by vivrant thang on dresden soul symphony
I am truly slipping on my stanning duties.
I saw that Bilal was going to be in Germany back in April of this year. However, I had no idea that he had joined Dwele, Tweet, and underrated German female soul singer Joy Denalane for the Dresden Soul Symphony concert, where they performed classic soul hits backed by the MDR Symphony Orchestra.
The concert was broken up into four movements which included some of my favorite classic soul hits such as:
- (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (original: Aretha Franklin)
- Lovin You (original: Minnie Ripperton)
- Midnight Train To Georgia (original: Gladys Knight and the Pips)
- A Song For You (original: Leon Russell)
- You’re All I Need To Get By (original: Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell)
- Let’s Stay Together (original: Al Green)
- It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World (original: James Brown)
- Me and Mrs. Jones (original: Billy Paul)
- Betcha Bye Golly Wow! (original: Stylistics – I LOVE this song. The Norman Conners/Phyllis Hyman version will be my wedding song)
- Sir Duke and Master Blaster (Jammin) (original: Stevie Wonder)
- Love Train (original: The O’Jays)
- Everything Is Everything (original: Lauryn Hill – guess we can consider this a classic huh?)
A DVD of the concert will be released. Check out footage of Tweet and Joy performing “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World.”
The CD was released on October 24th. Many thanks to my loyal reader Soul UK for hooking me up. I’ll share the love by posting a few of my favorite songs. Since re-imagining classic soul songs seems to be the “thing” lately (Kenny Lattimore’s Timeless and Seal’s Soul are recent examples) I am learning to try and not compare them to the original.
“Sir Duke”
“A Song For You”
“Me and Mrs. Jones”
“Everything Is Everything”
Let me know what you think of what these artists did with these songs in the comments. Or are you over albums covering soul classics? I think you at the very least have to admit that this is an interesting blend of talent!
SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE 
Oh man! I’m so glad Google Reader randomly recommended your blog to me! After you recommended that John Legend CD & I purchased it and loved it and you too were disappointed w/Jazmine Sullivan I knew it was a match! Must download this immediately! And it’s only 8.99?! Good look, Vivrant! Lol.
Hey there!
I really like that cut “Everything is everything”!! I have NO idea who performs that hit but I’ve heard it on the radio quite a few times….I don’t really follow any R & B though.
(smiles)
Lisa
First, I love all the artists spotlighted. Joy, Bilal, Tweet & Dwele. However, I don’t think any of them added that “special something” that re-worked any of these classics. I love their diversity, but no one stood out and I have issues w/anyone singing Donnay Hathaway. He just can’t be touched.
Viv glad to see u posted on this.
I agree with sdg1844 to an extent but i think the covers of Its a Mans Mans Mans World, Betcha By Golly Wow and Sir Duke are great. I have the DVD ordered and think it will be that bit better seeing them perform!
This could have gone horribly wrong (i.e. they could have asked Beyonce, Rhianna, Chris Brown and T-Pain on board instead), but i’m glad they picked real, contemporary soul singers!
@sweet t- welcome! thanks for commenting. glad google reader brought you to me as well. come back and let me know what you think of the album once you spend some time with it.
@lisa – that’s a classic lauryn hill song from her album “the miseducation of lauryn hill.” it’s the perfect blend of hip hop and r&b. i think you would like it 🙂
@sdg – I appreciate your comment. I have to say I am still struggling not to compare. I’m failing a bit. I feel the same way about Donny – particularly A Song For You, which made my Top 50 list. I wasn’t terribly disappointed with what was done with it. But nothing can begin to touch the original. I do have to say I was very pleased at what Tweet did with the songs she led. Makes me anxious for her return.
@souluk I agree. I would definitely be interested in seeing the live performances. Man’s World is hot! I think my fascination with this project arises out of this classic soul music being set to an orchestra – and the artists they picked. As far away from Beyonce as can be and I loves it!
wow, i just got this for 7.99 from amazon…dam!!!!
imma play it on my radio show on fri….www.soundsofsoulradio.com
Girl, as I mentioned the other night – I am not to happy with what Seal has attempted to do with his cover of “A Change Gonna Come” and to hear some of the clips played in the ad…hmmm…not too sure about Seal and his “Soul.”
Well, I have not heard of this either so I will be taking a listen soon indeed. 😉
i need this in my life…i need this in my life…i need them in my life!
thank you love!
Pingback: Highly Anticipated Albums for 2009…And A Wish List! « SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE
I stumbled across your blog, and I am glad that I did. I am a Bilal fanatic, and hadn’t heard about this project until today. (I also like Tweet’s voice, and Dwele’s productions.) I promptly went to amazon to order. It is a no brainer without even hearing it. What a treat to discover a new Bilal project, and a blog worth reading.
Keep posting 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and commenting! Glad to meet another Bilal fanatic! I wish there had been more promotion of this album. But hey, that’s why I’m here 🙂 Enjoy!
Pingback: Compilations: Yet Another Way To Discover New Music « SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE
Pingback: Blog Checka: Ayah, Joy Denalane, Maiysha, and Yazarah Buzz « SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE
Pingback: Six International Women Singers You Should Know | SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE