Thursday, December 31, 2009

Song of the Day: "Tell Me 'bout It (Joss Stone)



"Tell Me 'bout It" - Joss Stone
  • Writers: Joss Stone, Raphael Saadiq, and Robert Ozuna
  • Producer: Raphael Saadiq
  • Classification: Blue-Eyed Soul, British Soul, and Neo-Soul
  • Record Label: Relentless and Virgin
  • "Tell Me 'bout It" was released in 2007  from Introducing Joss Stone.
  • Peaked at 83 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100

Artists of the Decade: 2010

Bellow is a list of ten soul artists (not in any particular order) who rocked the decade. Some of these artist broke out in the early part of the decade, while others have more recently graced the charts and the airwaves. In the end, this list of artists help change the airwaves and soul music in general. Many of these artists kept neo-soul alive, while a few brought back the British invasion into America. Ultimately, these 10 artists have had promising careers that started within this decade and will more than likely branch out into the next!

Here are the artists along with their debut CD and its release date. If you don't have any of their debut albums I highly encourage you picking up a copy of them. You can do this just by clicking on the album covers and purchasing them on Amazon.com

1. Jill Scott - Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1(July 18, 2000)
Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds, Vol. 1

2. Musiq Soulchild - Aijuswanaseing (November 14, 2000)
Aijuswanaseing 

3. India.Arie - Acoustic Soul (March 27, 2001)
Acoustic Soul 

4. Alicia Keys - Songs in A Minor (June 26, 2001)
Songs in A Minor 

5. Joss Stone - The Soul Sessions (September 16th, 2003)
The Soul Sessions

6. Ledisi - Soul Singer (January 01, 2000)
Soul Singer

7. Corinne Bailey Rae - Corinne Bailey Rae (June 20, 2006)
Corinne Bailey Rae

8. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black (US Debut) (March 13, 2007)
Back to Black

9. Adele - 19 (June 10, 2008)
19

10. John Legend - Get Lifted (December 28, 2004)
Get Lifted

Artist on the Rise: Nneka



With a Hip-Hop/Soul fusion, Nneka is bringing something fresh to the format of Soul. Currently signed to Sony Music Entertainment, Nneka has already been compared to the likes of Erykah Badu. Just check out her single "Heartbeat" which shows that she has a sound like no other. Nneka is the Soul Artist on the Rise for 2010. Her first US release Concrete Jungle is set for February 2, 2010.


Live Video of the Day: "It Kills Me" (Melanie Fiona)



Check out this amazing live performance of Melanie Fiona's first #1 Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Song on The Mo'Nique Show... Enjoy!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

New Video: "I'd Do It all Again" (Corinne Bailey Rae)


Check out Corinne Bailey Rae's new video " I'd Do It all Again" from her upcoming album The Sea.


Corinne Bailey Rae "I'd Do It All Again"

Corinne Bailey Rae | MySpace Music Videos

Countdown Till Album: Corinne Bailey Rae


According to Amazon.com on January 29, 2010 Corinne Bailey Rae will release her sophomore album The Sea since her 2006 self-titled album Corinne Bailey Rae and has been heavily influenced by the passing of her husband in March 2008. Corinne recently shot a music video for her first single "I'd Do It all Again". You can now pre-order her album on Amazon at the link to the left.

Underrated Artist: Corneille


Corneille has been a music sensation in Europe more specifically France for a few year, but with his Universal Motown English debut The Birth of Cornelius, Corneille is attempting to enter the American Soul scene. With a 2009 Soul Train nomination and a very solid English debut Corneille is an artist to watch out for and will hopefully gain more appeal in 2010! Check out this mini overview of Corneille bellow as well as getting one of his songs "Too Much of Everything" for free by clicking here.

Live Video of the Day: "One Night Only" (Jennifer Hudson)


Check out this amazing performance of "One Night Only" by Jennifer Hudson live on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno... enjoy!

Song of the Day: "Back To Life" (Corneille)


"Back To Life" - Corneille
  • Writer: Corneille Nyungura
  • Classification: International Soul, Old-School Soul, and Smooth Soul
  • Record Label: Universal Motown
  • "Back To Life" was released from The Birth of Cornelius.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Song of the Day: "Breathless" (Corinne Bailey Rae)


"Breathless" - Corinne Bailey Rae
  • Writer: Corinne Bailey Rae and Marc Nelkin
  • Producer: Steve Chrisanthou
  • Classification: British Soul, Quiet Storm, Smooth Soul, and Slow Jam
  • Record Label: EMI/ Capitol Records
  • "Breathless" was released in 2007 from Corinne Bailey Rae.
  • Peaked at 70 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs

Live Video of the Day: "Quickly" (John Legend)


Check out this performance of "Quickly" live from Manila featuring Jessyca Wilson... Enjoy!


