boy band

New Edition’s Most Successful Songs

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New Edition is an R&B group that has emerged in the 80’s and never let go since then. With the original lineup consisting of Michael Bivins, Ricky Bell, Bobby Brown, and Ralph Tresvant, New Edition has a laundry list of songs that make up many classics in the R&B music genre. New Edition has released many hits throughout the years, gathering fans and winning those into the funky nature of Edition’s iconic hooks. They’ve not only inspired masses of music lovers, but have even inspired change throughout the world through their music.

New Edition is a playful, iconic lead for the entire R&B genre, solidly presenting itself as an icon for the music type. There are more than a few reasons to listen to New Edition. Which, s why we’re listing a few of their greatest hits and what you can expect from them. Below we’ve summarized a few of New Edition’s greatest editions of music. Also, we added why you should give them each a few minutes of your time.

Candy Girl

Candy Girl is one of the most popular hit songs hit by New Edition. It was released in 1983 as the lead single from their debut album of the same name. The song is known for its upbeat, playful melody and catchy lyrics. It is a beloved track in the R&B and pop genres. The song begins with a lighthearted synth riff before transitioning into a danceable beat. The lyrics describe the excitement and wonder of discovering a new crush. The protagonist describes the object of their affection as a “candy girl” who is sweet and irresistible. The chorus is especially memorable, with the group harmonizing to sing, “Candy girl, you are my world / You look so sweet, you’re a special treat.”

Cool It Now

Cool It Now is another hit by New Edition. It was released in 1984, gaining popularity thanks to its upbeat rhythm, great melody, and overall memorable lyrics. The song focuses on young love and was constructed by Ray Parker Jr. along with New Edition members Ricky Bell and Ronnie DeVoe.

In addition to its infectious melody and relatable lyrics, “Cool It Now” is also notable for its use of harmonies and vocal arrangements. The song showcases the vocal talents of all five New Edition members. Each take turns singing lead and harmonizing in the chorus. The group’s smooth and soulful vocal style is on full display in this song, adding to its timeless appeal.

Mr. Telephone Man

“Mr. Telephone Man” is a classic hit from New Edition. I was released in 1984 as the second single from their self-titled second album. It was written by Ray Parker Jr. The lead singer, Ralph Tresvant, expresses his desperation to talk to his girlfriend, singing as someone who’s pleading with Mr. Telephone man to bring his girl back to him. The song’s catchy melody and memorable hooks have made it a fan favorite for decades. It continues to be a go-to choice for anyone looking to dance and sing along.

Count Me Out

“Count Me Out” remains a beloved classic in the R&B genre. This is thanks to its infectious rhythm, memorable hooks, and relatable lyrics. The song’s message of self-respect and empowerment continues to resonate with listeners of all ages, making it a timeless favorite. 

The song’s opening line, “I don’t want to be a fool for you,” immediately sets the tone for the rest of the song. The chorus features the memorable refrain, “Count me out, girl, count me out / I’ve had all I can take, you see / So count me out, girl, count me out / It’s better that way for you and me.”

If It Isn’t Love

If It Isn’t Love is a titular song in New Edition’s rise to fame. Released in 1988, songwriters Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis created the soulful track. It describes the uncertainty and thrill of falling in love. One of the most memorable aspects of the song is its music video. It features the members of New Edition performing intricate choreography in a futuristic setting. The video was directed by legendary filmmaker Spike Lee and is considered to be one of his most iconic works. It features the band members dressed in black and white suits, performing synchronized dance moves in front of a screen that shows images of space and technology.

Hit Me Off

Hit Me Off was a unique blip in the timeline for New Edition, released in 1996 and taking an entirely new style under its wings. As opposed to the catchy titles that had led with hooks and singable lyrics, Hit Me Off took upon itself an entirely different style, characterized by a more aggressive tone and funky beat. Not only does it have a funky bassline, but Hit Me Off also features harsh, distorted guitar riffs, something simply not present in the tracks before. 

A Little Bit Of Love (Is All It Takes)

A Little Bit Of Love (Is All It Takes) is a song release that helped recenter New Edition into the 90’s. While not perfectly within the 90’s, the 1986 release came as a breath of fresh air for New Edition’s tone. It scored top three on the US R&B chart. It goes back to the upbeat, catchy way most New Edition songs are, abandoning the aforementioned harshness. In exchange, it brings in more bright and positive lyrics it features about new love.

Popcorn Love

“Popcorn Love” is a popular song by the American R&B group New Edition, released in 1983. The song features a catchy, upbeat melody and playful lyrics. They describe the highs and lows of young love. The opening lines of the song set the tone for its joyful, carefree energy: “Popcorn love, you complete my mind / Tell me what to do, I’ll follow you.” The song’s playful lyrics continue throughout, with lines like “I’m so in love with you, girl, it feels like I’m on fire / And every time I see your face, it takes me higher and higher.”

Is This The End

Is This The End is a slower, more somber song released in 1984. Taking a stance as a more soulful, less energetic song, the energy from Is This The End stems from its creative lyrics rather than its tune or beat. The song reflects the strong emotions after a breakup. The song is slow and steady, with gentle guitar and piano accompaniments. This gives the song a melancholic kind of life. 

Lost in Love

Released in 1986, Lost in Love was a smooth romance song by New Edition. The lyrics of “Lost in Love” speak to the intense feelings that come with falling in love. The lyrics also touch on the vulnerability and fear that come with opening up to someone and putting your heart on the line.

Mindless Behavior: A Complete Timeline

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Mindless Behavior is a young boy band group who made decent waves within the music industry back in the early 2000’s. Now in 2023, where are they, and are they making more music? When the group first began, they were hardly out of their teenage years. Below we’ll take a look at the Mindless behavior timeline to see the extension of their talent with hip hop, pop, and R&B. 

