With both Valentine’s Day and Black History Month being in the month of February, I figured there would be no better time to dive into some of my favorite love songs from Black artists. Whether you’re planning to spend the 14th with your significant other, friends, family or even by yourself, it can be nice to have a few good tunes on hand throughout the day. For this set, the songs selected are largely those I heard throughout my childhood, so you’ll be getting a lot of throwbacks from the R&B genre. In any case, I hope you enjoy these songs and your Valentine’s Day!
To ease you in, we’ll start with "When I See U" by Fantasia (2006), the most recent release on this set. Fantasia’s song is a good representation of what it feels like to start falling for someone despite being afraid, with the song recounting the uncertainty that can come with such an experience. Throughout the song, Fantasia sings about clichés like wishing on stars and knees going weak, which are reminiscent of the terrifying and exciting ordeal that one’s first crush can be. By leaning into the emotive element of the R&B genre, this song is sure to leave you feeling a bit wistful.
Though Brandy’s 1994 song was released well before "When I See U" by Fantasia, it is in some ways a continuation of the same feelings of longing that led to the later release. Whereas "When I See U" focuses on initial feelings of hesitancy, "I Wanna Be Down" is a lot more certain in the feelings it represents. In the lyrics, it is expressed that there is still some room for uncertainty with regards to whether a relationship could be built. However, the emotions that drive the need for such a connection are certainly there. More than that, the lyrics talk about support and wanting to make a commitment, creating a message that feels a lot more serious than an adolescent crush. With instrumentals that balance being mellow and upbeat, the song captures the feeling of being ready to finally get past the talking stage and is perfect for those still psyching themselves up to ask for a first date.
In the case that your first date goes well, you might end up relating to this song a fair amount. In Evans’ 1998 song, an instrumental that borrows from elements of funk, despite being very in line with the R&B genre, helps to upholster the overall message of the song: never has Evans’ experienced a love that left her feeling so enamored. Fully in the official relationship stage, Evans’ song looks forward to the good days ahead while celebrating what has already been built.
Moving onto the set’s oldest song, New Edition’s "Can You Stand the Rain" fully embraces the key elements of R&B. Progressing past adoration, the 1988 song explores a theme that Brandy’s song briefly touches on, the idea of supporting one another “through the good times and bad times”. The gradual build of the slow beat, layered with the '80s boy band harmonies and melodies, has a chilling effect that always leaves me feeling introspective.
Last, but not least, is K-Ci & JoJo’s 1997 song, "All My Life". Compared to many of the other selections for this set, this song is a lot heavier on instrumentals. In many ways, the song is reminiscent of Gospel music, having a similar beat to Hezekiah Walker’s "Grateful", for example. Such a feeling is elevated by the lyrics, which underscore the devotion and admiration that arise from learning and growing in love, similar to the devotion portrayed in religious music. With the outro fading in a manner similar to many late '90s and early 2000s songs, it leaves the listener on a positive, thoughtful note.