Singer, average

Songwriter-he did well in the 90s, but his style hasn't aged well

scriptgirl said:

Singer, average

Songwriter-he did well in the 90s, but his style hasn't aged well

I agree about the singing ability being average. I might say slightly above average on some songs.

Songwriter, I don't know if I agree if his songs haven't aged well. A lot of the songs he did with LA (the up tempo stuff) still sounds good to me. "Don't Be Cruel" (the album) is one of his shining moments. Every song he did on that album is a classic. I would also say the same thing for Toni Braxton's debut cd.

So, I think he's an excellent songwriter and has written a lot of classics that we'll be singing until we leave this earth. Were all of the songs "classics"? I say no, but I think the good in his catalog outweighs the bad.

Singer: Above average

Songwriter: Excellent

Singer:

Songwriter:

Okay singer. Produced some great songs. His best days are behind him.

missfee said:

Singer:

Songwriter:

Plus I liked compositions he did with others more so than I did his own. He only had two or three hot ones in his career overall and that was probably "Whip Appeal", "Not Keeping Secrets" and "When Can I See You Again".

Anything else? Pffth...

Timmy84 said:

Plus I liked compositions he did with others more so than I did his own. He only had two or three hot ones in his career overall and that was probably "Whip Appeal", "NEVER Keeping Secrets" and "When Can I See You Again".

Anything else? Pffth...

"Never Keeping Secrets" is my favorite Babyface song PERIOD.

His best album was never released. I LOVE "A Love Story." I wish Arista would go ahead and release that one. Not one bad track and every song ties in together to tell a story. "God Must Love You," "Red Dress," "The Sentimental Reasons" and "Making Love" were my JAMZ!

[Edited 5/1/12 16:35pm]

daPrettyman said:

Timmy84 said:

Plus I liked compositions he did with others more so than I did his own. He only had two or three hot ones in his career overall and that was probably "Whip Appeal", "NEVER Keeping Secrets" and "When Can I See You Again".

Anything else? Pffth...

"Never Keeping Secrets" is my favorite Babyface song PERIOD.

His best album was never released. I LOVE "A Love Story." I wish Arista would go ahead and release that one. Not one bad track and every song ties in together to tell a story. "God Must Love You," "Red Dress," "The Sentimental Reasons" and "Making Love" were my JAMZ!

Whatever the title I don't keep up with Face like that anymore. And he bored me.

Timmy84 said:

daPrettyman said:

"Never Keeping Secrets" is my favorite Babyface song PERIOD.

His best album was never released. I LOVE "A Love Story." I wish Arista would go ahead and release that one. Not one bad track and every song ties in together to tell a story. "God Must Love You," "Red Dress," "The Sentimental Reasons" and "Making Love" were my JAMZ!

Whatever the title I don't keep up with Face like that anymore. And he bored me.

I agree that he did get boring there one while.

daPrettyman said:

Timmy84 said:

Whatever the title I don't keep up with Face like that anymore. And he bored me.

I agree that he did get boring there one while.

Hell you heard his version of "Fire & Rain", I guess his take of Bobby Womack's cover? That shit was I can't root for this guy no matter what he does. His music is just... there.

Timmy84 said:

daPrettyman said:

I agree that he did get boring there one while.

Hell you heard his version of "Fire & Rain", I guess his take of Bobby Womack's cover? That shit was I can't root for this guy no matter what he does. His music is just... there.

Yeah, that covers project was just HORRIBLE. I have a feeling that he was made to do that by his label. I can't see a man that is a songwriter and has songs in the vault doing a covers project.

daPrettyman said:

Timmy84 said:

Hell you heard his version of "Fire & Rain", I guess his take of Bobby Womack's cover? That shit was I can't root for this guy no matter what he does. His music is just... there.

Yeah, that covers project was just HORRIBLE. I have a feeling that he was made to do that by his label. I can't see a man that is a songwriter and has songs in the vault doing a covers project.

Might be I don't know. All I know is the few cuts I heard from it sucked ass.

Songwriting: Crappy, corny-ass drivel. Don't care for his singing either.

