Search - Debarge :: DeBarge - Greatest Hits

To quote DeBarge, "I Like It"

Mikeisha Best | Mitchellville, Maryland United States | 02/07/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I did not grow up on DeBarge's music, but many artists of my time sampled their music, so I was indirectly familiar with them. Artists such as Tamia and Notorious BIG have either sampled this group's music or created an entire rendition of their song. I enjoyed Tamia's version of "Love Me in a Special Way", so I decided to listen to DeBarge's greatest hits. This album is a wonderful compilation of music; El and Bunny have nice singing voices and their production is different, yet easy to dance to. Their ballads are great, too.



"Rhythm of the Night", "I Like It", "Who's Holding Donna Now?" and "Love Me in a Special Way" were some of DeBarge's most successful songs, and they are amazing in every way. El's voice truly shines on each song, and the brothers (and sister Bunny) sound really great when they harmonize on the choruses. "Rhythm of the Night" has a very catchy chorus and the beat makes you want to dance the entire 3 minute and 49 second runtime of the song. "Love Me in a Special Way" is lyrically the best song here. So many people try to make advances at others with corny pick up lines, but this song says that it isn't going to be so easy if you want a chance with me. The melody on this song is truly memorable. After one listen, it will probably be instilled in your mind for awhile. "All this Love" is another standout. It's simply a nice love song. El's delivery is great!



Music lovers, add this compilation to your library. DeBarge will have you dancing, laughing, crying, all the while causing much nostalgia! Very impressive.



Mikeisha's Top 5



1. "All this Love"

2. "Rhythm of the Night"

3. "I Like It"

4. "Who's Holding Donna Now?"

5. "The Heart is Not So Smart"

"

Good collection from Gordy's successors to J5

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 12/23/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In the mid-70's the Jackson Five's signing onto Epic Records from Motown led to a breach of contract suit. Berry Gordy found a successor group to the one he lost. Bunny DeBarge and her brothers, Randy, Mark, James, and Eldra (later shortened to El) were signed on in 1979. Nice vocals, wholesome, the formula seemed good. One of the tapes I let go without checking to see if the CD had been issued was DeBarge's Rhythm Of The Night, whose title track was featured in The Last Dragon. The calypso-soul beat, El DeBarge's vocals, and a general festive feeling of "dancing the whole night away underneath the electric stars" really made an impression on me.Fortunately, their greatest hits has most of the better songs from that album, such as the first three songs. The title track was their biggest hit, peaking at #3 in the US, and the festive sounds in the background add to its appeal. Oh, and Diane Warren wrote this song too!The reflective ballad, "Who's Holding Donna Now," features some nice piano-style keyboards was also a Top Ten hit and with the
Rumour: I heard they are going to redo this song and make it about Britney. The new title--"Who's Kissing Madonna Now"? Just kidding.The mid-paced "You Wear It Well" has a sound close to Prince's "Uptown", though the lyrics obviously have nothing to do with the sexual identity explored in that song."Stop! Don't Tease Me" is typical R&B/funk/pop fare, featuring horns and a bass synth, more upbeat than what's to follow. "I Like It" is their first single and features leisure horn arrangements. Randy shares vocal duties with El, and the falsetto vocals in the chorus definitely aren't bad either.Two more of their early hits were the leisurely ballad "All This Love", featuring strings and harmony vocals, and "Time Will Reveal", another ballad in the same mold which showcased El's falsetto vocals."Love Me In A Special Way" is yet another ballad featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica.There's a neat form of symmetry, as the last three tracks are also from Rhythm Of The Night. The schmaltzy slow dance strings ballad, laced with strings "Share My World" has El and Bunny on vocals. Bunny's vocals are nice, but I doubt if she would've made it as a solo singer. Most of the time, she and El sing together. The Giorgio Moroder-penned "Single Heart" from the soundtrack to DC Cab (anyone remember that movie with Mr. T and Irene Cara?) is a loneliness ballad reflecting the feelings of Albert in the movie. Also an El and Bunny duet, which moves into a catchy beat in the choruses.And then, a song whose sage lessons I've painfully learned this year and will now forever heed: "The Heart Is Not So Smart." Diane Warren wrote this, so it's my own fault for not listening. The calypso-like vibes also mark this song. "Everytime your mind wants you to stay away, your heart just looks the other way."It's safe to say that with El DeBarge's solo career in 1985 and Bunny DeBarge's departure in 1987, that the group's importance faded with the loss of those vital two. And Chico DeBarge's solo single "Talk To Me" and his later arrest didn't help much either. Still, it's good they established something with the songs from Rhythm Of The Night."