"Real Love" by Mary J. Blige - Musical Analysis #2

The song I chose is "Real Love" by Mary J. Blige from her album What's The 411?, which was released in 1992 by Uptown Records in the US. It was composed by Mark Rooney, and Mark "Prince Markie Dee" Morales. 

 

"Real Love" by Mary J. Blige

    Mary J. Blige is a well-known singer and is referred to as the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul. Before performing her own music, she was a backup singer for different artists until she released her first album, What's The 411? She has a very strong and powerful voice. 

Rhythm

    The song's rhythm goes well with the other components. It works well with the beat in the background that keeps it all together.  The tempo flows well and has an upbeat rhythm to it. 

Timbre 

    Mary J. Blige's vocal range is mezzo-soprano. She has a lively voice that brings her music alive. Palmer stated, "Yet admiration for Blige's powerful vocals and unique tone grew before her name was ever recognized." Her vocals sound like a mix of different genres such as soul and rhythm and blues. it is what makes her music distinctive.

Melody

    The different instruments have a very bouncy feeling to them. They make the music more touching and emotional. There was a lot of writing that I think described it nicely but this quote did it perfectly. "The piano and the drums demonstrate what real love would sound like and feel like" (Harvilla). I would say that describes the melody of the instruments marvelously. 

Lyrics

    The lyrics that Mary sings are based on her feelings. She stated that she wrote, " 'Real Love' based on my real-life experiences". The lyrics are deep and are such "love-searching lyrics with conviction and attitude," (Folk). I believe that the lyrics can be related to any teenager going through love and learning to deal with their feelings for another person. 

Harmonic Texture

    All together, the instruments make a lovely song with Blige's singing. Each part pops out and makes the song sound well put together. It complements her singing. During the solo parts, it is very smooth and has a dance feeling to it.

Sources: 

Jessica Wang  March 02, 2022 at 02:12 PM EST. “Mary J. Blige to Executive Produce Movie Inspired by Song ‘Real Love.’” EW.Com, ew.com/music/mary-j-blige-real-love-lifetime-movie-inspired-by-her-hit-song/. Accessed 15 Oct. 2023.

Folk, Antwane. “Revisiting Mary J. Blige’s ‘Real Love.’” Rated R&B, 6 June 2023, ratedrnb.com/2023/06/mary-j-blige-real-love-revisit/.

Palmer, Tamara. “Songbook: How Mary J. Blige Became the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul through Empathy, Attitude and an Open Heart.” Www.grammy.com, www.grammy.com/news/songbook-how-mary-j-blige-became-the-queen-of-hip-hop-soul-through-empathy-attitude-and-an-open-heart.

Harvilla, Rob. “Mary J. Blige and the Definitive “Real Love.”” The Ringer, 29 June 2022, www.theringer.com/2022/6/29/23187388/podcast-real-love-mary-j-blige-history-r-b-60-songs-90s. Accessed 16 Oct. 2023.