The D'Angelo Song That's 100% REAL

D'Angelo's "Really Love" is one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded, so I decided to dissect every aspect of it to find out why. The main reason? It's all REAL
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SOURCES
Interview with Gina Figueroa: remezcla.com/features/music/g...
daily.redbullmusicacademy.com...
Russell Elevado talking about "Spanish Joint" - • Russell Elevado on D’A...
Excellent interview with Russell Elevado: tingen.org/elevado-dangelo/
daily.redbullmusicacademy.com...
#dangelo #musichistory #breakdown

[@idglet9565]

Black Messiah is probably the most underappreciated record in existence. Especially for an artist like D'Angelo.

[@watchjuggernaut9405]

I agree

[@YouCallThataKnife253]

I mean, not really. It's a fantastic album and was appreciated as such as soon as it came out. I very distinctly remember the buzz it received upon release because I'm a huge D'Angelo fan. Hell, it has near perfect critical reception and won a Grammy for best R&B record. That's far from underappreciated

[@lairdhercules4553]

Agreed, but it's because it took over 15 years to make. James River should have dropped a few years after Voodoo. He was going through it personally for a long time and couldn't pull the trigger due to his perfectionism. I'm just happy we got something.

[@bolder2009]

​@@lairdhercules4553Was James River as an album title ever officially confirmed by D or anyone in his camp?🤔

[@lairdhercules4553]

@@bolder2009 yes I'll see if I can find a source, but I have heard Questlove refer to it. I was a D'Angelo stan for awhile and Quest would have announcements once in awhile that James River was almost finished in the 2000s.

[@marcel4002]

I was a kid and a fan when D'Angelo dropped brown sugar. I never thought I would one day be involved with his recording sessions. I was fortunate enough to have been in the studio during the latter stages of this project. He is a great artist, It's a great album and this is one of its best tracks.

[@Enta_Da_Sage]

That's a dope experience to have had! Must've been surreal! It's like that phrase goes "To be fly on the wall..."

[@missthang5654]

You’re blessed that’s amazing!!🙏🏾❤

[@lindelanimhlongo4938]

Come on !!@marlonmarce4002 tell us how it was like😂😂

[@tyestadams8867]

❤❤

[@rodreiquezattakhan1710]

Wow

[@imraan8521]

This is one of the most beautiful songs of all time. More people need to hear it

[@diggingthegreats]

Agreed!

[@bpizarrov99]

a bop

[@teakyzofficial]

An absolute fave of mine! Posted my appreciation for it on socials the other day then boom I see this vid 🤯 I love it here

[@KennyRedd24]

Definitely has a late 80s Prince vibe.

[@Chrisstough]

Facts❤

[@andrewerdman7633]

I did mushrooms by myself at the river one night and the following morning I was playing this album watching a pair of beavers swim up and down the river. When this song came on the lady beaver stopped on a rock and vibed out to it with me and she looked so visibly at peace and impressed that I was in awe😂 enjoying nature by onesself is really the greatest environment to play this album. 5 years later and I still think about that beaver's reaction to this song all the time

[@HeeeeeearMeNow]

This is such a cool story

[@OplzITSCreez]

😂 Love it!

[@TempleOfToya]

Sounds amazing

[@Dunlap1910]

That's DOPE 💜👑

[@ivo-andrade]

😂 love this

[@neo6411]

Spanish Joint definitely gotta have its own video. The groove on that song is incredible!!

[@OplzITSCreez]

Wordddd

[@lew708]

Right; I still have that song in constant rotation of music I listen to in the car.

[@maxviclomax9327]

Wait whats thats song name????

[@lew708]

@@maxviclomax9327 “Spanish Joint” off the Voodoo album.

[@outer.box.dissemination]

@@maxviclomax9327Spanish Joint

[@pablolikesturtles]

Pino Palladino is my favorite bass player of all time. His basslines are amazing on this album, betray my heart is another great one, along with that horn section 🔥

[@eastnystyle]

His son Rocco Palladino is doing his thing as well! He is working with my favorite drummer Yussef Dayes

[@BuddhaGBahia]

Betray My Heart fux me Uppppp. So incredible. And I went from not knowing Pino Palladino prior to the project to being completed affected by his playing.

