Top 10 Cherrelle Songs

Top 10 Cherrelle Songs

Feature Photo: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Our Top 10 Cherrelle Songs list looks at a legendary r&b singer from the 80s and 90s. If you are a fan of classic r&b music, you are familiar with her solo work as well as her legendary duets with r&b singer Alexander O’Neal. Her hits include “Everything I Miss at Home,” “I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On,” “Affair,” “Saturday Love,” “Never Knew Love Like This” as well as others. Cherrelle has a soprano voice. She arrived on the scene when Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Stacy Lattisaw, Deniece Williams, Natalie Cole, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Jody Watley, Melba Moore, Stephanie Mills, Meli’sa Morgan, Angela Winbush, Patrice Rushen, Sheila E, Chaka Khan, Tracie Spencer, Phyllis Hyman as well as others were at the heights of their fame. She proved the music industry had room for her too.

Cheryl Anne Norton was born on October 13, 1958. She began her career working with Norman Connors and Michael Henderson. She got her chance to shine as a vocalist on Michael Henderson’s album In the Night-Time. She toured with Luther Vandross. She recorded a demo that got into the hands of Clarence Avant who was the owner of Tabu Records. One thing led to another and she was given a record deal.

Fragile came out in 1984. The album peaked at number 27 on the r&b charts and number 144 on the Billboard 200 charts. The album features the singles “I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On” and “Fragile…Handle with Care.” High Priority came out in 1985. The album peaked at number nine on the r&b charts and number 36 on the Billboard 200 charts. The album features the singles “You Look Good to Me,” “Saturday Love,” “Artificial Heart,” “Will You Satisfy?” and “Where Do I Run To.”

Affair was released in 1988. The album peaked at number 15 on the r&b charts and number 106 on the Billboard 200 charts. The album features the singles “Everything I Miss at Home,” “Affair” and “What More Can I Do For You.” The Woman I Am came out in 1991. The album peaked at number 43 on the r&b charts. The album features the singles “Never in My Life,” “Tears of Joy” and “Still in Love with You.” The Right Time was released in 1999. The album peaked at number 55 on the r&b charts. It features the singles “Baby, Come to Me,” “The Right Time” and “Just Tell Me.”

Cherrelle is a very talented singer. She has a beautiful voice that can soar to the sky and down again. She has memorable hits as a solo artist as well as with Alexander O’Neal. She is an underrated singer who didn’t get the recognition she deserves because she competed with a lot of female singers who were in their prime during the time she was on the music scene. Our list gives us a chance to give this talented singer the credit she deserves. Our Top 10 Cherrelle Songs list will feature her best songs.

# 10 – Artificial Heart

The first song on our Top 10 Cherrelle Songs list is “Artificial Heart” from the album High Priority. The song has an r&b beat. The bitter song is about a woman who wants a man to love her. She was hit with a reality check when she realized that her man didn’t love her. She feels like he has an “artificial heart” because he’s coldhearted towards her. She wants a man who has a pure heart to please her. She believes that he has a cold heart and can’t love anyone. She wants better than that. You must give the woman credit for not wanting to stay with someone who didn’t treat her right.

She doesn’t want to stay in a relationship that’s not going anywhere. She has the sense to walk away. A lot of people don’t have the courage to walk away from bad relationships. She can’t give him love if he won’t give her love. Everyone has a breaking point. She reached her point of no return. She compares his heart to an artificial one. It’s a deep way of saying he has a fake heart. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis did a phenomenal job on the production of the track. The song could have been a novelty song, but their production keeps that from happening. The beat sounds similar to Janet Jackson’s songs on her Control album. This sounds like a missing track from the Control album. Cherrelle does an excellent job on this song. Her soulful lyrics keep this song from being a novelty song. She takes us on a ride, and we never want it to end.

# 9 – Never in My Life

The next song on our Top 10 Cherrelle Songs list is “Never in My Life” from the album The Woman I Am. The song has an r&b beat. The moving song is about a woman who believed her relationship was perfect until reality hit her. She felt like she was lonely even though she was with the man she thought she loved. She never had the chance to think for herself. She spent so much time pleasing other people that she forgot about herself. She goes into detail about what she missed out on in life. If you were stuck in a relationship and lost yourself, you will understand this song.

The song is cerebral. You will have to infer what she’s talking about in the song. She doesn’t come out and say she’s miserable. She infers that her life is empty even though she’s with someone. The track is up to the listeners to interpret. Cherrelle worked with the talented Narada Michael Walden for this jam. He was just what the doctor ordered. He co-wrote a brilliant song for Cherrelle to sing. This is the type of banger that she could sink her teeth into and make it sound fantastic. Her vocals are gorgeous on this song. She proves that she’s one of the underrated power divas. From the moment the song starts, she’s belting in it. Narada Michael Walden brings out the best in Cherrelle. This isn’t one of her signature songs, but she nails it.

