Kenneth Edmonds was born on April 10, 1958, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Marvin and Barbara Edmonds. Barbara was a pharmaceutical plant manager. Edmonds, who is the fifth of six brothers (including future After 7 band members Melvin and Kevon Edmonds, the latter of whom went on to have a modestly successful solo career), attended North Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, and as a shy youth, wrote songs to express his emotions.
When he was in eighth grade, Edmonds's father died of lung cancer, leaving his mother to raise her sons alone. At this stage, Edmonds became determined to have a career in music.
Edmonds later played with funk performer Bootsy Collins, who tagged him "Babyface" because of his cute face while he was still a teen.
He also played in the groups Manchild (which had a 1976 hit "Especially for You" with band member Daryl Simmons), as he was a guitarist for the band. Then, as a keyboardist in the light-funk and R&B group The Deele (which also included drummer Antonio "L.A." Reid, with whom he would later form a successful writing and producing partnership).
One of his first major credits as a songwriter for outside artists came when he wrote the tune "Slow-Jam" for the R&B band Midnight Star in 1983. The tune was on Midnight Star's double-platinum No Parking on the Dance Floor album, and while it never hit the charts, the song is still played on quiet storm shows. Babyface remained in The Deele until 1988, when both he and Reid left the group.
In the late 1980s, he contributed to the creation of new jack swing, writing and producing music for the likes of Bobby Brown, Karyn White, Pebbles, Paula Abdul and Sheena Easton.
In 1989, Edmonds co-founded LaFace Records with Reid. Three of the label's early artists TLC, Usher, and Toni Braxton were successful, the former becoming one of the best selling female groups in music history.
Braxton's eponymous 1993 debut album went on to sell over eight million copies, and earned her the 1994 Grammy Award Best New Artist. TLC's first two albums on LaFace—1992's Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip and 1994's CrazySexyCool—combined to sell more than 15 million copies in the U.S. CrazySexyCool won the 1996 Grammy Award for Best R&B album.
Babyface helped form the popular late-90s R&B group Az Yet.
Edmonds works with many successful performers in contemporary music. “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” produced for Whitney Houston, was his first #1 Top 40 hit in the US.
He also wrote and produced Boyz II Men's "End of the Road" and "I'll Make Love to You," both of which established records for the longest stay at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
He co-wrote, co-produced, and provided backing vocals on Madonna's 1994 Bedtime Stories, which featured the 7-week #1 hit "Take a Bow," and shared billing with Eric Clapton on the chart-topping Grammy winner "Change the World" from the Phenomenon soundtrack.
He also wrote and produced the #1 hit "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" for Whitney Houston as well as the rest of the critically acclaimed 10 million selling Waiting to Exhale soundtrack in 1995, which spawned additional hits for Houston, Brandy and Mary J. Blige.
Additionally, Edmonds has produced and written music for many artists including Carole King, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Faith Evans, Al Green, Beyoncé, Diana Ross, Sheena Easton, Toni Braxton, Michael Jackson, Michael Bolton, Paula Abdul, Pebbles, Tevin Campbell, Bobby Brown, Whitney Houston, Brandy, Mary J. Blige, Tamia, Shola Ama, 3T, Sisqó, Dru Hill, Fall Out Boy, Céline Dion, Honeyz, Katharine McPhee, Mariah Carey, Vanessa L. Williams, Chanté Moore, En Vogue, Kenny G, Kristinia DeBarge, Lil Wayne, Japanese singer Ken Hirai, P!nk, Marc Nelson, TLC, and Phil Collins among others.
He received three consecutive Grammy Awards for Producer of the Year in 1995–1997.
In 1994, he appeared and performed on an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 entitled "Mr. Walsh Goes to Washington (Part 2)".
In the mid-1990s, Edmonds and his then wife Tracey Edmonds expanded into the business of motion pictures, setting up Edmonds Entertainment Group and producing films such as Soul Food (1997), Josie and the Pussycats (2001), and also the soundtrack for the film The Prince of Egypt, which included contributions from numerous artists, including Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.
They are the current executive producers of the hit BET reality series College Hill. Edmonds also worked with David Foster to compose "The Power of the Dream," the official song of the 1996 Summer Olympics, performed by superstar Céline Dion. Linda Thompson provided the lyrics.
Babyface also participated as a duet partner on the Fox reality show Celebrity Duets.
Babyface was in the studio for about two years with Ashanti to produce her album The Declaration.
His album Playlist consists of eight cover songs and two original works. It was released on September 18, 2007. It was the first album on the newly re-launched Mercury Records label.
He worked on the Lil Wayne album Tha Carter III, on the Kanye West-produced "Comfortable." He also worked with R&B singer Monica for her sixth studio album Still Standing.
He has written and produced over 26 #1 R&B (many of which hit the pop charts at either #1 or the top ten) hits throughout his career.
Roller Coaster
Babyface Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's like I couldn't control myself
Girl, I was done, I was so through with you
But I know I couldn't love nobody else
Well I feel like you do
I'm so 'bout done with you,
I'm sick and tired of going through changes
Don't want, but I want to
Back and forth, and back
What should we do?
When love is like a roller coaster
Always up and down, eh
When love takes over your emotions
Spins you round and round?
When you don't, when you don't know what you're feeling
When you don't, when you don't know what is real
When love is like a roller coaster
Always up and down,
And it goes back around
Today I've said some things to you, babe
I don't like the way it felt, no
I've been giving you, giving you so much attitude, yeh
Ah, I guess I really should really check myself
Well, you've started it first,
You said we'd make it work
But here we are going through changes
But I need you, can't stand you
I want you, but damn you
Back and forth, and back
What should we do?
