Slow jam
A slow jam is an umbrella term for music with rhythm and blues and soul influences. Slow jams are commonly R&B ballads or downtempo songs. The term is most commonly reserved for soft-sounding songs with heavily emotional or romantic lyrical content. This definition has led to intense debate over whether particular songs should be classified as a "slow jam", e.g. Ginuwine's 1996 hit single "Pony". The common use and possible origin of this term traces back to 1983 when Solar Records group Midnight Star recorded the song "Slow Jam" on their album No Parking on the Dance Floor.
Examples of songs that are slow jams
- "A House Is Not a Home" – Luther Vandross
- "Adore" – Prince
- "Adorn" – Miguel
- "Angel of Mine" – Eternal
- "And I" – Ciara
- "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number" – Aaliyah
- "All My Life" - K-Ci & JoJo
- "All the Man That I Need" – Whitney Houston
- "All the Things (Your Man Won't Do) – Joe
- "All Woman" – Lisa Stansfield
- "Another Sad Love Song" – Toni Braxton
- "Any Time, Any Place" – Janet Jackson
- "Between The Sheets" – Isley Brothers
- "Back at One" – Brian McKnight
- "Be With You" – Beyoncé
- "Breathe Again" – Toni Braxton
- "Burnin' It Down" – Jason Aldean
- "Call My Name" – Prince
- "Can I Take U Home" – Jamie Foxx
- "Can U Get wit It" – Usher
- "Can't Let Go" – Mariah Carey
- "Can't B Good" – Janet Jackson
- "Cheers 2 U" – Playa
- "Cherish the Day" - Sade
- "Come and Talk to Me - Jodeci
- "Come Back to Me" – Janet Jackson
- "Damn U" – Prince
- "Diamonds and Pearls" – Prince
- "Diary" – Alicia Keys
- "Didn't We Almost Have It All" – Whitney Houston
- "Diggin' on You" – TLC
- "Do Me, Baby" – Prince
- "Everything" – Stacie Orrico
- "Finally Found" – Honeyz
- "Feenin'" – Jodeci
- "Freek'n You" - Jodeci
- "From The Heart" – Another Level
- "Footsteps in the Dark" – The Isley Brothers
- "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)" – Janet Jackson
- "Good for You" - Selena Gomez
- "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold" – Prince
- "Hold You" - Gyptian
- "How Come You Don't Call Me" – Alicia Keys
- "I Don't Wanna Cry" – Mariah Carey
- "I Believe I Can Fly" – R. Kelly
- "I Get Lonely" - Janet Jackson
- "I Hate U" – Prince
- "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" – Michael Jackson
- "I Learned from the Best" – Whitney Houston
- "I Look to You" – Whitney Houston
- "I'll Never Break Your Heart" - Backstreet Boys
- "I Need U(Slow Jam ver.)" - BTS
- "I Swear" – All-4-One
- "I Wanna Know" - Joe
- "I Wanna Sex You Up" - Color Me Badd
- "I Will Always Love You" – Whitney Houston
- "If I Ain't Got You" – Alicia Keys
- "If I Was Your Girlfriend" – Prince
- "If You Go Away" - New Kids on the Block
- "Insatiable" – Prince
- "Is It Good to You" – Tammy Lucas & Teddy Riley
- "Knockin' Da Boots" - H-Town
- "Let's Wait Awhile" – Janet Jackson
- "Love" – Keyshia Cole
- "Love, Need and Want You" - Patti LaBelle
- "Love Shoulda Brought You Home" – Toni Braxton
- "Love You Down" – Ready for the World
- "Lovers and Friends" - Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz
- "Me, Myself and I" – Beyoncé
- "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" – Prince
- "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" – Prince
- "My First Love" – René & Angela (1983)/Avant & Keke Wyatt (2000)
- "Nice & Slow" – Usher
- "No No No - Destiny's Child
- "No Ordinary Love" – Sade
- "Promise" – Ciara
- "One in a Million" – Aaliyah
- "The One I Gave My Heart To" – Aaliyah
- "Pink Cashmere" – Prince
- "Poppin'" – Chris Brown
- "Red Light Special" – TLC
- "Remember The Time" – Michael Jackson
- "Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)" – De La Soul
- "Rock Wit'cha" – Bobby Brown
- "Roni" – Bobby Brown
- "Jungle" – Drake
- "Saving All My Love for You" – Whitney Houston
- "Scandalous!" – Prince
- "Second Nature" - Destiny's Child
- "Seven Whole Days" – Toni Braxton
- "Spanish Guitar" – Toni Braxton
- "Stay" – Jodeci
- "The Lady in My Life" – Michael Jackson
- "Sweet Love" – Anita Baker
- "Symptoms (song)" - SHINee
- "Take a Bow" – Madonna
- "Take You Down" – Chris Brown
- "Tender Love" – Force MDs
- "That's the Way Love Goes" – Janet Jackson
- "They Don't Know" – Jon B.
- "Time to Grow" – Lemar
- "Tonight Looks Good on You" – Jason Aldean
- "Twenty Foreplay" – Janet Jackson
- "Turn My Back On You" – Sade
- "Un-Break My Heart" – Toni Braxton
- "Until The End of Time" – Justin Timberlake
- "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" – D'Angelo
- "Vision of Love" – Mariah Carey
- "Voyage to Atlantis" – The Isley Brothers
- "I Want You" – Janet Jackson
- "Weak" – SWV
- "We Belong Together" – Mariah Carey
- "What's Love Got to Do With It" – Tina Turner
- "What You Won't Do for Love" – Bobby Caldwell
- "Why" - 3T
- "Why I Love You So Much" – Monica
- "You Give Good Love" – Whitney Houston
- "You Gotta Be" – Des'ree
- "Your Love Is King" – Sade
- "The Sweetest Thing" – Lauryn Hill
See also
- List of rhythm and blues ballads
- List of soul ballads
÷The Slow Jam moniker was introduced to radio in 1984 by utilizing the name Slow Jam from Midnight Star's LP "No Parking On The Dance Floor". This radio format was introduced by Kevin "Slow Jammin" James of WKYS Radio in Washington, D.C. WKYS claimed the Trademark from USPTO. Years later Kevin acquired the trademark. Kevin still hosts the Original Slow Jam with Snoop Dogg on Cadillacc Music thru Dash Radio.. It's an arduous task to overhaul the song examples listed here. All time classic performers from the 60's, 70's, and many of the 80's artists are not referenced. Source: Kevin "Slow Jammin" James Oct, 28, 2016