Early career:
Mario Winans was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina but grew up in Detroit. He is a member of gospel music's most notable family, the Winans, being the son of Marvin Winans and Vickie Winans. He is also the nephew of gospel singers BeBe Winans and CeCe Winans.
Winans started out learning music in school learning piano, keyboards, and drums. His mother Vicki Winans bought him a roomful of recording equipment, and he learnt the function of every piece of equipment. He started producing gospel groups straight out of high school and soon accumulated credits for Fred Hammond, The Anointed, and the Clark Sisters as well as various Winans family member albums.
In the mid-1990's, he signed a production deal with Dallas Austin's Rowdy Records. His breakthrough came with credits on the tracks "I Can't Sleep Baby" and "You Remind Me Of Something" on R. Kelly's R. Kelly album in 1995. Work with Pebbles and 98 Degrees soon followed.
Winans released his debut album Story of my Heart on Motown in 1997. While the song "Don't Know" reached the U.S. R&B top 50, the album failed to chart.
Soon after, Winans teamed up with P. Diddy and his Bad Boy roster. His first work with Bad Boy was playing drums on "Come With Me" in 1998 by Diddy and Jimmy Page, based on the classic Led Zeppelin song "Kashmir" from their 1975 album Physical Graffiti.
Over the past few years, Winans has racked a sizeable list of production credits for Bad Boy artists including Diddy, The Notorious B.I.G., Lil' Kim, Faith Evans, Loon, Black Rob, and 112. He has also worked with notable artists outside Bad Boy including Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Tamia, and Brian McKnight.
Winans co-wrote the 2-part song "I Need a Girl" with P. Diddy and appeared on the "Pt. 2" version with Loon, Ginuwine, and Diddy, which became a hit recording in 2002. He also produced the Bad Boy remix compilation We Invented The Remix in 2002.
Solo Success:
Winans recorded his second album Hurt No More in 2001, 2002, and 2003 in between his busy schedule working with other artists. The album is based on stories of love and betrayal.
The first single "I Don't Wanna Know" was based on a sample of the Fugees' 1996 hit single "Ready Or Not", which itself was based on a slowed-down sample of the instrumental track "Boadicea" by Enya from her 1987 self-titled album. Enya and her representatives became annoyed since Winans did not seek her approval for the sample, as he was unaware that the Fugees sample he had used had itself been a sample. So, a compromise was reached to credit the single as "Mario Winans featuring P. Diddy and Enya". [1]. The song features a rap by P. Diddy and radio programmers and club DJs started playing the track when it started appearing on mixtapes. The song was released as the single in early 2004 and became a worldwide hit going to #1 in Germany and on the rhythmic top 40 radio chart in the United States; to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, on the U.S. R&B/Hip-Hop singles chart, and on the world internet download charts; and to #3 on a composite world R&B chart (based on the R&B charts in the U.S., UK, Germany, France, and Australia) and on both the Australian and Norwegian singles charts. It also reached the top ten on a composite European singles chart.
Hurt No More was released on April 20, 2004 in the U.S. and, by early June 2004, had reached #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, #2 on the Billboard 200, and #3 on the UK's album chart.
The album's second single, "Never Really Was", used a sample of the orchestrated beginning of Madonna's 1986 hit, "Papa Don't Preach", as its background music. However, the song failed to chart in America.
Mr. Cool
Mario Winans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Saw you standin' in the crowd, just waitin'
For me to call you out, and take this
To another level, baby
I feel it comin' on, I'm anxious
It's really catchin' on, contagious
Our eyes are having conversations
And I'm startin' to lose my patience
Mister Cool (hey, baby)
I'm open on, everything you do
I wanna know if it's cool
I'm sayin' I like the way you move
I wanna know, Mister Cool
Hey, baby
I've been tryin' to get at you, my lady
And you know that I want to roll, quit playin'
I'm trippin' on how long it's takin'
I want to get to know you better
There's so much we can do, together, baby
Girl, don't make me wait, forever
I'm feelin' like it's now or never, baby
Mister cool (my lady)
I'm open on everything you do (and I'm feelin you)
I wanna know if it's cool (my baby, oh, yes it is)
I'm sayin' I like the way you move (and I like you too)
I wanna know, Mister Cool
If you open up to me
Baby, then you will receive
Everything you'll ever need
Do you know what this could mean?
