Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond Pushkin Loves Love Songs: Babyface, Broken Hearts, and the Best Genre for Love
Feb 14, 2025
In this Valentine’s special, legendary songwriter Babyface dives into how his early love experiences shaped heartfelt ballads, while Malcolm Gladwell argues that country music is the ultimate genre for love songs. Pushkin producer Ben Naddaff-Hafrey shares his personal journey of writing a love song that helped him find his partner. Together, they explore whether sad songs hold more romance and debate the emotive powers of R&B compared to other genres. It's a delightful mix of music, love, and memories!
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R&B as the Sound of Love
- Justin Richmond believes R&B is the best genre for love songs, serving as shorthand for love in music and film.
- R&B evolved from gospel, transferring the fervor and devotion from God to romantic love.
Babyface's Early Love Songs
- Babyface shared with Justin Richmond how songwriting helped him express his feelings for girls he liked.
- He played his first song, written for a high school crush, and another about a heartbreak.
Sweet November's Origin
- Babyface wrote "Sweet November" after a girl he dated after high school suddenly stopped contacting him.
- He wrote the song during the fall, hoping for reconciliation that November.
