Embracing an effortless eloquence and cocoa butter smooth persona, the music of Brian McKnight has defined the true meaning of an American soul-man since 1991. Like his spiritual Motown godfathers, this upstate New York native has a velvety voice and silky style that captures the vibe of vintage soul without being old fashion. On his latest disc Ten, that blend can be clearly heard.
While Brian’s aspirations might have seemed like a lofty ambition, the longevity of his career is a testament to the purity of his vision. With the release of Ten, McKnight’s first disc for his new label Warner Bros Records, the Grammy-nominated singer could not be more pleased with the outcome. Without a doubt, the landscape of soul music has gotten younger, but that fact did not hinder McKnight’s creative process.
After 16 million albums sold since his self-titled debut, it would have been too easy for McKnight to simply follow the R&B template of rote romanticism. But on Ten, the artist in him felt the need to be more revealing. Though McKnight has been friends with producers Tim & Bob for over ten years, this is the trio’s first collaboration.
Though Brian has never been the kind of singer/songwriter that one would call political that didn’t stop him from penning “Red, White & Blue,” a heart wrenching ode for the men and women currently at war, teaming up with country star Rascal Flatts.
Currently working on a variety of projects including a talk show and soundtracks for two upcoming Tyler Perry projects, the veteran soul singer could not be happier with the outcome of Ten. For fans of real music, Ten is the perfect addition to the soul cannon.
Temptation
Brian McKnight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the way that she's moving across the room
She knows exactly what she's here to do
She's getting closer, now I get high
Something's coming off of me, the more I look in her eyes
My baby's waiting at home, there's no way I'm leaving her alone
Temptation
Won't get the best of me no more
Temptation, You won't get the best of me
Won't get the best of me no more
She walked right out from the pages of my passions
Got that same sensuous smile right down to her fine ass
She's poetry in motion every move she makes
And she wants my immediate attention for some old times sake
I tried to explain, get her to understand
Things are different now, see I'm a family man
Don't waste your time and effort trying to get me hot
No way in this world am I trying to lose what I got
Temptation, you won't get the best of me
Won't get the best of me no more
Temptation, You won't get the best of me
Won't get the best of me no more
Son, you can never give in
'Cause if you let it begin
You will never be able to stop
You gotta do whatever it takes
Learn from all my mistakes
And don't ever play games with her heart, whoo
Temptation, you won't get the best of me
Won't get the best of me no more
Temptation, you won't get the best of me
Won't get the best of me no more
Temptation, you won't get the best of me
Won't get the best of me no more
Temptation, you won't get the best of me
Won't get the best of me no more
"Temptation" by Brian McKnight is a song about being faced with the temptation of cheating on one's partner. The song describes the physical and emotional pull of a woman walking into the room, and the singer's struggle to resist her advances. He is torn between his desire for this woman and his commitment to his partner, and in the end, he chooses to remain faithful. The song emphasizes the importance of resisting temptation and staying true to one's commitments.
The lyrics describe the woman in question as being tall and captivating, with a sensuous smile and a fine figure. She seems to know exactly what she wants and is determined to get it, but the singer ultimately decides that he cannot risk losing his family for the sake of a fleeting encounter. He acknowledges the power of temptation and urges his son to learn from his mistakes and never play games with someone's heart.
Overall, "Temptation" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of straying from one's commitments and the importance of staying true to one's values. It encourages listeners to resist the lure of temptation and prioritize their relationships above fleeting moments of pleasure.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, she walks in, 5"9, looking so fine
A beautiful woman enters the room and catches the singer's attention due to her height and appearance.
And the way that she's moving across the room
The singer is impressed with how the woman is carrying herself as she gracefully moves in the room.
She knows exactly what she's here to do
The singer feels that the woman has a clear intention for being there and knows how to get what she wants.
She's getting closer, now I get high
The singer feels excited as the woman is approaching him.
Something's coming off of me, the more I look in her eyes
The singer feels like he is losing control the more he looks into the woman's eyes.
My baby's waiting at home, there's no way I'm leaving her alone
Despite the temptation to be with the woman, the singer knows that he can't cheat on his partner who is waiting for him at home.
