https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mJ0zCD3tdA

Although my wife and I differ in musical tastes (she more hit oriented and popular and me more heavier and obscure), we’ll often find common ground on certain artists or hits from a particular area.  We were friends before we first started dating, so I had a good feel for things she may or may not like but I always would throw in something she may not expect just to gauge her interests.  Sometimes these surprises were music related and when I would play “Close To You” by Maxi Priest it quickly became our first song.

For you readers out there this tune is pretty far removed from what I normally listen to; however, it does have specific musical elements that have always appealed to me:  the funkified yet slightly reggaeish beat, groovalicious bassline, killer melodic hook, and great singing.  As a singer, Maxi Priest has a smooth, R&B inflected vocal steeped more in classic soul\R&B greats and on this cut he brings the cool during the verse and sultry heat during the chorus.  A nice touch is also the string section, which intertwine some fine countermelodies with New Jack swing and cool funk.  A fabulous combination.  Some of you may listen to this and say “it’s not reggae” or “it’s not funk” but that’s the beauty of music-  sprinkle a little bit of this and a little bit of that to come up with something different and catchy.

After near 25 years of being together as a couple we’ve picked up quite a few other songs that have become shared favorites, but when we are on those long road trips (and sometimes short ones) and I’ve got control of the playlist “Close To You” is always on it.  And get yer mind outta the gutter!  Not necessary to get jiggy to enjoy this bad boy, just a warm fire and glass of wine and…  ummm…  where was I?  Fun to sing along with at any time-  now if I could only convince her to sing it with me at a karaoke bar…