Benét's father loved classical music and inspired an interest in music in his son. By his teens, Eric had formed a vocal group with his sister and cousin called "Benét." The group released a self-titled album in 1992 but only sold 70,000 copies possibly due to a lack of proper promotion by Capitol Records.
Also in 1992, Benét's girlfriend, Tami Stauff, gave birth to a daughter they named India. The couple's happiness was short-lived when 25-year old Tami was killed in a car accident on April 24, 1993.
In 1994, Benét signed with Warner Bros. Records, releasing his solo debut album, True to Myself, in fall (1996). His next album, A Day in the Life, was released in 1999; its first single, "Georgy Porgy (featuring Faith Evans)" received significant airplay, but the second single, "Spend My Life With You (featuring Tamia)", became a smash hit. "Spend My Life With You" rose to number one on the American R&B charts, was certified gold, and nominated for a 2000 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group. The album, A Day In The Life also won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album, Male. Benét also recorded for Earth, Wind, and Fire's 30th anniversary CD.
Benét has also been active as an actor; he had a recurring role on the television program For Your Love (1998 - 2002). He made his film debut in Glitter (2001).
He became engaged to actress Halle Berry in 1999, and they married in January 2001. The couple separated in 2003 and have since divorced.
Eric Benét and Manuela Testolini were married in the early evening [July 31st]. Eric and Manuela revealed that they're also expecting their first child together.
Eric Benet Takes on First Major Acting Gig in 'Trinity' “Trinity Goodheart,” a film about a visitation from an Angel that leads to substantial discovery of awareness and earth shattering faith questions.
The film is based on an original screenplay by Rhonda Freeman-Baraka centered around a 12-year old girl on a mission to reunite her disjointed family, announced by the producer Rick Eldridge.
Eric Benét also has a new album Love & Life
Just Friends
Eric Benet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You give me love, but you can't be true
You say you need your space and time
With or without you I'll lose my mind
Oh yes I know if meant to be
In the future we'll be hand in hand
But girl right now you're killing me
[Chorus:]
Do you really want to be just friends
Don't you s'til love me
It's so hard for me to understand
You say you love me
You call me for some time to spend
Just long as I'm out your door by 10:00pm
Platonic love will have to suffice
Can't bear the thought of you out of my life
I've tried to end this misery
But I'm always picking up that phone
Swallow my pride, I beg and plead
But you always sing the same ole song, "We can be friends"
[Chorus]
[Solo]
[Chorus out]
In the song "Just Friends," Eric Benet is feeling conflicted and confused about his relationship with a girl who he loves but who he knows can't be faithful. She says she needs her space and time, and while Eric believes that they are meant to be together in the future, he is struggling with her current situation because he knows that she is sleeping with another man. The chorus of the song emphasizes Eric's longing for the girl and his confusion about her intentions. He asks if she really wants to be just friends, and expresses the difficulty he has in understanding her mixed signals.
The second verse of the song reveals that the girl is enforcing boundaries in their relationship, calling Eric only for specific times and requiring him to leave by 10 PM. Eric is struggling with this platonic relationship as he's unable to bear the thought of her not being in his life. In the bridge, Eric expresses his willingness to end the relationship but he finds himself unable to let go. The song ends with an extended instrumental solo, a reprise of the chorus, and gradually fades to silence.
Line by Line Meaning
This feels so wrong, I'm so confused
I feel like loving you is the right thing to do, but I'm conflicted because you cannot commit to me.
You give me love, but you can't be true
You express feelings of love towards me, yet you are not capable of being honest and loyal.
You say you need your space and time
You claim that you require some separation and time for yourself, but it only hurts me more.
With or without you I'll lose my mind
Regardless of whether we're together, I will lose my mental stability because of my love for you.
Oh yes I know if meant to be
I understand that our relationship is fated to come together eventually.
In the future we'll be hand in hand
At some point down the line, we will be able to walk hand in hand as a couple.
But girl right now you're killing me
However, right now, your actions and non-commitment are killing any potential we have at the moment.
'Cause I know you're making love to another man
I know that you are being sexually intimate with someone else, which hurts me deeply.
Do you really want to be just friends
I question whether you genuinely only want a platonic relationship with me or not.
Don't you s'til love me
Do you still harbor love towards me despite your claim that we can only be friends?
It's so hard for me to understand
I struggle to comprehend why you would want to settle for a non-romantic relationship when there are feelings on both ends.
You say you love me
You continuously express that you have love for me, but your actions do not align with those words.
You call me for some time to spend
You reach out to me to hang out, but only if I agree to leave by a certain time.
Just long as I'm out your door by 10:00pm
You have a strict deadline of when I must leave, which reinforces the idea that you do not want anything beyond friendship.
Platonic love will have to suffice
You are content with having a relationship that does not extend beyond friendship.
Can't bear the thought of you out of my life
The idea of losing you completely is unbearable to me, which is why I continue to accept a platonic relationship.
I've tried to end this misery
I have tried to end my misery by ending our relationship or coming to a resolution, but it never works.
But I'm always picking up that phone
I keep reaching out or answering your calls because my love for you is too strong to ignore.
Swallow my pride, I beg and plead
I have to put aside my pride and beg for your affection or commitment towards me, even if it means hurting me more.
But you always sing the same ole song, 'We can be friends'
You continuously revert back to wanting just a friendship even though it is hurting me more each time.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEMONTE POSEY, ERIC BENET, JR., GEORGE NASH, ERIC BENET JORDAN, GEORGE T. JR. NASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind