Our main man José James has taken to the indie life quite well since he started releasing his music via his label Rainbow Blonde. The most recent fruit from that endeavor was his 2023 album On & On, which paid tribute to his peer Erykah Badu. Now he’s reapplying his focus to his own original material with his upcoming album 1978. The set already got an introduction with lead single “38th & Chicago,” and now he’s ready to party with the second release from the album, “Saturday Night (Need You Now).”
Where “38th & Chicago” was a world-weary cut, “Saturday Night“ captures the energy of its namesake with a shuffling beat, hand claps and synth that bubble out of the speakers and dance on the slick guitar line introduced on the disco-tinged chorus. José, meanwhile, aims to rock the body of a woman he spies on the floor as he kicks a bit of game over the song’s pulsing rhythm.
“Don’t try stopping me / I take flight / I believe / I made my mind to be with you,” James sings. “I can’t fight this feelin’ / Something in my soul that comes to me / When I feel your body rockin’ with mine.”
“Saturday Night (Need You Now)” definitely encompasses the feeling of finding love on the dance floor while making reference to the sounds of the disco era that inspired it. It’s also a great groove to lead into a birthday weekend for José James, who turns 46 on January 20th. Do the birthday boy a solid and run up his latest below. Then make his day extra special by pre-ordering the new album on Bandcamp ahead of its April 5th release.
