Good Man

Warning for Video: Domestic Violence Reference

Good Man by Raphael Saadiq

"Heard it in the show Luke Cage and really enjoyed it."

Lol all the comments on the YouTube video are about how people are there because of Luke Cage. Is it a good show? Maybe I should check it out.

Anyway, this is a cool track. It comes from Saadiq's highest-charting and most critically-acclaimed studio album, about which he said "Stone Rollin' basically symbolizes the action of throwing dice and taking chances with life. That's what I've done my whole career—taking chances with different styles of music and making choices that other people would be afraid to take. Stone Rollin' means I'm going all the way out there this time" (x).

I was impressed to hear that Saadiq not only sings on the album, but he also plays most of the instruments, including bass, keyboard, guitar, Mellotron, and percussion (x).

I love the sound, the slow burn of the funky instrumentals as well as Saadiq's clear, ringing tone. It's so smooth that, with regard to the video above, it's jarring to hear sudden silence paired with the female lead's head colliding with the bathroom sink. The intent is to shock, and they succeed.

But the video is beside the point. I'm digging the music, which is why we're here. The lyrics don't paint quite as vivid a picture of how the good man's lover betrays him, but they're simple and heartbreaking when paired with the soulful music.

P.S. The woman singing the hook is Taura Stinson. She also co-wrote the hook (x).

Overview:

Genre:
Classical Soul

Verdict:
better be good for goodness' sake