They had their first U.S. hit in 1971 with "You're a Big Girl Now". Signing to Avco Records, The Stylistics began working with producer Thom Bell, who had already produced a catalogue of hits for The Delfonics, and songwriter Linda Creed. Bell imported the sweet soul techniques he had perfected with The Delfonics, and his arrangements worked perfectly with Thompkins' falsetto. The bittersweet lyrics from Creed were a key factor in creating hugely memorable music.
Their hits, distilled from three albums, from this period included "Betcha by Golly, Wow", "I'm Stone in Love with You", "You Make Me Feel Brand New" featuring a double lead with Love, "Stop, Look, Listen To Your Heart" and "You Are Everything". "You Make Me Feel Brand New" was the group's biggest U.S. hit, holding at #2 for two weeks in the spring of 1974, and was one of five U.S. gold singles the Stylistics collected. The Stylistics' smooth sound also found an easier path onto adult contemporary airwaves than other soul artists, and the group made Billboard magazine's Easy Listening singles chart twelve times from 1971 to 1976, with three entries, "Betcha By Golly, Wow," "You Make Me Feel Brand New," and "You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart)" reaching the Top 10.
The group split with Thom Bell in 1974, and the split proved devastating commercially to the group's success in the USA. Just as with The Delfonics, The Stylistics were to some extent a vehicle for Bell's own creativity. They struggled hard to find producers who could come up with the right material, and partnerships with Hugo & Luigi and Van McCoy were notably less successful. They left Avco for H&L Records and the Stylistics' popularity rapidly declined in the U.S., though their British popularity continued for the rest of the 1970s.
In 1980, James Dunn departed due to health problems, and James Smith left shortly thereafter. The group continued, recruiting new member Raymond Johnson, and releasing the album Some Things Never Change, in 1985. Johnson departed shortly afterward, leaving the group a trio. Love, Murrell, and Thompkins continued to tour until 2000, when original lead Thompkins left. Love and Murrell brought in two new members, Harold "Eban" Brown, formerly of the Delfonics, as lead ( who sounds amazingly like a young Russell Thompkins), and tenor Van Fields. The present group is featured live on the DVD's "The Stylistics Live at the Convention Center" (2006), as well as along with other artists of the '70's on the DVD "The Big Show."
In 2004, Russell Thompkins, Jr. started a new group, the New Stylistics, with the returning Raymond Johnson, James Ranton, and Jonathan Buckson. They are featured on the DVD "Old School Soul Party Live!," which was part of the PBS "My Music" series.
The Stylistics' catalog of hits have been mined frequently by other artists in recent years. Notable examples include "Betcha By Golly, Wow" covered by Prince, "You Are Everything" remade by Vanessa Williams, and "You Make Me Feel Brand New" redone by Boyz ll Men Roberta Flack and Simply Red. Mary J. Blige also used the chief line from the chorus of "You Are Everything" ("You are everything, and everything is you") in her 1997 hit "Everything." In 2006, Letoya Luckett used a similar sample to the background track of "You Are Everything" for the music to her hit single "Torn."
If You Don't Watch Out
The Stylistics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was stung by your sweet love before
And like a child at play
I was sure I would even the score
A bee loves honey
And you still attract me
And if I don't watch out, I'll fall in love with you again
And if I don't watch out, I'll fall in love with you again
(Falling, falling, ooh falling)
I was trapped like a fly
That was caught within a spider's web
No, you won't catch me twice
'Cause I won't be made a fool again
But your love is tempting
Don't make me give in
'Cause if I don't watch out, I'll fall in love with you again
(Falling, falling, ooh falling)
'Cause if I don't watch out, I'll fall in love with you again
(Falling, falling, ooh falling)
A bee loves honey
And you still attract me
And if I don't watch out, I'll fall in love with you again
(Falling, falling, ooh falling)
And if I don't watch out, I'll fall in love with you again
(Falling, falling, ooh falling)
And if I don't watch out, I'll fall in love with you again
(Falling, falling, ooh falling)
And if I don't watch out, I'll fall in love with you again
(Falling, falling, ooh falling)
The lyrics of The Stylistics' song "If You Don't Watch Out" are about a person who is cautious about falling in love with someone they have already been hurt by. The reference to a bee's sting indicates that the person has been hurt before by the same person's love, just like how a bee's sting can be painful. The second stanza is about how the person was caught in their significant other's trap like a fly in a spider web. The lyrics imply that the person won't fall for the same trick again, but they still find their significant other too tempting to not give in.
