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Usher
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Usher - The Truth Tour 2004
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Usher
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For the second week in a row, Usher’s fifth album in his ten-year career, Confessions, was No. 1 on the
Billboard 200, keeping Janet Jackson’s Damita Jo at bay for its debut on the countdown at No. 2 with 381,000
copies. Usher made record-breaking history by having the highest-ever chart debut by an R&B artist (R.Kelly’s TP-2.com
of 2000 debuted with 543,000 copies and Destiny’s Child Survivor of 2001 debuted with 663,000), the second-highest
debut by a male artist (behind Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP of 2000), the seventh-highest debut since the
13-year Nielsen Soundscan era (behind N’Sync, Eminem, Backstreet Boys, and Britney Spears, the highest first-week figure
of any Arista Records release since Notorious B.I.G.’s 1997 Life After Death, 689,000 copies, and Whitney Houston’s
The Bodyguard soundtrack that sold more than 1 million copies in December 1992, and sold three times the first-week
totals of is previous releases combined. U.S. sales of Usher dropped in a typical second week decline, 56%. The 486,000 copies
tallied by Soundscan made Usher’s two-week count 1.58 million.
More popular than ever, Usher attributes his longevity to building
anticipation and not becoming overexposed. He drops an album every couple of years to give fans time to miss him. He also
acknowledges that it was the combined effect of all his past albums, the support of people in is life, and being open to working
with new people.
What does Mr. Entertainment have to say about making history? “See what happens when you put your faith in R&B?”
Usher
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Usher's Confessions
Congratulations, Usher! 1.1 million sold the first week
Click here for ratings guide
(Score 3.98). Usher's latest release, Confessions, is worth the rush to go out and buy it because
"Yeah!" drove you to it. Usher, 25, lives up to his word that this album is straight R&B, that is definitely missing in
today's mass market conformity to hip-hop. He sounds like the late '80s brothas that crooned to us across the air waves. His
voice reminds me of somebody, I just can't put my finger on it. I'll have to dust off my old albums (lol). You know. Ready
for the World. Surface. I know, you young'ns are clueless, right? Who are they?) And of course there are joints that can't
help but be Prince, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson-inspired.
Confessions, expansive and experimental, is his evolution as an artist and a man. Usher's all-grown
up this time around, abandoning his squeaky-clean, boy next door image. He tries out new flows and high notes. Despite admitting
that Confessions is somewhat personal, Usher hedges that it is a theme (Pandora's Box, skeletons in the closet) and
should not be taken as an autobiography of his life.
Usher’s crusade to restore R&B is off to a head-start.
With too many artists piggy-backing off of hip-hop, the state of rhythm and blues was looking dismal before Confessions.
On his albums you will hear the influence of Marvin Gaye, Prince, Stevie Wonder . . . and of course, the gloved one . . Michael
Jackson. He says R&B is soul, experience, and emotion. The drenching, crying kind. Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Bobby
Womack, Sam Cooke. The funk. James Brown.
Other R&B artists keeping it real, minus the “cars, clothes, hoes,
money and wheels spinning”: R.Kelly and Beyonce’.
The best production are the tracks by Jermaine Dupri, Lil' John, and Just Blaze. Distributed by Arista Records.
Executive Producers: Usher Raymond and Antonio "L.A." Reid.
Play by Play:
*Yeah! featuring Lil' John and Ludacris - 5 (like you didn't know!)
"Futuristic R&B." Massive radio airplay and video coverage. His hip-hop collaboration,
“crunk R&B,” wasn’t intended to be a first single. It was supposed to be teaser for street DJs
and mixtapes. Ludacris predicts that “Yeah!” will be the song of the year. Since
November 2003, it has had massive exposure on mixtapes, in the clubs, and on the airwaves. Ironically, it was not on the original
album Usher submitted to his record label. The video, directed by Usher and Mr. X (formerly Little X) hyped the song out of
this stratosphere with a dance smorgasbord reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s Rock With You video in front of laser
lights. Produced by Lil' John. Sample lyric: "Cause on a scale of 1 to a 10 she's a certified
20"
*Throwback - 5
"Soulful Rock and Roll." About missing a good thing after it's gone. The "I wish, if
only if" jam. Featuring samples from the Dionne Warwick recording "You're Gonna Need Me." Produced by Just Blaze. Sample lyric:
"If I could rewind the time and get inside your mind, I would take back all my words."
Confessions Part II - 4
With the rumor mill swirling about the reasons for his make-up to break-up relationship
with Chili, Burn feeds the controversy. It’s juicy, about a cheating heart and fathering a love child with “the
other woman.” Is he somebody's baby daddy? He says no, it's just art. Produced by Jermaine
Dupri. Sample lyric: "My chick on the side said she got one on the way."
*Burn -5
This is a signature Usher track about breakups and letting a relationship "flame out."
Produced by Jermaine Dupri. Sample lyric: "I'm twisted 'cause one side of me, Is tellin' me that I need to move on, On
the other side I wanna break down and cry."
*Caught Up - 5
"Can you feel it" -- that's what this cut reminds
me of. The Jacksons during their Victory tour days and MJ's Off the Wall. Produced by Andre Harris and Vidal Davis.
Sample lyric: "And every lover, y'all, In and out my life, I've hit, loved, and left in tears, without a care, until I
met this girl who turned the tables around."
Superstar - 4.5
Late '80s feel with a Ready for the World vibe. Contains samples from "Mack's Stroll/The
Getaway (Chase Scene). Produced by Andre Harris and Vidal Davis. Sample lyric: "I been your groupie, baby, 'cause you are
my superstar, I'm your number one fan, give me your autograph, sign it right here on my heart."
Truth Hurts - 3.5
Produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Sample lyric: "Punch me in my face, pull the
hot grits out . . a guilty conscience is the real reason I wrote this song."
Simple Things - 3.75
Produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Sample lyric: "Why do you make something so
easy so complicated, searchin' for what's right in front of your face."
Bad Girl - 3.5
Produced by Destro Music/Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Sample lyric: "Ooh, work me baby,
shakin' it the way I like, I'm ready to be bad, I need a bad girl."
That's What It's Made For - 3
Produced Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
Can U Handle It? - 4.5
Prince-ish. Produced by Thicke and Pro J.
*Do It To Me - 5
Rick James/Prince Purple Rain vibe. Produced by Jermaine Dupri. Sample lyric: "and
you put that ooh wee on me."
Take Your Hand - 1
This had to be a thrown on song. They should have left it on the editing floor. Produced
by Rich Harrison.
Follow Me - 3
Produced by Andre Harris and Vidal Davis. Sample lyric: "Ooh, I can't believe it,
you came just in time with what I needed."
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