I will start this entry with the preface that Color Me Badd has some nice tracks. Yes, "I Wanna Sex You Up," is the stand out hit and they had a few more notable tracks, but when you dig a little deeper they had numerous tracks that probably deserved (and still deserve) more attention. Like did you know they had a cover of "The Bells" from R&B group The Originals?
However, today we're here to talk about the confusing music video for the 1991 hit "I Adore Mi Amor." And just by saying 1991, I am kind of surprised it came out that early on. I would have guessed that it came out in 1992/1993. So as it stands the song is now 31 years old and makes me realize once again how fast time goes by.
As the music video starts we view the members of Color Me Badd walking along the beach. Nothing different about this and being that it's a 90s music video we're accustomed to the video cliches of many R&B songs during that time frame. Within a matter of seconds they've already checked off a few of those: Baggy shirts flapping in the wind (because it has a to be a windy day on the beach for a music video shoot), a nice stroll along the beach shore, group shot on the rocks, it's all there.
But wait, were 50 seconds in the music video and they've stumbled upon a trunk that washed up on shore.
Ok, I see how this may possibly be part of the plot. Maybe they're going to discover some riches that they will take back to their significant others and then we'll see the video focus on how they wine and dine their lovers. Nope. I was wrong. Apparently they've discovered a trunk full of women's clothing and a magazine titled "CMB" which begs the question of whether Color Me Badd had their own fan magazine at the height of their popularity. A whole magazine devoted to Color Me Badd.......What???? Now I have many more questions relating and not relating to this discovery.
First question, how did they end up stranded on this island? Judging by how they look it doesn't seem like it was some rough shipwreck or plane crash. No bruises, no bandages, no cuts. They look like they dressed for the beach and were ready to attend an Amy Grant concert in the park shortly afterwards.
Secondly, if a trunk has washed up on shore then they must be in an area where ships often have trouble steering through. So if they charted some private yacht or cruise ship and knew this ahead of time then I guess you can say they've made some "Badd" decisions. Third, where did this 4 foot vintage trunk come from? That makes me think maybe this island is haunted. Let's get back to the video.....
If I were with Color Me Badd and this trunk wasn't one of ours then I would be freaked out a bit. Oh look they decided to hang that magazine on the entry to their hut.
Also, how long has Color Me Badd been here to have built a hut along the beach? And where did they find a clothespin? Maybe it was in the trunk but also who travel with clothespins? I guess this was 1991 so whatever.
As Color Me Badd begins to belt out their verses it also draws me to another thought. Was there also a music video director that got stranded with them and his camera was salvaged (along with editing equipment somehow) and this is his doing? Or maybe he sabotaged the trip so they would crash here so he could film this music video? I don't know but more questions keep arising.
As we move on we now we see a woman appear behind the guy singing and my "this island is haunted" theory starts to gain some merit. He also doesn't seem worried at all and just rolls with it.
Next verse begins and the second Color Me Badd singer starts to sing in Spanish. That also confused me in the past because there was an all Spanish version so why have one verse in Spanish for this song? Was it because the title is in Spanish and they just had to do it? Spanish versions of R&B songs weren't rare in the 90s but this just made me wonder about the decision again. Ok, so now a woman appears behind this guy. This island is haunted, no doubt. Wait, is this the same woman though? Her hair looks different in the first image. Maybe this is a day dream......but I like the haunted theory much better.
Well let's watch for the hook (Cool Breeze hip hop reference...). We're back to the whole group singing together and what's this.....a ship steering wheel? Alright, we solved part of the mystery. The ship had to have crashed and they salvaged the wheel to remind them of how they ended up here in the first place.
Next verse is up and the next Color Me Badd singer discovers a woman sleeping in a life boat. Wait a second, does that lifesaver say "Color Me Badd"? What are we settling with now that we've reached this point? Did Color Me Badd have a ship that was called the "Color Me Badd" and they just really milked their popularity? Also, if this is not a daydream this is totally like those movies where every person is seduced by the same ghost and they end up in a very bad predicament later on. My advice to this guy is to just walk the other direction and do not engage your curiosity with this woman who appeared out of nowhere and is lying in this boat. But if this is a day dream then why is he daydreaming of a lifesaver that has the group name on it?
Advice not taken and he's much closer than I would have been. Is that the same woman or have we seen 3 different women? If it's the same woman and its supposed to be the woman on the Color Me Badd magazine cover then did they all know this woman?
We arrive at the final verse and lead singer from Color Me Badd is probably wondering why the 3 other Color Me Badd members have either wandered off or wondering if he's ever going to get off this island. Uh oh, watch out dude. Here comes a ghost fan walking your direction. Stay focused on the diary you're writing in or song you're creating and do not look to your left.
He didn't listen.
Well, ghost fan has infiltrated the entire group whether it was in reality on the island or within 4 different day dreams. We now see 2 members of Color Me Badd revisiting the magazine which is supposed to make us believe they were all indeed day dreaming about the woman on this cover. Random thought, what is the weather on the island at this point? One guy is wearing FULL denim while the other is wearing a tank top and shorts. And no one is manning the decorative steering wheel on the left side, so who is the captain now?
Back to a shot on the rocks with all 4 members pining for the same (or different?) woman.
Unfortunately, the music video has no resolution so we are left to wonder a few things:
1) Did they ever make it off this island?
2) Was that woman a ghost who died in her own shipwreck?
3) Was her spirit released when they all opened the trunk?
4) How are their clothes so clean?
5) Were their 4 "hut beds" in the hut they created or was it just 1?
Regardless of this mystery, the song is still a 90s classic. But once we begin to truly watch the music videos we grew up with in the 80s and 90s, we begin to wonder how the concepts came about and what is really going on with the images we are seeing. In this case, I'm stumped but amused. Now it's time to watch the video for yourself and enjoy the mystery of "I Adore Mi Amor"......