Monday, December 28, 2009

Song of the Day: "Superstar/ Until You Come Back To Me" (Luther Vandross)


"Superstar/ Until You Come Back to Me" - Luther Vandross
  • Writers: Leon Russell and Bonnie Bramlett; Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul and Stevie Wonder
  • Classification: Smooth Soul, Northern Soul, Slow Jam, and Quiet Storm
  • Record Label: Epic Records
  • "Superstar"was released in 1983 from Busy Body.
  • Peaked at #5 on the Billboard Top R&B Singles chart.

Live Video of the Day: "My Funny Valentine" (Jennifer Hudson)


Check out this amazing performance of "My Funny Valentine" By Jennifer Hudson... Enjoy!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Song of the Day: "Like A Star" (Corinne Bailey Rae)


"Like A Star" - Corinne Bailey Rae
  • Writer: Corinne Bailey Rae
  • Producer: Steve Chrisanthou
  • Classification: British Soul, Quiet Storm, Smooth Soul, and Slow Jam
  • Record Label: EMI
  • "Like A Star" was released in 2006 from Corinne Bailey Rae.
  • Peaked at 59 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs

Live Video of the Day: "Blame It On Me" (Chrisette Michele)


Check out Chrisette's performance at the 2009 Soul Train Awards!








Saturday, December 26, 2009

Live Video of the Day: "B.U.D.D.Y." (Musiq Soulchild)


Check out Musiq performing his hit single "B.U.D.D.Y." live on BET's Rip the Runway... Enjoy!


Song of the Day: "What You Do" (Chrisette Michele)


"What You Do" - Chrisette Michele

  • Writer: Shaffer Smith
  • Producer: Chuck Harmony
  • Classification: Neo-Soul, Northern Soul, and Hip-Hop Soul
  • Record Label: Island Def Jam
  • "What You Do" is featured on her #1 sophomore album "Epiphany"

Friday, December 25, 2009

Thursday, December 24, 2009

New Video: "More Than Love" (Amerie featuring Fabulous)


Check out Amerie's new video "More Than Love" featuring Fabulous... Enjoy!

Song of the Day: "You Know I'm No Good" (Amy Winehouse)


"You Know I'm No Good"
  • Writers: Amy Winehouse
  • Producer: Mark Ronson
  • Classification: Neo-Soul, British Soul, Blue-Eyed Soul, and Jazz-Soul
  • Record Label: Island Records (U.K.), Universal Republic (U.S.)
  • "Love Is a Losing Game" was released in 2007 from Back To Black
  • It reached #4 on the UK R&B Singles Chart.

Year End Favorite Albums: 2009 Top 5

Here are my favorite 5 Albums from 2009 in order.

1. Turn Me Loose - Ledisi


Since Ledisi's 2000 debut Soulsinger, she's been releasing a catalog of solid albums. This year, she added Turn Me Loose to her tremendous discography. Take a pick from any of the tracks and you're bound to discover just what is so special about Ledisi. This cross genre mix was a breath of fresh air into the 2009 music scene. Favorites include: Turn Me Loose, Higher Than This, Alone, Please Stay, Say No, Goin' Thru Changes, I Need Love, The Answer to Why, and the amazing Buddy Miles cover Them Changes. All and All you can listen to this album straight through without a skip... as one can see by my list of favorites, it's almost the whole album!

2. BLACKsummers'night - Maxwell


In a time where true male vocalists are hard to find, Maxwell came back in 2009 with this solid set that re-solidified his place in neo-soul. Charged with his monster classic hit Pretty Wings, Maxwell road his first of his trilogy to a very triumphant high note. Favorites include: Pretty Wings, Bad Habits, Stop the World, and Help Somebody. While the disk clocks in under 40 minutes, Maxwell gives his listeners a taste of what is coming in 2010 and 2011.

3. The Bridge - Melanie Fiona


While album delays hurt the commercial success that this album could've seen, Melanie Fiona released a very strong 60s/70s Motown flavored debut that has carried her into several Grammy nominations and will have people talking about her well into 2010. Marked by her powerfull ballad It Kills Me, Fiona proves that she is not just a pretty face but is a singer with strong vocals reminiscent of Motown's past. Favorites include: Give It to Me Right, Bang Bang, Please Don't Go (Cry Baby), and It Kills Me

4. Epiphany - Chrisette Michele


An album helmed by R&B hit maker Ne-Yo moves Chrisette Michele from her old-school throwback sound to a more contemporary sound. While many critics and some fans had issue with the more contemporary flavor, I feel as though Chrisette Michele is embracing her generation more and with her instantly recognizable voice, Chrisette Michele adds depth to many of these songs. Favorites include: Notebook, I'm Okay, Another One, Playin' Our Song, All I Ever Think About, and her heart wrenching album highlight Blame It On Me.

5. I Look To You - Whitney Houston


Say what you will about her voice, but Whitney Houston's 2009 album was the most talked about comeback in 2009. Though "The Voice" might not be back yet, Whitney proves on this album why people love her. A good lyric, a great melody, and a voice that only Whitney processes gives listeners a taste of the old Whitney material that they crave. Favorites include: Million Dollar Bill, Call You Tonight, I Look To You, and I Didn't Know My Own Strength.