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
Those Things
Jodeci Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know you got the same interest doin' the freak
You's fire, yeah you hot
Let's meet, yeah we should speak
Girl I just want to take you out
And do those things that lovers do
Girl I just want to take you out
And I wanna take you out
I'm steadily trying to find the words to say
'Cause you never gon' know, where the beat gon' flow
Hit a few notes, flip the track
Devante take 'em back
I've been watchin' you
For so very long
'Cause you are the one
You oughta talk to me
For the 3rd time, for the 4th time
For the 5th time, for the 8th time
For the 9th time, girl I don't mind
Speak your mind, 'cause if you got it
Consistency
Girl I just want to take you out
And do those things that lovers do
Girl I just want to take you out
And do those things that lovers do
I wanna take you out
And show you what this life is all about
Maybe take you to the moon
Maybe drive you down south
You can have a love tonight
I promise you, no doubt
Maybe later on
I'll get my tongue in your mouth
Wet and deep, girl
If you don't mind
You're so fine
Do you wanna go?
Baby I just gotta know and have to know
If we can get freaky tonight
Baby I just gotta know and have to know
If we can get freaky tonight
Baby I just gotta know and have to know
If we can get freaky tonight
Baby I just gotta know and have to know
If we can get freaky tonight
Close, close, let's get close
Close, close, let's get close
Close, close, let's get close
Close, close, let's get close
And I wanna take you out
Said I wanna take, I wanna take
Lovers do
Yeah baby get close
So let's get close
Let's get close
Girl I just want to take you out
And do those things that lovers do
Girl I just want to take you out
And do those things that lovers do
Girl I just want
In the song Those Things by Jodeci, the lead vocalist is trying to woo a woman he has been watching for a while. He is attracted to her and wants to take her out and do typical things that lovers do. He is trying to find the right words to say to her and is persistent in his pursuit of her. He wants to take her on a romantic getaway and promises her a night of love and passion. The chorus is a repetition of his desire to take her out and do things that lovers do.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey what's your name? Let's meet up in the sheets
The singer is interested in pursuing sexual activities with the listener and wants to know their name.
I know you got the same interest doin' the freak
The singer believes that the listener is interested in having sex as well.
You's fire, yeah you hot
The singer thinks that the listener is attractive and desirable.
Let's meet, yeah we should speak
The artist is suggesting that they should meet up and engage in conversation before potentially engaging in sexual activities.
Girl I just want to take you out
The artist wants to spend time with the listener, potentially going on a date.
And do those things that lovers do
The singer wants to engage in romantic activities with the listener.
And I wanna take you out
The singer reiterates their desire to spend time with the listener.
I'm steadily trying to find the words to say
The artist is struggling to express their feelings or desires to the listener.
'Cause you never gon' know, where the beat gon' flow
The artist believes that they cannot predict how their interaction with the listener will go.
Hit a few notes, flip the track
The artist is comparing their pursuit of the listener to making music and trying different approaches to win them over.
Devante take 'em back
This is likely a reference to Devante Swing, one of the members of the band Jodeci, and may be a nod to the band's musical style or influence on the song.
I've been watchin' you
The artist has been observing the listener, potentially for a while.
For so very long
The singer's observation of the listener has been ongoing and sustained.
'Cause you are the one
The singer believes that the listener is special or significant in some way.
You oughta talk to me
The singer wants the listener to engage in conversation with them.
For the 3rd time, for the 4th time
For the 5th time, for the 8th time
For the 9th time, girl I don't mind
Speak your mind, 'cause if you got it
Consistency
The artist wants the listener to be honest and consistent in their communication and actions towards them, regardless of how many times they have had interactions in the past.
I wanna take you out
And show you what this life is all about
The artist wants to introduce the listener to new experiences and potentially take them on adventures or explore life together.
Maybe take you to the moon
Maybe drive you down south
The singer is suggesting different activities or destinations they could share with the listener.
You can have a love tonight
I promise you, no doubt
The singer is expressing their commitment to potentially starting a romantic relationship with the listener.
Maybe later on
I'll get my tongue in your mouth
Wet and deep, girl
The artist is suggesting that they may want to engage in sexual acts with the listener in the future.
If you don't mind
You're so fine
Do you wanna go?
Baby I just gotta know and have to know
If we can get freaky tonight
The artist is asking the listener if they want to engage in sexual activities with them.
Close, close, let's get close
Close, close, let's get close
Close, close, let's get close
Close, close, let's get close
The artist is emphasizing their desire to be physically close to the listener.
Said I wanna take, I wanna take
Lovers do
Yeah baby get close
So let's get close
Let's get close
The singer is repeating their desire to engage in romantic and physical intimacy with the listener.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DONALD DEGRATE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind