In 1972, the Stewart family (which consisted of his parents, Jermaine, his sisters Norma, Sondra, Leandra, and Leanna, and finally his brother Gene) moved to Chicago, Illinois. He took his first steps towards a career in entertainment there. Stints on both American Bandstand and later Soul Train as a dancer helped to fuel his ambition.
Soon, Jermaine became a backup singer and dancer for several artists such as The Chi-Lites, The Staple Singers and Shalamar while recording backup vocals for such artists as Culture Club. He was featured prominently on the group's 1983 album Colour by Numbers and as a result the group used their influence to help him land a solo recording deal with Arista Records.
The 1986 Frantic Romantic album with the hit single "We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off" quickly went on to become a million seller, and a second single, "Jody" was released, the inspiration of the song being Jody Watley of Shalamar. A modest success, "Jody" reached both the U.K. and U.S. top 50. Another U.K. only single "Don't Ever Leave Me" was released, reaching number 76 on the British charts. The song was a ballad, and indicative of Jermaine's versatility in any musical style.
Jermaine's third album was probably his most successful internationally. Entitled Say It Again, the production was handled largely by André Cymone who had previously worked with Prince and Jody Watley. The result was an almost flawless collection of pop and dance funk tracks, of which almost any song could have been a successful single.
Supported by international live dates with his band, "The Party", the title track became Jermaine's second U.S. top 40 Billboard hit and also reached the R&B top 10. In the U.K., it made it all the way to number 7, helping the album into the top 40.
The next three singles all received the remix treatment from the production company behind such hits as "You Spin Me Round" by Dead Or Alive and Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up." "Get Lucky," "Don't Talk Dirty To Me" and "Is It Really Love" found considerable European success, particularly Germany, where "Don't Talk Dirty To Me" was one of the biggest selling records of 1988, making the top 5.
At this point, Jermaine was highly focused on the mainstream pop market. His fourth and final album under his contract with Arista Records, What Becomes a Legend Most?, was filled with radio friendly catchy pop tunes. The first single "Tren De Amor" reached number 76 in the UK charts, while the follow-up, "Every Woman Wants To," didn't fared as well, only making it to number 95. Commercial success eluded this album, and a label change followed.
In 1992, Jermaine teamed up with Chicago producer Jesse Saunders for his last recorded work, an album for Reprise Records. Entitled Set Me Free, the album marked a return to the dance funk style of Say It Again. The title track was released as a single in the U.S., but found little success. The album remains unreleased.
He died in 1997 of liver cancer, caused by AIDS. Ironically, his hit "We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off" gained popularity as it was referring to the AIDS scare of the 1980s. In 2003, the song was placed by VH1 in its 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders list.
In 2005, a compilation CD celebrating Jermaine's underrated contribution to '80s R&B which included several of his hits and a few previously unreleased tracks was released by BGF Records, an Ohio record label ran by Jermaine's brother.
Versatile
Jermaine Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You taught me things I never knew
I love your hair, it's forever changing
Don't question me, I love the change in you
Indiscreetly, I'll be proud to say
That I think you are just so unique
Make your own moves, it's up to you to choose
With every breath, friend
I can truly say that
You're versatile
Changing (changing)
Like the (like the)
Weather
(I love your style)
I just love your style, girl
You are versatile
Changing (changing)
Like the (like the)
Weather
(I love your style)
I just love your style, girl
I am lucky to have in my possession
A not-so-boring love affair
I never know what to expect from you
Be it trendy or nostalgic wear, 'cause
Indiscreetly, I'll be proud to say
That I think you are just so unique
Make your own moves, it's up to you to choose
With every breath, friend
I can truly say that
You're versatile
Changing (changing)
Like the (like the)
Weather
(I love your style)
I just love your style, girl
You are versatile
Changing (changing)
Like the (like the)
Weather
(I love your style)
I just love your style, girl
Versatile
You are versatile
Changing (changing)
Like the (like the)
Weather
(I love your style)
I just love your style, girl
You are versatile
Changing (changing)
Like the (like the)
Weather
(I love your style)
I just love your style, girl
You are versatile
Changing (changing)
Like the (like the)
Weather
(I love your style)
I just love your style, girl
You are versatile
Changing (changing)
Like the (like the)
Weather
(I love your style)
I just love your style, girl
You are versatile
Changing (changing)
Like the (like the)
Weather
(I love your style)
I just love your style, girl
You are versatile
Changing (changing)
Like the (like the)
Weather
(I love your style)
I just love your style, girl
You're versatile
Changing (changing)
Like the (like the)
Weather
(I love your style)
I just love your style, girl
You are versatile
Changing (changing)
Like the (like the)
Weather
(I love your style)
The song "Versatile" by Jermaine Stewart celebrates the uniqueness and versatility of his lover. The lyrics describe a relationship that is not boring and is filled with surprises. Jermaine acknowledges his partner's "forever changing" hair and unpredictable style, but he embraces it and loves her even more because of it. He sees her as one-of-a-kind and admires her ability to make her own choices and decisions without conforming to anyone else's expectations.
Overall, the song's message is about accepting and celebrating individuality, which was a popular theme in the 1980s music scene. Jermaine's smooth R&B vocals, combined with a catchy electronic beat and synthesized sounds, make the song a fun anthem for anyone who wants to express themselves freely.
Line by Line Meaning
A fantasy, a different lover
I have now found someone to love who is unique and different from my past experiences
You taught me things I never knew
I have learned new things and grown in my relationship with you
I love your hair, it's forever changing
I appreciate your physical appearance and your willingness to switch things up
Don't question me, I love the change in you
I have no doubts about my love for you, even as you continue to evolve and change
Indiscreetly, I'll be proud to say
That I think you are just so unique
I am not afraid to tell others that I think you are special and one of a kind
Make your own moves, it's up to you to choose
I support your independence and decision-making abilities
With every breath, friend
I can truly say that
I am sincere and genuine in my feelings towards you
You're versatile
Changing (changing)
Like the (like the)
Weather
(I love your style)
I admire how adaptable you are and the way you express yourself through your fashion choices
I am lucky to have in my possession
A not-so-boring love affair
I feel fortunate that our relationship is exciting and not mundane
I never know what to expect from you
Be it trendy or nostalgic wear, 'cause
You keep me on my toes and surprise me with your fashion choices, whether they be modern or throwback
Versatile
You are versatile
Contributed by Hannah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.