daPrettyman said:

Oh God don't remind me!

daPrettyman said:

LMAOOOOO!!!! OH HEWL NOOOOO!!!

I've never heard this song in my life, and I've never seen this footage!

That dancing was crazy, and....DID HE HIT THE BUTTERFLY??? :excited:How cute. That was the dance back in the day. I guess.

You know, he may just want to accept that he's had his day in the sun, time's moved on, and music's moved on with it. He should focus on staying clean and establishing relationships with his children.

But, lawd, that video!

And did his ghetto ass tell that woman she was too much (translation: too big) or was that a line from that song I've never heard?

SMH throughout the clip.

Honestly, I see no reason why he couldn't still do music. He has a gorgeous, gorgeous voice-who else can sing like that nowadays? Answer: NO ONE. He can write killer music and he can produce. There is a market for him.

scriptgirl said:

He definitely still has the goods to deliver music, but really, besides a faithful few, who's really checking for DeBarge anymore? I admire and appreciate his talent, but sadly a lot of people don't. He really is a has-been, particularly to those who embrace today's genre.

AND, given his human frailties and battles with drugs, this may not be the field for him. Refusing to accept that the spotlight he had in the 80s is long-gone may contribute to his demons.

He might be better off just accepting that he WAS the star but those days are over. Enjoy the fruits of your labor, start a label and mentor up and coming talent (that don't have the last name DeBarge), become a reality show star. (Like Paula Abdul.)

Has beens are people that no longer have talent. El can still SING, can write and produce. He can still work in the field. Would you consider P a has been? You could argue that he too had his day. But he is still doing it. No, El could not reach Prince proportions but he can still do his thing.

Karen71 said:

Yes, that was the butterfly. It was 1993 or 94.

scriptgirl said:

Yes, he can do his thing, he just needs to break free from the bad influences
and habits and get on the recovery road and stay put so he can start healing his deep emotional and painful wounds. If he doesn't his beautiful talent will just be a distant memory.
I love his smooth dancing. He reminds me so much of Marvin Gaye.

scriptgirl said:

I would define a hasbeen as someone who's time has passed. Talent, once ingrained, is rarely ever lost. In my opinion, most--if not all--hasbeens can still blow the roof off.

Had El played his cards right, he could be on par with someone like Diana Ross, Prince, and all the rest who had their day in the sun but can still sell out stadiums.

By my definition, I guess I would consider the Purple One a has been. I don't see him hitting the number one spot again. Those Purple Rain days are over. I guess now he's legend.

BTW: Have you heard the single from Chico's Addiction album, "She Loves Me"? It's really, really GOOD! (At least I THINK it's from the new album. It could be from Long Time No See for all I know.)

daPrettyman said:

Thanks for this video!

You don't know how many times I've viewed it just for the laugh.

On a positive note: He can sing live. With all that moving and twisting he called dancing, his voice didn't falter once.

Tell me he didn't look like Stevie Wonder trying to dance.

I don't think El would ever have been a huge crossover star. Prince and MJ already filled those slots. He could have been a HUGE rnb star.I was talking to my cousin who really remembers the 80s crystal clear and he was a DJ back then, too. He said and I agree that it is only in hindsight that we realize how gifted and truly talented Debarge and El were. At the time, a lot of people thought Debarge were upstarts and the poor man's Jacksons. El was looked at as an MJ clone, nothing really special.
With EL, his lack of solo success had more to do with timing and record biz politics than anything having to do with his personal demons.

El has good breath control, which is why he can move like that not be winded. And all those Debarges can sing well live, which is a lost art. Hell, I bet even the most manufactured artist in the 70s could sing live.
[Edited 12/13/08 17:32pm]

I did NOT know that Chante and El had a video for 'You know what I like"

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ykHrIxblxg

For some strange reason while watching
this video I think of JLO and Marc Anthony.



I love Chante and El singing together.

I completely missed this one. Had no idea he was in prison. Or maybe I just blanked it out of my mind.

blacmajic said:

Well, as you know by now, from this thread,
he's doing well.
So, feel free not to blank it out any more.
The 'Barge is sailing smoothly.

The music industry is rough.If your lucky to get a record deal doing what you love you dont want to blow it.Singers from the 70's 80's and early 90's aren't that much around anymore.Being 50 is a hard sell with demons no less.I think the black community would love to see the group get back together for one last goodbye or something.But,i agree time MAY have just passed them by.Remember frank sinatra singing at the casino's forgetting words.SAD jmho

destinyc1 said:

I agree.

Like all older acts, DeBarge has a faithful following. However, DeBarge, Chaka, Diana, even Prince can't come back and knock Beyonce,TI, 50 and the rest off the charts. I mean, Tina did it back in the early 80s, but her music fit right in. I just can't imagine El or any of them coming back over a contemporary beat and sounding legitimate.

Chaka's last album had BEAUTIFUL music on it--but nobody really knows that. The radio was too busy playing other stuff.

Who knows? Never say never. Santana had a big comeback a few years ago. You don't know what can happen.

Yeah but i thought santana had new artist in his songs along with him.Who sang the chorus of maria

Man, fluck El and ALL those drug using low-life DeBarges who haven't had a hit since 86. Actually, I'm sure at least one of them had a hit this morning!

They banned me from that funky "I Sho Lubs Me Some DeBarge and Worship Them Like They're Actually (Still) Celebrities and Not a Bunch of Low-Life Drug Dealing Criminals Who Couldn't Catch a Break if One Was Thrown Right At 'Em" website!!!

Okay, I'm being totally silly now. I shouldn't joke like that because I really do feel for them and wish them all the best.

BUT, if you're a die-hard "I Absolutely Love DeBarge" groupie who will only fawn over them and can entertain topics such as "Free El! It's Not Fair that He's Imprisoned! It's Cause He's Black", w/o pointing out that his parole VIOLATION and past behavior contributed to his imprionment--while showing support at the same time, www.debargenetwork.com (I think that's the address) is the place for you. Just be sure you can stomach, "Just PRAY for them" posts that will almost convince you God deliberately makes drug addicts out of people so that He can get some glory.

All kidding aside, it is a great place for those who just want to show the D's some love and support. But you've been warned: Independent reasoning and discussion are not allowed.

Just go show some love. I'm sure they need it.

TheMightyCelestial said:

Speaking of which, there's this Belgium boat-hotel/restaurant

LOL!!

How cute--and apropos.

TheMightyCelestial said:

LOL...now I see

This address still valid?

California State Prison,
Los Angeles County
44750 60th St W
Lancaster, CA 93536

No, Ithink there is a new one

1DirXtion said:

Either way if you write him, it will get returned to you.