The band Mindless Behavior includes four members, most of which change around the mid-2000’s. Because of many shifts within the band’s schedules and expectations, many members either dropped off of the project or were fired well into 2011. However, the initial performance of the first members of the band make Mindless Behavior what it is today in retrospect, as each member contributed heavily to the development of hits like My Girl and All Around The World.

Raquan Tanyae Smith

Raquan Tanyae Smith, also known as Ray Ray in the band, is the second oldest member of Mindless Behavior. Hailing from Los Angeles just like some of the other members of the group, Ray Ray is the same age, being born in 1997. Ray Ray contributed heavily to Mindless Behavior’s success, acting as a lead in the band under many circumstances. He was not only a backing vocalist for Mindless Behavior in the timeline, but also acted as a sub-rapper and lead rapper. Despite only holding that lead rapper title for a little while, Ray Ray still made iconic movements within his own group, helping bring Mindless Behavior to the reown it witnessed during the 2000’s.

Ray Ray not only influenced the group with his skills on the mic, but his talent on the stage as well. He understood dance basics before joining the group, partnering with dancer Tommy the Clown. His lessons helped evolve his style, eventually budding into the energetic hype that the entire group generates on stage.

Craig Crippen Jr.

Craig Crippen Jr. was the elder member of Mindless Behavior in the timeline. Also called Prodigy, Craig was born in 1996, hailing from the East Coast. As opposed to the other members, Craig came from the east side of the USA, and as a result had a much different outlook on the band as a whole. While he is the eldest member of the band, he was the last member to be brought in, bringing the band to its beginning stage in the early 2000’s. Prodigy was discovered on YouTube that he ran while in Philidelphia. The nickname he uses flor the band, Prodigy, stems not from himself, but the other band members. He gets this nickname from his ability to take on new talents for the band, including music styles, singing roles, and dance moves.

Chresanto August

Roc Royal, real named Cresanto August, is the youngest member of Mindless Behavior, born on July 23, 1997. While he is the youngest, his specialty lies in his vocal addition that he brings to the band. Roc Royal serves as a backing vocalist and main rapper in Mindless Behavior. His well honed rapping skills definitely made an image within the band. Roc Royal was a dedicated member, beginning his rapping career at an early age of eight years old. On stage, he was an energetic and impression-giving member, always bringing hype to the audiences, whether it be through a music video or live performance. 

Jacob Perez

Jacob Perez, or as his name within Mindless Behavior goes, Princeton, was born in Los Angeles in 1997. He stems from a Latino and African American heritage, getting an early start in life before a screen by being in commercials for products such as Nike and McDonalds. Before he was even five, he was on the screen.

His nickname Princeton comes from his almost obsessive love for both music theory and history.  Even in his earliest days of performance, Princeton was a part of music videos for popular brands. His professionalism in the field as well as his great fan-knowledge of music made him a great member of the group, which helped Mindless Behavior become a hit during their hottest track releases.

There are many tracks that made Mindless Behavior a notable group in the 2000’s. Tracks like My Girl and All Around The World made for great waves in the public eye and ear, bringing Mindless Behavior up to a very mindful audience degree. Despite having a relatively short arc in success and noteriety during the 2000’s, none can deny Mindless Behavior’s influence during their highest time.

My Girl

My Girl was the beginning of the best time in the Mindless Behavior timeline. For the entire group, My Girl meant a stellar music video as well as multiple live performances where the group was given the chance to show of their skills. It hit record heights, coming through with over 30,000 copies sold during just the first week of release. Thanks fot the work by Interscope Records, it hit number 7 on the U.S. charts relatively shortly after release.

All Around The World

Their second hit album, All Around The World, made for a second big wave in Mindless Behavior’s work. While it was the only peak since 2011, the impact it made in 2013 made for a great hit on the United States album charts. During peak release time, the second album hit number six on the charts. This was more or less the end of Mindless Behavior’s popularity, because the third album saw significantly less public acclaim. The Third album #OfficialMBMusic, arrived in 2016, but came with little fanfare.

Partnership with Diggy Simmons

In 2011, during the height of the band’s time, Mindless Behavior had the opportunity to partner up with Diggy Simmons to create the song Mrs. Right. The song features rapping talents from Simmons, as well as lyrical support for writing in addition to Dee1 and Rickey Deleon. At the time, all the members were anywhere from 13 to 15 while the song was being made, making it an iconic piece. While Mrs. Right didn’t stand out as much as the first breakout release, it still made big waves and is known as a siginificant notch in the timeline for Mindless Behavior.

Later Band Changes

As the lead vocalist for Mindless Behavior, one of the first changing aspects in the timeline was Prodigy’s decision to leave. While he did later rejoin in 2015, ties between the band members were strained. There’s some speculation that internal strife and bullying were the cause of the band’s sudden upheaval despite great success.

Other changes included Roc Royal’s position in the band. He was fired in 2014 for supposedly stealing a producer’s car. Accusations that confirmed his seperation from the band include starting fights and jail time. In 2018, he began serving time in prison, right after he became the first member of the band to become a father. Despite setbacks, he has since released solo tracks under a new name, Santo August.

Despite some good success, the band is no longer together. After Prodigy’s leaving in 2013, the group was a trio in peformance until another member, EJ, was brought on for his role as a vocalist. While Prodigy did come back to the band very briefly in 2015, it wasn’t enough to make an impact on the band’s future. The end of Mindless Behavior’s timeline came in 2017, when they officially disbanded.