The chorus repeats the main theme of the song, which is that the person is still attracted to their significant other and will fall in love with them again if they don't watch out. The line "a bee loves honey" is used to illustrate how the person is drawn to their significant other despite the pain they have experienced in the past. The overall message of the song is about being cautious with love and not giving in to temptation, even when it seems hard.
Line by Line Meaning
Like the sting of a bee
Your love is irresistible and addictive, like the sting of a bee.
I was stung by your sweet love before
I have fallen in love with you before and been hurt by it, like being stung by a sweet but painful bee.
And like a child at play
Just like a child playing around, I thought I could get even with you.
I was sure I would even the score
I was certain that I could balance things out and get revenge for your past actions.
I was trapped like a fly
I was caught in a situation like a helpless fly caught in a spider's web.
That was caught within a spider's web
Just like a fly that is trapped in a spider's web, I was caught in your web of love.
No, you won't catch me twice
I won't allow myself to be caught in your trap again, I won't be fooled twice.
'Cause I won't be made a fool again
I won't let myself be taken for a fool again by falling for your tricks.
But your love is tempting
Despite everything, your love is still very tempting and alluring.
Don't make me give in
Please don't make me give in to my temptation and fall in love with you again.
'Cause if I don't watch out, I'll fall in love with you again
If I am not careful and keep my guard up, I will fall in love with you again and there will be no turning back.
A bee loves honey
Just like a bee loves honey, I am attracted to your sweet love.
And you still attract me
Despite everything that's happened, you still have a powerful attraction on me.
And if I don't watch out, I'll fall in love with you again
If I don't remain vigilant and continue to be tempted by you, I will fall in love with you again and be unable to resist.
And if I don't watch out, I'll fall in love with you again
Reiterating that I must be careful, or else I will fall in love with you again and there will be no turning back.
And if I don't watch out, I'll fall in love with you again
Constantly reminding myself that I must remain careful, or else I will be trapped in your love once again.
And if I don't watch out, I'll fall in love with you again
Final warning to myself that I must remain vigilant, lest I fall in love with you all over again.
Contributed by Liliana J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jaylene.turner6524
Written by
Thom Bell
and
Linda Creed
—————————
Lead Vocals:
Russell Thompkins,Jr.
—————————————
Background Vocals:
Russell Thompkins,Jr.
Thom Bell
Carl Helm
Bunny Sigler
Kenny Gamble
Phil Hurtt
————————————
Additional
Background Vocals:
Linda Creed
Barbara Ingram
Carla Benson
Yvette Benton
———————————
Instrumentation:
Thom Bell and MFSB
—————————————
Arranger,Conductor,
and Producer:
Thom Bell
———————————
Year:
1972
———————————
Album:
Round 2
@joylettecasey6215
I love this song 🎉
@adolisadolfas6855
This song definitely deserves to be among the top20 best of all time!
@charlenecoleman9522
I love this song 💕💕
@adolisadolfas6855
Greatest song of 1972
@norapalmer6118
"If I don't watch out, I'll fall in love with you again"!
@realtiesa5716
Nr. 1 Song of 1972
@dailtonalves6110
Música Linda parabéns pelo vídeo
@bryanwiley5511
And just like that, an uptempo song, not a ballad. I went crazy when I heard this song. Me & My cousins picked up anything that look like a mic. (spoon, brush, etc.), and of course all of us was Russell Thompkins Jr.
@lesliebest5562
I was a teen when this song came out which was over 40 some odd years ago! And the lyrics were ‘If ‘I’ don’t watch out! ‘YOU’ makes no sense whatsoever!!!!!
DO NOT SCREW WITH THE LYRICS OF ONE OF MY MOST BELOVED GROUPS OF ALL TIME!
@bebotsanchez
😂😂😂