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The "R" in R&B Stands for Romance Pt. 1

Updated: Jun 12

by Angelica Williams



A cut out of a red paper heart against a reddish-pink background.
Image courtesy of Wix.com

Of course, the “R” in “R&B” does not in fact stand for “Romance”, but rather it stands for “Rhythm” as in “Rhythm & Blues” or R&B for short.


R&B has been a popular genre of music within the African American community since the 1940’s. The genre started off heavily influenced by jazz and blues sounds; however, rock and roll undertones soon became intertwined into the music that was being produced by many African American musicians starting in the mid-1950’s.


There have been several changes to what is to be considered “R&B” over the years, but as we know it today, the genre has transformed into “Contemporary R&B” which combines many different genres within it such as soul/neo-soul, pop, hip-hop, and even electronic.

I’ve always associated R&B with romance, love, sensuality, and even heartbreak/sorrow. Despite this personal association, I am well aware that R&B began as and is still considered to be much more than just slow, melancholy music. R&B is a non-monolithic genre that can speak on various subjects such as race, injustice, genocide, sexism, poverty, and so on.


When it first came about, the genre was intended as a way for African Americans to freely and creatively express our opinions on the various plights in which we were facing as a race.

James Brown infused funk and soul sounds while speaking against discrimination and encouraging Black pride in his 1968 hit “Say It Loud — I’m Black and I’m Proud.” In 1964, Sam Cooke released “A Change is Gonna Come”, and Billie Holiday crooned over “Strange Fruit” in 1939; both songs of which remain staples within the African American community and are used as part of our soundtrack when fighting against racial injustice.



While I know that R&B can be so much more than the lovey-dovey, “my heart yearns for you” type of music; it is still (in my opinion) one of the best genres to express the emotions of love and heartbreak. That is why I am writing this article today.


The lyrics, the melodies, the vocalizations, the smooth beats/rhythms that encompass your ears; all of it makes for a wonderful and pleasing combination for the soul.


The R&B I’m referring to is the kind that picks you up and carries you into a whole other world filled with love, lust, longing, and leisure. The R&B that I know, and love is the music I grew up on. It’s the songs my mother and father blasted through our car speakers, the tunes I would watch my father mix up with his DJing equipment, and it’s all the iconic music videos that shaped my childhood.


R&B is a huge part of who I am, and it has a lot to do with how I came to express myself as a writer.


Although it was an incredibly difficult task, I came up with a list of 100 of my all-time favorite R&B songs, and below are the first 20 from this list. The songs on here vary as they range from sexy and lighthearted to deeply loving and incredibly emotional pieces. There are some gems from the 80’s/90’s as well as some new age R&B within the mix.


It is a collection of songs that I am proud of, and a list I believe all my fellow R&B lovers will enjoy!



  1. “My Heart Belongs To U” — Jodeci (1993)

  2. “Say Yes” — Floetry (2003)

  3. “Weak” — SWV (1992)

  4. “Best Part” — Daniel Caesar & H.E.R. (2017)

  5. “Nothing Even Matters” — Lauryn Hill & D’Angelo (1998)

  6. “Wasted Love Freestyle”— Jhené Aiko (2018)

  7. “So Fine” — Mint Condition (1993)

  8. “I’m Still Waiting” — Jodeci (1991)

  9. “Anna Mae” — Summer Walker (2019)

  10. “Hate The Club” — Kehlani (2020)

  11. “That’s You” — Lucky Daye (2023)

  12. “Girls Need Love” — Summer Walker (2019)

  13. “Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes) — Mint Condition (1991)

  14. “Can You Blame Me” — Kehlani & Lucky Daye (2020)

  15. “Where I Wanna Be” — Donell Jones (2000)

  16. “Breakdown” — Mariah Carey ft. Krayzie Bone and Wish Bone (2004)

  17. “Love” — Musiq Soulchild (2000)

  18. “Excuse Me” — Jazmine Sullivan (2010)

  19. “If I Ever Fall In Love” — Shai (1992)

  20. “A Thin Line Between Love & Hate” — H-Town (1996)


I hope you have enjoyed reading over this list as much as I’ve enjoyed creating and sharing it with you all. Please feel free to share your own list of favorite R&B songs—whether they relate to love, heartbreak, politics, or none of the above — in the comment section.


Shoutout to all my fellow R&B music lovers out there! Come back for part two!




 
 
 

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