1996 was the year that really hooked me into music. As evidenced by the sub category I have in this blog section that is devoted to the year. Waking up in the mornings and tuning into MTV and BET was a daily ordeal (except for Sundays when they showed nothing) and one video that strikes nostalgia for me is the overlooked "Like I Do" from R&B group For Real.
BET gave the video a decent amount of airplay in the morning hours but not much on any of their other shows. The video starts with a guy watching an American Bandstand styled TV show (on a retro TV in present day 1996...got that?) where For Real is introduced by the host of said show. The video is in black and white to give it the retro feel of the time and the song fits the vibe perfectly. "Like I Do," is very Motown-ish and sounds like something that would have come from the Daptone Records label a few years later. If you like that 60s sound from Amy Winehouse, Mayer Hawthorne, or any of the Daptone affiliated tracks that share the mood, then this song is one to check out. For years it's been a staple in my playlists and looking back I wish it had gained more popularity back then and even now.
For Real also had a stellar track on the Waiting To Exhale soundtrack released the last weeks of 95 and going strong into 1996. The album from For Real is also filled with tracks showcasing strong vocals from a group that got lost in the shuffle.
"Like I Do" was also produced by Dallas Austin and seems ahead of its time. Yes, it sounds like a 60s song but maybe better to describe it as ahead of an era that would return in musical arrangement down the line. I wonder how they approached this and chose it as the lead single to their album as well. It seemed tailor made for the radio but the radio wasn't ready to embrace it just yet, as it was filled with an assortment of sounds across the board. One of the reasons I love digging into 1996 even further than what I had previously known is that a new variety of sounds were about to emerge. Prodigy was about to break thru with "Breathe" and "Firestarter", Daft Punk was giving us "Around the World," 2pac's death was ending a hip hop era while Jay Z was about to begin a new era of Hip Hop, soundtracks like Romeo and Juliet held onto the sounds of groups like Garbage that would stay around for a few years, house, techno and dance were enjoying their club and radio domination, and so on. "Like I Do," seemed out of place yet it could have started another road in music. When it comes to 1996 there are many examples of tracks that I could throw out on the daily. For now, bringing out a gem or two at a slower pace helps shine light on some of the underappreciated and undiscovered variety for you all to enjoy. Give it a listen and enjoy the sounds of For Real.
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