(November 3, 2025) Take a veteran soul master and put him together with a composer who worked on pop smashes to create the theme of a soundtrack of power ballad proportions, and the result is a gem deserving of across the board radio play.
That soul master is Eric Benet. He needs no further introduction here. The composer is Andreas Carlsson, card-carrying member of Sweden’s Cheiron Studios, known for churning out Top 10 hits for NSYNC (“Bye Bye Bye”) as well as the Backstreet Boys’ trademark tune, “I Want It That Way.”
“Can You Hear Me” is the title track of the soundtrack and film of the same name. Produced by Karl Johan Råsmark, Eric kicks it off at the jump, lyrics paraphrasing Paul Anka’s “My Way” (“It’s my time to face the final curtain”). While the story spells out one facing their own mortality, “it’s not farewell” as Benet affirms. The chorus is no muss, no fuss (“Love won’t be silenced, even if we’re apart…love won’t divide us, our souls are always near…”) Carlsson and co-writer Vera Carlbom use the power ballad blueprint here – make the melody as memorable as the lyrics, so both can capture one’s ears and stick to the brain.
This is one tune that could’ve been longer than three and a half minutes, giving Benet a chance to go into a higher modulation with the chorus and go for broke. At the same time, this is probably a card that Team Benet/Carlsson was going for – keep it tight and leave the listener wanting more. Here, they succeeded.
Radio folks – R&B, Top 40, Adult Contemporary – can use a single like this now. To my programming peeps, add this, please. To fans – take a listen and let this one warm your heart.
By Kevin Goins
