A long time ago, when I first tried to get into what is commonly tagged as "neo-soul" music, I thought it was nothing more than a good cure for insomnia, and even today, when I try to feel artists like D'Angelo and Jill Scott, I'm still bored (maybe they just have to grow on me).

But boy, am I ever glad I gave MS. BADU a second chance.

She's got it all: An angelic, jazz-influenced voice, the wisdom and wit of an old soul, a unique sense of fashion, presence in abundance, and fervent, gorgeous, eclectic music. She is everything today's mainstream R&B should be, but sadly, isn't, for the most part.

I've heard the majority of songs from "Baduizm" and "Mama's Gun" (I still have yet to hear all of them), and I can't wait to buy those along with "Live" and "Worldwide Underground". Needless to say, I think I may have found a new addition to my list of female musical favorites.

Thoughts here!

Cant really comment, but the image she has seems to be snobby. U know, like shes some kind of african god or something?

Heard her music. Its good if u like that sorta jazzy tribe called quest like vibe (ok, well, that whole jazzy hiphop thing started with them it seemed). But as a cheesy pop person, melody and production always comes first and foremost. She may be lyrically deep, but if the music is boring to me, then i dont care.

As boyzone said "its only words".

I liked her look in the late 80's

squiddyren said:

man im jealous, i wish i were discovering her all over again! this is how it went for me:

in 1997 I remember her album coming out at number 2 on the charts and everyone was all about some song called "on and on." when i saw the video and her on vh1 before they were rock stars and then eventually "tyrone," i thought, whatever, she's pretentious and her music is overrated. then she wins best r&b album at the grammys...i wasn't convinced.

then in college several years later this chick i had a crush on would do yoga to "mama's gun." i really dug the songs "didn't cha know" and "cleva" and i added them to a mix cd. but i didn't think much else.

THEN...when i saw the cover of "WWU" on the internet and thought hmmm...maybe i should give that a chance when it drops, looks cool and funky. just from the cover. so i hop over to best buy the day it dropped and spent 8 bucks on it...the best 8 bucks EVER! i first played the remix to "love of my life" and was hooked. then i smoked a doobie and sat in LA traffic from west LA to hollywood at 6pm (like suicide) and sat there MESMERIZED from top to bottom, fucking IN LOVE with "back in the day" "I want you" and "think twice." it was like shit...i always thought no one could top Madonna/MJ/Janet/Prince/Tina/TLC in my book...but all of a sudden based on 8 songs, an intro and an outro, Erykah was my new all time favorite.

then i ran out and got "mama's gun" and wore that shit thin. i still bump it several times a week, ever since 2003. "kiss me on my neck" fucking ROCKED me like no other track has since or before.

then luckily she went on tour in early 04 and i caught her show two nights in a row...sitting far away at an amphitheatre in LA then in the FRONT ROW at a smaller nightclub in SD...shit was fucking FIRE. the best shows EVER. everyone was entranced, smoking joints, jamming along, screaming their love for her--white, black, hispanic, asian, gay, straight, short, fat, tall, old, young...I'm so glad i found her.

squiddy, sorry, i just went off on your thread. i know ima take some hate for that but i don't care, when it comes to Badu...i'm insane for the bitch.

if you haven't heard these tracks, bump that shit NOW. all time bests:

"Sometimes (Mix #9)"
"Certainly"
"On & On" (Live)
"AppleTree" (Live)
"Stay"
"Penitentiary Philosophy"
"...& On"
"Cleva"
"Kiss Me on my Neck"
"Green Eyes"
"Love of my Life (An ode to Hip Hop)"
"Bump It"
"Back in the Day"
"I Want You"
"Woo"
"Danger"

plus:
"All Night Long" (w/ Common)
"The Light (Remix)" (w/ Common)
"Humble Mumble" (w/ Outkast)
"Hollywood" (Chaka cover)
"You Got Me" (w/ the Roots)

Can't wait till the new album...even if it ain't out till 2014.

K I'll shut up now.

Oh, there's no problem! I'm happy to know another enthusiast, except that I'm still fairly new to her.

As for some of the songs you mentioned, I actually watched "On & On" and "Appletree" live on youtube from MTV Unplugged and it was awesome.. "Penitentiary Philosophy" is SLAMMIN'... "Kiss Me On My Neck" is raw soul (I can never get that chorus, in particular, out of my head).. and, of course, "Love Of My Life (An Ode To Hip-Hop)" is a great hit. I don't think you listed "Didn't Cha Know", but that song (and its video) moved me to tears.

Don't worry-- I'll be purchasing all of her work soon enough.

squiddyren said:

make sure you go into LOTS of detail about what you think of everything.

and don't overlook the live album...it's a fucking GEM.