Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds: you already know him. The legend who gave us classics like "Whip Appeal" and "For the Cool in You," who's worked with artists as diverse as Aretha Franklin, Madonna and Mary J. Blige, who's earned ten Grammys - including three consecutive awards for Producer of the Year (1995-1997). Now, the R&B god has returned with Playlist, a collection of unique cover songs - by artists like Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Jim Croce - flavored with his signature soul. "These aren't just covers, these are really great copyrights," says the singer/songwriter/producer. "I have a lot of respect for the artists and the writers - I didn't want to just throw anything on there."
Playlist also includes two powerful originals. "The first song is basically about my sons, going through a divorce and the idea of them feeling like they are going to be left alone."
The second track, "Soldier's Song," is a moving tribute to soldiers in Iraq. "They went to war believing they were fighting for our rights," he says. "Regardless of your politics, whether you believe we should be there or not, they went there thinking they were fighting for us. Their lives shouldn't end in vain."
Babyface spoke with VIBE.com about the current state of R&B, being single again and the new album - out today.
Tell us about Playlist.
The record is a collection of songs that I've listened to over the years and kind of grew up with. I had this idea of trying to do the record with just doing remakes, but I didn't want to do any kind of remakes. I wanted to do something that I was influenced by. I started playing guitar at an early age, probably in about the sixth grade. In doing that, I started listening to radio stations, but the soul stations would cut off like about five or six o'clock. Then we'd switch to the AM stations. Between sixth and eighth grade is when most of the music started to hit me. I listened to The Beatles, James Taylor - these are all songs I could relate to because I was playing acoustic guitar. In the years to come, a lot of the songs I would structure and play, it was heavily influenced by this kind of pop rock or pop folk - it is kind of hard to classify.
This album isn't what one would think of from Babyface - you took a risk. What made you go this direction musically?
Well, I don't look at it so much as a risk, because I think that music is music. If I was trying to take a risk I'd start rapping on my records. [laughs] That would be like really wrong. I don't see this as being wrong; I see this as being a part of me. As you listen to it, you might find it doesn't seem like so much of a stretch because it really isn't…just a little liter version, maybe not quite as R&B, but at the same time, still soulful.
I keep hearing people say that soul in music R&B is officially dead - what's your take on that?
I disagree. I think it's on its way back. I think it has been kind of dead for a little bit. It's been very hip hop driven and even urban has been hip hop driven. You can't sit there and look at John Legend and say that soul in R&B is dead or Corrine Bailey Rae and say it's dead. You see pieces of artists that are special artists that are kind of riding the torch. Even with Keyshia Cole, whose very R&B, very soul voice - you look at Alicia Keys, I'm sure she's going to keep it with her soul. Maybe it's not nearly alive as it used to be when there were just tons of artists that came with soul and R&B music. More recently, it's been probably more reserved for older artists, and that leaves a smaller market because it goes to urban adult contemporary and it kind of lives there and dies there so it doesn't crossover as much. I think the more young artists that you have keep going at it, the more of a chance you have and it will rebirth.
Is there a song in your catalogue that you've performed so many times that you wish you'd never have to perform again?
Fortunately, I don't perform that much. I'm in the process of putting a show together so maybe I get tired of doing the same arrangements. I feel like I have to tweak those in order to keep them fresh. I try my best to never tweak it to where you don't recognize the melody so much that's it like, "That ain't the same song!" But I can't say there is any particular song I don't want to perform again.
When can we expect an album of all-original material?
I think we'll see how this one rolls. I guess the way I do it, I kind of go two years. It seems to work out that way. I always say I'm going to put out another record really quick, I always gotta have a reason. I don't like to do a record just for doing it. Every record you do, you get inspired, you grow and there are things you learn from each record. There are things that you experience; it kind of opens other doors for writing. Depending on how the record does and how it hits people, it will make a difference in terms of how I approach the next one.
You've worked with so many artists over the years - who was the easiest?
Probably one of the easiest sessions I had was with Stevie Wonder. I thought it was going to be difficult, I was scared as hell. He was like, tell me what to do and I came out saying, what am I going to tell you? He was easy. But it's not like it's very difficult. There may have been some that were somewhat difficult - may have fought initially and then once they see how it goes, they go ahead and let me work.
Is it true that you and Madonna fought initially when you worked on her Bedtime Stories album?
No, I just did "Take a Bow" and another song. She may have fought with Dallas Austin. [Laughs] But, no, we never had any bad words. We were always good.
Could you see yourself getting married again?
I'm not saying I won't, but it's a possibility. It's not anything I'm thinking of right at this moment. I'm not saying I will, I'm not saying I won't.
Are you dating?
Yeah, I'm dating.
What kind of partner are you attracted to at this point in your life?
Somebody that's just very real. Someone that's going to be into me, it's kind of hard to put into words when you say real. What it is real? Just a genuine person that's honest with themselves and honest to me. The biggest key in any kind of relationship is someone that's totally honest with themselves. So you can laugh at yourself, just being able to not be so serious about things. Be light-hearted and roll with it. I'm a pretty roll-wit-it guy, I don't let things really get me down. I don't hold onto things, I don't hold onto bad feelings. Some people would say that is one of my faults - that I'm too forgiving. Sometimes it may take awhile, but I ultimately forgive, I think that's one of my strengths.
It's midnight on a Saturday night. What is Babyface doing?
Either at a movie, work - if the kids are here we may be in the pool. We always do late-night swims.
If you could a woman for a day, who would you be?
I don't think I want to answer that! [Laughs]
You don't want to answer that? [Laughs]
If I was a woman I would be Oprah Winfrey! [Laughs]
September 18, 2007 @ 10:51 am
MY ALBUM'S OUT: Babyface
Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds on his new album, new love and a career most artists only dream of.
Article tags: Babyface, Kenneth Edmonds, Playlist
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