Be it Jazmine Sullivan’s call to “crush into these curves” or Summer Walker’s jazzy attack on “unloyal men”, these artists know how to balance sensual without becoming excessively sexualized while centering empowerment within their descriptions of sex.
R&B music stands out from hip hop by featuring lush instrumentals and emotive hooks, so sit back and listen to some of the best R&B tracks to make you feel good! Enjoy these unforgettable tracks.
Nina Simone – “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”
This classic R&B song will transport listeners back in time. With soulful vocals and emotive lyrics that resonate deeply, its soulful vocals will capture listeners’ attention and bring comfort or uplift them – not to mention its catchy beat that will get toes tapping and heart rates racing!
Nina Simone was an indefatigable pianist and singer whose music seamlessly traversed genre boundaries rather than being defined by them. Her songs ranged from jazz, blues, classical R&B soul – each style having its own place within her oeuvre – yet their one constant was passion and emotional honesty in each work she produced.
Simone was widely known during the turbulent 1960s as the “high priestess of soul”. As she was black before it was fashionable to be so, her songs of protest resonated with audiences across America.
Simone’s song “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” remains one of her signature tracks, evoking feelings of isolation and alienation from others, with powerful vocal performances delivered with deep emotion and power from Simone herself. Many artists have covered this song, such as Gladys Knight & the Pips.
“Midnight Train to Georgia”, released in 1973 and still beloved today, remains one of her best songs with its catchy melodies and beautiful vocals making it ideal for dancing to.
Nina Simone’s rendition of this Gladys Knight & the Pips classic stands as one of the top R&B songs of all time, thanks to her soulful vocals and emotive lyrics that give this track its unforgettable quality.
The Animals’ version of “Cherokee” is equally outstanding, featuring lead singer Eric Burdon’s incredible R&B chops which closely resemble those of Ray Charles. Additionally, Alan Price provides inventive keyboard work and Gregg Valentine provides captivating guitar solos. This song has become an R&B classic featured in numerous movies and TV shows such as Scrubs, Six Feet Under and The Thomas Crown Affair.
TLC – “Waterfalls”
TLC stands for “Tender Loving Care,” and though they did a lot of great work during their careers, this song by TLC truly cemented it for many young people at that time. It addressed issues including drug dealing and HIV/AIDS. TLC didn’t wait around for any sort of feedback about how the War on Drugs would pan out before writing verse one of its song, featuring an introduction of a young drug dealer who defies his mother and eventually becomes “another body lyin’ cold in the gutter.” TLC takes an unflinching stance when depicting HIV through their rap verse, depicting a heterosexual couple who seem happy until one becomes infected with the virus. At that time, HIV/AIDS was still widely disapproved of, so dedicating one of their top 40 singles to it was an extraordinary move by TLC.
Although the topics are serious, this song remains upbeat and catchy. The production combines elements from R&B, hip-hop, dancehall and even R&B for maximum grinding capability. T-Boz and Chilli both deliver memorable verses that show why they were such great singers in the past.
“CrazySexyCool” features three top-ten hits from CrazySexyCool, but this song stands out as perhaps their best known and loved tune from that album. This track serves as an outstanding example of their ability to balance fun girl power anthems with serious issues pertinent to young women at that time.
Gary Gray directed and won four MTV Vidoe Music Awards for this video that captures the timely nature of TLC’s song with images showing her performing it before an actual waterfall.
“Left Eye” Lopes, Marqueze Etheridge and Organized Noize co-wrote this song for TLC’s second album CrazySexyCool and it became an international smash hit reaching number one on multiple charts around the world. Left Eye sadly passed away at 33 in 2002 but will always be remembered as an incredible singer/rapper as well as being remembered as an exceptional songwriter with timeless and empowering lyrics that remain as relevant today as they were back then.
Solange – “Cranes in the Sky”
As Solange Knowles is the older sister of one of pop’s leading pop stars, her musical legacy has faced unique challenges as an older sibling of one herself. On her 2016 release “A Seat at the Table,” Solange displays introspective lyrics and impressive multi-tracked vocals supported by minimalist instrumental backing that prioritizes groove and atmosphere rather than bombastic radio-ready sounds.
One of the standout tracks from Solange’s debut record, Cranes in the Sky,” is an emotionally charged ballad that touches upon depression, escape, and her place as a black woman living in America. Recently during an interview for Interview magazine Solange discussed “Cranes in the Sky” as well as its creation process.
Solange explained that she and producer Raphael Saadiq collaborated on writing this track together using a simple sketch containing drums, bass, and strings. Solange wanted to incorporate harmonica but didn’t own one at the time so used a toy harp she’d purchased for her daughter instead – creating an melancholic, otherworldly harmony that gives listeners the feeling of looking up into an optimistic blue sky after an angry storm has passed by.
The video for Solange’s song, ‘Ritual of Loss & Disconnection,’ is equally surreal. Filmed across various locations around New Orleans, it takes viewers on an emotionally draining journey as she battles her feelings of loss and disconnection. Visuals range from hauntingly beautiful melancholic scenes, to more intense and aggressive ones in which Solange expresses herself against herself emotionally.
“Cranes in the Sky” is both an emotional and musical triumph. Building gradually from a simple bassline, its melody evolves gradually into an intoxicating chorus with Solange elongating her syllables in an expressive yet striking manner, leading to an amazing crescendo that has resonated across social media since its release.
Big Joanie, a London post-punk band, have recorded their own cover of Solange’s song on Friday for their new seven inch. While Big Joanie’s take differs slightly, they successfully capture its tired but wearisome mood and end with a loud bass sneer reminiscent of metal clouds collapsing.
Mark Morrison – “Return of the Mack”
Mark Morrison reached the Top 10 with “Return of the Mack,” his classic R&B jam from 1996. This timeless track has never lost its charismatic swagger and speaks volumes of Morrison’s effortless confidence. The beat features new jack swing and hip-hop with a touch of hip hop; its melodies recalling 90s dance pop from across the Atlantic; its groove is huge; everything fits seamlessly together.
Morrison made waves upon release of his debut album of the same name with “Let’s Get Down,” becoming an international Top 40 hit and propelling him into stardom. While born in Germany to Bajan parents, Morrison spent most of his childhood years living in Leicester before making the move Stateside and discovering music as a passion. Both “Let’s Get Down” and its follow up reached Top 40 status in America.
Morrison had no shortage of legal issues during his thirties. While his hit “Return of the Mack” was climbing up the charts, he was arrested for trying to bring a stun gun onto an airplane and got involved in a nightclub brawl which resulted in someone’s death – both charges which led him into prison for some time before recovering his momentum again.
Morrison’s song about rebounding from heartbreak remains an upbeat party tune despite legal troubles; its vocals are immensely catchy, and its chorus has an irresistibly satisfying “fuck you, I’m doing great” quality that’s hard to match. Its production features huge drums and itchy guitar stabs; there is also an infectious bassline with tremendous strut-roll that resonates beautifully while Morrison sings with breezy nasal intensity that sounds like she is having lots of fun singing it all the time.
Burger King made a comeback of Morrison’s timeless track in May 2017, when they released a remix to promote Mac n’ Cheese Cheetos. The version featured Chester Cheetah dancing along to it while advertising their delicious snack – while not becoming a chart hit, it certainly helped Morrison return into the US top 40 chart.