Phil Collins, Elton John, and Gloria Estefan dominated Adult Contemporary radio back in the 1980s and '90s, yet have disappeared from modern radio. Seemingly, the only time you ever hear them is at the grocery store or your local CVS. This blog remembers the music, the stories and the quirky characters from my days working in Adult Contemporary radio.
Now, when I have problems with my
relationships, which is most of the time,
I find out that it's better to take the
focus off myself and put it to others.
I don't wanna be around no kids.
I wanna go home and sit in my house
and look at the wall and listen to Sade.
- And that's fun?
- No, but that's where my head is at.
That's where I need to be. I don't wanna
paint. You can't paint my misery away.
Read more: https://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=boomerang
"Now when I have problems with my relationships, which is most of the time, I find that it's better to take focus off myself and put it to others."
"I don't wanna be around no kids. I wanna go home and sit in my house and look at the wall and listen to Sade."
"And that's fun?"
"No, but that's where my head is at. That's where I need to be."
-Halle Berry & Eddie Murphy in the 1992 movie Boomerang
Toni Braxton can thank Eddie Murphy's dramedy Boomerang for propelling her career -- but she can also thank Anita Baker for being pregnant. Let's explain: in the '80s, Braxton originally performed with her sisters in a group named The Braxtons. The five ladies didn't manage to breakthrough, but Toni's solo effort with "Love Shoulda Brought You Home" on the Boomerang Soundtrack happened by chance. Anita Baker was supposed to sing the ballad, but she was pregnant at the time and recommended Braxton sing the tune. The result was Braxton's first solo hit and a record deal with Babyface's LaFace Records. A year later, Toni released her first solo album with "Breathe Again" achieving Top 5 status on the Adult Contemporary Chart.
Right toward the end of Eddie Murphy's relevance as a bona fide movie star, he decided to tackle a more serious role in the movie Boomerang. The movie was a huge success--helping launch Halle Berry's acting career as well as Toni Braxton's singing career thanks to a soundtrack loaded with radio-ready hits. Braxton wasn't the only one to benefit from the soundtrack. PM Dawn struck gold with the ballad "I'd Die Without You". Its reign on the 1992 Hot 100 lasted 16 weeks. You couldn't hide from this song on Chicago's B-96 during the summer of 1992, and with good reason.