Top 10 EL Debarge Songs

Top 10 El Debarge Songs

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Our Top 10 El DeBarge Songs list takes a look at one of r&b music’s popular singers from the 80s. He rose to fame as a member of the musical group DeBarge. Some of their hits include “Rhythm of the Night,” “All This Love,” “Time Will Reveal”, as well as others. He’s best known for his high tenor vocals. He can sing in falsetto. He also has a solo career. His hits include “Who’s Johnny,” “Love Always,” “Lay With You,” “After the Dance” and “Secret Garden.”

Eldra Patrick DeBarge was born June 4, 1961. As a child, he sang in the church choir. He wanted to become a singer when he was 14. He dropped out of school to sing with his brothers in clubs. He was born into a musical family. Two of his brothers formed the group Switch. DeBarge sang background vocals for the group. He wrote the musical arrangement for Switch’s songs. DeBarge and his siblings formed the group DeBarge. They were patterned after the Jackson 5 when they were signed to Motown Records. The group went on to record four albums together before he went solo.

DeBarge released his eponymous album in 1986. The album peaked at number 8 on the r&b charts and number 24 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Who Johnny,” “Love Always” “Someone” and “Lost Without Her.” The album sold over 500,000 copies.

Gemini came out in 1989. The album peaked at number 35 on the r&b charts. It features the singles “Real Love,” “Somebody Loves You,” “Broken Dreams” and “After You.”

In the Storm was released in 1992. The album peaked number 22 on the Top UK albums charts. It features the singles “After the Dance,” “My Heart Belongs to You,” “You Know What I Like” and In the Storm.”

Heart, Mind, and Soul was released in 1994. It peaked at number 24 on the r&b charts and 127 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Can’t Get Enough,” “Where Is My Love,” “Where You Are” and “You Are My Dream.” DeBarge took a break from singing because he was battling personal demons. He had a history of drug abuse and legal troubles. He was hooked on the drugs because he was addicted to painkillers. His drug abuse could have affected his career. He was arrested several times. He went to prison for 13 months.

He finally released his new album Second Chance in 2010. It peaked at number 13 on the r&b charts and number 57 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Second Chance,” “Joyful,” “How Can You Love Me” and “Heaven.”

El DeBarge is a talented singer and songwriter. He had hits with DeBarge as well as on his own. It’s not always easy to leave a successful group to branch out and have a successful career, but DeBarge proved you could it. He had to compete with the likes of Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Freddy Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie as well as other male singers. Our Top 10 El DeBarge Songs list will feature his best songs.

# 10 – You Know What I Like ft. Chante Moore

The first song on our Top 10 El DeBarge Songs list is “You Know What I Like” from the In The Storm album. The song has an r&b beat. The sexy song is about knowing what their partners want. It’s about having foreplay with the one you love. The lyrics are romantic and sentimental. They will get you in a romantic mood. Men could use these lyrics to get their women to do what they want. Woman could use this trick as well. The music is sensual and exotic. The music is mixed with a jazz beat. He included a sexy bass and saxophone. The drumbeat gives the song the tempo which allows you to move around.

The piano is breathtaking. The music is perfect for the bedroom and quiet storm radio. The chorus is infectious and easy to remember. He repeats the same lines so it will stay in your head. This is the song that introduced r&b fans to Chante Moore. It’s easy to forget this is her first single. She sounds like she was in the business for years. Her soprano vocals are perfect with DeBarge’s tenor sound. She sounds like a cross between Diana Ross and Minnie Riperton. She can hold the operatic note, but she decided not to include it on this track. Let’s get to DeBarge’s vocals. He sounds fantastic. He is pitch perfect even when he sings in falsetto. His voice never cracks. Their voices blend well together. They have vocal chemistry together.

# 9 -Lay With You ft. Faith Evans

The next song on our Top 10 El DeBarge Songs list is “Lay With You” from the Second Chance album. The song has an r&b beat. The sensual song is about them making love with each other. The song is one of DeBarge’s comeback singles. He was gone from the music scene for a while because he was battling demons. He came back stronger than ever with this monster jam. This jam is guaranteed to get the party started. The melody is similar to his single “Can’t Get Enough.”

The song has a cool vibe. The music is contagious and bouncy. The musicians do an excellent job with the instrumentation. The subject of lovemaking has been covered several times over the years, but he managed to make it sound fresh. They make you wish you were the one they were singing about in the song. Speaking of singing, it’s time to talk about the vocals. There aren’t too many people who can sing with someone like DeBarge because his vocals are a class act.

