independent and unofficial
Prince fan community
Welcome! Sign up or enter username and password to remember me
Forum jump
Forums > Music: Non-Prince > The DeBarge Family Appreciation Thread
« Previous topic  Next topic »
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
Author

Tweet     Share

Message
Thread started 08/30/23 3:25pm

JabarR74

The DeBarge Family Appreciation Thread

I want to start a thread devoted to the DeBarge family. Be respectful and keep it light hearted, keep it about their careers, music and their impact and no mocking or bashing them either!

Switch

image-asset.jpeg

DeBarge

all-this-love-the-debarge-family-story-fan-casting-poster-12131-large.jpg?1565808021

El DeBarge

4b42845f5ba59deed66dabc2af1b04ca.jpg

Chico DeBarge

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRaCGb7dUjjFPWGnal9peI-iYbGRsuDFPoSFQ&usqp=CAU

Kristinia DeBarge

My04NTE3LmpwZWc.jpeg

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #1 posted 08/31/23 6:21am

RJOrion

El DeBarge was always so underrated...everybody knows his great falsetto voice, but he doesnt get the credit he deserves as a songwriter and keyboard player...those blessed DeBarges have endured so much wickedness...one of the saddest stories in music history.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #2 posted 08/31/23 6:41pm

BalladofPeterP
arker

RJOrion said:

El DeBarge was always so underrated...everybody knows his great falsetto voice, but he doesnt get the credit he deserves as a songwriter and keyboard player...those blessed DeBarges have endured so much wickedness...one of the saddest stories in music history.

Your dead on the money. If there is a HELL the dad and mom of that family are going on a extended stay. I read Bunny and Tommy DeBarges books and I found them so disturbing (especially Tommy's) that I threw them both away. Sexual Abuse, Incest, and drug abuse has absolutely saturated that family to the bone. It's remarkable that they are as accomplished as they are.

I would be willing to bet that person for person they may be the most talented musical family in modern history. Bobby & El alone are phenomenally talented singer/songwriters. Bunny was a superb writer herself, Tommy was a helluva bass player, Chico's "Long Time No See" is a fucken masterpiece of R&B/Neo soul/Marvin Gaye aspirations. Every last one of them can sing like an angel. My God ...what should have been.

[Edited 8/31/23 18:42pm]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #3 posted 08/31/23 8:16pm

JabarR74

MC Shy-D was the first rapper to sample DeBarge on this track:

Atlanta, That's Where I Stay

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #4 posted 09/08/23 12:58pm

Superstition

avatar

The brothers keep facing legal problems around drugs, but I’ll be damned if El still don’t do his thing. I really enjoyed Second Chance WAY more than I expected, and I’ve seen a couple random YouTube vids of him recently and he sounds great.

I have not followed to or listened to Chico in quite some time, but it’s never good news when you see their name on TMZ.

Need to stay busy with music, the whole family is talented but El and Bobby were something else.

My Friend In The Sky by Switch is my jam - also has James Ingram’s little brother crushing it on the vocals with Bobby.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #5 posted 09/08/23 3:30pm

BalladofPeterP
arker

Superstition said:

The brothers keep facing legal problems around drugs, but I’ll be damned if El still don’t do his thing. I really enjoyed Second Chance WAY more than I expected, and I’ve seen a couple random YouTube vids of him recently and he sounds great. I have not followed to or listened to Chico in quite some time, but it’s never good news when you see their name on TMZ. Need to stay busy with music, the whole family is talented but El and Bobby were something else. My Friend In The Sky by Switch is my jam - also has James Ingram’s little brother crushing it on the vocals with Bobby.

"My Friend in the Sky"...MAN you are dead on it!!! That was an absolutely gorgeous track! I also agree agree with your assessment of "Second Chance", El has lost absolutely NOTHING vocally. He was MEANT to sing!

[Edited 9/8/23 15:32pm]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #6 posted 09/09/23 3:32pm

Superstition

avatar

Since I’m a Stevie fan… and an El Fan… and an early-90’s smooth R&B fan…



https://youtu.be/bAVzj4RT...h0yrKQfm42
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #7 posted 09/10/23 1:19am

whodknee

avatar

Superstition said:

Since I’m a Stevie fan… and an El Fan… and an early-90’s smooth R&B fan…

https://youtu.be/bAVzj4RT...h0yrKQfm42

Great album. Chico's "Long Time No See" was just as good if not better. That's not to mention the classic Debarge albums. Lots of talent in that family.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #8 posted 09/10/23 4:40pm

thesexofit

avatar

"Where you are" is decent, but that album is bogged down by too much Babyface. Only Babyface cut I still listen to off that album is "I'll be there", which has a slightly dark quality to it.

"Slide" is the standout. Love that song! Ripped off somewhat by Rashaan Patterson for "Stop by".

Got all of El's albums and Debarge in general. Still need to get through El's last album...

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #9 posted 09/10/23 4:50pm

thesexofit

avatar

Now Bunny's album was interesting (to me).

She at least did some co-writes on the mid 80's album unlike poor El. "Save the best for me" is The Jets in all but voice. Same producers/writers. Still love it though and ironic that The Jets remind me of Debarge but there ya go LOL.

Some big ass 80's ballads. Very slick like El's debut....samey but a boon for the high quality 80's production sheen of some of it.

Bunny Debarge - Never Let Die - YouTube

Check out that middle 8...goose bumps...Jay Graydon did work with both El and Bunny....got a great vocal out of El on "Prime time". El pushes his voice hard on the bridge on that one...

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Forums > Music: Non-Prince > The DeBarge Family Appreciation Thread