A great song has the power to transport you back in time to the moment you first fell in love with it, and when the perfect song is paired with the perfect scene, that’s the true definition of movie magic. From “As” to “This Woman’s Work” these throwback jams provided the perfect soundtrack for our favorite Black romantic comedies, and they stuck with you long after the credits rolled. Are you ready for a trip down memory lane?
The Photograph
Here by honorable mention, and although not used in any of the movie's scenes, H.E.R.'s acoustic single, "Comfortable," could not be left off this list. The guitar-driven instrumentation is accented by just the right amount of modern production with H.E.R.'s mellosmoothe, melodic vocals, and lyrics, made for a perfect late night, cuddled up, suited with a glass of wine.
The Best Man
Another honorable mention -- When we hear “Candy” by Cameo there is only one thing that comes to mind -- the electric slide in The Best Man. No Black wedding is complete without a two-step to this cut.
10. Deliver Us From Eva
What else would be more perfect than Rufus & Chaka Khan's, "Sweet Thing" to ease the tension of a first date as it did for "Ladies Love" (LL Cool J) and Gabrielle Union in Deliver Us From Eva. The song is easily a great way of getting to know someone's music taste.
9. Think Like A Man
John Legend's “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)” is a song that instantly reminds us of many of the scenes from Think Like A Man. This was one song that was undoubtedly played quite too often for various scenes of the same film, but certainly left an impression and when this song is played, no other movie comes to mind.
8. Love Jones
It was Dionne Farris’ hit, "Hopeless" that played with the opening credits of Love Jones, contradicting the feeling of hopefulness it gave us watching the enticing modern, soulful love between Darius Lovehall and Nina Mosley. Although, Maxwell's "Sumthin' Sumthin' (Mellosmoothe cut) is what resonates through our minds as we reminisce on the first time the two made love.
7. The Wood
Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn’s classic R&B jam “If This World Were Mine” made Mike and Alicia’s sweet teenage hookup in The Wood even sweeter. Their homecoming dance to her favorite song is a movie moment in time we’ll never let go of, which I'd like to believe was the inspiration from the R&B group, Next's 1998 single, "Too Close."
"Baby when we're grindin', I get so excited -- Ooh how I like it, I try but I can't fight it. Oh, you're dancing real close, plus it's real slow -- you're making it hard for me."
6. Waiting To Exhale
Before Angie Stone's voice came to mind with visuals of Joan, Toni, Mya and Lynn, "Count On Me," was the original girlfriend's anthem. Thank you Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans for giving us this beautiful song about true friendship which is shown all throughout Waiting To Exhale.
5. Brown Sugar
Erykah Badu and Common perfectly set the scene for Dre and Sidney’s love story in Brown Sugar with “Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop).” Ms. Badu gave us both a hit and a love story to cherish for a lifetime.
"My love is his and his is mine. A friend became the love of my life. You are my friend -- love of my life. I can depend -- love of my life. Without you, baby -- it feels like a sampled true love, yeah -- but sh*t didn't clear."
4. Boomerang
Boomerang gave us the slap heard around the theater when Halle Berry’s hand connected with Eddie Murphy’s cheek. The movie also gave us “Love Shoulda Brought You Home Last Night” from Toni Braxton which is a forever jam for a woman scorned.
3. The Best Man Holiday
The Best Man Holiday truly blessed us all when the men of the film did their own lip-synced rendition of New Edition’s “Can You Stand The Rain” routine, complete with outfits. The hats, the spin, and the homage to Ralph, Ronnie, Ricky, Bobby, Johnny, and Mike was truly unforgettable and still performed now, even at wedding receptions!
2. Love & Basketball
When Quincy couldn’t take his eyes off Monica during the homecoming dance as Zapp & Roger's “I Wanna Be Your Man” played, we knew the love was undeniable between the two in Love & Basketball.
1. The Best Man
Who can forget that flashback moment in The Best Man when Stevie Wonder’s “As” plays inside the cozy college newsroom when a young Harper and Jordan first recognize the spark between them? When the song started to skip just as their lips locked in a passionate kiss, we were just as disappointed as they were. That’s when we knew we would indeed be loving them always.
This is a solid list! Great trip down memory lane with these films and their soundtracks.