# 8 – Baby, Come to Me ft. Alexander O’Neal

The seductive song is from the album The Right Time. The song has an r&b sound. The sultry song is about a couple who want to be together. Their lives are better now that they are together. They have a special magic between them that won’t die. They express how much they want to be with each other. They believe their love was meant to be. They want to be together forever. This is the track you will want to play to celebrate being with your lover. If you want to have a special night with your lover, you should play this track. If the lyrics sound familiar to you, there’s a reason for that.

This is a cover of “Baby, Come to Me” by Patti Austin and James Ingram. They made this song an r&b staple. This is a classic r&b jam. Cherrelle and Alexander O’Neal took a chance covering a popular song like this one. They do a good job with this song. They didn’t stick with the original melody of the track. They should have used the original melody, but this was a way to make it their own. The melody speeds up at different points in the song. The original kept the same tempo, but they did something different with this version.

The music sounds updated from the 80s version of the song. Cherrelle and Alexander O’Neal reunited for this track. They have hit songs together so it was a safe bet they were going to try again. They did a good job together. Alexander O’Neal almost captures the essence James Ingram had in the song, but he falls a little short. Cherrelle had a challenge on her hands. She didn’t quite sing it the way Patti Austin did, but she does get an A for effort.

# 7 – Tears of Joy

The sweet song is from the album The Woman I Am. The song has an r&b beat. The emotional song is about a woman being upset when her man leaves her. She’s on an emotional rollercoaster until she gets a surprise. He ends up coming back into her life. She wants him to promise her that he would never leave again. She’s crying “tears of joy” because he’s back in her life. She’s happier than she’s ever been now that he’s in her life. She is excited to have a new life with her man. This song isn’t to be confused with Karyn White’s song “Tears of Joy.”

The music is hypnotizing. You can get lost just listening to the musicians play. The music is just as good as the vocals. They are geniuses when it comes to playing. They make the song come alive. The song mixes r&b with jazz music. The saxophone solo makes the song sound sexy. Cherrelle’s vocals are outstanding. She sings the song softly when she opens it. She makes you feel her pain as she talks about her man leaving her. She brightens up when she talks about him coming back to her life. She belts once she talks about her man coming back in her life. Cherrelle does incredible runs in the song. She holds notes after the bridge. She wants us to hear it in her voice that she’s happy to have her man back in her life. She doesn’t hold back, and we couldn’t be happier about it. If you weren’t a fan of Cherrelle’s before, then you will change your mind after hearing her sing this song.

# 6 – Where Do I Run To ft. Randy Ran

The unrequited song is from the album High Priority. The song has an r&b sound. The heartbreaking song is about a couple who break up. They miss each other badly and want to get back together. They’re lonely without the other. They thought their love was meant to be so they want to reunite. They want to know where they can run to and where they can hide. If you still have feelings for someone you broke up with, you will understand what they are saying in the song. You might find yourself feeling the same way they do in the song.

The song has a gospel inspired beat. The music sounds different from the other songs she released. The song has an old school sound as if she’s doing a throwback to the 60s. The song has a doo wop sound. The music fits with the theme of the song. The music will grab your attention and touch your soul as soon it starts. If you weren’t a fan of Cherrelle’s before this track, your mind has to change about that. Her vocals are flawless on this song. She belts throughout the song and utilizes her powerful vocals.

Randy Ran is singing the duet with her. He was able to hold his own against her. He has a powerful voice too. They hold impressive notes throughout the song. They hold notes that other singers probably wouldn’t attempt to try. She holds one note in a very high key, and it could have ended badly. She hit a home run with the note because it sounded wonderful. Their vocals are exquisite. You will not be disappointed by their vocals. If you love listening to power ballads, you will love this track.

# 5 – Affair

The next song on our Top 10 Cherrelle Songs list is “Affair” from the album of the same name. The song has an r&b beat. The energetic song is about a woman who has an affair. She’s taking control of the affair. She doesn’t need a man to tell her how she’s going to feel in the relationship. She wants to be the aggressor in the relationship. She doesn’t want a commitment from him. She wants to enjoy her affair by her rules. Women don’t sing songs like this very often. Women usually want men to make commitments to them. “Affair” tells us that it’s okay not to have a man commit to you. She wants to take charge and show her independence.

The song has the Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis stamp on it. The song will remind you of the many hits they have written in the past. It will be fun to think about the songs that it sounds like. The song will definitely give you Janet Jackson vibes. It sounds like a track that could have been on the Rhythm Nation 1814 album. Cherrelle sounds a little like Janet Jackson at points in the song. She sounds like her when she sings the chorus. Cherrelle harmonizes in the song the same way Janet Jackson does in her songs. If you were wondering if Cherrelle was going to hold a note in the song, you don’t have to worry. She holds notes after she does the bridge.

# 4 – I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On

The infectious song is from the album Fragile. The song has an r&b beat. The bouncy song is about a woman who goes out with a guy who tries to take things too far. He expects the night to end differently. He expects to spend the night with her. She lets him know that he read her wrong. Her intentions weren’t to lead him on, but he got the wrong idea. She wants to be friends with him. She didn’t plan on turning him on. She calls him out for expecting a one-night-stand with her. The singer informs the guy that she was trying to be nice to him.

This is a song people should listen to because it can give you the strength to tell someone you don’t want to be with them. This is an anthem for people who don’t want to put out on the first date. This is one of the first tracks Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis wrote for Cherrelle. The music is similar to Prince’s “1999.” There’s no way to sit still while this song is playing. This jam will get the party started. The musicians did an incredible job on the instrumentation. The lyrics are the prehistoric version of Janet Jackson’s song “Let’s Wait a While.” The songs have a similar theme to them. Cherrelle sounds like she was in the business for a long time. You can easily forget this is her debut single. The song was given new life when Robert Palmer and Mariah Carey remade it. Their versions are good, but there’s nothing like hearing Cherrelle’s version.

# 3 – Saturday Love ft. Alexander O’Neal

The romantic song is from the album High Priority. The song has an r&b beat. The heartfelt song is about a couple who are in love with each other. They reminisce about their relationship. They think about the good times they had together. They declared they would love each other for life. The narrators talk about how they met on Saturdays and how their love would never end. They give listeners insight about how they got together on weekend. You will always remember the days of the week if you listen to this track. If you have trouble remembering the days of the week, this song will help you out because they recite the days of the week in this song.

If you go by the title, you will think this was a love song. If you pay attention to the lyrics, you will see that it’s not a love song. The song is about a love that has been lost. They refer to each other as their “Saturday love.” Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis wrote a creative song about a relationship that is done. The duo always knows how to write a song to cover every emotion whether it’s love or heartache. Let’s talk about the other duo of the track. Cherrelle and Alexander O’Neal were like the 80s version of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. They have explosive chemistry with each other. You could forget that they aren’t a couple in real life. They sing the song as if they are singing to each other. Their voices complement each other very well. They give each other room to shine without stepping on each other’s toes.

# 2 – Never Knew Love Like This Alexander O’Neal ft. Cherrelle

The devoted song is from Alexander O’Neal’s album Hearsay. The song has an r&b beat. The affectionate song is about a couple who are in love with each other. They didn’t expect to fall in love the way they did. They profess their love for each other. They tell each other that nothing will come between them. The narrators think about each other all of the time. Nothing is going to keep them from each other. They loved other people, but no one compares to the love they have for each other. The track is a celebration of love between a couple.

When you hear the first couple of notes you know this is a Jam & Lewis production. They write songs that have stabbing synthesizers and keyboards. Their stamp on songs is recognized instantly if you are a fan of their work. The saxophone solo is out of this world. It gives the song a sultry sound. The drums give the song the tempo it needs to get you moving. Alexander O’Neal and Cherrelle sound terrific together. They sing in time with the music and can keep up with the changes in the music. Alexander O’Neal’s baritone voice is amazing. His tone compliments her soprano vocals beautifully. They try to take you to church on this song. The song allows both singers a chance to shine. The back and forth they do at the end of the song is a showstopper. You may find yourself singing along with them because it will be too hard not to sing with them.

# 1 – Everything I Miss at Home

The number one song on our Top 10 Cherrelle Songs list is “Everything I Mess at Home” from the album Affair. The song has an r&b beat. The adoring song is about a woman in love. She talks about a man who gives her attention. He understands how she feels. She tells a story about a woman who is unhappy at home and meets a man who is able to please her. He gave her the things she missed at home. She tells him that he’s sensitive and gives her what she needs. If you listen to the lyrics, it sounds like she’s talking about an affair.

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were able to make an affair sound seductive. The woman in the song is cheating, but it sounds like a seductive evening because she’s talking about him holding her. They wrote this in a way that makes you not hate the woman in the song. There are other songs about infidelity in music, but this one makes you feel sorry for her. We tip our hats to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for writing a song like this.

The music is seductive and sounds like the perfect bedroom jam. The jam has Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis’ familiar sound on it. The melody is similar to Janet Jackson’s “Let’s Wait a While.” Cherrelle sounds sultry on this track. She sings every note tenderly. She shows excellent control of her voice in the song. She knows when to hold back and when to bring out the vocal beast. Alexander O’Neal is along for the ride. He sings in the background of the track. He does have a moment when he sings lead after the bridge. The song really comes alive once she starts belting the vocals. This song will stay in your head after it’s done.

Top 10 Cherrelle Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2022

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