Chart Performance: Pop (#1) & R&B (#1); 1991
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Color Me Badd’s unique marketing approach led to a string of hit singles for the Oklahoma City quartet. The four formed as Take One in high school and stepped out in public at a talent show. Next the ambitious boys approached country superstar Ronnie Milsap and performed an impromptu acappella audition. Subsequent on-the-spot tryouts brought them an opening slot at a Bon Jovi concert and a trip to Manhattan courtesy of Kool & The Gang. Months later the OK gang – now known as Color Me Badd – had a record deal and a double platinum #1 R&B hit, I Wanna Sex You Up. For the second single, CMB teamed up with their high school talent show musical director, Hamza Lee. Encouraged by producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to create a English/Spanish song, CMB and Lee crafted a catchy composition that highlighted the group’s individual voices. I Adore Mi Amor topped the charts and CMB got a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2023 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Hamza Lee
- Royal Bayyan
Lyrics Written by:
- Hamza Lee
- Color Me Badd
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).
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