[@kmorr212]

pino is so essential to life and music. my favorite bass player as well.

[@hsillman]

D'Angelo's voice is the ultimate layer, he makes it make sense

[@elado9606]

Such a beautiful song. D'Angelo we need another comeback!

[@customjohnny]

I love what RR said about this record: That there’s so much tension because it feels like it could fall apart at any given time(timing-wise), but it never does

[@nicolesherman8974]

One thing about Digging the Grates he’s going to give D’Angelo his flowers. One of my favorite artists who should be appreciated more. Thank you for that 🥹🖤🖤🔥🔥

[@diggingthegreats]

🌷🌺💐🌸🌹

[@pbdny]

He’s grate

[@cequario]

THIS!!!!!

[@cequario]

@@diggingthegreats 🙏

[@aaronkeys7130]

That F****** part!!!! D’Angelo is a musical genius and should discussed as such more!! Love to Diggin the Grates for the flower shower!!!

[@2k7digga]

This album itself is heavily underrated. I’m glad you covered this track. This and “Another Life” made the album for me . Great video

[@diggingthegreats]

I was originally planning a breakdown of the whole album, but turns out I have a lot to say about this one song 😂 guess I’ll have to do another video sometime

[@rupturedtortoise.1542]

@@diggingthegreats Please do a full breakdown of the album🙏🙏

[@supanuh]

Yes!

[@blurelic4]

I love ANOTHER LIFE.

[@2k7digga]

@@blurelic4 such a great track

[@alec187]

I'm just glad there's a KZbinr that shares my love for D'Angelo's music

[@Thevillagebrother]

Such an amazing album! I remember listening to the album for a solid year when it came out. Still listen to it to this day. I couldn’t believe he took the time off between each album just to get good at guitar so he could play it. As musician you got to appreciate the dedication.

[@jareddenney]

I've been with you since 10k subscribers and you literally just keep one-upping yourself, this is one of my favorite songs and my new favorite video of yours. FAN FOR LIFE.

[@diggingthegreats]

I appreciate you 🙏 here from the beginning! 🔥🔥

[@Omsisfordahomies]

Man, i love your work in your yt channel, every time you put out a new video it's like opening a book, lot of knowlegde there. Your dive deep in the background and technique behind the songs in an amazing way, aaand also got the taste for the best and most classic themes. Love and respect brother. You keep doing your vids i'll keep watching them.

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏🙏🙏 I appreciate you, I love making these 🔥

[@OlegsLoops]

Only a really incredible mix of musicians combine on D'Angelo's work... the results are flawless like this song. Great insight. Thank you my friend 😎👍🏼

[@mediawolf1]

The Strings OMG! Goosebumps every time. First time I heard it I immediately assumed it was Claire Fischer. (Whom I've followed for decades and who's probably most famous for the long emotional string outro on the extended version of Purple Rain.) Surprised / not surprised to hear it's his son. Will def have to check him out! Maybe do a whole episode on the two of them? 🙏

[@musamusashi]

D'Angelo is the most significant Soul artist to have emerged in the past 3 decades. He is the man.

[@bkeene5231]

I appreciate you so much. You speak on my favorite music, artists and songs like this one with so much passion. It means so much to have someone to share this music with! Really needed this ❤

[@diggingthegreats]

I appreciate you, thanks for the comment 🙏

[@cequario]

i agree 100%!! ❤

[@sunsp.t]

Yes! One little extra thing is D'Angelo's rhodes doing the chords & bassline, which the bass was probably performed after. The bassline doesn't just wiggle, but has a wiggle-within-the-wiggle of the bass/rhodes stack, and the bass/rhodes tine sound mixed with the acoustic guitar really codifies the unique genre combo. D'angelo's Rhodes doing the riff also demonstrates that the bassline isn't just about the root notes, but is a full countermelody, almost like a Bach tune. Thanks for the Gina story information - Black Messiah is such a melancholic record, and knowing the story really integrates Really Love into the storyline and mood of the rest of the record. The musical complexities of the song echo the complexities of their relationship, and that sort of moodboard text-painting is something D'Angelo does so well.

