Like the Jackson 5 before them, New Edition became a pop phenomenon, and were big enough to have Madonna as an opening act during their early days.
The group parted company with Starr in 1984; Starr responded by promptly creating the group New Kids on the Block, essentially New Edition with Caucasian teenagers. After the split the boys still received success from singles such as "Cool It Now, Mr. Telephone Man", and "Count Me Out". Around 1986, Bobby Brown was voted out of the group, due to behavioral problems during concerts, He went on to pursue a solo career in 1987 but did not find success in his solo ventures until 1988. Brown was replaced by former solo child star Johnny Gill who would become an official member that same year. The group's sound also evolved at this time from bubblegum pop-styled R&B to smoother, more adult music. The new material, primarily produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, had a strong new jack swing feel. The first album recorded with Gill, Heart Break, had numerous R&B hits, including "If It Isn't Love", "Can You Stand The Rain", "N.E. Heart Break", and "Boys To Men" (which later lent its name to the Philadelphia-based group Boyz II Men).
New Edition essentially broke up in 1989, with Bell, Bivins, and DeVoe forming the popular hip hop group Bell Biv DeVoe, Ralph Tresvant beginning his solo career and Gill restarting his solo career, with more success this time. In 1991, the group had a semi-reunion of sorts when they recorded a remix of the Bell Biv DeVoe track "Word To The Mutha!" in which all six members performed and appeared in the music video.
In 1996, the reunion became complete, as all six former members reunited for the Home Again album. Although the album featured the hit singles "Hit Me Off" and "I'm Still In Love With You", the ensuing tour would prove disastrous for the group. By the middle leg of the tour in 1997, Bobby Brown and Mike Bivins left, due to egos clashing and a less-than-harmonious time with the other members. The band canceled the tour and went on indefinite hiatus soon afterward.
The band reformed again in 2002 without Bobby Brown and released an album on Bad Boy Records entitled "One Love". They are currently working in the studio with plans to release another album with all six members in 2008.
If It Isn't Love
New Edition Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I tried to tell myself
But you can see it in my eyes
So don't deny
I can't fool no one else
The truth is in the tears I cry
'Cause if it isn't love
Why does she stay on my mind
And if it isn't love
Why does it hurt so bad
Make me feel so sad inside
If it isn't love
I told her I'd never fall in love
But now I know better
How does it feel
I can't describe this feelin'
That came when I saw her last night
She got to me
I'll let you know the reason
I saw her with another guy
So if it isn't love
Why do I feel this way
Why does she stay on my mind
And if it isn't love
Why does it hurt so bad
Make me feel so sad inside
And if it isn't love
Why do I feel this way
Why does she stay on my mind
And if it isn't love
Why does it hurt so bad
Make me feel so sad inside
If it isn't love
Maybe she'll take me back
(Hey girl he's begging)
I made a big mistake
(Won't you forgive him, girl)
Now I can feel it
(He's never felt before)
I really love her
(You love her, what?!)
It took my heart
To shatter in a thousand pieces
Before I'd ever drop my pride
Losing love worrying about my image
Really helped me realize
If it isn't love
Why do I feel this way (why does it hurt so bad?)
Why does she stay on my mind
(On my mind all the time)
If it isn't love
Why does it hurt so bad
(If it isn't love)
Make me feel so sad inside
(If it isn't love)
If it isn't love
If it isn't love
Why do I feel this way
Why does she stay on my mind
(She stays on my mind, mind, mind)
If it isn't love
Why does it hurt so bad
(Why does it hurt so bad?)
Make me feel so sad inside
If it isn't love
(If it isn't love)
Why do I feel this way
(If it isn't love)
Why does she stay on my mind
(If it isn't love)
If it isn't love
Why does it hurt so bad
(If it isn't love)
Make me feel so sad inside
(If it isn't, I can't describe this feeling that I feel for her)
If it isn't love
Why do I feel this way
Why does she stay on my mind
(Stay on my mind)
If it isn't love
Why does it hurt so bad
Make me feel so sad inside
If it isn't love
If it isn't love
"If It Isn't Love" is a song by American R&B group New Edition, written by songwriters Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who produced the track for their fourth studio album, "Heart Break" in 1988. The song is about a man who realizes he loves a woman he was previously dating and trying to convince her to take him back.
