Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Campbell ready to take on Mother City
Wat the age of 13, on Quincy Jones’s album Back on the Block. In recent years, he has been less visible. In the 2000s, Campbell had a stint in a New York run of Hairspray in the role of Seawood J Stubbs.
More recently, YouTube videos have been cropping up of the star performing his hits from the 1990s. Last year, he posted a video on his channel singing Can We Talk, over 18 years after the song became a hit. Campbell still has it, stretching his vocals over the challenging song, hitting notes he did in his heyday.
Euphoria, disdain and indifference exists in the build-up to his trip. One friend wrote on my Facebook wall that a friend had named a son after him. Another wanted to know if he is going to do a reality show, “like all the other has-beens”.
On Twitter, an American fan was curious about whether he was dating or not.
Campbell spoke to The Good Weekend from his Los Angeles home this week. He says he was last here in either 1999 or 2000.
Chatting about his spin on the theatre stage, he says, “As a musical, Hairspray involved a lot of singing and dancing. I love theatre, it was a team effort. Hairspray is a great show and I love it.”
Campbell is definitely a vocal artist, but not much is seen of him dancing when he croons his hits. Hairspray requires some dancing.
He giggled when I asked him how he rates his moves.
“I try. I have natural rhythm as a person of colour so I can look good doing it.”
He has kept his vocal abilities in check, in spite of his quietness on the music scene. His last album was self-titled, and was released in 1999.
“I never stopped singing, even though I stopped making records. Singing is a part of who I am. I’m like a sponge. I love to sing so I will never stop doing what I love.”
What would he do if he developed a sore throat an hour before a show?
“I would drink heaps of water or hot tea. I’ve never had that problem before, though.”
On www.marmaladeproductions.co.za there is a poll for visitor’s favourite Tevin Campbell song, the homepage of the company putting on the Divos 2013 shows.
Can We Talk came in first during the week, followed by I’m Ready and BrownEyed Girl.
Campbell giggled again when I gave him the statistics.
“There will be some stuff you haven’t heard at the show, but no one will be disappointed. There will be songs you know. We’ll have fun. I’m going to get a little emotional and talk a bit.”
Campbell’s internet and social media presence is poor. He has no website, and a quiet Twitter profile (@bigslymn).
“I will return to social media, I have just had nothing to tweet about. I know social media is important and I will get back to it. I need to get my website done but my priority now is my music.” E DID not talk for a minute. We spoke for 15. US R& B crooner Tevin Campbell is heading to South Africa for the Divos 2013 tour, which makes stops in Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Joburg at the end of July.
Songs like Can We Talk and I’m Ready are hits from the early 1990s that Campbell is still known for, with these tracks making appearances on local easy-listening stations, jukeboxes and, for the more adventurous, karaoke playlists.
Campbell, now 36, had his first single Tomorrow (A Better You Better You Better Me)
Campbell says he is working on a new album and is hoping to have a single out by the American autumn (from September).
“The theme of the album will be nonfiction.
“I have never told my story and the stuff I’ve been through. It’s not a drama, but I’m going to tell Tevin’s story.”
Making a comeback can be challenging, something Campbell is conscious of.
“I stopped making music because I wanted to. I know I still got it. It will be uphill, like starting all over again. I have nothing to lose.”
Things aren’t looking too bleak. Campbell is set to perform at the indigO at the O complex in London in September with Keith Sweat and Horace Brown.
Campbell is keen to experience Cape Town nightlife on his visit.
“I’m not sure about dancing but I do want to go out to the clubs. If I get loose enough I might dance.”
I asked if people should consider him single, dating or eligible if they saw him on the night scene. He laughed hard, taking a few minutes to gather his thoughts before replying.
“I’m not interested. I have a special friend I talk to, but I’m concentrating on just the music. This is not the time.”
● Divos 2013 featuring Tevin Campbell is on July 27 at GrandWest’s Grand Arena from 8pm. The Black Ties, Jimmy Nevis and Emo Adams will also perform. Tickets are from R175 to R325 at Computicket.