Red Light Special

Album

CrazySexyCool

Label

LaFAce records

Genre

Contemporary R&B

Media Type

45s

Duration

5:04

Composer(s)

Babyface

Entered Chart

Mar 4, 1995

Peak Date

Apr 15, 1995

Released

February 17, 1995

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

LaFace 2-4097

B-Side

My Secret Enemy

In this slow jam, the ladies of TLC draw up a blueprint for a night of lovemaking, giving the lucky guy specific instructions: I'll let you go further If you take the southern route Don't go too fast Don't go too slow You've got to let your body flow "You have all these love songs about what the girl's going to do to the guy," Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes said in a video to promote the album. "This is like, 'Look, this is what we want. Do it up.'" If it's sexy R&B from the '90s, it's probably Babyface, who in addition to his own songs wrote love-makers for artists like Johnny Gill ("My, My, My"), Pebbles ("Love Makes Things Happen") and Boyz II Men ("I'll Make Love To You"). He wrote and produced "Red Light Special," imbuing it with his signature sensitivity that crossed gender lines - he steered clear of macho posturing. Babyface is also responsible for the 1992 hit "Baby-Baby-Baby" from TLC's first album. Kmart used to run Blue Light Specials, but they were definitely not sexy (unless you love a bargain). A "Red Light Special" in this context is part of a night of intimacy; it can be a kind of mood lighting or method of prolonging the pleasure. Sandwiched between the #1 hits "Creep" and "Waterfalls," "Red Light Special" was released as the second single from TLC's second album, CrazySexyCool. The group was signed to LaFace Records, an Atlanta-based collaboration between L.A. Reid and Babyface that could call on top talent. They had the top producers in the game work on the album - Dallas Austin, Jermaine Dupri, P. Diddy - and pushed it with lots of promotion. TLC was a local act that came on the scene with a fun, sexy look and sound that popped on radio and MTV. They got more refined for their second album, which did some character development, labelling each girl by a singular description: Left Eye: crazy Chilli: sexy T-Boz: cool The songs got loads of airplay and the girls got heaps of press coverage. CrazySexyCool went on to sell a staggering 12 million copies just in America; it stands as a defining album from the era, bringing R&B-pop to a new level. The music video is set in a "red light" district, with the girls in a brothel where they're the clients and the workers are guys. It was directed by Matthew Rolston, a fashion photographer who also did the "Creep" video. According to Babyface, the guitarist on this track was the session player Dwight Sills. They wanted Ernie Isley, but he wasn't available.

Take a good look at it, look at it now
 Might be the last time you'll have a go 'round
 I'll let you touch it if you like to go down
 I'll let you go further
 If you take the southern route
 Don't go too fast, don't go too slow 
 You've got to let your body flow
 I like 'em attentive and I like 'em in control
 Baby it's yours (all yours) 
 If you want it tonight
 I'll give you the red light special 
 All through the night
 Baby it's yours (all yours) 
 If you want it tonight
 Just come through my door
 Take off my clothes 
 And turn on the red light
 I know that you want me
 I can see it in your eyes (Haha)
 You might as well be honest
 'Cause the body never lies
 Tell me your secrets and I'll, I'll tell you mine
 I'm feelin' quite sexy and I want you for tonight
 If I move too fast just let me know
 'Cause it means you move too slow
 I like some excitement and I like a man that goes
 Baby it's yours (all yours)
 If you want it tonight
 I'll give you the red light special
 All through the night
 Baby it's yours (all yours)
 If you want it tonight
 Just come through my door
 Take off my clothes
 And turn on the red light
 If you want me
 Let me know it (Let me know)
 I'll make time but you've got to show it (You've got to show)
 If you need me (If you need me)
 I want to see (I want to see)
 But don't mistake me I don't want you down on your knees
 I need someone (I need someone)
 A real man (a real man)
 I need someone who understands (Who understands)
 I'm a woman (I'm a woman)
 A real woman (A real woman)
 I know just what I want
 I know just who I am...
 
 Baby it's yours (all yours)
 If you want it tonight
 I'll give you the red light special
 All through the night
 Baby it's yours (all yours)
 If you want it tonight
 Just come through my door
 Take off my clothes
 And turn on the red light
 Baby it's yours (all yours)
 If you want it tonight
 Red light special
 All through the night
 Baby it's yours (all yours)
 If you want it tonight
 Just come through my door
Take off my clothes
And turn on the red light