"Two Occasions" is an
R&B song written by
Babyface,
Darnell Bristol and
Sid Johnson (who was the former manager for Babyface's early group, Manchild). It was produced by Babyface and
L.A. Reid for
the Deele
The Deele (pronounced like "deal") is an American band from Cincinnati, Ohio who achieved success in the 1980s with such hit singles as " Body Talk" and "Two Occasions". When the group began recording in the early 1980s, the lineup consisted of ...
's third studio album ''
Eyes of a Stranger'' (1987). The
ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or '' ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...
was released as the album's second
single in December 1987.
It is the only song on the album that features Babyface on lead vocals,
which alternate between himself, Bristol, and Carlos "Satin" Greene throughout the course of the song. It has since been remade into a live version with added vocals from Babyface with all original vocals from the Deele intact; this version appeared on the 12-inch maxi single and also three years later on his album, ''
A Closer Look''.
Reception
Craig Lytle, in his review of the album for
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the dat ...
, called "Two Occasions" a "
quiet-storm classic" with "superb arrangement and production", declaring the song "worthy of a number-one ranking."
[ In 1989, the song won a BMI Pop Award.]
Although the band's first hit " Body Talk" actually had a higher placement on the R&B chart
The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...
, "Two Occasions" is widely considered The Deele's most successful single. It peaked at number 10 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, number four on the Hot Black Singles
The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by ''Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...
chart and number 21 on the Adult Contemporary
Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quiet ...
chart.[
]
Charts
Legacy
The song and Babyface were referenced by Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the ...
in her 2005 hit song, "We Belong Together
"We Belong Together" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her 10th studio album, '' The Emancipation of Mimi'' (2005). The song was released on March 15, 2005, through Island Records, as the second single from the album. " ...
", and sampled in the remix.
References
{{Reflist
1987 singles
The Deele songs
Songs written by Babyface (musician)
Song recordings produced by Babyface (musician)
Songs written by Darnell Bristol
1987 songs
1980s ballads
Contemporary R&B ballads
Song recordings produced by L.A. Reid
Quiet storm songs
SOLAR Records singles