Released: 2005
Chris Brown’s tune “Yo (Excuse Me Miss)” is a classic tale of the young charmer trying to find the right words to approach a lady who has caught his eye. It’s a smooth, romantic track that embodies the feelings of youthful infatuation and the hustle of making that first move.
Verses like “Tell me fellas have you seen her? (Seen her) It was about five minutes ago… I gotta give her game proper Spit it so she’ll get it, there she is I got to stop her” bring out the story. The protagonist is caught up in a whirlwind of attraction towards a woman he just spotted. He knows he has to make a move, but he also knows he needs to come correct – he’s got to “give her game proper“, meaning he needs to impress her with his charm.
When Chris sings “I don’t know your name but excuse me miss I saw you from across the room“, he’s making his approach, albeit a little unsure and a bit nervous. When he says “you’re making me want to say ‘yo'”, it’s essentially his way of gathering the confidence to catch her attention.
Chris doesn’t just want a dance (the very essence of romantic endeavor in a club setting), but also wishes to keep the woman with him – “I saved the last dance for you, How I love to keep you here with me, oh baby“. To him, the dance is more than just a dance; it’s symbolic of the connection he desires.
The chorus and verses are the heart of this love song, but what really brings this story home is the last part where Chris encourages his listeners to make their move if they’re in a similar situation, emphasizing the fact that taking the chance at love is an essential part of the romantic game.
