Raphael Saadiq is a fool for this one....
Growing up in a decidedly old school household in Wilmington, Delaware in the late 80s and 90s, I secretly envied my elders who got up and put down the hottest dances from the 1960s whenever a Motown classic glided through the speakers of my mama's ridiculously huge stereo. As a child, that unbridled passion, the motivation to move and thrive in a love song with an upbeat tempo was not (and let's be frank about it - STILL AIN'T) a part of my musical generation...til Raphael Saadiq unleashed this gem, called "Love That Girl." A lot of times, in all genres of music, artists and producers stretch and strain their musical abilities to create a "retro sound," with urban musicians falling short of the feel of Berry Gordy's Hitsville, USA or James Brown's fried chicken/collard greens/mashed potatoes/sweet tea brand of funk.
Saadiq, however, pulls off a song that Eddie Kendricks is looking down on from Heaven with MUCH delight and approval. The lyrical content - simple but elegant like Smokey Robinson. The bass feels like the late James Jamerson is playing those notes himself, and complete with cymbal taps and sharp tambourine shakes, Raphael sings about this girl that is "so sweet and tender," making the listener opine for the days when it was alright to refer to a woman's personality and demeanor as her best attributes, or her physical beauty in a complimentary and respectful way.
Of course, Raphael has been a talented musician forever, so his skill is nothing new to me or anyone who may read this entry. But for him to really step on a limb and release this cut as the lead single from his new album "The Way I See It," just shows a strong conviction to his art, and he is to be commended and respected for it. It's wishful thinking that one song by a veteran musician could spark a widespread return to real instrumentation and talent, but it's a welcome diversion from Autotune-Pain and radio-obsessed production that is dominating our ears today.
Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some Philly dipping and Funky Broadwaying to do.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Fearless Debut Album Suits Jazmine Sullivan's Style
Make no mistake about it, 21-year old Jazmine Sullivan is no new jack. The North Philadelphia beauty has been sending chills up the spines of whoever has heard her sing for quite sometime. She first sang "What God Allows" on "Showtime at the Apollo" as a tomboyish 11-year old with a super strong voice, and she's torn up the Philly neo-soul circuit for a grip. Now with a new look, solid production and the backing of Clive Davis' J Records empire, Sullivan's debut album, "Fearless," truly lives up to its title.
Aside from the insanely popular reggae cut "Need You Bad" - co-produced by Missy Elliot - hanging around the top spot of the Billboard R&B charts all summer, "Fearless" is a soulful treat for music lovers who yearn for the days of full-bodied vocal skills with complimentary musicianship.
The tone for the album is set with the opening track "Bust Your Windows." Against the backdrop of a waltz music sample, Jazmine takes much delight in telling the story of her wrecking shop against her unfaithful lover's most prized posession - his ride. For any woman who has felt powerless while being cheated on, this song will definitely hit close to home...just as long as they don't hit anymore unfortunate brothers' cars.
Another standout cut is "Lions, Tigers and Bears" (complete with the backing vocals hitting the "Oh My"). Sullivan's emotionally torn rasp is the star of this string-laced masterpiece about the fear to love again, as she asks the simple but gut-wrenching question of "why do we love love, but love seems to hate us?"
Three of the most hard-hitting songs on the album deal with relationship troubles that everyone faces - lies, abuse, and the difficulty in letting someone go.
"Live A Lie" examines how most women (and men) would rather be blind to the truth to keep the peace and assumed happiness in their relationships, ignoring the signs and evidence of infidelity and unfaithfulness.
The most serious song on the album, "Call Me Guilty" is essentially a cry for help from a battered woman who swears to the high heavens that it will either be her or him who meets an untimely death, and she's clearly decided that it will be the abusive lover who goes.
"In love with another man" is without question the LP's crown jewel, and for good reason. Breaking up is hard to do, especially if you're leaving for someone who isn't perfect. Jazmine reasons that a gang of women would love to have a man like the guy she is singing to, but this other man, who doesn't necessarily treat her better, has her heart in a way that the jilted man doesn't.
But the album is not all gloom and doom. "One Night Stand" casts Jazmine in the role of playette extraordinaire, only to meet her match in a man who inspires her to hook up a nice breakfast for him the next morning. The bonus track, "Switch," is a playful song about a girl who meets this guy and they agree to double date with their friends, but the girl is feeling her suitor's best friend instead, and hilarity ensues. "Dream Big" is an up-tempo inspirational cut for anyone who has goals to be something or someone more than what they are right now.
"Fearless" has more tear-jerking and thought-provoking moments than its lead single suggests, but it is a coming of age album in the truest sense of the phrase. With a mature voice and a maturing emotional and mental frame of mind, Jazmine Sullivan has been introduced to the world in a way that most artists can only dream - without fear.
Aside from the insanely popular reggae cut "Need You Bad" - co-produced by Missy Elliot - hanging around the top spot of the Billboard R&B charts all summer, "Fearless" is a soulful treat for music lovers who yearn for the days of full-bodied vocal skills with complimentary musicianship.
The tone for the album is set with the opening track "Bust Your Windows." Against the backdrop of a waltz music sample, Jazmine takes much delight in telling the story of her wrecking shop against her unfaithful lover's most prized posession - his ride. For any woman who has felt powerless while being cheated on, this song will definitely hit close to home...just as long as they don't hit anymore unfortunate brothers' cars.
Another standout cut is "Lions, Tigers and Bears" (complete with the backing vocals hitting the "Oh My"). Sullivan's emotionally torn rasp is the star of this string-laced masterpiece about the fear to love again, as she asks the simple but gut-wrenching question of "why do we love love, but love seems to hate us?"
Three of the most hard-hitting songs on the album deal with relationship troubles that everyone faces - lies, abuse, and the difficulty in letting someone go.
"Live A Lie" examines how most women (and men) would rather be blind to the truth to keep the peace and assumed happiness in their relationships, ignoring the signs and evidence of infidelity and unfaithfulness.
The most serious song on the album, "Call Me Guilty" is essentially a cry for help from a battered woman who swears to the high heavens that it will either be her or him who meets an untimely death, and she's clearly decided that it will be the abusive lover who goes.
"In love with another man" is without question the LP's crown jewel, and for good reason. Breaking up is hard to do, especially if you're leaving for someone who isn't perfect. Jazmine reasons that a gang of women would love to have a man like the guy she is singing to, but this other man, who doesn't necessarily treat her better, has her heart in a way that the jilted man doesn't.
But the album is not all gloom and doom. "One Night Stand" casts Jazmine in the role of playette extraordinaire, only to meet her match in a man who inspires her to hook up a nice breakfast for him the next morning. The bonus track, "Switch," is a playful song about a girl who meets this guy and they agree to double date with their friends, but the girl is feeling her suitor's best friend instead, and hilarity ensues. "Dream Big" is an up-tempo inspirational cut for anyone who has goals to be something or someone more than what they are right now.
"Fearless" has more tear-jerking and thought-provoking moments than its lead single suggests, but it is a coming of age album in the truest sense of the phrase. With a mature voice and a maturing emotional and mental frame of mind, Jazmine Sullivan has been introduced to the world in a way that most artists can only dream - without fear.
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