1999 Rewind: Remembering Donell Jones’ Where I Wanna Be

Are y’all ready to party like it’s 1999? We all love the 90s here at Soul In Stereo, so it’s only right to revisit albums that are marking 25 years in 2024. 1999 Rewind looks back at all your old faves and see how well they hold up.

Hey look, it’s Darnell, Donell Jones! I’ll admit that I let this album slip through my fingers in 1999, but in the years that followed it truly made its mark on me. And I’m not alone. Kaara Bee makes her return to Soul In Stereo to help break down this cult hit.

Let’s get into it! What were your first thoughts of Where I Wanna Be way back when?

Kaara: Can I remember that far back?? Haha. I remember being pleasantly surprised. I bought the CD on the strength of “U Know What’s Up” and “Where I Wanna Be.” Other than “U Know What’s Up,” a banger, the album was like a hood-version of easy listening for me when I just wanted to chill or even when I needed some studying music.

Edd: Usually this is the time where I talk about how excited I was to cop the album in question on release day, I remark on how it was received at the time and also how well it held up over the years. I can’t do that this time – I was really, REALLY late to the party on this album. Like every R&B fan with working ears, I was a big fan of “U Know What’s Up” and “Where I Wanna Be” but I guess that wasn’t enough for me to rush out and cop the CD in ’99. Before every albums was instantly available online, you had to choose your LPs wisely – can’t waste your coins. I didn’t hear this album in full until relatively recently, probably in the last decade or so. Shame on me, because the album is FIRE and I would have worn it out in the 99 and the 2000s.

What’s the best song on the album?

Kaara: “U Know What’s Up” 

“U Know What’s Up.”  I’d like to be objective, but this will always be my answer! Twenty-five years later and it’s still a jam. In relistening to the album, I realize Jones is a good storyteller (even if some of the themes get a bit repetitive). On this album, this song is the best example of telling a story and transporting listeners with lyrics and rhythm. Every time I listen, I feel like I’m dancing at a summer gathering. 

Edd: “Where I Wanna Be”

“Where I Wanna Be” seems like an easy, reliable pick but “Shorty (Got Her Eyes On Me)” is *thisclose* to grabbing the top spot. It’s so smooth, so groovy and Donell’s delivery is incredible. However, “Where I Wanna Be” gets the very slight edge due to its songwriting and that unforgettable hook. Donell was in his bag on this album, I swear.

Which song should have been a single?

Kaara: “All Her Love”

It probably wouldn’t have been the most popular point of view at the time: a man who’s been relegated to side-dude status who just can’t give his lover up. But a year before we heard Carl Thomas lament that “I wish I never met her,” I was captivated by this song where the lyrics, singing and tone really convey someone grappling with his paramour’s “situation” and the consolation that whatever time they have is “more than enough to keep my hope alive.” 

Edd: “Have You Seen Her”

This album already had four singles, so pushing for a fifth certainly would have been a stretch. I could see the urge for the label to go with another uptempo cut but “Have You Seen Her” seems like a quiet storm hit waiting to happen. Having Donell stalk this woman all over town would have made for great late-90s visuals too. It’s an easy win in my eyes.

Donell was at his peak here but which song was his best vocal performance?

Kaara: “Have You Seen Her”

I love his vocal performance on “All Her Love” but think “Have You Seen Her,” surprisingly, is the strongest performance on the album. He sounds good there, less nasally, and the background vocals are strong too. 

Edd: “Shorty (Got Her Eyes on Me)”

Donell was at the peak of his R&B prowess on this album so the vocal quality is sky-high across the board. But there’s something about “Shorty (Got Her Eyes on Me)” that is so impressive. He’s not screeching above the beat, nor is he mumbling his vocals like he’s got a mouth full of Big League Chew. He maintains perfect vocal harmony with the gentle guitar licks. His vocals are so impressive – not because of their power, but because of their restraint.

Let’s talk visuals! What was the best video from this project?

