Babyface

Before Ne-Yo and Bryan-Michael Cox rose to prominence as the leading R&b songwriters of the 2000s, Babyface dominated the 1990s as one of the most prolific hit-makers of the era. So, to commemorate his contributions to the industry on this day – his 55th birthday – we’ll use Way Back Wednesday to reflect on his incredible legacy.

Alongside LA Reid, Babyface helped to shaped the sound and style of the 1990s R&B movement, thus laying the foundation for the next generation of songwriters and producers. As the masterminds behind LaFace Records, the duo helped to launch the careers of several superstars, such as the great Toni Braxton.

However, similar to many of the singers he helped to propel into the spotlight, Babyface has since lost his footing among the top composers of his day. Before we discuss why that happened, let’s check out some of the songs that he wrote and/or produced below:

When people talk about music in the 1990s, it is impossible to overlook the work of Babyface. Alongside R. Kelly, Diane Warren, David Foster and LA Reid, he was one of the most important songwriter/producers of his age. Yet, as R&B became more infused with Hip-Hop elements, thanks to the clever Jermaine Dupri and Puff Daddy Diddy, and Bubblegum Pop returned to the top of the charts at the turn of the century, Babyface simply failed to properly adapt.

Similar to artists, songwriter and producers also face of the risk of being dated to a particular time. Babyface is definitely a brilliant writer but his style failed to relate to new generation of music fans that emerged in the mid-2000s. Also, when he tried to adjust, he was forced to weaken his own lyrics, and what resulted was the embarrassing “you showed yo’ ass” line in Beyonce’s “Best Thing I Never Had”.

Could Babyface reclaim his spot at the top? It is unlikely but with a catalogue of hits like his, I doubt he is very concerned. Just imagine the amount of royalties he collects every year. You know, the cheques that Toni Braxton and the TLC members wished they got at the end of every month but don’t because they never claimed the publishing rights to all of their hits.

http://thelavalizard.com/...-babyface/

His music has not aged well at all

Looking back now, my favorite songs Babyface wrote were the ones performed by Toni Braxton, Karyn White, TLC, Pebbles and Boyz II Men.

I think Babyafce is one hell of a producer and the stuff he did for Boys II Men, Whitney Houston Bobby Brown, Madonna, Tony Braxton, TLC, Snoop Dogg, Usher etc. Were fantastic! but his solo stuff i just don't dig as much...

Some of it is ok others are just

scriptgirl said:

His music has not aged well at all

I think it has. Whip Appeal and I Love You Babe still jams.

During the 90's, this man could do no wrong. I think as the years went by and his popularity and demand grew, he began to spread himself too thin, and his music suffered because of it. The material he wrote for Boys II Men, (particularly,"Water Runs Dry" & "End Of The Road") Mary J "Not Gon Cry", (Which in my opinion, is the best thing she has ever done) all that he wrote for Tevin & Bobby and that one song he did with MJ, were all classic, Babyface. What separated him from other writers at that time, was his uncanny ability to place himself in his subject's shoes. The first time I heard, "Breathe Again", I thought to myself, this could not have been written by a man. The same goes for, "Not Gon Cry". He got the essense of Angela Bassett's character, like nobody else could. Like I said, as soon as the demand for his talents grew, his material suffered. It's too bad.

As soon as people started calling him a genius............he fell off.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

scriptgirl said:

His music has not aged well at all

I think it has. Whip Appeal and I Love You Babe still jams

I agree....his best songs have aged incredibly well."Whip Appeal" is still one of the best slow jams ever and many of the songs that he wrote/produced for others ("Another Sad Love Song" by Toni Braxton,"Can We Talk" by Tevin Campbell,"Water Run Dry" by Boyz II Men) are better than anything that is currently on the charts right now.

this may sound crazy but....I think Babyface and Barry Gibb should team up to write/produce an album for somebody.These guys are amazing songwriters and I could see them putting together an incredible comeback album for someone like Aretha,Dionne or even Toni Braxton.

Whip appeal

Tender Love

It's no crime

Those are my favorite songs from him

MissEmeraldCity said:

The best solo album he ever recorded, A Love Story, was never released. It was shelved after the lead single, The Loneliness, failed to chart. The only Babyface album that sounds dated to me is Face 2 Face. He was trying too hard on that one, although it still had a few gems on it.

My favorite album of his is, "The Day". It's the one with the remake of, "For The Lover In You". Actually, some of songs from, "A Love Story" were re-released in an album called, "Grown And Sexy".

[Edited 4/11/13 17:53pm]

shorttrini said:

Babyface still writes good hit songs . Like Anthony Hamilton's RnB hit "Pray For Me" & Charlie Wilson's grammy nominated "There Goes My Baby"...Its just muziq has changed now & real rnb muziq doesn't get its shine anymore like it use to...

I love Face as both a songwriter and a solo artist. My favorite Babyface album is definitely Tender Lover. The "fast" side was great, particularly the singles "It's No Crime," "My Kinda Girl," and the title track. Even better was the "slow" side. "Whip Appeal," "Soon As I Get Home," and "Sunshine" were radio staples in my area, but I think "Where Will You Go" is the best of the bunch.

As far as Babyface compositions go, my favorite will always be "Don't Be Cruel," a true masterpiece of late '80s R&B.

Do you guys think Babyface should be honored?

I think he should.

mjscarousal said:

Do you guys think Babyface should be honored?

I think he should.

He already has.

AlexdeParis said:

I love Face as both a songwriter and a solo artist. My favorite Babyface album is definitely Tender Lover. The "fast" side was great, particularly the singles "It's No Crime," "My Kinda Girl," and the title track. Even better was the "slow" side. "Whip Appeal," "Soon As I Get Home," and "Sunshine" were radio staples in my area, but I think "Where Will You Go" is the best of the bunch.

I agree,Tender Lover is his masterpiece! A strong album from beginning to end.The "slow side" was my favorite,too."Whip Appeal" is a classic slow jam and back then,every woman was going crazy over the lyrics to "Soon As I Get Home",thinking "where can I find a man like that?",lol.

Plus Brandy's best single: Sittin Up in My Room

Never seen Take a Bow performed live before this thread.

[Edited 4/14/13 5:40am]

That "Take a Bow" was on point!!!!

That performance of "Take A Bow", was done at the Grammy's, (If i'm not mistaken) I remember watching it.

shorttrini said:

That performance of "Take A Bow", was done at the Grammy's, (If i'm not mistaken) I remember watching it.

It was at the AMAs.

No love for "For the Cool In You" album? I agree that he gave most of his best beats/lyrics to other people and his own music wasnt that great IMO save a couple songs here and there, but I liked his "For The Cool In You" and "The Day" albums the most.

AlexdeParis said:

shorttrini said:

That performance of "Take A Bow", was done at the Grammy's, (If i'm not mistaken) I remember watching it.

It was at the AMAs.

Thanks, Alex!!

mrjun18 said:

No love for "For the Cool In You" album? I agree that he gave most of his best beats/lyrics to other people and his own music wasnt that great IMO save a couple songs here and there, but I liked his "For The Cool In You" and "The Day" albums the most.

I love For the Cool in You. It's definitely my favorite after Tender Lover. OTOH, I've never been impressed with The Day, which always struck me as Babyface-by-numbers.

shorttrini said:

AlexdeParis said:

It was at the AMAs.

Thanks, Alex!!

No problem!

[Edited 4/14/13 17:33pm]