Too Much | 5ive Songs

1. Ro James, “Too Much”

Ft. Miguel

💿 MANTIC • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2020

“Is it too much? / Wonder how much more of this can I take.” Hmm, sounds like 🏆 Grammy-nominated R&B singer 🎙 Ro James is being pushed to the limit on “Too Much”. “Too Much” appears on his underrated 2020 sophomore album, 💿 MANTIC. The production is lush (🎛 Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman and 🎛 Caston Grigsby), the vibe chill and relaxed, while the tempo relies on fewer BPMs. James showcases his vocal chops, presenting a mix of overt, powered vocals, some sweet falsetto, as well as effects-altered vocals, constructing a colorful, intriguing performance.

Of course, the ‘too much-ness’ comes into play with LOVE. “I’ve been searchin’ for too long to let it go / You were my prescription to my antidote,” James sings on the first verse.  On the pre-chorus, he makes it clear that neither him or his bae “Ain’t shit,” yet, “Ooh, you know we can’t quit, you know it.” The second verse perfectly captures the tumultuous nature of the relationship, where James suggest they build the chaos and dysfunction into, say, “A relationship like Bey and Jay.” While I would’ve loved to hear a full verse or bridge from 🏆 Grammy-winning featured guest 🎙 Miguel, it’s hard to deny how dope “Too Much” truly is.

2. Kehlani, “Too Much”

💿 SweetSexySavage • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 2017

🎵 “Too Much”, in the hands of R&B standout 🎙 Kehlani, is about girl power…to an extent.  No, she’s not tackling feminism, but essentially, asserts that he can’t handle her – she’s “too much.” Woo wee! Point blank, she’s a strong woman – “Too much of a bad ass bitch.” The harmonized backing vocals, performing the titular line, are definitely a treat on the chorus.

“I’m too much of a woman
Too much of a woman
Too much of a bad ass bitch
Too much of a boss, baby, it’s your loss
Now you gotta live with it.”

For our listening purposes, you definitely won’t find this highlight from her 2017 major label debut, 💿 SweetSexySavage, to be TOO MUCH.

3. Niall Horan, “Too Much to Ask”

💿 Flicker • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2017

“And oh, love, do you feel this rough? / Why’s it only you I’m thinking of?” 🎙 Niall Horan released his debut album, 💿 Flicker in 2017.  Among the advance singles was the TOO MUCH song at hand, 🎵 “Too Much to Ask”. “Too Much to Ask” features moody sounding production, led by piano. Though he’s not the flashiest singer, Niall manages to deliver beautiful, lower register vocals.

His most expressive moment comes by way of an f-bomb on the second verse.  Here, he asks, “Don’t it feel fucked up we’re not in love?” He’s got a point there.  Ultimately, “Too Much to Ask” is another respectable Niall Horan song. It’s pleasant without being particularly rousing, game changing, or groundbreaking.  Still, for one line where we get for under consent of the king… I’ll take it!

4. MGMT, “She Works Out Too Much”

💿 Little Dark Age • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2018

“Don’t take it the wrong way / I can never keep up / Sick of liking your selfies / Should’ve gone with my gut.” 💿 Little Dark Age, the fourth studio album by Trippy alternative collective 🎙 MGMT, marked one of the best alternative music projects of 2018. 🎙 Andrew Vanwyngarden and 🎙 Ben Goldwasser definitely ‘put in work.’ Among the best moments of the album is 🎵 “She Works Out Too Much.”

Little Dark Age commences with a bang on “She Works Out Too Much.” MGMT seems to speak on the fake-ness, shallowness, and superficiality of some modern relationships.  Musically, this record sounds like a mix of 80s exercise music, psychedelia, and synth-pop.

“(He’s trying)
(She works out too much)
The only reason we never worked out was
He didn’t work out.”

Also Appears On 🔽:

🔗 🎧 11 Songs Where It’s All Work and No Play

🔗 🎧 13 Incredibly Hard-Working Songs

5. Luther Vandross, “Never Too Much”

💿 Never Too Much • 🏷 Sony • 📅 1981

“Too much, never too much, never too much, never too much!” The late, great, 🏆 Grammy-winner 🎙 Luther Vandross recorded and released his staple, 🎵 “Never Too Much”, back in 1981. Hard to believe this timeless joint is four decades old! It commenced Vandross’ debut album, also titled 💿 Never Too Much.  Notably, another beloved greatest hit of Vandross’ appears on the album: 🎵 “A House is Not a Home” (also worth witnessing to). 

So, why is “Never Too Much” so awesome? First and foremost, Luther Vandross.  Few singers could match the smoothness, tone, phrasing, and overall ease with which he sang.  On this quick, groovy 80s soul cut, he never sounds as if he ever breaks a sweat while singing it – it’s absolutely amazing.  Beyond the vocal performance, the songwriting and the production are utterly sublime, both of which are also handled by Vandross.  With talented instrumentalists behind him, as well as some background vocals, the sound is celestial.  The melody he composed and performs is elite, with the quick, rhythmic lines on the verses and longer, more connected passages on the chorus, capped off by “Too much, never too much, never too much, never too much” that commenced this blurb.

“Oh, my love
A thousand kisses from you is never too much
I just don’t wanna stop
Oh, my love
A million days in your arms is never too much
I just don't wanna stop.”