Serena Williams recently had a hilarious moment of realization when she discovered the true meaning behind the lyrics of Next’s 1998 hit song “Too Close.” The tennis legend took to social media to share her newfound understanding, revealing that she had previously only paid attention to the beat.
“I’m listening to ’90s slow jams and ummmmm I just heard the lyrics to ‘Too Close’ by Next for the first time…,” Williams shared with her fans. “I guess I just heard nothin but the beat before lol. 😂”
Serena Williams’ Hilarious Reaction to ‘Too Close’ Lyrics
The song, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1998, tells the story of a man dancing closely with a woman at the club. While the catchy beat and melodies may have distracted listeners, the lyrics are quite explicit.
Lines like “I wonder if she could tell I’m hard right now” and “You’re makin’ it hard for me” leave little to the imagination. Singer Vee’s perspective adds to the steamy narrative, with lines about feeling a “poke comin’ through.”\
In a 2018 interview, group member Tweet revealed that the song was inspired by an experience at the Peppermint Lounge in New Jersey. They danced with women who intentionally caused arousal on the dance floor to test the men’s reactions.
Despite its suggestive lyrics, many fans, including Williams, were unaware of the song’s true meaning. Some attributed this to their age at the time of its release or the song’s infectious production.
Williams, known for her perseverance both on and off the court, recently reflected on her career’s longevity in an interview. She expressed pride in her ability to endure through both positive and negative moments, allowing her career to span over two decades.
“I think perseverance is something that is not often talked about,” she said. “But I think staying in it, through the negatives and positives and still having a career that expands well over two decades, is pretty awesome. And I’m really fortunate that I’ve been able to do that.”