The Deele feat. Babyface - Two Occasions

For this week’s Throwback Thursday, we’re taking it back to The Deele’s timeless R&B ballad “Two Occasions.” Written by Babyface, Darnell Bristol and Sid Johnson and produced by Babyface and L.A. Reid, the song appeared on The Deele’s 1987 album Eyes of a Stranger. Released as the album’s second single in December 1987, the smooth quiet-storm classic featured alternating lead vocals from Babyface, Bristol and Carlos “Satin” Greene.
“Two Occasions” became The Deele’s defining hit, reaching No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 4 on the Hot Black Singles chart and No. 21 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Interestingly, Babyface ended up singing the song’s bridge almost by accident after another group member left the studio early to attend a Halloween party in Cincinnati. The song later earned a BMI Pop Award in 1989.
The official video perfectly captures the sophisticated late-’80s R&B aesthetic, with The Deele performing in an elegant courtyard surrounded by white arches while dressed in sharp black suits and sunglasses. A solo dancer adds another visual touch to the romantic presentation. The song’s influence continued decades later, with Mariah Carey referencing and sampling it for the remix of “We Belong Together,” while Next also sampled it for “I Still Love You.” Babyface and members of The Deele have since reunited to perform the beloved classic live.










