X THROWBACK: It's a girl thang

CrazySexyCool

TLC

LaFace (1994)

After bum-rushing the airwaves on their debut album, Oooooooh... On the TLC Tip two years earlier, the trio of Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes (RIP) and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas returned with a more mature sound that turned out to be one of the biggest R&B albums ever.

Girl talk

The girls unleashed the sexy infidelity anthem, "Creep" on an unsuspecting public used to their tomboy stylings. Still dressed in ‘boys' clothes' for the video's tongue-in-cheek rehearsal scenes, the clear winner was the girls in sexy, single buttoned pajamas that exposed their flat, toned midriffs. The now classic hook has provided global lexicon for cheating parties who "creep" and keep it on the "down low".

Anyone surprised by the new turn on "Creep" was sure to be taken aback by the sexual boldness of "Red Light Special". It was a no holds barred approach at mutual pleasure with lines like, "I know that you want me/I can see it in your eyes/you might as well be honest/because the body never lies". The chorus was an open invitation to whoever the lucky man in question is as T-Boz sings, "Baby it's yours/if you want it tonight/I'll give you that red light special/all through the night/...come through my door/take of my clothes and turn on the red light." The sensual melody (which features an amazing post-bridge guitar riff) will still set the mood right for any jump off all these years later. Let's not even get into the video.

Fan Mail

They switched gears with powerful social commentary on "Waterfalls". It was the type of inspirational song that actually made you re-assess your decisions and develop a deeper appreciation for life. The admonishing chorus said it all, urging listeners to not go "chasing waterfalls/please stick to the rivers and lakes that you're used to/I know that you're gonna have it your way or nothing at all/but I think you're moving too fast." It is a timeless classic.

While those three singles pushed the album to record setting heights, there were other gems on it that made it the classic it is today. The smooth "Diggin' on You" is a sweet ode to love while the bounce on the Jermaine Dupri produced "Kick Your Game" helps you move to the cat and mouse games between man and woman.

No scrubs

"Case of the Fake People" and the Prince cover, "If I Was Your Girlfriend" are other decent tracks on CrazySexyCool. Babyface's "Let's Do it Again" is a mellow treat that will set off any romantic rendezvous; while Left Eye and Andre of OutKast (before 3000) provoke deep thought with their verses on the album closing "Sumthin' Wicked This Way Comes". Other music heavyweights like Puff Daddy, Busta Rhymes and Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest also stop by for the party.

Looking back, when you match a talented group like TLC with a soundscape constructed by Babyface, Dallas Austin, Jermaine Dupri and Organized Noize, a classic album should be the only feasible result. The crazy Left Eye, sexy Chilly and cool T-Boz outdid themselves on this album and for that we are thankful. Sunday, November 15 marked the 15th anniversary of the release of this classic, so it's only right that we salute their achievement of over 17 million records sold. They deserve it. And remember, ‘they ain't too proud to beg' neither.

Rest in peace Lisa Lopes.