters. There are even some smooth crooners out today whose lead they should follow Brian McKnight, Joe and Charlie Wilson to name a few. There is a way to be grown and sexy and you being my reefer ain’t it.

Don’t get me wrong there are still love songs. I just don’t hear them traveling across the airways as much as I would like.

So just as I said in the beginning. I want my love songs back. Put some love songs back into radio rotation please. Give them the air play they deserve. Then maybe our young folks will hear what real love songs sound like.

Staff Writer; Eleanie Campbell

For more writings by this sista feel free to visit; SoulXPosed2U.

toomanygrandkids says:

April 15, 2014 at 9:16 pm

What happened to the real love songs? Like real love, they died out and became outdated. What I noticed is that people in their 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s are listening to rap and hip-hop. The other day, I was walking out of Rite-Aid. There was a young driver parked in the parking lot and his music was blasting. Sitting next to him was a 60 year old bobbing his head to the loud rap lyrics. And when I say loud, I mean LOUD AS HELL! You could hear the bass thumping in the store!