Music Review: Mary J. Blige "Be Without You"
Mary J. Blige
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Be Without You
Album: The Breakthrough
Year: 2005
Mary J. Blige cherishes the relationship with her husband in the devout ballad “Be Without You.”
An amatory piano opens the single, setting a warm tone. In the intro, she says she wants to spend the rest of her days with him. He’s a necessary part of her survival.
In the first verse, she says they connected right away. They were drawn to one another and are unable to pinpoint the moment what led to their meeting. Their solid relationship took months to form. They had to find out the little things about one another and figure out what their expectations. Some of their friends and family dismissed her early bliss as a sign of a passing infatutation. However, they both knew it was an eternal love. The naysayers in their life can see their relationship function as well as a fine-tuned machine. She says they went through tough times and managed to overcome every obstacle that came their way.
In the chorus, she says they put their battles behind them and delight in their couplehood. She can’t wait to see him when he gets home from his job. She wants to know how his day was and she can share the research she did on the new car they’d like to get. She says their love is unquestionable. It’s a feeling inside her that grows every day and can’t be provided random men. She tells people to request a song if they are missing their significant other.
In the second verse, her intuition tells her he’s an honest, decent guy. However, she has to ask to be certain. He tells he would never hide any secrets from her nor call her names. He also wouldn’t steal from her and fudge the account. She tells she wouldn’t do any harm to him, either. She’s loyal to him and herself. They are straightforward about who they are.
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, she says it’s about a real love. She’s going to remain with him if her career nosedives or they argue a lot. They will apologize to one another and try again. She says the song isnt’ meant for people who are cynical about relationships. She then calls for all the people in love to take a moment and appreciate each other. First, she has the guys tell the woman they are the ones. Then, the women to raise their hands in the air and tell the men it’s only them they care about.
Album: The Breakthrough
Year: 2005
Mary J. Blige cherishes the relationship with her husband in the devout ballad “Be Without You.”
An amatory piano opens the single, setting a warm tone. In the intro, she says she wants to spend the rest of her days with him. He’s a necessary part of her survival.
“I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you (Oh, oh, oh, oh)/I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you (Oh, oh, oh, oh)/Oh (oh, oh, oh, oh) oh.”
In the first verse, she says they connected right away. They were drawn to one another and are unable to pinpoint the moment what led to their meeting. Their solid relationship took months to form. They had to find out the little things about one another and figure out what their expectations. Some of their friends and family dismissed her early bliss as a sign of a passing infatutation. However, they both knew it was an eternal love. The naysayers in their life can see their relationship function as well as a fine-tuned machine. She says they went through tough times and managed to overcome every obstacle that came their way.
“Chemistry was crazy from the get-go/Neither one of us knew why/We didn't build nothing overnight/Cause a love like this takes some time/People swore it off as a phase/Said we can’t see that/Now from top to bottom/They see that we did that (yes)/It’s so true that (yes)/We’ve been through it (yes)/We got real shit (yes)/See baby we been.”
In the chorus, she says they put their battles behind them and delight in their couplehood. She can’t wait to see him when he gets home from his job. She wants to know how his day was and she can share the research she did on the new car they’d like to get. She says their love is unquestionable. It’s a feeling inside her that grows every day and can’t be provided random men. She tells people to request a song if they are missing their significant other.
“Too strong for too long (and I can’t be without you baby)/And I’ll be waiting up until you get home (cuz I can’t sleep without you baby)/Anybody who’s ever loved, ya know just what I feel/Too hard to fake it, nothing can replace it/Call the radio if you just can’t be without your baby.”
In the second verse, her intuition tells her he’s an honest, decent guy. However, she has to ask to be certain. He tells he would never hide any secrets from her nor call her names. He also wouldn’t steal from her and fudge the account. She tells she wouldn’t do any harm to him, either. She’s loyal to him and herself. They are straightforward about who they are.
“ I got a question for ya/See I already know the answer/But still I wanna ask you/Would you lie? (no)/Make me cry? (no)/Do somethin’ behind my back and then try to cover it up?/Well, neither would I, baby/My love is only your love (yes)/I’ll be faithful (yes)/I’m for real (yes)/And with us you’ll always know the deal/We’ve been.”
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, she says it’s about a real love. She’s going to remain with him if her career nosedives or they argue a lot. They will apologize to one another and try again. She says the song isnt’ meant for people who are cynical about relationships. She then calls for all the people in love to take a moment and appreciate each other. First, she has the guys tell the woman they are the ones. Then, the women to raise their hands in the air and tell the men it’s only them they care about.
“See this is real talk/I’m always stay (no matter what)/Good or bad (thick and thin)/Right or wrong (all day everyday)/Now if you’re down on love or don’t believe/This ain’t for you (no, this ain’t for you)/And if you got it deep in your heart/And deep down you know that it’s true (come on, come on, come on)/Well, let me see you put your hands up (hands up)/Fellas tell your lady she’s the one (fellas tell your lady she’s the one, oh)/Put your hands up (hands up)/Ladies let him know he's got your love
Look him right in his eyes and tell him/We’ve been.”
The chorus is sung again.
Blige rejoices with soft “Hey, oh/Hey. Oh.”
The intro closes the song.“I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you/I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you/I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you/I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you/I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you.”
Blige’s toothsome, mushy vocals are unrecongnizable. The rough edge is her voice has been dulled and melted into a generic confection.
The treacly arrangement, doused in syrupy sentimentality and powdered affection, is sprinkled with tons of much sugar to distract from the lack of emotion.
The plain “Be Without You” restrains Blige and sticks to conventional mainstream path.