When love is like a roller coaster
Always up and down, eh
When love takes over your emotions
Spins you round and round (Ey)
(And it goes back around!)
When you don't, when you don't know what you're feeling
When you don't, when you don't know what is real
When love is like a roller coaster
Always up and down,
'Cause it goes back around!
We don't ever have to worry babe
'Cause we gon' be alright (yes baby baby baby)
We ain't going nowhere darling (no say no)
Just hold on, for the ride!
When love is like a roller coaster
Always up and down, eh
When love takes over your emotions
Spins you round and round? (Like a merry go round)
When you don't know
when you don't know, when you don't know what you're feeling
When you don't, when you don't know what is real
When love is like a roller coaster
Always up and down
'Cause it goes back around!
Rollercoaster, always up and down
Up and down, round and round
spends you like a merry go round baby
Your emotions spins you
The song "Roller Coaster" by Babyface is a passionate ode to the emotional ups and downs of love. The lyrics describe the singer's frustration and anger towards their partner but also acknowledge that they could never love anyone else. Their love is described as a rollercoaster, with intense and unpredictable highs and lows that leave them feeling emotionally dizzy. The chorus repeats the idea that love is like a rollercoaster, always up and down, sometimes leaving you unsure of what you're feeling or what is real. The bridge invites the listener to stay on the ride with the singer, promising that they'll be alright and that the love will eventually come back around.
The song is relatable to anyone who has experienced the intense emotions of a turbulent relationship. The lyrics capture the feeling of being stuck between wanting to stay and wanting to leave, the feeling of being simultaneously in love and deeply frustrated. The rollercoaster metaphor is particularly apt, as it conveys the sensation of being taken for a wild ride with little control over the twists and turns.
The song's slow and soulful rhythm complements the lyrics' emotional depth. Babyface's signature falsetto voice adds an extra layer of intimacy and vulnerability to the lyrics. Overall, "Roller Coaster" is a powerful song about the tumultuous nature of love and the emotional journey it takes us on.
Line by Line Meaning
Today I got so mad at you, yeah
I was extremely angry at you today.
It's like I couldn't control myself
My emotions were so intense that I couldn't manage them.
Girl, I was done, I was so through with you
I felt like giving up on our relationship.
But I know I couldn't love nobody else
Despite all my anger and frustration, I still deeply care for you and can't imagine being with anyone else.
When love is like a roller coaster
Being in love can feel like a wild and unpredictable ride, with many ups and downs.
Always up and down, eh
The constant fluctuation of emotions is a characteristic of being in love.
When love takes over your emotions
Love has a strong impact on our feelings, thoughts and behavior.
Spins you round and round?
We can feel disoriented and out of control when love overwhelms us.
When you don't, when you don't know what you're feeling
Sometimes we can't decipher our own emotions when they are so complex and intense.
When you don't, when you don't know what is real
When love is confusing, it can be hard to separate what you're feeling from what is actually happening in the relationship.
Today I've said some things to you, babe
I've recently said hurtful things to you.
I don't like the way it felt, no
I regret my behavior and words.
I've been giving you, giving you so much attitude, yeh
I've been acting out and treating you poorly.
Ah, I guess I really should really check myself
It's important that I take responsibility for my behavior and actions.
When love is like a roller coaster
Repeating the chorus to emphasize the analogy of being in love to being on a roller coaster.
Well, you've started it first,
I feel like you're to blame for some of the issues in our relationship.
You said we'd make it work
You made promises to try and work through our problems.
But here we are going through changes
Despite those promises, we're still struggling to make things work.
We don't ever have to worry babe
Despite the struggles, we don't have to be concerned about the future of our relationship.
'Cause we gon' be alright (yes baby baby baby)
As long as we work together and maintain our love for each other, our relationship will be fine.
We ain't going nowhere darling (no say no)
We're not giving up on each other or our relationship.
Just hold on, for the ride!
We just need to hold on tight and weather the challenges together.
Up and down, round and round
Referring again to the turbulent nature of being in love.
Spends you like a merry go round baby
The intensity and changes in emotions feel like spinning around on a merry-go-round.
Your emotions spins you
The emotions that come with love can be overwhelming and make us feel out of control.
And it goes back around!
Despite the ups and downs, our love keeps cycling back to a place of commitment and dedication to each other.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TONI BRAXTON, ANTONIO DIXON, KENNETH EDMONDS, DARYL SIMMONS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@journi1834
when this album dropped my dad came and got me and said "I got some new music, come ride wit me" we drove for miles n miles for hours on end just listening to this CD talking about our lives and catching up 😩😢😍😍😍🙌 I absolutely love this CD! Thank you Dad For letting me listen to this with you
@shirleybutler2623
journi rudolph Those were the good old days for you and dad 4SURE! ! STILL LISTENING SEPTEMBER 2017
@Jonelle2083
Is he open to adopting a new daughter??
@arethajackson13578
Beautiful
@oleskool61
That is so lovely, thanks for sharing.
@bobbydavis9933
@@Jonelle2083 that was a cool compliment Sis👌💪
@TedlaEKHAN
This is a massively underappreciated album. Critically acclaimed, but didn't have the cultural impact that it deserved. Truly one of the best contemporary R&B albums of the last 10yrs.
@freddymack6518
Because most people these days have no taste for uplifting music, rather consume crap that is massively promoted where women are being sexualized and crime promoted, and guns and being naked. They will never raly around this type of music that brings families together and promote sticking together in marriage. Tony braxton's voice just blows my mind....
@Mafuzafulele
The last 20 years
@teataylor8575
They got a Grammy for this album so it was very much appreciated