You should listen to your heart
Here and now is where it starts
Baby, come and talk to me
I wanna know
Mister cool
I'm open on everything you do
I wanna know if it's cool
I'm sayin' I like the way you move
I wanna know, Mister Cool
I'm open on everything you do
I wanna know if it's cool
I'm sayin' I like the way you move
I wanna know, Mister Cool
The lyrics of Mario Winans's song "Mr. Cool" reflect the feeling of excitement and anticipation between two people who are attracted to each other. The singer the spotlights the woman and expresses his interest in getting to know her. The lyrics highlight the connection between the two people as they engage in conversation through their eyes, and the singer is beginning to lose his cool because he wants to be with her. The chorus emphasizes the connection between the singer and the woman by calling him Mr. Cool, which may suggest that he is a confident, cool guy who knows what he wants and how to get it. The lyrics emphasize the singer's desire to get to know the woman better and assure her that she will receive everything she needs if she opens up to him.
Line by Line Meaning
Here we are right now, my baby
We are currently in the same space, my love
Saw you standin' in the crowd, just waitin'
I noticed you standing in the midst of the people, patiently anticipating my attention
For me to call you out, and take this
For me to publicly acknowledge you and proceed further with our potential relationship
To another level, baby
To a deeper, more serious level, my dear
I feel it comin' on, I'm anxious
I sense our connection growing stronger, and I am excited and nervous
It's really catchin' on, contagious
Our chemistry is intensifying and spreading, like a contagious feeling
Our eyes are having conversations
We are communicating non-verbally through our eyes
And I'm startin' to lose my patience
I am becoming impatient with the slow progression and want to move forward quickly
Mister Cool (hey, baby)
Calling my potential partner Mr. Cool (hey, baby)
I'm open on, everything you do
I am receptive to everything you do or say
I wanna know if it's cool
I would like to know if you approve or agree with my actions or intentions
I'm sayin' I like the way you move
I am expressing my admiration for the way you carry yourself and your behavior
I wanna know, Mister Cool
I desire to understand your perspective and thoughts, Mr Cool
Hey, baby
Addressing my potential significant other as a term of endearment
I've been tryin' to get at you, my lady
I have been attempting to capture your attention and affection, my lady
And you know that I want to roll, quit playin'
You are aware that I am interested in pursuing a relationship with you, so stop playing hard to get
I'm trippin' on how long it's takin'
I am amazed by how slow our relationship is progressing and becoming impatient
I want to get to know you better
I desire to deepen our connection and understanding of each other
There's so much we can do, together, baby
There are numerous experiences and adventures we can share together, my dear
Girl, don't make me wait, forever
I would like to make progress in our relationship in a reasonable timeframe
I'm feelin' like it's now or never, baby
I sense that this moment is pivotal for our potential relationship
If you open up to me
If you become vulnerable and honest with me
Baby, then you will receive
My dear, then you will receive my love and understanding
Everything you'll ever need
Everything you require, now and forever
Do you know what this could mean?
Do you comprehend the potential of what our relationship could become?
You should listen to your heart
You ought to trust your own feelings and intuition
Here and now is where it starts
This moment in time is the beginning of our relationship
Baby, come and talk to me
My darling, let us converse and communicate with each other
I'm open on everything you do
I am receptive to everything you do or say
I wanna know if it's cool
I would like to know if you approve or agree with my actions or intentions
I'm sayin' I like the way you move
I am expressing my admiration for the way you carry yourself and your behavior
I wanna know, Mister Cool
I desire to understand your perspective and thoughts, Mr Cool
I'm open on everything you do
I am receptive to everything you do or say
I wanna know if it's cool
I would like to know if you approve or agree with my actions or intentions
I'm sayin' I like the way you move
I am expressing my admiration for the way you carry yourself and your behavior
I wanna know, Mister Cool
I desire to understand your perspective and thoughts, Mr Cool
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Tijuan Frampton, Michael Jones, Kandice Love, Nile Gregory Rodgers, Mario Winans
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind