Music Review: Ruben Studdard "What If"
Ruben Studdard
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What If
Album: Soulful
Year: 2004
Ruben Studdard doubts his girlfriend's love for him in the inquisitive ballad "What If."
Glossy keyboards open the single, setting a self-satisfied tone. In the intro, he thinks of what could happen.
In the first verse, he says he pays for her to have a massage at least once a week. He lets her shop until his credit card reaches its balance. He takes her on a vacation to his yacht. Instead of bringing luggage, he will buy her clothes and necessities there. He says he once loved candy and sweets. However, he adores her more than any food.
In the pre-chorus, he asks her if she would stay with him even if he drove a used pick-up truck. He believes he has a found has a woman that is marriage material. However, he has to be sure that she likes him for him.
In the chorus, he asks her if she would be with him if he didn't have any money and was a gangly, stick-thin guy. He also is curious if she's dating him because he won American Idol. He inquires if she would put up with just hanging out at his mom's house and settling for kissing. He also asks if he didn't have a cell phone would she still pay attention to him.
In the second verse, he says that she has a key to his home, which she can use at anytime. He will give her any amount of money she wants. He will be her sex slave. If she even pouts over something minor which he should've done, he'll buy her a new wardrobe and a car.
The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.
In the bridge, he says material possessions are worthless. It's just stuff to him. He could live his life without money again. However, his girlfriend makes his life brighter. He would like to marry her. But he doesn't know if she cares for him as much.
The chorus is sung once to end the song.
He has been ostracized for most of life due to his weight. He would replace the loneliness with food. It would make him feel better. However, once he became a contestant on American Idol, he found people didn't care about his weight anymore. He felt accepted and wanted to be generous with his new friends. He found one girl, in particular, who he adores. He wouldn't have had a chance with her if it hadn't been for the show. Nonetheless, he lavishes her with gifts, depleting his newfound wealth.
His argumentative vocals are clueless. He doesn’t get that he’s allowing himself to be used. It's not all her. There's a nagging suspicion in his voice that perhaps is to blame.
The pompous keyboard arrangement is assuming and sycophantic. It kisses Studdard's feet at every opportunity without even thinking.
The surly "What If" is unaware of its idiocy.
Album: Soulful
Year: 2004
Ruben Studdard doubts his girlfriend's love for him in the inquisitive ballad "What If."
Glossy keyboards open the single, setting a self-satisfied tone. In the intro, he thinks of what could happen.
“Oh baby what if/What if, what if, what if/Yeah yeah girl/What if, what if, what if."
In the first verse, he says he pays for her to have a massage at least once a week. He lets her shop until his credit card reaches its balance. He takes her on a vacation to his yacht. Instead of bringing luggage, he will buy her clothes and necessities there. He says he once loved candy and sweets. However, he adores her more than any food.
"Spend the day at the spa (anything you want)/Different day different time (anything you want)/Max out my card if you wanna/Whatever girl it ain't no problem no/Take a trip on a yacht (anywhere you want)/Leave them bags we gonna shop (anywhere you want)/Girl you know I'll do whatever it takes/You know I love you like I used to love cake."
In the pre-chorus, he asks her if she would stay with him even if he drove a used pick-up truck. He believes he has a found has a woman that is marriage material. However, he has to be sure that she likes him for him.
"Would you be cool if things changed/If I didn't roll the Benz and you didn't push the Range/I know what we got it's gone last/Baby don't be mad but I still gotta ask."
In the chorus, he asks her if she would be with him if he didn't have any money and was a gangly, stick-thin guy. He also is curious if she's dating him because he won American Idol. He inquires if she would put up with just hanging out at his mom's house and settling for kissing. He also asks if he didn't have a cell phone would she still pay attention to him.
"What if I was broke what if I was slim/What if couldn't sing and I didn't win/What if I had to catch the bus I'll still stay/Wit my momma so there ain't no making love baby/What if I had to used the payphone jus to get my game on would you still/Wanna put it on me (what if, what if, what if)/Aw baby what if (what if, what if, what if)."
In the second verse, he says that she has a key to his home, which she can use at anytime. He will give her any amount of money she wants. He will be her sex slave. If she even pouts over something minor which he should've done, he'll buy her a new wardrobe and a car.
"Take the keys to my crib (anytime you want)/Just come over take a dip (anytime you want)/How much you need girl I'm front/Yo there ain't no limit to what I'll do/No I'm break you off wit the ghetto love (any night you want)/Take yo time it ain't no rush (any night you want)/I'm not tryin' to do nothing to mess it up if I do I'll spend 4 million to make it up."
The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.
In the bridge, he says material possessions are worthless. It's just stuff to him. He could live his life without money again. However, his girlfriend makes his life brighter. He would like to marry her. But he doesn't know if she cares for him as much.
"Baby, I would give up everything I don't care about money/My life don't mean a thing not unless your a part of it/Girl I know for sure that you're the only one I need/Tell me how would your life be, would you still be my baby."
The chorus is sung once to end the song.
He has been ostracized for most of life due to his weight. He would replace the loneliness with food. It would make him feel better. However, once he became a contestant on American Idol, he found people didn't care about his weight anymore. He felt accepted and wanted to be generous with his new friends. He found one girl, in particular, who he adores. He wouldn't have had a chance with her if it hadn't been for the show. Nonetheless, he lavishes her with gifts, depleting his newfound wealth.
His argumentative vocals are clueless. He doesn’t get that he’s allowing himself to be used. It's not all her. There's a nagging suspicion in his voice that perhaps is to blame.
The pompous keyboard arrangement is assuming and sycophantic. It kisses Studdard's feet at every opportunity without even thinking.
The surly "What If" is unaware of its idiocy.