Customer Reviews

If I Ever Fall in Love

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was in high school when Shai came out. A classmate asked me have I ever heard of them and I told him no. Man, I watched Video Soul that night and "If I Ever" came on. I was completely blown away by the beat and then I saw Garfield Bright and he took it to another level. I was bait,hook,line and sinker. As I grew older, I got more into their lyrics and the overall message they were trying to send. It was about Love,Life,Education,Poverty,Happiness,Sadness,etc.
I love these guys. All of them and it has been a life long dream just to meet them and vibe with them. I just hate that the industry they're in is showing them no love whatsoever.

But as I read the reviews here, I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels that way. Who could ever forget "Together Forever".That is like the ultimate wedding song. Can you imagine walking down the aisle to eternity to a song of that magnitude? These fellas need their fans. I heard through the grapevine they supposed to have a new album coming out sans Carl Martin. A part of me still hopes he will rejoin the group,but who knows?

They have a fan in me for life
Peace

When people think of Shai (Carl Martin, Marc Gay, Darnell VanRensalier, Garfield Bright, Carl "Groove" Martin), they think of the smooth silkiness of their voices, which usually makes such weaknesses, on their debut, easy to ignore.

At the close of 1992, the urban contemporary vocal quartet missled to the top of the pop and R&B charts with their extremely, harmony-rich, successful debut album, ...If I Ever Fall in Love, not to mention the number one, gorgeous, title track. Though, the single isn't the only flat-out impressive track here. The new jack swing numbers, "Free," (which the foursome only raps on) and "Waiting For The Day," are as good as anything the genre had ever offered, with the second having a hook similar to the Janet Jackson/Luther Vandross duet, "The Best Things In Life Are Free." There are more signs of promise on the Jodeci sound-a like tracks, "Don't Wanna Play," and the catchy "Changes," but the highlight moment on the second half of the album is the huge hit "Baby I'm Yours" (No. 10 Billboard, No. 19 R&B). It's a captivating number, thats shows-off the vocal quartets vocal talents, in terms of seductive vocal-harmonizing. The Whistle influenced piano ballad, "Together Forever," is absolutely beautiful as is the enticing hit "Comforter" (No. 10 Billboard, No. 4 R&B).

Most of the material doesn't match Shai's vocal talents, but they do not lack quality material like most early-90 group's.

Being that I am an huge Shai fan, I thought their first cd was the bomb. Every song on that cd you could bob your head to. They mixed jazzy beats with romantic tunes. "Together Forever" and "Comforter" were(are) the ultimate love songs. Although Shai didn't get their much needed props on their two follow up albums (Blackface and Destiny). I thought they showed a more mature side. If you haven't picked up "Blackface" and "Destiny," stop what you're doing and go pick it up NOW!

Shai is a four man collective who were one of many harmonizing young men's groups of the early 90's. This particular group had a strong sense of harmony and were one of the better singing groups to come out during that time. The title track 'If I Ever Fall In Love" is a classic unforgettable ode to broken relationships. Definitely one the best R&B songs of my generation that I have ever heard, if not THE best. You know they also add some more hits off this cd as well. They weren't like H-Town, Intro, Hi-Five, or the Rude Boyz; one hit and that's it. "Comforter" is another one of their essential love songs and "Baby I'm Yours", a song about staying truthful to their partners, is also great. "Sexual" became an underground baby making hit, 'Waiting For THe Day' is a smooth with a moving groove. The whole cd is amazing. This album took me down memory lane. Albums like these are the reason many people say that R&B has fallen off. ( I don't think so though!). People my age hold this album close to their heart because it is symbolic of the times, and mostly childhood memories pop into your mind. Enough of my rambling...this is a must have! Get It any way possible.

This cd is really good. I LOVE "Comforter"! I can listen to that song over and over again.

This album was a gem. I loved every track from the word "go" except Flava (which eventually grew on me).

I haven't heard a group sound this tight in a long time. What ever happened to SHAI? I miss their harmonies. They will never be a one hit wonder in my eyes.

In my mind Shai will be together forever. This is a must-have CD if you grew up in the eighties. Unforgetable music.

I really admired the group Shai, but the reviewer "The-Truth" said that Hi-Five, Intro, H-Town, and Rude Boys were one hit wonders. Let's reminisce for a minute: Hi-Five-- I Like The Way (The Kissing Game), She's Playing Hard To Get, I Can't Wait Another Minute, Quality Time, Never Should've Let You Go, Unconditional Love.
H-Town-- Knockin Da Boots, Emotions, Nice and Slow, Part Time Lover, A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Lick U Up, Natural Woman
Intro-- Come Inside, Let Me Be The One, Love Thang, Funny How Time Flies, and Ribbon in the Sky (Stevie Wonder remake).
Rude Boys-- It's Written All Over Your Face, Are You Lonely For Me and My Kinda Girl.

I just had to clear that up because those are some excellent groups from the early-to-mid 90s.

Shai mixes great bass with other musics to create more than the average R&B sounds in this CD. My husband and I both love the sounds this group shares.

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Got myspace?? Search & Add Shai.

"Sexual Interlude" opens the CD nicely with the best use of a saxophone over an 808 drum kit and 3 piano chords ever done. A must for any night-cap situation. The male spoken-word voice makes a great treat for you ladies. Great opener for the album. THe rest of the album only gets better with amazing 808-jazz from Carl "Groove" Martian with the likes of "Comforter", the Title track (remix and original), "Sexual", "Together Forever", "Waiting For The Day" being obvious highlights. Definately ahead of its time and till this day, hasn't been duplicated. One poster said they didn't rival Boyz II Men. Hmm.. I wonder if were talking about the same group. While I don't prfess these guys to outright outdo Boyz II Men, but even Boyz II Men would be hard pressed to try and duplicate the rich barritone harmonies of this super-group. This CD is timeless and would even be relivant today with R&B infusing 808 into their songs but not quite pulling it off like Shai did 15 years ago. This CD is a MUST have!! I highly recommend.

This album may have a few average songs but the good songs more than compensate. It is very rare for a song to be a classic and If I Ever Fall In Love again is the classic r&b song of our generation. It has already been remade by a European group (they love to rip off good US music). This cd also contains my all time favorite song, Comfortor. I bought this when it first came out in 1992 and I still listen to Comfortor on a regular basis. It just will never go out of style. Another standout is Baby I'm Yours, a song about the vurnerability one feels when first falling in love. This song continues to uplift me. I really do believe that R&B has fallen off. Now everyone wants to be a thug and mediocre songs sell because they have a big name attached (hint R.Kelly). And don't get me started on Ashanti, she can't sing and she can't dance so who is she entertaining? I don't even listen to the radio anymore, most of my friends don't, its all garbage. Instead I rather listen to my early 90's R&B, the good old days when we had Boyz II Men, Jodeci, Shai, Silk, back when R.Kelly wrote songs about adult women. Back when Monica and Brandy actually put out good albums.