[@diggingthegreats]

🔥🔥🔥 you had me at Bach 😂 in my chicken grease video I talk about Beethoven counter point 🔥

[@sunsp.t]

​@@diggingthegreats Yes! Thank you for doing what you do, and sorry that the youtube copyright system hampered your ability to monetize your content. It's so important to have this sort of up to date musical education/musicology breakdown, stuff like this is really healthy for the overall music scene.

[@christopheranchrum2092]

One of my all-time favorite D'Angelo songs. I truly appreciate this video and the enthusiasm with which it is presented. Being a music lover is like being a member of a unique community. We all speak the same language and are all connected through melody, harmony, and rhythm. Salute to all my music lovers!

[@Soulquarian22]

Black Messiah the greatest album of the last decade, hands down!!

[@diggingthegreats]

💯💯

[@Thevillagebrother]

Big facts

[@Soulquarian22]

@@diggingthegreats would be nice if you did an essay about the nasty, insane and beautiful guitar layering on "Ain't that easy".

[@michaelmcelligott5074]

D'Angelo is my favorite R&B artist of all time, and Black Messiah is by far my favorite album of his. This song is phenomenal, thank you for the detailed breakdown of it. It's just one of those songs that you gotta put on and pay full attention to. It almost sounds simple, but upon analysis is so jazz-infused (in terms of the harmony) and actually quite complex (the ascending series of chords during the bridge of the song always give me goosebumps). By the way, the nylon-string/Spanish guitar used in this would typically be called a classical guitar. Not a common thing to hear in modern R&B and popular music. How he managed to make it sound and feel so natural here is just another testament to D'Angelo's brilliance. I really, really suggest that anyone who likes this breakdown listen to the entirety of the album. If you love tracks that have an amazing feeling between the bass and drums, you might enjoy Betray My Heart even more than this song (Pino in top form, and the crescendo towards the end of that songs is still likely my favorite D'Angelo moment on any album). Thanks again for all the work you do DTG!

[@Measuredingrahams]

D Angelo is the definition of an album artist…he can take as much time off between projects as he wants 😭

[@MrKevinPitt]

Bro, I just discovered this channel and I was thinking to myself "damn it would be great if he did some D'Angelo stuff!" and here it is! Prayers answered! GREAT JOB man! Love this channel! Would love to see you do "THE ROOT" too! Keep it going bro!

[@diggingthegreats]

Thank you 🙏🙏 Check out the video on Chicken Grease as well, that's what I point to at the end of this one

[@CJ-3121]

I love D'ANGELO...one of my favorite artists...and is locked in on my playlist...❤

[@chandlerj1323]

Favorite artists ever. Another video from you about his music, especially on this song, much needed!!

[@kaustik185]

"Back to the future Pt 1" is the best soul/rnb recording ever made if you ask me

[@lovetheory9769]

This song has haunted me ever since the day I heard it. No other feeling like this ☺️

[@elgigante7081]

Really love was the first D'Angelo song I ever heard, and this was 6 years ago now I think. It has always stuck with me and it has never changed as my favourite song. It's ridiculous the hold the song has on me. Every time I meet someone new and we show each other music, I always show them "really love"

[@derekjohnson8568]

Man, definitely made me tear up at end justtt a little thinking about their relationship and how beautiful of a song this is. Great video as always, love the D’Angelo stuff.

[@studiobischof]

Thanks for all your bass love in your storytelling - giving it its deserved place in the mix.

[@paulasutilla2548]

at 3:03, you explained the bass and beats not being aligned with the actual metronomic beats. This reminds me so much of J Dilla and his works!

[@CDMESD]

Wow, you have spoke to every audiophile, musician, artist, and lover of great music. Great episode.

[@LeVelleSalter]

The bass line gives an upright bass feel the way he approaches the bass line. D'Angelo is just in class all by himself!!!

[@DigeratiMusic]

My wife and I had our first dance to this at our wedding. She passed away 6 months later so I can’t even listen to it anymore.

[@nicolasfarji]

This channel is the best I discover in the last few years! Amazing job!!! Love it!

[@e36brian.deutsche]

this was an awesome breakdown of this song, looking forward to the future videos

[@mignongarner8437]

Somehow the algo-Rhythm JUST sent your content my way. The daughter of a songwriter and a lover of music I can’t tell you how MUCH I appreciate your channel. The way you discuss all of the nuance and technical aspects of arrangement is like college for me. TY, TY, Thank YOU! (I am bingeing a bunch of videos!!!)

[@petsounds3612]

This was so enlightening. Would love for you to breakdown every track. Thanks DTG!

[@Enta_Da_Sage]

Aloha from the island of Hawai'i to you Brother Brandon 🤙🏽 This breakdown of a beautiful song helped me realize I haven't listened to the Black Messiah album in a couple years, thank you for reminding me about it. From my heart and Soul I thank you for your videos! Music is up there with air and water for my survival, music is the most moving and touching thing to my soul next to my children and wife. Every video I've watched of yours has been an amazingly educational and fun experience. A lot of the knowledge and information you share in your videos I'm already aware of but the way you introduce the times, settings, scenarios and players in the stories is done so well that I feel like I'm hearing it all for the first time. Then you drop a whole bunch of knowledge and information that I wasn't aware of and I love learning more! Then to top it all off you break things down musically from theory, notes, structure and more and then show us visually and play for us audibly what is happening. Your use of turntables, samplers and the BASS to help us understand what's going on rounds the whole video out and makes it the total package. FOR REAL THOUGH... THANK YOU! Much love and respect for the time and energy you put into these videos! Aloha 🤙🏽✌🏽️

[@Enta_Da_Sage]

I've been on youtube since day 1 and you've become the best channel related to music that I've found in all these years. Also wanted to say that I enjoy your humor, it's kinda dad joke stylee. Keep em coming Brother! We're here for it!

[@diggingthegreats]

Man, this comment means so much, thank you 🙏

[@RomoDosOnce]

What a beautiful and cerebral depiction of this song! I’ve always loved this song and couldn’t really explain why. Separating each component and putting a face and name to the people playing each instrument not only gives the song more life, but it also makes me want to study each musicians work. I can appreciate your appreciation for the bass player’s movements in the song. “Spanish Joint” is also a dope record! Thank you for this! I’ll be browsing through more of your videos! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@davida1703]

You're a king. Enjoy every piece of your digging. Keep it up. We need more of your insights. So educative. 🔥👏

[@VarianNash]

Such a smooth ballad. A beautiful piece.

[@CASEMSTR]

Love this channel, love the work. I had honestly never heard of this song, or album. But now I 100% have to check it out. Good stuff

[@NoneGreater]

Just wow. This breakdown is AMAZING. In my humble opinion, your best yet.

[@BranDilla]

The way you articulate the details and musicality, man... superb work! It's such an amazing record, can't believe it's turning 10 next year!

[@marcustaylor1400]

I’m glade I stumbled upon this channel, it feel like I walked into a class I’m not assigned to out of curiosity but really needed✨💚

[@Rotytza]

I honestly just discovered this song by accident 2 days ago and to see it covered by you and get the whole back story was the highlight of my day. You are a true gentleman and a scholar!

[@ProjectDreamLife]

Digging The Greats IS my brother from another mother. How is it we seem to have all the same favorite songs? Props to you for this channel. You do an excellent job. As a former "Real" recording studio assistant audio engineer, I appreciate your breakdown of music theory why great music feels the way it does. Please continue the amazing topic, research and work that you do. Definitely my favorite channel!

[@VarianNash]

15:28 that reveal floored me. I never looked it up, but the way you express it makes me love the song so much more.

[@diggingthegreats]

Same here - and the fact that D’Angelo kept that as the intro, it’s part of his own story of the song, powerful

[@TheSoulPapi]

D'Angelo is my all time favorite musician and I always felt like I knew his story from beginning to now but I never knew about this story and the complexities around my favorite song on Black Messiah. I remember the first thing I said when I heard "Really Love" for the first time: This feels like classic Voodoo-era D'Angelo! Lo and behold, the origins of the song date back to that time. Incredible work here, my man! Keep on putting out great content. As a personal request, give us more D'Angelo breakdowns! The GOAT.

[@DistantLights]

D'Angelo is one of the greatest musicians ever. Black Messiah is one of those albums I like to listen to with a good pair of headphones to pick up on all the layers. Apparently D'angelo had like 50 or more songs that didn't make the cut for this album too, his vault must be filled with incredible songs. You oughtta do an episode on There's a Riot Goin On by Sly and the Family Stone. It's very futuristic for its time and sounds timeless to this day. It was a huge influence on this album, and Voodoo, and I'm sure many other neo soul artists as well.

[@dettrickhubbard1830]

This is one of the best videos/breakdowns I’ve seen AND about one of my favorite songs of all time - Salute to you sir…excellent.

[@porkgyoza9961]

Incredible breakdown of one of my favorite songs of all time. Love how much of the history you know and all your theory knowledge. Great video man

[@martinadrea8867]

Wow. This is one of my favorite songs of all time, and you articulated why in a way that I ✨felt✨ but didn’t know how to pinpoint musically. Thank you!

[@MrEd4win]

I absolutely love your work!! This album was dope and this was one of my favorite songs on the album.

[@trentberry1019]

Just amazing, I love your work. You feel the music, the emotion & influence. All hail to the king!

[@The_JoeyGunz]

beautiful breakdown of one of my favorite tunes. thank you much!

[@OurAmericanCulture]

This was an amazing mini doc of this song! I learned so much! Thank you!

[@im2dirty4u]

more d'angelo!! this is gonna be so good.

[@VincentDeCowans]

You're killing it with these analogies! Another great video

[@SirTulaman]

The breakdown I did not know I needed to one of my favorite songs by D. I have a new found appreciation for it now thanks to your amazing work!

[@narrativesdialogues1701]

SUBSCRIBED "just because of this and I know surely you have so much more to bring to us." 💯💯💯💯💯 -Kwaufi Nino

[@kodcx9654]

Well done video. I listen to D’Angelo and the Vanguard at the North Sea Jazz Festival set about 6 times a year, and I love when they play Really Love!

[@agustinpiza4400]

Awww men this is what i love about de channel. I got into KZbin and i have a new D video out of the sudden. Thank u!!

[@hm2ls869]

Thank you for doing this! It’s my favorite song and album. And you’re right when it comes on I got to stop what I’m doing. I’m gonna fall down a rabbit hole for the rest of the night. And it’ll be well worth it. 😢❤

[@mistajones7814]

Thanks for covering this joint!! The whole album Incredible. I love playing it when my wife and I make a road trip. Respect.

[@oljones31]

Some didn’t like this album because they could not understand what D’Angelo was saying. But musically, the album for me was a classic.

[@melaniewilliams9103]

Wow. Thank you for this. This is my first time watching your channel and I will be looking out for more! I loved the breakdown AnD the history lesson.

[@troipang5108]

As the video started I was anticipating which song he’d be dissecting! You picked the right song, I love this album, but this song above all

[@francescorogazzo6263]

Man I love d'angelo but this message is for you , for your dedication to craft a so fine and passionate breakdown of the song,with so many details and much time to build this peace of musical knowledge for us. U are real too. Ciao from napoli.

[@lancegross6993]

Thank you for the breakdown and history!! I love this song … basically after first hearing the condensed version on SNL! It was my favorite since then!!

[@Navii_J]

Ur so dope! Ur music selections are amazing. D Angelo is the truth, all of his albums are amazing. I’m hoping to see next from u, Jill Scott, Prince, Dwele, Minnie Ripleton, Etc. to name a few. 🖤

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏🙏

[@SophiaZoe]

please Prince!!!!!

[@HonestlyEd]

Brother, that was an absolutely phenomenal, meaningful and well organized narrative breakdown. Impressive!!!! And, for the true heads out here, it is a real service. Thank you.

