If Boyz II Men are portrayed as a clean-cut, wholesome R&B vocal group, then Jodeci's wild, sexual, bad-boy image represents the other side of the coin. Made up of two sets of brothers, the group's name is a consolidation of three members' aliases: "JoJo" Hailey, Donald "DeVante Swing" DeGrate, and Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey; the group also includes Dalvin DeGrate. Natives of Charlotte, NC, all four members toured the South as young boys singing gospel music, even recording albums; both families belonged to the Pentecostal church, and the DeGrates' father was a minister. The boys were able to hear each other's gospel songs played on the radio, and eventually were introduced through girlfriends as teenagers. However, when they did meet, K-Ci was with a girl Dalvin had been dating, and a fight nearly broke out. The Hailey brothers and DeVante started hanging out together, partying and talking about making R&B records together, coming up with the name Jodeci at this time.
At age 16, DeVante ran away to Minneapolis to get a job in Prince's organization, but was refused. He returned to Charlotte, where he wrote a song and recorded JoJo singing it. The two planned on going to New York to shop the demo around by themselves, but both K-Ci and Dalvin decided to tag along at the last minute. By the time they got to New York, they had demo recordings of 29 songs, which they brought to the offices of Uptown Entertainment. They were almost rejected, but rapper Heavy D overheard the tape and talked Uptown president Andre Harrell into hearing the group. Harrell was impressed, and just like that, Jodeci signed a recording contract. In 1991, they recorded Forever My Lady, which featured the gold single "Come and Talk to Me" and went on to sell over three million copies. A minor feud resulted over the band's follow-up album, Diary of a Mad Band; Jodeci, unhappy with their treatment by Uptown, flirted with the idea of leaving for Dr. Dre's Death Row Records, which resulted in almost zero promotion for their new album. It didn't matter much, as Diary went platinum. The group's troubles got worse in 1993; DeVante and K-Ci were involved in an incident with a woman K-Ci met at a club and brought back to DeVante's apartment. The woman filed charges against the two, saying that K-Ci had threatened her and fondled her breast, while DeVante pointed a gun at her. Both pleaded guilty, but that wasn't all; shortly afterwards, DeVante's house was robbed of over 160,000 dollars in jewelry and clothes as the singer was held with guns in his mouth and at the back of his head.
Jodeci's third album, The Show, the After Party, the Hotel, was released in the summer of 1995. DeVante also was afforded the opportunity to work with Al Green, one of his idols, writing and producing the song "Could This Be the Love." ~ Steve Huey, Rovi
Jodeci Albums:
* 1991: Forever My Lady #18 US (3x platinum)
* 1993: Diary of a Mad Band #3 US (2x platinum)
* 1995: The Show, The After Party, The Hotel #2 US (platinum)
* 2005: Back to The Future: The Very Best of Jodeci (300,000)
Jodeci Singles:
* 1991: "Gotta Love"
* 1991: "Stay" (US #41, R&B #1)
* 1991: "Forever My Lady" (US #25, R&B #1)
* 1991: "Come and Talk to Me" (US #11, R&B #1)
* 1993: "Cry For You" (US #15, R&B #1)
* 1993: "Feenin'" (US #25, R&B #2)
* 1993: "Lately" (US #4, R&B #1)
* 1993: "Let's Go Through the Motions" (US #65)
* 1994: "What About Us" (R&B #14)
* 1995: "Freek'n You" (US #14, R&B #3)
* 1995: "Love U 4 Life"
* 1996: "Get on Up" (US #22, R&B #4)
Jodeci Side-Projects:
(K-Ci & JoJo)
* 1997: Love Always
* 1999: It's Real
* 2000: X
* 2002: Emotional
* 2005: All My Life "Their Greatest Hits"
(Dalvin Degrate)
* 2000: Met.A.Mor.Phic
(K-Ci Solo)
* 2006: My Book
Come&Talk to Me
Jodeci Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For a long time
You look so good
Got my eyes on you)
I've been watching you
For so very long
Trying to get my nerve built up to be so strong
But I'm kind of scared
'Cause you're the kind of lady
With so much class
Get my thoughts together
For the very next day
But when I see you lady
I forget what to say
Your eyes and hair
Such a beautiful tone
The way you dress and walk
It really turns me on
Ooh, you really turn me on
Come on, come on, come on
Come and talk to me
I really wanna meet you
Can I talk to you?
I really wanna know you
Come and talk to me
I really wanna meet you
Can I talk to you?
