I have been a fan of Babyface since his days with the Deal. Until recently, this man could do no wrong, in my eyes. Within the last three years however, my opinion has changed. It seems to me that the material that he has produced, for himself and for others, has been lacking substance. I remember when I first heard "Whip Appeal", I was like, "Wow, that's great music". Not that he is a great singer, but he has always had a knack for putting what I, the listener, could not say or feel, myself in a song. Another example would be, Boys to Men's, "Water runs dry". That song, practically saved my relationship at that time. What gives? is he finished, not only as an artist but as one of R&B's most gifted writers?

I agree,Babyface has definitely "lost" something.His productions these days sound stale and boring.He used to write truly amazing songs,for himself and for other artists:

"Another Sad Love Song" by Toni Braxton
"Water Runs Dry" by Boyz 2 Men
"Take a Bow" by Madonna
"I'm Ready" by Tevin Campbell
"I Don't Want To Know" by Gladys Knight


but at some point in the late 90s,things went sour.I remember being extremely disappointed with his 1996 CD 'The Day'....it was bland and uninspired,with that horrible Shalamar cover song.His last truly great solo album was 'For The Cool In You'.I think he needs to pick up his guitar and try some acoustic soul music (remember his excellent 1993 single "When Will I See You Again"?).He's still very talented.

SoulAlive said:

The thing is, I liked that CD. I loved songs like, 7 seas and All day thinkin. It just seems to me that he wanted to make more money. To do this, he decided to write songs that sounded like everyone elses. That "Grown & Sexy", CD was trash....Remember "Face To Face"? The only good cut from that one was, "What if"....I just want to know, what gives?

he's way past it and no longer relevant in todays music market

its not that he's not talented,

its just that he makes shit music that no one gives a toss about

whats he complaining for anyway? he's loaded out of his ass anyway with so much money

i never was into him...too predictable and not experimental enough...even his lyrics are a bit too "obvious" for me.

Babyface had his momnets but even at his so called peak he repeated himself a great deal. A lot of his songs used the same melody, chord structure, beats and lyrics. This guy was OVERRATED from day one.

He should have never left The Deele. At least that group could throwdown. Most of his own shit and productions for other artists has been weak shit.

I recently decided to revist Grown and Sexy
A lot of the CD is a reapeat of older Face songs, but there are a few cuts I really dig.
1.The Loneliness(not just cause Mayte was in the video) I can really relate to the song.
2.Drama, Love, and 'Latonships is a cool cut. he speaks a lot of truth in that song.
3. Goin' Out of Business is a great breakup song.

Now I would not suggest that anyone buy a CD for 3 songs, but if you have itunes you may want to purchase those three cuts.

SoulAlive said:

I agree.
Talent is talent. He just needs to start over. I agree again, acoustic is probably the way to go.

I think the major problem is that everyone he produced had his sound...you can almost feel that he put the vocal parts down first and said "do that". By the time he got around to doing "Babyface" for Babyface it had already been done many times over.

He still has lots of good stuff in him. Talent like that doesn't disappear.

his problem that in his heyday, most of his songs sounded the same. his own and the ones he gave to other artists. it was a signature sound though, and extremely popular at the time. when you deluge the mid-90's with a bunch of stuff that sounds the same and you put something out 10 years later without changing it up very much, people are going to think it's dull and boring and sounds dated, even if it's your own sound you're repeating, because the same sound 10 years later IS dull, boring, and dated whether it was in the first place or not.

Babyface most daring work always seemed to be with Bobby Brown, besides that every thing else was cookie cutter.

