Ball…a….ds

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

40. 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, 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 (2019). Her articles on Nigerian music have been published on Nigerian news platforms like “Nigerians and their music” (Sun News Online) and “Remembering Victor Uwaifo, “Guitar Boy” and the quest to meet Mami Wata” (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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