Kaara: “U Know What’s Up”

No surprise, right? To me, this is the best of the set of videos for the singles off this album. First, it’s for my favorite song. Most of the videos for this album are just Jones singing, surrounded by beautiful women. This one is somewhat similar but the cameos as we’re transported to different rooms at “LaFace Palace” keep it interesting: Usher, Big Boi from Outkast and a young TI (I only caught that watching now). The showstopper, of course, is Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes, especially the way she struts in while ripping her verse. The video definitely made me a fan of the remix.

Edd: “U Know What’s Up”

Donell’s videos have never wowed me, they’re just the standard “Random Club Performance” or “Wandering Around A Club Making Weird Faces” or “Sad Man And Sad Woman Looking Sad.” You know, the usual. “U Know What’s Up” at least had a fun concept. Apparently all the superstars signed to LaFace are locked in the same house and are forced to watch Donell on TV for eternity. Left Eye looks incredible strolling through the house in her Storm cosplay though.

Songwriting! Which song showcased the best writing?

Kaara: “Where I Wanna Be”

Say what you want about the content (and we’ll get to that, lol), but I think it’s a well-written piece that deftly relays between the singer’s internal dialogue and the conversation with his girl. 

Edd: “Where I Wanna Be”

I may not be the biggest fans of the message of “Where I Wanna Be” (more on that later) but I had to admire how realistically and honestly it’s written. There’s a lot of sincerity in the lyrics, even if it’s misguided.

Time for the age-old question: Was Donell wrong for leaving his girl on Where I Wanna Be?

Kaara: No, if leaving is what he actually did. I admit, rewatching the video is conflating my answer because on the song, he’s conflicted but it really does sound like goodbye. Which sucks, but you get it. In the video, he’s like ‘bye’, but it’s really to play around until he sees the errors of his way and busts up his ex’s date.  Let’s not play these games, sir. Also, after watching his “Unsung” episode and hearing how the song was inspired by the relationship with his high school sweetheart, I don’t listen to it the same. But ultimately, I understand the sentiment that it’s better to leave than to stay and be half-committed or cause harm. 

A viewer commented under one of his videos: “Man, Donell so toxic and smooth.” This is the perfect summary. As an adult, I side-eye some of the song content, but he’s definitely smooth with it!

Edd: I’ll say this – he wasn’t wrong to leave her. In fact, he NEEDED to leave her because it was clear his heart wasn’t in the relationship. The problem is that it comes off like he’s doing her a favor by asking her to stay put until he’s tired of running through groupies or whatever. Asking your girl to pause your relationship so you can run the streets and then resume things when you get bored is some nerve, I’ll tell ya. But hey, he spit that game beautifully.

Is this album overrated, underrated or properly rated?

Kaara: Underrated. I remember the two big singles getting a lot of love, but I don’t feel like the album got its due.  I do remember raving about the album to some friends when it dropped to a lukewarm response. But a couple of years later I was vindicated when they were talking about how good it was.  Either way, I’m glad this album was the one that brought Jones into the limelight in a major way.

Edd: Definitely underrated by the masses but properly rated by most of the R&B community. This album didn’t achieve the skyrocketing success of some of his R&B peers – trust me, you won’t see it on the mainstream Best of 1999 lists in place of Mary J. Blige, TLC, Sisqo or Destiny’s Child. But those who really know and appreciate the genre will tell you differently. This album holds its own among the greats of that era.

Is Where I Wanna Be Donell’s best album?

Kaara: I can’t say definitively. Honestly, after this album I didn’t keep up with him other than some singles. So it counts as the best to me. 

Edd: Pretty easily. All of Donell’s early projects are great and while his debut and his 2006 effort are quite noteworthy, neither reach the highs of Where I Wanna Be. The album’s sequencing is immaculate, the vocal performances never waver and it’s home to his most recognizable hits. When you think of Donell Jones, you think of this album. It’s his signature work.

Who got it most right, Kaara or Edd? Let us know below and share your memories of Donell’s work.