Synopsis

Babyface performs "Tender Lover" with a live band in the stark interior of an abandoned factory. The performance is intercut with stylized scenes set in a circus ring, where a group of women move through choreographed routines and theatrical tableaux. The contrast between the industrial setting and the colorful circus imagery gives the video a polished late-1980s R&B feel, while Babyface remains the central focus as he delivers the romantic title track.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was released in 1989 to promote the title track from Babyface's second solo album, Tender Lover.

• The song was issued by Solar and Epic Records and became one of Babyface's early solo signature songs.

• "Tender Lover" was included in the 1990 home-video release Tender Lover - The Videos, alongside "It's No Crime" and "Whip Appeal."

• The official video runs for approximately five minutes and uses color cinematography throughout.

• The video's production combines performance footage with circus imagery rather than presenting a conventional romantic storyline. This approach places the emphasis on visual atmosphere, choreography, and Babyface's stage presence.