Top 100 Soul/R&B Songs
#87 Tevin Campbell 'Can We Talk'
There is a short list of artists that can boast having music mogul Quincy Jones as a mentor. Tevin Campbell is on that list. It was Q who brought little Tevin to the attention of the music masses back in 1989 at the tender age of 13. After huge chart success with his debut album (1991's T.E.V.I.N., which yielded a whopping eight singles!), Campbell's second studio release, 1993's I'm Ready, found the 16-year old crooner with the soaring tenor at his absolute apex.The lead single, the Babyface-produced "Can We Talk", was arguably the collection's gem, staying atop the Billboard R&B charts for three weeks and reaching #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. Not only did the song garner a well-deserved Grammy nomination, it also garnered much-deserved respect from teenagers everywhere who now had a fool-proof pick-up line.
Sure, over the years Tevin's talent ceiling has come crashing down around him, mostly due to horrible decision-making and what could be chalked up to the price of peaking early, but thankfully we have songs like this that still spark nostalgia. Get us to talking. Good times.
Tags: babyface, quincy jones, tevin campbell
Comments
i love Tevin Campbell and "can we talk" is one of my favorites in general...he is one of my favorite singers...hopefully he'll come back out....i miss him so much...his vocals are truly beautiful
bre | June 7, 2008 11:46 AM | PermalinkI love Tevin! I'm totally anticipating him dropping another CD soon! Please Tevin! You have a lot of fans who are really missing you and who still loves you! Don't let your talents go to waste. In my honest opinion, I think every CD that you have recorded were A+! Not sure why the last 2 didn't do well, but they were all great and I have every single one of them and I still listen to them today...all the time! I also love the producers you worked with, such as Quincy Jones, Babyface, Prince, Al B, Narada Michael Walden, etc. To me, you hit the jackjot with those very talented well rounded professionals. Guess what? I think you should hook up with them again....the clinche is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Honestly, there hasnt' been another young talent since Tevin who can sing and carry the notes and tunes the way he does. Sorry to the new wave folks, but there hasn't been another and I really don't think there will be! I'm a true fan and a die hard one since Tevin is from Texas. I think he was perhaps... before his time. A lot of people could not get with a young kid singing adult music. But if you listen to all his songs he delivered every one of them from his heart and soul! You can't help but feel him and you can tell he's feeling it, too! On a scale of 1-5 with 5 highest; I give all of Tevin's music/CDs a "5"! I just think he could have been managed better (no disrepect to mom) and his music should have been promoted differently. Shoot me an email if I can be of any assistance in promoting this young man. I know he can still sing because he's a NATURAL and this is God given talent/gift and no one can take that away. We LOVE you Tevin and we MISS you! Hurry back and seranade us with that smooth tenor voice. PEACE and LOVE.
M.Preston | May 25, 2008 3:10 PM | PermalinkMs P
Rahsaan Patterson wrote for Tevin on his "Back to the World" record. It was a good album, too. I hate his star didn't shine as long as it could've; he was gifted and his first songs/cds are classic. Thanks for the clip!
Madame Zenobia | April 18, 2008 3:18 PM | PermalinkI'm glad this countdown is surprising me with "I can't believe I forgot about that" moments.
Multi-stage combo dap on this one.
I can attest that quoting this jont was an effective opening move for holleration in my younger days.
DJStylus | April 18, 2008 1:51 PM | PermalinkLove Tevin and this song is special. I can still see myself watching the video when it forst came out. I love "Always In My Heart" as well.
I'd love to see him make music again. I miss his voice.
Danielle | April 18, 2008 11:52 AM | PermalinkLove Tevin and this song is special. I can still see myself watching the video when it forst came out. I love "Always In My Heart" as well.
I'd love to see him make music again. I miss his voice.
Danielle | April 18, 2008 11:51 AM | PermalinkOne of the most talented brothers in the last 20 years. whoever use to right for him wrote some classic shit! confused, be alone with you, tell me, the only one for me, brother has a extensive catalog. If he keeps making it, I'm a keep buying it.
stoneyisland | April 18, 2008 1:44 AM | PermalinkWow, can't believe this song is so far down on the list. I would've expected, "Back to the World" to be this far down.
JW Richard | April 17, 2008 11:41 PM | PermalinkI am officially not going to say anything else crazy about any of the coming selections. To see this song on the list just made my night. I love, love, love this song. I still rock this on my ipod like it just came out.
Sho | April 17, 2008 10:12 PM | Permalink'Always In My Heart' is my joint...but 'Can We Talk' is a very close second...I loved this dude's voice...
MarvalusOne | April 17, 2008 8:18 PM | PermalinkI used to hate him, because back in the day people used to tell me I looked like him. (I guess I kinda did with the box cut and all, ha ha.) I have to say though, this is a favorite of mine. I also loved "Tomorrow," his cut with Q.
S. Flemming | April 17, 2008 8:12 PM | PermalinkI had the BIGGEST crush on Tevin! Love this song, but "Round and Round" was my jam!
Danielle | April 17, 2008 5:26 PM | Permalink