Ball….…ads

Written By Kensedeobong Okosun

Just like other music forms, R&B comes in multiple rhythmic variations. Sometimes, it is upbeat or midtempo or slow and ballady. Ballads are my favourite! They take the form of narratives and storytelling, laced with sentiments which cover different themes like romance, loss, social commentaries, etc. The following is a playlist of 40 of the finest R&B ballads.

  1. Anita Baker. “I Apologize” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV7vvl7P10A

2. Anthony Hamilton.“Pray For Me” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6kKCmaEbvs

3. Atlantic Starr. “Unconditional Love” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbuXJTc45rA

4. Blackstreet. “Joy” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXj6nihoZGE

5. Bobby Brown. “Roni” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGySW4HMdRE

6. Brandy. “Have You Ever”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to7LDqRd4DM

7. Destiny’s Child. “Brown Eyes” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mktlac3D7H0

8. Donnell Jones. “Where I Wanna Be” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZstI7zXeabw

9. Dru Hill. “What Do I Do” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTQNkddl-mw

10. El DeBarge. “Where Is My Love” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA6S-U7ZkNk

11. Faith Evans. “Soon As I Get Home” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKxZ7Mdhnyo

12. Fantasia. “Bittersweet” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKWd9D9UdeM

13. George Benson “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1De87ETXwo

14. George Michael. “Cowboys And Angels” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve-rxwKuqtI

15. Gladys Knight. “I Dont Want To Know” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3-nIeYq3e0

16. Janet Jackson. “Come Back To Me” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weiRsKzpUAw

17. Joe. “All That I Am” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIV6x_ZnhKI

18. Karyn White. “One Heart” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJJFfgSxNEI

19. Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. “A Bit Old-Fashioned” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEK49F_Qm2o

20. Lionel Richie. “Hello” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7Z0qpn_OQs

21. Luther Vandross. “Always and Forever” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMWzMVfkg1U

22. Mariah Carey. “When I Saw You” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzQjUCp7H1s

23. Mary J. Blige. “Not Gonna Cry” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjYod95sqWY

24. Mint Condition. “Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gt0bq58in0

25. Monica. “Inside” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ700MSZB58

26. Natalie Cole. “I Miss You Like Crazy” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD1jb7Hgwk8

27. Oleta Adams. “Get Here” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM-IHLyfzsU

28. Patti LaBelle. “We Are Not Making Love Anymore” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbsJ2gA2mk0

29. Peabo Bryson. “Can You Stop The Rain” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRNTCGpXMZg

30. Phyllis Hyman. “Walk Away” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLUtfpybnZI

31. Smokey Robinson. “Cruisin’” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnGuXC7QGug

32. Shanice Wilson. “Silent Prayer” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D8DmvQDJNg

33. Stevie Wonder. “I Just Called To Say I Love You” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djHiBp5oRnY

34. Tevin Campbell. “Tell Me What You Want Me To Do” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpMlZCXPYRQ

35. Tina Turner. “Private Dancer” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCMsBpkFJHM

36. TLC. “Red Light Special” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY5H4ft_RS4

37. Toni Braxton. “Spanish Guitar” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czFLKT8MBqI

38. Tony! Toni! Tone!. “Anniversary” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZUvhevdeBM

39. Vanessa Williams. “Stranger’s Eye” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBNkcEACCaU

40. Westlife. “Soledad” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUkGrSPbSOE

41. Whitney Houston. “I Learned From The Best” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNaSycrawR8

Kensedeobong Okosun

Kensedeobong Okosun (M.A Bielefeld University) is a music enthusiast, music researcher, music journalist with expertise in music selection & planning, vocalist and an author. Her academic article “Sisterhood and Soul Music as expressions of Black Power” is featured in the edited volume, Black Power in Hemispheric Perspective (Raussert & Steinitz, eds, 2022). She has reviewed Dorothea Gail’s Weird American Music for the Forum for Interamerican Research (fiar, 2019). Her literary review on Nigerian music titled “Nigerians and their Music” has been published on the Nigerian news platform Sun News Online, while her article “Remembering Victor Uwaifo, “Guitar Boy” and the quest to meet Mami Wata” graced The Nigerian Observer.

Kensedeobong’s blog highlights music’s interconnectivity with society and comprises personal music experiences, researched information, concept playlists for multiple themes, etc.

A hard-core 90s R&B fan, she utilises the vehicle of memory, to position long forgotten music of yesteryears on the front-burner.

She is persuaded that music is a core conduit of collective harmony, equanimity, vitality and healing. And as such requires criticality in the filtration process, in order to disseminate meaning. Her blog promotes music equality and diversity.

She resides in Germany.

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