(three women in much happier times on the cover of their only album together)1994 - from one album came one song, and three members of a group are forever locked together in harmony. When these three women - Monica Doby, Charmayne Maxwell and Nichole Gilbert as Brownstone - released the album "From The Bottom Up," they released one of the best albums of the year, and on that album was one song worth noting - "If You Love Me."
Their voices are strong, clean and explode off the album. Gilbert herself should be proud of the accomplishment, as she co-wrote eleven of the twelve songs and helped co-produce four of them, including the album's strongest song, "If You Love Me." The song was released on the urban charts but quickly became a crossover hit, reaching top 10's worldwide and garnering them much overdue success, as they had been backup singers in the Los Angeles area for some time.
In early 1995, they received a Grammy nomination, the received six Billboard nominations, but only won one for "Top Hot R&B Singles Airplay." Sadly, by mid-1995, the cracks began and Monica left, citing "bronchitis", but it was the internal pressures that broke them apart. The remaining two tried to keep a brave face, but what can you do now that the circle was broken and replaced with a secondary singer?
The magic was lost, and their subsequent albums only briefly appeared, then died a sad death on the charts.
Whatever happened to Brownstone and why hasn't time been kinder to them?
But one thing has to be understood - the vocals on the album, and particularly "If You Love Me," are flawless and uplifting. The music, sexy as hell and in an uptempo style, gives the song a feeling as if it might be a love ballad of sorts, but it's mellow and smoothed out, and it can't be anything else but New Jack Swing, the genre that was popular at the time, with R&B style and old-school harmonies.
It has been featured on subsequent CD compilations, used in a few films, but most notably the best placement of the song is in the 1998 film "Living Out Loud" in the fantasy dance sequence with Holly Hunter.
For me this is the ultimate usage of this song - it celebrates the lyrics all too well:
Their voices are strong, clean and explode off the album. Gilbert herself should be proud of the accomplishment, as she co-wrote eleven of the twelve songs and helped co-produce four of them, including the album's strongest song, "If You Love Me." The song was released on the urban charts but quickly became a crossover hit, reaching top 10's worldwide and garnering them much overdue success, as they had been backup singers in the Los Angeles area for some time.
In early 1995, they received a Grammy nomination, the received six Billboard nominations, but only won one for "Top Hot R&B Singles Airplay." Sadly, by mid-1995, the cracks began and Monica left, citing "bronchitis", but it was the internal pressures that broke them apart. The remaining two tried to keep a brave face, but what can you do now that the circle was broken and replaced with a secondary singer?
The magic was lost, and their subsequent albums only briefly appeared, then died a sad death on the charts.
Whatever happened to Brownstone and why hasn't time been kinder to them?
But one thing has to be understood - the vocals on the album, and particularly "If You Love Me," are flawless and uplifting. The music, sexy as hell and in an uptempo style, gives the song a feeling as if it might be a love ballad of sorts, but it's mellow and smoothed out, and it can't be anything else but New Jack Swing, the genre that was popular at the time, with R&B style and old-school harmonies.
It has been featured on subsequent CD compilations, used in a few films, but most notably the best placement of the song is in the 1998 film "Living Out Loud" in the fantasy dance sequence with Holly Hunter.
For me this is the ultimate usage of this song - it celebrates the lyrics all too well:
I don't wanna rain on this parade
But I'm starting to question the love that was made
I'm not looking for just an affair
I want a love that is based on truth, not just dare
You will not hurt my pride, if right now you decide
That you are not ready to settle down
But if you want my heart, then it's time that you start
To act like you're mine in the light and the dark
If you love me, say it
If you trust me, do it
If you want me, show it
If you need me, prove it
If you love me, say it
If you trust me, do it
If you want me, show it
If you need me, prove it
You see now actions speak louder than words
So don't just say things that I've already heard
Don't want your body without your soul
I don't want a love who will come here and go
You will not hurt my pride, if right now you decide
That you are not ready to settle down
But if you want my heart, then it's time that you start
To act like you're mine in the light and the dark
If you love me, say it
If you trust me, do it
If you want me, show it
If you need me, prove it
If you love me, say it
If you trust me, do it
If you want me, show it
If you need me, prove it
Oh I, oh I, I wanna touch you, baby
And spread my love all around you, honey
And if you come, you gotta show it, baby
True love to share...
But I'm starting to question the love that was made
I'm not looking for just an affair
I want a love that is based on truth, not just dare
You will not hurt my pride, if right now you decide
That you are not ready to settle down
But if you want my heart, then it's time that you start
To act like you're mine in the light and the dark
If you love me, say it
If you trust me, do it
If you want me, show it
If you need me, prove it
If you love me, say it
If you trust me, do it
If you want me, show it
If you need me, prove it
You see now actions speak louder than words
So don't just say things that I've already heard
Don't want your body without your soul
I don't want a love who will come here and go
You will not hurt my pride, if right now you decide
That you are not ready to settle down
But if you want my heart, then it's time that you start
To act like you're mine in the light and the dark
If you love me, say it
If you trust me, do it
If you want me, show it
If you need me, prove it
If you love me, say it
If you trust me, do it
If you want me, show it
If you need me, prove it
Oh I, oh I, I wanna touch you, baby
And spread my love all around you, honey
And if you come, you gotta show it, baby
True love to share...
Show it
Prove it
Say it
Do it
Ooh yeah, my sweet baby...
This isn't a woman's plea for love, this is a declaration, a demand and and an ultimatum for love. This woman wants the whole package, love, lust, and someone she can love back just as hard and just as good, because when a woman falls in love, it means just that - she falls.
All the women in this song want (if their lover will only listen - in perfect three-part harmony), is some honesty when they aren't in the sheets, when the entire world is looking at us, just be with me, and give me some trust I can believe and promises, not borrowed old lines and BS.
This is a love song, and a line drawn in the sand.
This is one of the greatest songs ever created, and you're missing out a pure labor of love here if you've never heard it.
The scene in question from "Living Out Loud," with Holly Hunter and a room filled with women:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwTdsuEJpV0
All the women in this song want (if their lover will only listen - in perfect three-part harmony), is some honesty when they aren't in the sheets, when the entire world is looking at us, just be with me, and give me some trust I can believe and promises, not borrowed old lines and BS.
This is a love song, and a line drawn in the sand.
This is one of the greatest songs ever created, and you're missing out a pure labor of love here if you've never heard it.
The scene in question from "Living Out Loud," with Holly Hunter and a room filled with women:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwTdsuEJpV0
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