(February 6, 2026) Cell phone etiquette – the rules and dos and don’ts of mobile phone usage – is one of those topics that elicits strong reactions. There’s general agreement on some things: Cut them off – or at least put the device on vibrate – in public spaces such as theaters and churches. Many states passed laws that prohibit students from using their phones while in class. I can tell you that law is about as effective as the no smoking in the bathroom regulations were back in the day.
I think we can all agree that breaking up with someone via text message is not the right way to do things. Does anyone want Blue Lovett of the Manhattans thumbing “this has got to be the saddest day of my life” into his mobile device? Yeah, cell phones didn’t exist in 1976, but you get my point. Text message break ups should not happen, yet they happen all the time, and a text message kiss off is the story line behind Sargent Tucker’s new song, the fun but poignant “U… Can’t Text Love Away.”
Tucker is an old-school soul singer. His voice is rich and emotional and drips of honesty of vulnerability. His musical arrangements prioritize the use of real instruments played by musicians who come together in a studio. Human interaction is important, and while technology has its advantages, people often use computers to create artificial barriers because sometimes they want to avoid interacting with another person. Anyone who’s dealt with an AI service rep understands this.
On “U… Can’t Text Love Away” Sargent Tucker gives a musical voice to the importance of face-to-face interaction when people engage in one of the most personal and painful relationship encounters – the breakup. Check out Sargent Tucker’s “U… Can’t Text Love Away” here.
By Howard Dukes
