It Must Be Magic
Teena Marie · 1981
66 min · 12 tracks · funk
A vibrant fusion of funk, soul, and disco, showcasing Teena Marie's powerful vocals and dynamic instrumentation.
Top tracks — play these first
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It Must Be Magic — The title track encapsulates the album's essence with its enchanting melodies and rich arrangements, highlighting Marie's vocal prowess.
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Square Biz — This track showcases Teena Marie's innovative approach to blending funk with hip-hop elements, making it a standout anthem for self-empowerment.
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Portuguese Love — With its lush instrumentation and romantic lyrics, this song reflects Marie's ability to convey deep emotional narratives through her music.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and musicianship but has some uneven pacing across its tracks.
What we noticed
- The first five tracks maintain a consistent mid-tempo groove, while the sixth track, 'Square Biz', introduces a faster pace and more intricate instrumentation.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with emotional peaks
- vibrant energy for social gatherings
- thoughtful moments for reflective listening
- powerful vocals that demand attention
- wave-like pacing with varied intensity
Maybe skip if you
- prefer short, standalone tracks
- seek immediate gratification in music
Where this album fits
- Career context
- It Must Be Magic marked Teena Marie's fourth studio album, released in 1981 after her breakthrough with Wild and Peaceful in 1979. By this time, she had solidified her place as a leading female artist in the funk and R&B genres, following a series of successful releases that established her distinctive sound and artistic identity.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Chaka Khan· Prince· Sade
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Square Biz
The verses switch from playful flirtation to assertive declarations of independence, marking a tonal shift.
This shift not only adds depth to the narrative but also emphasizes themes of empowerment and confidence throughout the track.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 It Must Be Magic 6:09
- 2 Revolution 4:39
- 3 Where's California 5:25
- 4 365 4:20
- 5 Opus III (Does Anybody Care) 1:33
- 6 Square Biz 6:43
- 7 The Ballad of Cradle Rob and Me 3:41
- 8 Portuguese Love 7:50
- 9 Yes Indeed 5:00
- 10 Square Biz (instrumental) 6:42
- 11 Someday We'll All Be Free (live) 1:57
- 12 Deja Vu (I've Been Here Before) (live) 12:25
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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