I really wanna know you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
There you are again
With the same smile each day
I wanna know what it is that makes me feel this way
I wish I could grab you
Tell you what it means to me
To see you walking by my way
It really makes my day
Before I go to sleep and dream about you
I'm a single man
I hope that you are single too
Why do I seek
Something to set my mind free
'Cause curiousity is buggin' the hell outta me, baby
Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, baby
Come and talk to me
I really wanna meet you
Can I talk to you?
I really wanna know you
Come and talk to me
I really wanna meet you
Can I talk to you?
I really wanna know you, baby
(You wanna tell me your name) wanna tell me your name
Let me play your game, ooh
You wanna tell me your name, ooh
(Let me play your game)
(I wanna) come and talk to me (come on, come on)
I really want, I really want, I really want, I really want to know you
Can I talk to you?
I really want, I really want, I really want, I really want to know you
Come and talk to me
I really want, I really want, I really want, I really want to know you
Come and talk to me
I really want, I really want, I really want, I really want to know you
I want you know you
I wanna know
You wanna tell me your name (tell me your name)
I wanna know
I wanna know
You wanna tell me your name (I wanna know ya)
Let me play your game (let me in your game, ooh)
I wanna know
Let me play your game
The lyrics to Jodeci's song "Come & Talk to Me" are a classic example of a man trying to work up the courage to approach a woman he's been admiring from afar. The song opens with the man confessing that he's been "watching you baby for a long time" and is struck by how good she looks. He's been trying to build up the nerve to talk to her, but she seems so classy and sophisticated that he's intimidated.
The chorus is the main plea of the song - come and talk to me. He really wants to get to know her and is hoping she's single. He dreams about her at night and is curious to find out more about her. He even offers to play her game and asks her to tell him her name. It's a straightforward love song about desire and connection.
The song is noteworthy for its smooth and sensual R&B sound that was a hallmark of Jodeci's style. It was featured on their breakthrough album "Forever My Lady" and helped establish the group as one of the biggest R&B acts of the '90s. The song was a hit on the charts, reaching #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been watching you
I have been observing you for an extended period of time.
For so very long
For a significant period of time.
Trying to get my nerve built up to be so strong
Attempting to build courage to approach you.
I really want to meet you
I am very interested in meeting you.
But I'm kind of scared
However, I am intimidated.
Cause you're the kind of lady with so much class
Because you are a woman of refined elegance.
Get my thoughts together for the very next day
Collecting my thoughts in preparation for the following day.
But when I see you lady I forget what to say
When I see you in person, I become speechless.
Your eyes and hair such a beautiful tone
Your eyes and hair are aesthetically pleasing.
The way you dress and walk it really turns me on
Your attire and gait have a significant impact on me.
Come and talk to me
Please approach me to converse.
I really wanna meet you
I have a strong desire to acquaint myself with you.
Can I talk to you?
May I engage in conversation with you?
I really wanna know you
I long to become more familiar with you.
There you are again with the same smile each day
There you are once more, displaying the same expression every day.
I wanna know what it is that makes me feel this way
I would like to comprehend the reason for these emotions.
I wish I could grab you
I desire to physically touch you.
Tell you what it means to me
And describe the importance you hold for me.
Before I go to sleep and dream about you
Prior to my slumber and subconscious thoughts of you.
I'm a single man
I am currently unattached romantically.
I hope that you are single too
I aspire for you to be in similar circumstances.
Why do I seek something to set my mind free
Why do I yearn for a release from my current state of mind.
'Cause curiosity is buggin' the hell outta me baby
Due to my incessant curiosity.
Wanna tell me your name, wanna tell me your name
Would you divulge your name to me, please?
Let me play your game, ooh
Will you permit me to participate in your social activities?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DONALD DEGRATE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chrisfranklin4620
I was at work this was in the early 90's, someone kept playing this song all night to get my attention because he was not a talker, this man became my husband we were married in 1996, my husband passed in 2018, thank you Alan for the memories this song is so beautiful an it means so much to me.
@chrisfranklin4620
@@james441 no.
@putgodfirst1192
So sorry to hear that and God Bless you!!
@karlenmgl
Sorry for your lose
@quemgg
What a beautiful story!! Glad you have the memories. 💜 ❤️ ♥️
@tatevospaskevichyan9739
How sweet! I'm sorry for your loss.
@ClubDiva
I don't care what anyone says. Jodeci was the best R&B group ever.
@cliffscott4469
Facts delvin devante k Ci and jojo jodeci 4eva
@famousdame1714
Duh
@blacrotesthephilosopher885
Of our lifetime, pay respects to our parents and grandparents. But I'm with you.