Faith Evans proved she was up for the challenge. She’s not the type of singer DeBarge would collaborate with so it could have been a disaster. Luckily it wasn’t one at all. Their voices are great together. His tenor vocals with her soprano vocals were the right choice with the music. DeBarge deserves a standing ovation for being able to hold notes in falsetto. There are other artists who have lost their voices due to drug use, but he’s still blessed with his beautiful instrument.

# 8 – After the Dance FourPlay ft El DeBarge

The mellow song is from the In the Storm album. It has a soul and jazz sound to it. The lush song is about someone wanting to be with a woman after dancing with her a couple of times. It’s basically love at first sight. This is a cover of Marvin Gaye’s track. This song sounds similar to the original version of it. Gaye’s version has more of a funk sound, but the rest is similar.

It keeps the song from being Karaoke. The music is perfect for quiet storm and jazz radio. The intoxicating music will put you in a sexy mood. The music is great for slow dancing. El DeBarge tore the roof off the place with his voice. He is definitely a showstopping performing. Marvin Gaye is DeBarge’s musical inspiration. DeBarge’s is paying tribute to Gaye by singing it similar to him. He sings the song in his normal voice and in falsetto.

He would have made Marvin Gaye proud if he were alive to hear his stupendous vocals. DeBarge is definitely one of the best male vocalists in the business. Here is some trivia for you. Patty LaBelle is singing in the background of this song. She would go on to cover DeBarge’s “All This Love.” She does a great job providing support for DeBarge.

# 7 – Second Chance

The testimonial song is from the album of the same name. The song has an r&b sound to it. The autobiographical song is self-explanatory. He wants a second a chance in life. He talks about where he is musically. He’s determined not to change who he is. The song could be cathartic to anyone who wants to have a second chance in life. The track is an inspiration for people. Considering the personal issues El DeBarge went through, this is the perfect choice for him to write. This is his comeback song from his hiatus. He wanted the world to know he was back on the music scene.

This is proof he was needed back on the music scene. The music is moving and infectious. The music is mesmerizing to match the beautiful lyrics. DeBarge is such a skilled songwriter. The lyrics will make you think about the choices you’ve made in life. They are also an inside look on what he was going through while battling his demons. It’s easy to see this song means so much to him. He sings the song with a lot of heart and soul. It’s great to see that the drug addiction didn’t affect his angelic vocals. DeBarge was determined to take the listeners to church with his vocals. He soars to heights unknown with his incredible instrument. He sounds like his brother Bobby DeBarge. He holds a note that’s reminiscent of his glory days with the DeBarge as well as when he released his earlier solo work.

# 6 – Somebody Loves You

The comforting song is from the Gemini album. It has an r&b and soul beat to it. The therapeutic song is about people who don’t feel loved and appreciated. He wants you to know that you are loved and appreciated. You will find someone if you are patient. The lyrics are outstanding and will make you feel better about your situation. They will inspire you to believe someone is out there for you. The warm lyrics are relevant to this day. There are people who feel as if they aren’t loved so this song will tell you that someone does care about you.

The music is upbeat and energetic. There is a saxophone solo that’s not to be missed. The drumbeat will catch you off guard in a good way because it’s mind blowing. It drives the music. The musical pause is a little long, but it gives you a chance to embrace the music. DeBarge’s voice is incredible. He sings in his normal tenor voice in the beginning and uses his falsetto at the end. He does runs and holds notes in the song without missing a beat. DeBarge is truly at the top of game. He sounds right at home on this track. The song is underrated and it should have been a bigger hit.

# 5 – Can’t Get Enough

The next song on our Top 10 El DeBarge Songs list is “Can’t Get Enough” from the Heart, Mind and Soul album. The track has an r&b and soul sound. The stirring song is about him not being to get enough of his woman. This is the first song on our list where he teamed up with Babyface. El DeBarge and Babyface would go on to collaborate on quite a few tracks together. Babyface helped DeBarge create a different sound for the Heart, Mind and Soul album.

The dynamic duo created a masterpiece with this song. It has the Babyface stamp written all over it along the DeBarge stamp. The melody of the track is similar to Tevin Campbell’s “I’m Ready” and DeBarge’s “All This Love.” The combination was a match made in Heaven. The music has Babyface written all over it. Babyface likes to create songs that are keyboard and drum friendly. He didn’t miss a beat with the music. There is enough tempo to bop your head. This is classic smooth r&b and will please fans of r&b music. The kings are sitting on their thrones with this track. DeBarge’s vocals are off the charts.

His smooth tone is sexy and sensual. His vocals will drive women crazy. He reaches for stars as his utilizes his signature falsetto vocals. He holds incredible notes after the bridge and through the fade out. This song definitely deserves to be on repeat because you will want to hear it over again. Listen out for the shout out to his former group. He does an ad lib from a DeBarge classic song “I Like It.”

