This month marks the 20th anniversary of TLC’s Crazysexycool, a blockbuster album on which the group continued to bravely and poetically tackle topics like sex, drug addiction, HIV, and misogyny, all while giving us hooks and choruses we still know by heart 20 years later. (Hands up if you also tried memorizing Left Eye Lisa Lopez’s rapped verses as wee baby children.) Thus, a theory was born: everything you need to know about life, you can learn from a TLC song. And to prove how right we are (and how right I always am, personally), we have a few examples for you here.
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TLC 007
This month marks the 20th anniversary of TLC’s Crazysexycool, a blockbuster album on which the group continued to bravely and poetically tackle topics like sex, drug addiction, HIV, and misogyny, all while giving us hooks and choruses we still know by heart 20 years later. (Hands up if you also tried memorizing Left Eye Lisa Lopez’s rapped verses as wee baby children.) Thus, a theory was born: everything you need to know about life, you can learn from a TLC song. And to prove how right we are (and how right I always am, personally), we have a few examples for you here.
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TLC Creep
The tables have turned! Instead of sadly singing about their man's infidelity, the group champions an "eye for an eye" mentality and justifies their own need to seek outside parties by reminding us that they also deserve recognition, admiration, and value. Word to the wise: if a guy can fuck around in his relationship, a woman can too. TLC throws no pity parties.
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TLC 006
You might as well hand out business cards that say this exact line. The life motto here? If you're into somebody, work for it. Actually, work for everything. All of it. Even if the person you're trying to impress is playing it crazysexycool and/or it's totally platonic. JUST WORK.
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TLC 005
Unfortunately, there wasn't enough room to include each and every line from this song, but here we are and you get the message. Behold: the only friendship guide you'll ever need. Are the people around you fake? Then goodbye! Goodbye, fake people! You're the Toby Flendersons to our Michael Scotts, and nobody has time for you. (Especially TLC.)
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Waterfalls
Well, I mean, duh. See also: "Don't go chasing waterfalls" and "Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to." Also: watch the video on days you feel like crying. Namaste.
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TLC 003
This is not wrong. Also, maybe a lot of relationships would improve a lot if everyone just hung out and shopped all the time, you know? (Of course you do. Shopping is what love is about.)
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TLC 002
...And other important phrases to remember when making a perfectly-executed prank phone call.
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TLC 001
If Drake was the one writing this, he'd say YOU DO YOU. But since he isn't, allow us to include our very own Emoji hands of prayer and give thanks for a song about being one's own person, one's own woman, and one's own badass boss. Take no shit, and answer for nothing -- especially if you're a dude expecting anyone (TLC) to conform to bullshit gender norms.