The song begins with the singer admitting to himself that he is still in love with the woman despite trying to convince himself otherwise. He questions his love for her and wonders where his feelings are coming from. He then recalls seeing her with another guy and feeling hurt, which made him realize that he truly loves her. He sings that if it isn't love, then why does he feel this way and why does she stay on his mind all the time? If it isn't love, then why does it hurt so bad and make him feel so sad inside?
The chorus repeats this sentiment, emphasizing that if it isn't love, then why does he feel so strongly and why is he unable to forget about her. The final verse hints at him begging for her forgiveness and admitting that he made a mistake in not realizing how much he loved her. He sings that it took his heart shattering into a thousand pieces for him to drop his pride and understand that worrying about his image was not worth losing her.
Overall, "If It Isn't Love" is a song about coming to terms with the fact that you love someone and being willing to swallow your pride to be with them. It touches on the pain and confusion that come with admitting your feelings and the fear of rejection.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't love her
I am trying to convince myself that I do not love her
I tried to tell myself
I am barely holding on to my denial
But you can see it in my eyes
My feelings for her are evident in my gaze
So don't deny
I am unable to hide my emotions any longer
I can't fool no one else
I am unable to deceive anyone, especially myself
The truth is in the tears I cry
I can't help but cry because of how much I love her
'Cause if it isn't love
If what I am feeling is not love
Why do I feel this way
Why am I feeling this way then
Why does she stay on my mind
Why does she keep appearing in my thoughts
And if it isn't love
And if this feeling is not love
Why does it hurt so bad
Why does it cause me so much pain
Make me feel so sad inside
Making me feel so unhappy and depressed
I told her I'd never fall in love
I had mentioned to her of my incapability to love
But now I know better
But now I have realized how wrong I was
How does it feel
What is this feeling I can't explain
I can't describe this feelin'
I am having difficulty explaining this feeling
That came when I saw her last night
I can't stop thinking about her after seeing her last night
She got to me
She affected me deeply
I'll let you know the reason
I will explain why
I saw her with another guy
I saw her with someone else
Maybe she'll take me back
Possibility of getting her back
(Hey girl he's begging)
Someone present urging her to accept him
I made a big mistake
I've messed up badly
(Won't you forgive him, girl)
Someone present urging her to forgive him
Now I can feel it
I now recognize what I feel
(He's never felt before)
Someone point out the novelty of his emotions
I really love her
I'm very much in love with her
(You love her, what?!)
Someone present is surprised by his confession
It took my heart
It took a lot of heartache
To shatter in a thousand pieces
To be completely broken down
Before I'd ever drop my pride
Before he could humble himself
Losing love worrying about my image
He realized that he was losing love because of his desire to maintain his reputation
Really helped me realize
It helped him to see the truth
(Stay on my mind, mind, mind)
The thought of her never leaves me
If it isn't love
If what I feel is not love
If it isn't, I can't describe this feeling that I feel for her
If it is not love, then he cannot put his finger on what it is that he's feeling
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James Harris, Terry Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@csheets40
I know this might be stupid for me to say out loud, but black people have the MOST INCREDIBLY SOULFUL voices, and it seems to come so naturally for them. Not forced at all. We owe so much thanks to these artists for giving us so much amazing music through all these years!
@vvtstokes
C Sheets no it’s not stupid..... U are just expressing an appreciation , no more no less.
@myriamthiam5330
I appreciate your compliment 👍🏾
@lenethaoquinn2444
Thank you for your compliment good looks🙏🙏
@csheets40
Thank you ladies, and I am really sincere when I say African Americans have the most beautiful voices! I grew up listening to Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Aretha, Marvin Gaye, Nat King Cole, and they are without a doubt some of the best! I could keep going on with the list, but I won't bore y'all. 😀
@0nlytati.2x
Thank u😁we appreciate it
@Museums8813
BET did the damn thang with the way they did this scene. Totally matched this video. Amazing casting. Seeing this video and then seeing BET recreate it is insane. They can teach Lifetime a thing or two.
@lovejangie1
+Altagrace Gustave Good post. Well said.
@Museums8813
lovejangie1 Thanks, boo!
@dee27206
Altagrace Gustave Well it helps to have all 6 members sign off on the movie. That's why it came to life... Because of NE.