OneGunn has been in the right place and time in his musical career. There’s no question of that. He’s had the good sense, as well, to put those opportunities to the best possible use in hopes of realizing his own musical ambitions and dreams. The Milwaukee born Marvin Gunn moved to Minneapolis in the early 1980’s and it couldn’t have come at a better time for a young man in love with music. His talent and hunger to learn found fertile ground in those years and Gunn blossomed accordingly.
The next pivotal event bringing him to where he is today is his collaboration with Prince on the latter’s #1 hit “Kiss”. Gunn, the song’s original vocalist, snagged a Grammy for that bit of good fortune and turned it into another chart topping success when he essentially duetted with then-pop giant Paula Abdul on her early 1990’s single “Opposites Attract”. The song’s popularity likely doubled, as well, thanks to a video still remembered today.
Not every project has grabbed the brass ring. His new single “Why”, however, is the sort of throwback yet always evergreen modern soul single that OneGunn excels with. It’s a song that meets the listener more than halfway with its natural and inviting blend of class soul tempos, OneGunn’s spotless phrasing that captures every possible nuance of the moment, and appropriate rhythm section work. It doesn’t sound like they are trying to kick a door in and groove is paramount.
It is not attempting to turn back time completely, The presence of electronic instruments during the song doesn’t dominate the listener’s consciousness as it might in more ham-fisted efforts. OneGunn’s songwriting talents are far too refined to take the song in such a direction and he has a clear affection for the track’s melodic potential that would dare allow such a decision. The live drumming has a deliciously crisp snap that commands listeners’ attention and another aspect of the vocal arrangement certain to captivate listeners is the call and response passages of the performance.
This is a track that slinks up next to you from the first and does not let you get far away. The electric piano present in the song gives it a surprising rollicking aspect as well, never careening and out of control, but giving an extra percussive stomp to the overall performance. Few listeners are going to come away from hearing this thinking or believing that OneGunn has treated this song with kid gloves or gone overboard in some way.
It’s the model of balance and shows an artist who’s arguably working at his peak right now. That peak could last the rest of this week or the remainder of his career, it’s impossible to say, but OneGunn’s performance and songwriting are full of inspiration that doesn’t sound to be in short supply. His latest single “Why” moves the goalposts for what’s possible in this career as OneGunn, several decades in, shows he’s far from finished. He sounds like an artist ready to conquer the world – again – and wants us to join him.
Heather Savage