Temptation
The title of the song, referring to the woman's seductive presence.
Temptation, you won't get the best of me
The singer is determined not to give in to the temptation of cheating on his partner.
Won't get the best of me no more
The singer has given into temptation before, but he has learned from his mistakes and won't let it happen again.
She walked right out from the pages of my passions
The woman seems to embody all of the singer's desires and fantasies.
Got that same sensuous smile right down to her fine ass
The woman's sensual demeanor is reflected in her smile and body features.
She's poetry in motion every move she makes
The singer is captivated by the woman's movements and thinks of her as a work of art.
And she wants my immediate attention for some old times sake
The woman seems to have a history with the singer, and wants to rekindle old flames.
I tried to explain, get her to understand
The singer has attempted to communicate to the woman that he is now in a committed relationship and can't cheat.
Things are different now, see I'm a family man
The singer is now a father and head of a family unit, so he prioritizes his family values over temptation.
Don't waste your time and effort trying to get me hot
The singer is telling the woman that her seduction tactics are not going to work on him.
No way in this world am I trying to lose what I got
The singer values his current relationship and doesn't want to risk losing it for temporary pleasure.
Son, you can never give in
The singer is giving advice to someone, warning them about the danger of giving into temptation.
'Cause if you let it begin
The singer warns that once temptation has started, it is difficult to stop.
You will never be able to stop
The singer is emphasizing the importance of resisting temptation, as it can quickly spiral out of control.
You gotta do whatever it takes
The singer is telling the listener to take whatever action necessary to avoid giving into temptation.
Learn from all my mistakes
The singer has made mistakes in the past and wants the listener to learn from his experience.
And don't ever play games with her heart, whoo
The singer is advising the listener not to manipulate or toy with someone's emotions, as that is not a fair or respectful way to treat others.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARTHUR ROSS, LEON WARE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bruno dos Reis
+Phil Moufarrege You're a nice person Phil. Isn't it funny how people with untrained ears can't hear similarities in chord progressions, but still think they have good judgement when it comes to music? Looking at the Robin Thicke case, anyone with even just average musical skills knows the score:
Similar? Yes!
The same? No!
Copyright laws only apply to melodies (1) and lyrics (2).
Not chord progression. (3)
Not instrumentation. (4)
Not production technique. (5)
Not arrangement techniques. (6)
And neither songtitles. (7)
Now, on to the comparisons.
"Blurred Lines" (R. Thicke) vs "Got to Give It Up" (M. Gaye)
1: no
2: no
3: no
4: yes
5: yes
6: yes
7: no
Keep in mind, the only things that matter in court of law are (1) and (2).
Next comparison.
"Temptation" (B. McKnight) vs "I Want You" (L. Ware, A. Ross)
1: no
2: no
3: yes
4: yes
5: no
6: yes
7: no
Draw your own conclusions.
DJ SMILE "Baby"
This is basically, I Want You! Apparently, Marvin Gaye was and has been a big influence in his music. I can't blame him. If one has never heard I want you, they would never know. I heard some other songs of his that use the Marvin Gaye influence. Always remember, Imitation is sincerest form of flattery!!!!!
Chez Brooks
Absolutely right. The chords are the same for sure. He's heavily influenced by Marvin but like you said.....while could blame him???
Donita Parker
Another nice piece. I love his he pulls bits and pieces of aold music and combines it with his own.. nice.
Beatrice Woodward-Hill
What a nice, smooth groove....this is the next ballroom staple!!!!
Cephas “CP” Pope
Probably my fav off that album
H2oluver1
Heyyyy, this is my cut! Welcome to REAL music, my friends!!! Yessss!!!! I love it! Go Brian & Brian Jr.!!!!!! All I can say is....heavy rotation, y'all!
Lil Cat
Very smooth and nice....good steppin music, along with a great partner.
Tommy Simmons
This song reminds me "I want you" by Marvin Gay. Good song, anyway. Go Brian!
Kaschae Harris
Brian Jr part is the best !
E Silvers
good stuff ^_^