Teddy Pendergrass, Turn Off the Lights | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

On the 8^th edition of Throwback Vibez, we recollect and reflect on “Turn Off the Lights” by late soul artist, Teddy Pendergrass. 

T

he vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! On the 8^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶, we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Turn Off the Lights”, performed by 🎙 Teddy Pendergrass.

---

Theme & Lyrics ✍ 

“Turn off the lights and light a candle / Tonight I’m in a romantic mood, yeah.” Ooh-la-la! Back in the day, 🎙 Teddy Pendergrass would be characterized as risqué.  Why? Well, the handsome R&B singer’s music oozed with sex.  “Let’s take a shower, shower together / I’ll wash your body, and you’ll wash mine,” he sings on 🎵 “Turn Off the Lights,” adding, “Rub me down in some hot oils baby, yeah / And I’ll do the same thing for you.” He’d be tame in the 2020s where explicitness rules, but back when, his standout from his platinum-certified album, 💿 Teddy, pushed the envelope.  No, Mr. Pendergrass never utters the word sex, but he doesn’t have to – it’s obvious what he’s getting at on this 1979 🎼✍ 🎛 Kenneth Gamble and 🎼✍ 🎛 Leon Huff gem (“Girl I just wanna give you a special treat, you’re so sweet”).

The lushness of the production was enough to make “Turn Off the Lights” a hit.  Those warm, sensual sounds, the orchestra – awe inspiring (and sex-inciting).  Yes, Gamble and Huff constructed nothing short of musical excellence for Teddy Pendergrass.  Even so, Pendergrass is the star.  His voice is chocked-full of soul and authenticity.  Clearly, he sounds dedicated to his lover, expressively constructing this romantic, sensual evening with an utterly sublime vocal.  Truly, you buy what TP is selling, particularly when he dramatically sings, “Turn ‘em off.” One of my favorite moments is the outro section. Here, he’s supported by backing vocals (“Tell me what you wanna do / Tell me what you wanna do baby”), while he professes his love (+ sex) to her.  “Anything that you want / Anything that you need / I got it!” Woo!

---

Final Thoughts 💭

Sadly, there’ll never be another Teddy Pendergrass.  It’s amazing that following a horrific accident Mr. Pendergrass was able to continue his career.  While his voice never returned full force like it was before the accident, he was still successful, which speaks to how dynamic he was during those “Turn Off the Lights” days. “Turn Off the Lights” is the perfect throwback gem that also deserves a spot on After Dark 🕛 🌃 for obvious reasons!

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 11 Songs You Surely Must Turn Up

---

🎙 Teddy Pendergrass • 💿 Teddy • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 🗓 1979
Teddy Pendergrass, “Turn Off the Lights”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 8 [📷: Brent Faulkner, cotton bro,  The Musical Hype, Sony Music Entertainment]

---