I think Laface(Darryl, Kayo, LA, Face) should get at bobby and hookup again, cuz them together was damn near legendary

Dont Be Cruel
Every Little Step
Roni
On Our Own
We're Back
Rockwitcha
Humpin Around
Pretty Little Girl
Good Enough


not one weak or near average song in that group, all straight bangers

KingKrazy said:

The X-factor you're speaking of is not really Bobby Houston. It's LA Reid. They also brought it with TLC, The Whispers, and Pebbles.
[Edited 11/9/06 12:48pm]

Adisa said:

TLC is more Dallas Austin than LaFace, and Pebbles got the cookie cutters and Bobby Brown Leftovers all the time(Giving You Benefit is On Our Own ugly sister), and the Whispers as good as they were only song i remember from them are Rocksteady.

Again with the exception of Bobby Brown work with them even LA said it, Bobby Brown would force them to listen to what Teddy Riley was doing, and LA and the rest of the crew would try to top it
[Edited 11/9/06 12:45pm]

You're right. Bobby made Babyface.

Adisa said:

i never said that, i said that when they got together they made the best music.

Babyface was making hits in 84 when Bobby was still singing Mr. Telephone Man and Jealous Girl so he clearly didnt make him, they just made there best work together. Just Like Quincy and Mike, Jam & Lewis and janet, jermaine and usher

KingKrazy said:

With LA Reid, right?

Adisa said:

maybe i am not sure, most people give every credit to Babyface and none to LA, so i am not sure, but i know Babyface or Laface produced Midnight Starr's slow jam song "SLOW JAM" so i dont know,

KingKrazy said:

Fair enough, and I do see and agree with your point that certain artists and producers bring out the best in each other. I think Babyface lost his funk when he started to produce/write without LA. Sure, he was successful and had a long list of hits. But the oomph was missing. And I think LA had more to do with that oomph than Bobby or any other artist they worked with.

KidOmega said:

I agree with you too. This is why acoustic is a good way to go. The Babyface "sound" is a production thing. Underneath that he's also a good songwriter. This is what going acoustic would reveal.

vainandy said:

Love songs are his thing. But he wrote one that he needs his behind kicked for. It's called "I Give Good Love" In it he sings "I'll Pay Your Rent, I'll Buy Your Clothes. I'll cook your Dinner, I'll Do Your Dishes Too, Soon As I Come Home From Work". Man, I love my wife to death, But She ain't gettin all that when I come home from work! Babyface can go somewhere with that mess!

ThePunisher said:

See, he is singing from an "old school" perspective. Back in the day, that's what the music was all about, doing things to show that u you and want to keep her.Unlike today's music, which is all about "licking you up and down" and "f@#cking you tonight", there is nothing wrong with showing what u would do for your mate;just as long as she or he has your back. Which would u rather, someone who was only good in bed or someone that had your back?
[Edited 11/9/06 14:12pm]

Grown & Sexy is neither grown nor sexy. The songs sound much alike that you couldn't tell if that's the current track still playin' or the one next.

Seems like he doesn't know what direction he wants at the moment.

vainandy said:

Granted, I'm gulity as charge for being an old fan of 'Face's Tender Lover album.

With that said, I miss The Deele a lot more. Body Talk & I Surrender are synthfunk classics!

KingKrazy said:

Babyface (with or without L.A., DeRock, and Kayo) had a signature sound, but saying his songs all sounded the same is nothing but hyperbole. He was certainly great with or without Bobby Brown (although "Don't Be Cruel" is still his best song). Do I need to post my whole Top 100 Babyface songs again?

AlexdeParis said:

No. But you will need to show me a list of songs (The Catch: no slow jams! That's too easy. I want dance cuts!).

that "grown & sexy" cd was shitty....nothing he puts out now will ever compare to "i only think of you on two occasions"

Grown & Sexy lacked emotion and passion.
I got that cd for free from a friend and ended up giving it back

LA reid was never the creative one and babyface music has always sounded the same.he made nice,safe songs that still work on adult contemporary.he is older,the industry is different and nobody stays on top forever.there are not many artists out now that could sing face's music, maybe christina(whats her name) and a few others but not many.

ThePunisher said:

the song is actually called "Soon As I Get Home",and yes,I don't think too many guys were happy with those lyrics,lol.It put alot of pressure on us fellas.