Love's Train

## Audio

“**Love's Train**” is Silk Sonic's fourth single, following up their debut album “*An Evening with Silk Sonic*”

## Background

Felton Pilate confessed that the group was surprised by the Silk Sonic's cover, as not only the latter didn't contact them, but Con Fuk Shun's publishing company didn't tell Pilate about Silk Sonic's intention to record a cover of "Love's Train". He was grateful and humbled that Silk Sonic chose their song. Regarding the cover's production Pilate felt that Mars and .Paak were able "to keep the original emotion, and the energy behind it". He furthered, that Silk Sonic and D'Mile studied the original song in order to recapture its authenticity, and added some new sounds that Con Fuk Shun could have done if they "had another shot at covering" their own track.

On February 14, 2022, Mars announced the release of Con Funk Shun's "Love's Train" cover, via Instagram. He also affirmed that it is one of his and .Paak's favorite songs to play and cover. .Paak wrote on his Instagram account, "We wanna dedicate this to that special someone!" In a similar publication, Silk Sonic typed on Twitter, "We love this song so much we wanted to sing it for y'all". A press release also describes the track as one of Mars and .Paak’s "favorite songs".

## Composition and production

Musically, the "Love's Train" cover is a "silky and smooth" 1970s funk and soul song. It is composed in the key of A Major with a tempo of 70 beats per minute. The singers' vocal ranges span from the low note of E4 to a high note of E6. According to *Rolling Stone*'s Larisha Paul, Mars and D'Mile "added the bounce of Silk Sonic's signature groove, picking up the pace of the original". The cover version kept most of the original instrumentation. However, the 1980s R&B synths were replaced with "balmy horns and analogue production", as the Silk Sonic version is centered around the 1970s decade.

Andy Bustard, writing for *HipHopDX*, said the duo go back far in time "by swapping the '80s production for lush, analog instrumentation that would sound at home in the previous decade". Bustard added that they "apply a fresh sonic coat to the love ballad". Uproxx's Aaron Williams described the bass as "buzzing" and the horns as "soaring". The cover version was recorded at Shampoo Press & Curl Studios and features new production by Mars and D'Mile. It was mixed by Serban Ghenea with assistance by Bryce Bordon, while mastered by Randy Merrill.

## Release

"Love's Train" was released on February 14, 2022, by Aftermath Entertainment and Atlantic Records as a commemorative song for Valentine's Day. On March 18, Warner Music Group (WMG) issued the track for radio airplay in Italy. On April 21, 2022, *Billboard* reported that "Love's Train" was the album's fourth single, with no official date of release in the United States. In February, the song was added to Silk Sonic's debut album *An Evening With Silk Sonic* on digital and streaming services and it will also be included on the webstore exclusive vinyl recording.

## Reception

"Love's Train" was met with acclaim from music critics. The song was included on *Under the Radar*'s Songs of the Week on February 18, 2022, as part of the Honorable Mentions. "Eddie Fu, writing for *Consequence*, dubbed the song as Silk Sonic's latest "soundtrack for...ahem adult activities". Fu commented that both Mars and .Paak stayed "true" to Con Funk Shun's original and "easily slip into their seductive role". Similarly, Doria also found Silk Sonic to be "largely faithful to the five-minute jam". Doria called Silk Sonic's version "expectedly sensual...soulful and groove-laden". *Billboard*'s Jason Lipshutz compared the best songs on *An Evening With Silk Sonic* to the cover version of "Love's Train", saying "the homage pops with modern production and two self-assured vocal performances".

Bustar affirmed that "Silk Sonic's rendition stays faithful" to the original version. Bustar praised the merge of Mars "soaring falsetto", and .Paak's "raspy timber" as it "adds more sensuality to the Valentine's Day jam." Jordan Darville of *The Fader* commented that while "the aesthetic of Silk Sonic may seem tongue-in-cheek, the music and the duo's appreciation for the era they're channeling certainly isn't". In a mixed review, Uproxx's Williams called Silk Sonic's vocals "velvety", and noted that despite being a love song, "it's as much about the messiness as anything on their debut album". "Love's Train" peaked at number 47 on the *Billboard* Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. It failed to reach the *Billboard* Hot 100, though entered the Bubbling Under Hot 100, which acts as an extension of the former chart, peaking at number 111.

## Live performances

Mars and .Paak first performed the song live at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. The duo was joined on stage by a band and two backup singers. Silk Sonic and the backup singers wore "maroon leisure suits", while the band rocked "complementing outfits". The performance included a "fully choreographed routine in tandem with their backup dancers and band." The performance was well received by critics. *Entertainment Tonight*'s Zach Seemayer‍ dubbed Silk Sonic's performance as one of the show highlights, saying "Just flawless '70s crooning that is every bit as smooth as their name wound lead you to expect." Melissa Ruggieri writing for *USA Today* placed Silk Sonic's performance as the fifth-best of the show. Ruggieri noticed the "pelvic thrusts and Temptations-styled dancing". Austin Williams from *Vibe* commended Silk Sonic's singing and choreography. Starr Bowenbank of *Billboard* magazine praised "their smooth dance skills". They also sang "Love's Train" during the concert residency, An Evening with Silk Sonic at Park MGM (2022).

## Lyrics

**[Intro: Anderson .Paak]**

One, two

**[Pre-Refrain: Anderson .Paak]**

Warm night, can't sleep, too hurt, too weak, gotta call her up

Dial that number, no one answers 'til it's two o'clock

**[Refrain: Bruno Mars]**

And if by chance, you let me come over

Out on the street, I wanna see you, baby

And if by chance, you let me just hold ya

I'm down on my knee, I wanna please you, baby

Ooh, I'll be your righteous lover

**[Verse: Anderson .Paak]**

She said, "Sugar, honey, darlin'"

I really wanna see you, too

(I bet you do, bet you do, bet you do)

It's just that someone's over and, baby

I really wanna be with you

**[Refrain: Bruno Mars]**

But if by chance you let me just hold ya

I'm callin', I'm free, I wanna see you, baby

Ooh, when in need, you said you would be here

And you hold the key to my very being, baby, I

(I love you, baby) I love you, baby

**[Chorus: Anderson .Paak]**

If you are that special lover

And love keeps you tied to another

That's the way it goes on love's train

Sometimes, heartstrings can be broken

But you just have to keep on goin'

That's the way it goes on love's train

**[Pre-Refrain: Anderson .Paak]**

On a warm night, lady wants her baby, so she calls him up

Ah, when it ring-a-ling it only mean one thing, come on

Dial that number, no one answers 'til it's two o'clock

**[Refrain: Bruno Mars]**

And if by chance, you just come on over, girl

I'm sick and, please, I've got to see you, baby

Ooh, when in need, you said you would be right here

Well, I'm in need, I need you to please believe, please believe

I love you, baby

**[Chorus: Anderson .Paak with Bruno Mars]**

If you are that special lover (Woo)

And love keeps you tied to another

That's the way it goes on love's train

You don't need no, you don't need no ticket to ride

Sometimes, heartstrings can be broken

But you just have to keep on goin'

That's the way it goes on love's train

Listen, baby, listen, baby

If deep sorrow, you've been soakin'

But you just have to keep on strokin'

That's the way it goes on love's train

Love's a hurtin' thang, yo, it makes you want to cry, come on

If you are that special lover

And love keeps you tied to another

That's the way it goes on love's train

**[Outro: Bruno Mars]**

Oh

 Released