# 4 – The Secret Garden Quincy Jones Ft. El DeBarge, James Ingram, Al B. Sure!, and Barry White

The quiet storm jam is from the Back On the Block album. It has an r&b and adult contemporary beat. The metaphoric song is a love song about four men trying to court a woman. They talk to the woman about the different ways they plan to court her. This song is perfect for seduction. Here is some trivia about the song. Quincy Jones wanted Stevie Wonder to be a part of the track.

He couldn’t make it so James Ingram stepped in and sang the part meant for Wonder. Wonder being on the track might have been a great thing, but Ingram did a phenomenal job with his part. All of the men do a tremendous job on the track. Al B.Sure! kicks the song off. He sings in his tenor vocals and sounds very good. Ingram has a pleasant baritone voice.

He sounds smooth as silk. DeBarge has the third verse and sounds brilliant. He would practically have women ready to get in the bedroom. Barry White sings the final verse before the ad libs. White’s deep voice sounds sexy and sensual. He’s one of the bedroom kings with his sexy songs. These gentlemen did an incredible job on this sexy slow jam.

# 3 – Who’s Johnny

The chart-topper is from his eponymous album. The song has a dance and pop beat. The upbeat track is about the movie Short Circuit. The song is a departure from his romantic songs. It does seem like it’s a song about a man questioning whether his girlfriend is seeing another man. She seems to be denying the fact that she has a boyfriend. You don’t have to see the movie to get the lyrics of the track.

If you overlook the plot of the movie and focus on the lyrics, it’s not bad at all. It’s a quirky song that’s outside of DeBarge’s wheelhouse, but he made it work. The song has a classic 80s sound to it. The music is dated, but it could still be appreciated. The synthesizer is smoking hot. The drumbeat is thumping. There is a saxophone solo that puts the music over the top. The music will get you on the dance floor. El DeBarge’s vocals are the true star of the song.

He sounds fantastic. He proves that he could sing the alphabet and make it sound good. He brought soul to the pop song. He was concerned about singing this track and how it would affect the sales of his solo album. He didn’t need to worry because his vocals are flawless. He held little notes at the end of the track. The quirky song is his only number one single as a solo artist.

# 2 – Someone

The underrated song is from his eponymous album. The song has an r&b sound. The romantic song is about imagining running into someone you would love for the rest of your life. It’s basically a fairy tale about a romance that could come true. The lyrics are moving. It’s the perfect song to listen to when you are in a romantic mood. It could be a good wedding song. The music is melodic and sensual. It’s perfect for quiet storm radio. The keyboard drives the music.

The musical arrangement is beautiful. It combines r&b and jazz music together nicely. It’s time to talk about DeBarge’s impressive vocals. There isn’t enough space to describe just how incredible he sounds on this track. He sings the song in different pitches. He starts the song in falsetto. He sings it so high that you may not recognize his voice at first. He comes down to his normal tenor by the second verse. He sounds angelic in both pitches. His timing is excellent. He sings in time with all of the beat changes.

His vocals are stacked towards the end as if he used a double. He sounds smooth and elegant. His voice is so intoxicating that you can hear it over and over again. DeBarge is doing the lead and background vocals and that’s all the song needs to work. This song is flawless. He couldn’t arrange this song any better if he tried. This underrated song should have performed better than it did on the charts.

# 1- Where Is My Love ft. Babyface

The number one song on our Top 10 El DeBarge Songs list is “Where Is My Love” from the Heart, Mind & Soul album. The song has an r&b sound. The longing song is about them telling a story about wanting to please women that they don’t have. They give details about what they would do for the women they love. This is the second track that Babyface penned for DeBarge on our list. This is a duet featuring the dynamic duo. The song has the Babyface stamp on it.

It has the sexy beat that has Babyface staple on it. It features the keyboard and drums. He also snapped his fingers in time with the beat. The melody is a slowed down version of Babyface’s “Whip Appeal.” If you listen closely, you can hear the similarities between the tracks. Babyface opens the song with his verse. He sounds as smooth as silk with his voice. There’s nothing the man can’t sing. He truly has a gift from God. El DeBarge comes in after the first chorus and blows us away. He sings in a higher key than he usually does. He shows his versatility on this sweet bedroom jam. Babyface and DeBarge are a vocal match made in Heaven.

They are the perfect tag team and should definitely create more music together. They both hold notes at the end of the song that are worth checking out. They both win the vocal battle because they both do an amazing job. This song is perfect from the beginning to the jaw-dropping end. The song practically begs you to keep listening to it over and over again. This track deserves the number one spot on our list.

Top 10 El Debarge Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2021 

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