There is something refreshingly uncomplicated about the romantic pull at the heart of Marq Skye’s “Contagious.” Rather than dressing attraction up in melodrama, Skye approaches it as an instinctive force; the kind of connection that gradually takes hold until resisting it feels almost pointless.
Operating firmly within contemporary R&B and soul, “Contagious” moves at a steady 64 BPM, giving the song a deliberately unhurried character. That restraint suits the subject well, as the track’s appeal lies in creating an intimate space for its central feeling to linger. The result is music concerned with the quieter moment when somebody realizes another person has already worked their way beneath their defenses.
Simplicity is one of “Contagious” strongest qualities beyond the melody as well. The metaphor itself is immediately understandable, turning desire into something that spreads almost involuntarily. The relaxed R&B setting prevents the idea from becoming overly sentimental, as Skye sings about how romance is found in familiarity, physical chemistry and the increasingly difficult task of pretending that a connection does not matter.
The song also provides an effective introduction to the wider atmosphere of Excursion, the seven-track R&B/Soul project on which “Contagious” originally appeared as its opening song. Written and produced by Sherrod Jones, the track establishes intimacy and relationships as territory Skye seems comfortable exploring.
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“Contagious” is bound to resonate with R&B audiences because it understands exactly what kind of song it wants to be. It is warm, direct and deliberately intimate, capturing that period of attraction where another person’s presence begins occupying increasingly more of your emotional space. Marq Skye focuses on making an old sensation feel personal, and in doing so, gives it a charm that proves appropriately difficult to shake.