[@jaydixon32]

Thank you for giving D’Angelo his flowers! He definitely brought a different feeling to music!

[@BackToTheBoomBap]

My guy, you have done it again! That's my favorite song on that album. It reminds me so much of a J Dilla beat. I was so happy when he dropped this album because he came back and did not disappoint. And you bro. The analogies, the story, the payoff at the end, the foreshadowing. This is a masterful video. 🔥

[@jaydee02]

I can't get enough of your breakdowns on D'angelo's music. Please do more lol

[@nhanminhdoan765]

Black Messiah one of my favorite albums of all time. It doesn’t sound like 14 years in the making. It sounds like 30 years of amazing chemistry between everyone involved. Really an amazing & nuanced album.

[@danielluis6508]

Always get so emotional listening to this song. What a masterpiece

[@LookingForAName...]

Being too young to have experienced Voodoo in its full glory, Really Love was the first song that made me fall in love with D'Angelo. He's now one of my most listened to artists of all time and his music has shaped my taste in a major way. On to the video, I'm excited about that one.

[@p.o.p.presents]

Brother DTG. This was masterful music history and my favorite episode of yours yet. Great story telling and such a revelation that touched my heart. The reason I have a connection to this is because I had a similar love story. 25 years ago I had one of the best loves of my life. Last year I wrote an article on Medium about our break up called Frozen in a place I hide. An Alice in chains lyric from the Brother (SAP EP) It was an article that felt like a poem/ song. Long story short my ex from many years ago read and commented on that article and gave my story validity and became a living part of the story and helped me to close that chapter. So this video reminds me of that. Thank you. P.o.p.

[@benjamintafari7047]

Im so happy to hear someone feel the same way about this specific song!

[@djds1975]

Absolutely love this video. I am completely obsessed with that track so huge respect for your passion and knowledge of the song. Massive respect 🫡

[@gregmuscovalley3791]

I used to play it over and over. I now hear autumn leaves. I first heard it on SNL. GREAT SONG

[@Yoda2u-m6y]

This is great work. Thank u for providing this level of insight 🙏🏿

[@tynie626]

This is one of the best things ive seen on yiutube by far! Such a great job!

[@revmd621]

Excellent!! An amazing instrumental intro! It reminds me of the song “Walk On By” sung by Isaac Hayes (Hot Buttered Soul).

[@harhota]

That's really amazing piece of music. I never dreamt somebody to tell a story about this track. Thanks so much!❤

[@cedricm_g6827]

Always get goosebumps listening to this Song, thanks for another amazing vid Brandon!!

[@TheDredharmon]

You should have millions of subscribers, but I’m glad I found you. I nerd out to this level on music and I’m looked at as some weirdo…..so I’m just glad I ain’t alone. I appreciate you brotha 🫡

[@petercockroach]

Shout to my okayplayers who were banging “a Questlove exclusive…you didn’t get this from me!!” back in ‘07

[@tthorpe7958]

My all time favorite D’Angelo song. Had it on heavy rotation when it first came out.

[@DanielleKingdjdinosaur]

these breakdowns of great tunes is fantastic.Great work

[@sean3480]

AMAZING video. Thank you so much. Please please PLEASE do a breakdown of the bass in "another life". I'm always hyping to people that it is practically an insane bass solo hidden in one of most soulful songs ever made but no one seems to get it. Keep rocking

[@emmettj1984]

Such a cool way to explain walking a bass line. I’ve never heard that metaphor before

[@dfrnt_hues]

D’Angelo is amazing. And my favorite solo singer EVER!!! I must have listened to this song 200 times at this point

[@kisslena]

This album is a masterpiece. I know that word is used a lot. But this album shows the nature of the intangible mature groove that is a D’Angelo brand. It’s spiritual and intimate. An inside- outside sound, smooth and luxurious.💛🎶🔥

[@onnivision6464]

Wow - that intro! Awe I love this song and this breakdown. I do have to prepare myself or be on a space mentally to listen to it or I just have to skip it that day.

[@Positive_Tea]

❤❤❤❤ It's so so good 😭