Breaks & Samples: Love's In the Air

Sup readers,

This week's theme of Breaks & Samples revolves on an amorous topic of feelings and emotion, an expression of affection, the mushy gushy song samples of love. I know we just got over Valentine's Day about a month ago, and whether it was a good V-day or not (SAD day for all us single people out there), allow me to drop these tracks with some last minute of love songs with some "bittersweet" knowledge.



Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack - "Be Real Black For Me"

Something magical happens when you combine two great 70's soul artists into one collaborative album; you conceive an album of love songs and covers. Yet after the album's release, tension arose between the two musicians as Donny's illness of paranoid schizophrenia and depression conflicted with their work and friendship, postponing the two from working together until the release of their 1978 hit, "The Closer I Get To You," which led them to create their second album of duets, Roberta Flack featuring Donny Hathaway. Although "Where Is The Love?" is acclaimed as their first album's best song, I instead prefer the souling feel of "Be Real Black For Me." The harmonic chant of of the chorus leaves me with an insatiable desire to throw the song on repeat; in my opinion, it becomes this never-ending chant that never grows tiresome and gets stronger by every measure. The piano intro of the song is a looped portion and sampled beat in Jean Grae's "Keep Livin,'" keep livin' and be real for me.



The O'Jays - Darlin' Darlin' Baby

Another love song with a catchy hook that finds me mumbling the chorus for days. Formerly known as the Triumphs and the Mascots, The O'Jays, who named themselves as a tribute to DJ Eddie O'jay, formed in 1968 and were a national hit with the release of their first single, "Lonely Drifter." Although they're known for hits songs such as "Backstabbers" and "Love Train," the song that I present for you is a sample from Big Pun's Capital Punishment album "I'm Not A Player."




Aretha Franklin - "Call Me"

Either a perfect love song for a long distant relationship or a couple that's glued to the phone (and I curse the day when this track becomes a sample for a cellphone commercial, ugh). Aretha Franklin's "Call Me" sings a sweet yet mellow love song that innocently asks her lover(s) to call her. Whether the song is dedicated for one person or many, or an emphasis on how much one loves the other, it's quite contrasting to listen how Kanye West drops the sample for Slum Village's "Selfish," and Elzhi and T3 talks about the many girls they have from city to city, asking them all to call'em back. Telephone love?



Diana Ross - "Love Hangover"

Not all love songs are sang with light. For divas such as Diana Ross, love could sometimes be the simplest yet deceptive remedy to a broken heart. From the Surpremes to a solo artist, Diana sings her mournful happiness through this Hal Davis produced album, and yet the way Jermaine Dupri revitalizes it with bangin' beats and amped up bass for Monica's "First Night" single, turns this sour relationship into a lovers first meet.



Patrice Rushen - "Settle For My Love"

A soothing love song sung by Patrice Rushen. Not only is Patrice a singer but she is also recognized as a Jazz master, a top musical director and as the first woman to become a musical direcor for the Grammy and Emmys Awards, and NAACAP Image Awards and for Newsweek's first American Achievement Award. With a gentle voice like Minnie Ripperton in her solo years, Patrice's singing hits the right notes and the mood of the song is an excellent production by Charles Mims Jr, Reggie Andrews and Patrice. Even though she has plenty of hits around, ie. "Forget Me Nots," ("here comes the men in black!"), my favorite tends to be the hypnotic vibes of "Settle For My Love." Although the song was covered by Musiq Soulchild, I give it up to 90s hip hop for sampling it the best, such as in Shyheim's "Shaolin Style."