Noted exception: His work with Toni Braxton was good, very good. But I never cared for his songwriting or his producing. A little goes a long way.

====================

[Edited 5/1/12 19:43pm]

Timmy84 said:

daPrettyman said:

I agree that he did get boring there one while.

Hell you heard his version of "Fire & Rain", I guess his take of Bobby Womack's cover? That shit was I can't root for this guy no matter what he does. His music is just... there.

When he did that "Grown & Sexy" album, I just . It was horrible. And let's not forget that hideous video he did with the "one-hand clap" with Pharrell...damn what was that song...thinking....thinking.....had to look this shit up

Okay it was "There She Goes". That video was I don't know who the hell he was trying to be around that time, but I'm glad it only lasted with that one album.

missfee said:

Timmy84 said:

Hell you heard his version of "Fire & Rain", I guess his take of Bobby Womack's cover? That shit was I can't root for this guy no matter what he does. His music is just... there.

When he did that "Grown & Sexy" album, I just . It was horrible. And let's not forget that hideous video he did with the "one-hand clap" with Pharrell...damn what was that song...thinking....thinking.....had to look this shit up

Okay it was "There She Goes". That video was I don't know who the hell he was trying to be around that time, but I'm glad it only lasted with that one album.

There She Goes S.U.C.K. hard as hell! And the "Grown & Sexy" song? More like Grown and Jacked Up.

[Edited 5/1/12 17:19pm]

Singer: Alright I guess, nothing special

Songwritter: 5/5 Dozens of classics

Singer: slightly above average

Songwriter: way above average

Producer: set the gold standard for the blanding of r&b/soul in the late '80s throught he mid '90s.

I gotta agree with most here, his voice is good but nothing special. But he is a great songwriter & an amazing producer. I think he is one of the best of R&B.

Above average singer, I like his voice and how he treated other talent's voices.

Excellent songwriter.

It's the production that is cookie-cutter, bland, plastic, weak, aging poorly. On the other hand, most of those hits are 20+ years old (even Toni Braxton debut shit) so I don't really expect it to sound fresh as ever. I do think shit-hop is a bit of a reaction to this overly lite style though because this is what was super popular in R&B before it changed or as it was changing.

mjscarousal said:

Singer: Above average

Songwriter: Excellent

Both his brothers in After 7 are better singers, but he does well with the voice he has.

As a songwriter, he's excellent. Just a few of my favorites that I feel are underrated:

Damian Dame - Right Down to It

Babyface - Where Will You Go

Milestone - I Care 'Bout You

Tevin Campbell - I'm Ready

If I had to pick my favorite song from every artist I like, Babyface would probably have written more than any other songwriter.

Didn't he also write Every Little Step and Bobby Brown did it instead?

scriptgirl said:

Didn't he also write Every Little Step and Bobby Brown did it instead?

I thought L.A. Reid wrote that song, I could be wrong though.

errant said:

Singer: slightly above average

Songwriter: way above average

Producer: set the gold standard for the blanding of r&b/soul in the late '80s throught he mid '90s.

That can go back to Kashif actually.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

errant said:

Singer: slightly above average

Songwriter: way above average

Producer: set the gold standard for the blanding of r&b/soul in the late '80s throught he mid '90s.

That can go back to Kashif actually.

That's true.

Terrib3Towel said:

scriptgirl said:

Didn't he also write Every Little Step and Bobby Brown did it instead?

I thought L.A. Reid wrote that song, I could be wrong though.

It was co-written by Babyface and L.A. Reid. The subject (from Reid's POV) is Pebbles, whom he later married.

Here's something that is never discussed: some of y'all been going on with how great a songwriter Face was but what was L.A.'s contribution? The lyrics or the music? Same with Face. There's also Daryl Simmons to tend with.

AlexdeParis said:

Terrib3Towel said:

I thought L.A. Reid wrote that song, I could be wrong though.

It was co-written by Babyface and L.A. Reid. The subject (from Reid's POV) is Pebbles, whom he later married.

Are they still married? Pebbles was beautiful back in the day, she still is actually.

He should have stayed in The Deele and the other bandmembers shouldn't have let him do anything other than sing and play the songs that they wrote.