Music Programmer: Jonathan Knox
Artist Selected: Rene & Angela
Song Selected: I’ll Be Good
Jonathan’s thoughts on the track…
“I’ll Be Good” is an underrated 80s gem that has an absolutely irresistible beat topped with a back and forth female-male vocal talking about love and trust. Relatable, sure, but that beat! As a result, this song can perk up an evening crowd in any hip establishment. Some people may recognize that the beat was later sampled by Jay Z’s protégé Foxy Brown on her 1997 single “I’ll Be.”
Personally, I always find it interesting to hear where a sample came from, and then how the original and the newer version compare. Sure, Foxy’s “I’ll Be” is fine, though strangely that version feels more dated than the ’85 original. Somehow both have seemed to escape any rotation at all despite the reaction the original gets. That said, I’m bringing it back! Plus you know it’s an awesome song when it’s not available on Spotify. Put it on, turn it up, and see if you can’t sit still — enjoy!
