“‘Show Me Love’ is my legacy. And Beyoncé thought of me enough to be a part of my legacy, so that I could be a part of her legacy.” Robin S. spoke with justinmcurto
Robin S. performs in 2019. Photo: Aaron J. Thornton/WireImage Robin S. is no stranger to having her music sampled. Specifically, her signature song, “Show Me Love,” which became a No. 1 dance hit in 1993 thanks to a house remix by Swedish producer StoneBridge. In 2011, Jason Derulo brought that instantly recognizable synth line back to the charts with “Don’t Wanna Go Home”; earlier this year, both Charli XCX and Daddy Yankee pulled it for their tracks “Used to Know Me” and “Pasatiempo.
The words are so raw in what we are dealing with. Coming out of this COVID situation, we’re trying to get our lives back, and situations are going on. To me, it’s the modern-day “Show Me Love.” “Show Me Love” was You have to be yourself, you have to be comfortable in your skin that you’re in. If you say you love me, it’s not enough. And “Break My Soul” is like, You can’t take that away from me. You didn’t give it to me, so you can’t steal it from me. So it just matches the moment.
When I did the song, we were also working on the album, so I was there for the weekend in the studio. I would do a song, and I would go back to sleep, and I would do another song, and I would lie down and go back to sleep. When it was time for me to do this song, I came down with the flu. So the one that people hear now is me with the flu. And I knew that this had to be a one-shot deal. I did not wanna do that song over again. I just wanted to sing it and go back and lie down.
It’s funny what you mention about the moment with the radio, because even now, I’m sure you’re aware that Beyoncé wasn’t the only one who was using “Show Me Love.” It is a song that everyone can relate to. I don’t care if you are — I will go back as far as to say an infant. An infant needs love; that’s the way they grow, that’s the way they turn into happy individuals. If you’re a toddler, you need love. If you’re a teenager, you need love. Young adult, you need love. And you don’t need just to be told that you’re loved, you need to be shown that you’re loved because that creates a happy adult. Someone who can accept love and then give love.
You have some shows coming up; you’re in Europe this summer and are playing some shows in the U.S., too. How are you feeling about getting back out and performing after this?