Day Late and $1 Short: Soundtrack For the Perfect Woman
Soundtrack for the perfect woman…
…for me.
If you catch me on I-85 in the morning during the weekdays, it’s a 99% chance you will see me gripping the steering while singing and doing the Wanya from Boyz II Men neck motion. I’m singing my heart out in the comfort of my own car but I’m also in deep thought. I’m taking a trip down memory lane thinking about those special moments I’ve had with women but also being reminded of what I have YET to experience. See…I have NOT mastered the friendship portion of a relationship but we are not here to discuss that. With that being said, I decided to compose a soundtrack for the perfect woman…for me.
Musiq Soulchild – Someone
Notable Line:
“I always hoped for a woman that’s so sure. Emotionally secure with spiritual faith”
“A woman who bares her soul who is willing to let go. That wants me to lead her but knows how to take control”
This is a VERY underrated track in my humble opinion. An emotionally secure woman is KEY, especially for ME. Just bear with me and let me take the lead on certain things. Let a MAN be a MAN, but also show me that you can step in and take control every once in a while. Love me for my shortcomings, but also realize that those same shortcomings make me the man I am.
James Morrison – You Make It Real For Me
Notable Line :
“Everybody’s talking in words I don’t understand, You’ve got to be the only one who knows just who I am”
UK vocalist James Morrison absolutely blesses this track with his distinctive voice and piercing lyrics. I always stress that the foundation for a successful relationship starts with a good friendship. Not matter what I’m going through, success or failure, I don’t want to walk through it alone. When things are getting tough for me, I should be able to lean on my queen, without hesitation, to make it real for me.
Lyfe Jennings – Must Be Nice
Notable Line:
“Someone as mighty as a lion but still as gentle as a bluebird”
This line stood out to me because it exemplifies that balance that I need in a woman. When I’m considering a partner, I’m looking for a woman with that fierce attitude. That woman that doesn’t hesitate keeping me in check, because Lord knows I need it. On the flip side, I want to see that more sensitive side as well. It’s ok to protect yourself and use that “tough skin” you developed from your past, but you dealing with me now…you can relax.
Ne-Yo – I Ain’t Gotta Tell You
Notable Lines:
“Shorty I don’t wanna waste your time. It ain’t a secret baby girl you fine.
You could have anybody here that you want, that’s right.
Including this fella, cuz you’re a diamond and I dig your shine”
This song plays in my head whenever I’m about to step out with a lady friend, and her appearance leaves me speechless. She looks that damn good. My nonchalant approach has gotten me in trouble by not actually commenting on her attire because I know, that she knows, that she looks good. But fellas, you still have to say it though. She hears it ALL the time BUT she would rather hear it from the person it means the most coming from.
Dwele – I’m Cheatin’
Notable Lines:
“You asked me who I wanted , the nasty one I suppose .
We tussled into the moonlight.
A break from my everyday world I fell asleep with my love affair, and woke up next to my…Girl”
Amazing track. Given the title, Dwele creates this illusion that he cheating on his girlfriend. Each bar is really starting to make him seem like a creep until the end of the 2nd verse. He reveals that he is cheating on his girl….with his girl. What a classy way to dress up the phrase “ A lady in the sheet, but a freak in the sheets”
Dave Hollister – One Woman Man
Notable Lines
“Cuz EVERYTHING is different now. I finally have settled down, and became a one woman man”
Sometimes it’s hard to make that transition from bachelor to being a one woman man. I attack each relationship with this one woman man state of mind. Old AND new flings will test your fidelity, and you have to fight that appetite. This track takes me down memory lane and urges me to REBUKE the desire to step out on my queen.
Joe – Feel For You
Notable Lines:
I feel like Ali when he shook up the world, and like Prince felt when he wrote
“The Most Beautiful Girl”. Your love is like a song I love to sing, and that’s what I feel for you
Another underrated track on an underrated album. Mr. Thomas, like most ego driven men, let’s us know it was hard to admit to feeling like this towards a woman. This is definitely not unfamiliar territory. But this is why I’m hating on Joe, how in the world does he feel like Muhammad Ali? Prince when he wrote “The Most Beautiful Girl? The man (who wears heels) that can unequivocally take your woman? Is this song the blueprint for when the relationship is turning into something? It’s not real unless I feel like the greatest of all time and the heel and blouse God.
John Legend – P.D.A. (We Just Don’t Care)
Notable Line:
If we keep up on this fooling around, we’ll be the talk of the town
I’m only 24, but this track takes me to my fountain of youth. The extreme handholding + swinging. Walking behind her with my hands on her waist as we alternate steps. As an adult, I don’t mind the P.D.A…at all. A little smooching never hurt anybody and I don’t care who is watching. I’d slap your booty in front of your Pops. I just don’t care.
Musiq Soulchild – sobeautiful
Notable Lines:
ENTIRE TRACK.
This track puts me in a zone to absolutely connect to her mind. Learning to appreciate someone purely based off more than just aesthetics even with the title of the song being “sobeautiful”. I absorbed the act of enjoying someone’s personality, wit, independence, her faith etc. Learn to appreciate that and then all the physical attributes will be bonus. Musiq had two tracks on this. I swear he makes perfect wedding picture background music.
Case – Happily Ever After
Notable Line:
I will be your man, your protector, your best friend
Even as a young lad, I started having these thoughts about marriage in college. I had thoughts about settling down and making my next girlfriend my last. I mean…I wasn’t dating these women for practice. This song makes you look forward to making an honest woman out of somebody and really being a man. You ask to different men when they became a man and you will get 10 different answers. The notable line mentioned above, really seals the deal on manhood for me. I will love my queen, protect her and most importantly be her best friend.
It was extremely difficult to condense my list down to 10 tracks, but I felt these tracks were the best fit. Each track tells a story. I see life as a movie, the score for my love life is pretty dope considering I don’t have any Jazmine Sullivan “Bust Your Windows” type tracks to report. This soundtrack definitely helps bring light in certain situations when I don’t have any answers for the XX chromosome species…but then again, who does?
I will continue to live out this soundtrack until every track has been played with life’s experience.
To Buy this article in the print issue of EDGE, click below:
By Edge Magazine in Edge Magazine
40 pages, published 8/1/2012
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