"Dear, I write you this letter… to show you how much your love means to me…"
A Latin dance pop trio, Sweet Sensation comprised of lead vocalist Betty "Dee" LeBron, and backing singers (and sisters) Margie and Mari Fernandez. Later incarnations of the group would feature different backing vocalists, but Betty always received the main spotlight.
Peaking at US #14 on the hot 100, and #30 on the Hot Dance/Club Play chart, "Sincerely Yours" was extracted from the ladies’ 1988 debut album Take it While It’s Hot, and features a fresh (and dope) rap break courtesy of Romeo J.D. of hip hop trio The Boogie Boys, best known for their 1985 US R&B #6 hit "A Fly Girl".
For a while "Sincerely…" was the girls’ biggest hit, that is, until 1990 when their cover of The Supremes’ 1968 classic "Love Child" climbed one notch higher on the charts, reaching US #13.
But it would actually prove to be the follow up to "Love Child" which would take the honors as the group’s biggest breakthrough hit, their signature ballad "If Wishes Came True", which topped the US Pop singles charts, and became the ladies’ only top 10 entry.
"I wish we could be together… I need you in my life, oh can’t you see."
"Sincerely" follows a young lady’s lament that she’s met a great guy and has fallen hopelessly in love with him, but they are separated by some degree of distance and cannot be together. She writes him letters every day, but has yet to receive a reply, so she is starting to second guess the whole romance. Has he played her for a fool? Why hasn’t this poor lovesick lass received a response from this marvelous fellow? During Romeo J.D.’s rap, he explains his frustration in that he HAS been writing letters, but she hasn’t been receiving them. He explains…
"Every night I write without fail… and your Pops just dissed my mail… But if ever this letter should reach your doors, you’ll find it signed, Sincerely Yours."
Betty responds…
"Now I know we’ll be together… ‘cause you just answered my letter!"
So clearly, the young lady’s father (a.k.a. "Pops") doesn’t approve of the budding romance and is intercepting these love notes. However, one appeared to have snuck through, (unless Dad had a change of heart…), and now she knows that her beau feels as strongly about her as she does for him.
I’ve always thought this tune possesses a genuine innocence and sweetness about it. This girl is pouring her heart out as she believes to have been abandoned by her guy. Once it is revealed that he’s been writing back the whole time, she becomes elated and you can feel the youthful exuberance and energy in her voice.
Sure, it’s clearly an immature "first-love" styled-romance, likely between young teenagers, because why else would the father be intercepting the girl’s mail, and why can they not simply meet somewhere to get around Dad’s meddling? Because they can’t drive yet, more than likely… but the two vocal leads really sell their character’s affections for one another, and are rather convincing as a young romantic couple.
It’s also a nice time capsule, as in today’s insane world of social media, texting, and emails, the idea of a couple writing actual letters to each other – yes, by putting pen to paper – is rather charming, and harkens back to a simpler time that really wasn’t all that long ago.
Simply put, I just dig it. I hope you do too.
Give it a listen below, and drop me a comment with your thoughts. And be sure to keep tuning back into the Dial for more forgotten tunes from the past! Kyle’s Radio Dial… the MORE you listen, the MORE you remember!
"Oh, oh, I’m sincerely yours, the one my heart beats for, the one I adore… Oh, oh, I’m sincerely yours, the love that you gave I’ve never felt before."
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