I Put A Spell On You

Dearest Nina,

On what would have been your 81st birthday I wanted to acknowledge your prodigious talents and let you know that you are still sorely missed. I would have loved watching the so called artists of today try to keep up with you. You would have out shined the brightest of them, be they male or female.

The world of music dimmed forever on April 21, 2003 and it will never brighten again. You along with some other extremely talented women raised the bar to a level virtually impossible to reach. I wonder how many records you would have sold, or how many downloads you would have had. No matter the era, you would have ruled.

In commemoration of your birthday I am posting one of my favorite songs by you, I Put A Spell On You. Your vocals tear through this song and the violins backing you along with your piano playing are the perfect accompaniment. The saxophone blisters and it's the only instrument that can keep up with you, the amazing you. Happy Birthday Ms. Simone and may you continue to rest in peace. You are missed.


   

Love Is The Answer

I heard this song in a car commercial and found out it was an Aloe Blacc tune. The song is entitled Love Is The Answer off of Blacc's soon to be released second album, Lift Your Spirit. If you don't know Aloe Blacc then please enjoy this introduction. It's a groove heavy song that will have you snapping your fingers or bopping your head.

The song starts off with the bass line that rides dominantly throughout the song. The mid tempo pace is set with the hand claps that take the place of a snare drum. The splash of horns is a very cool ingredient to an already tasty tune. Aloe's voice rides smoothly over the track with ease and the female backing vocals is a nice counterbalance to his.

For a second, at the bridge Aloe brings to mind Stevie Wonder's iconic voice. Whether done on purpose or not, it was a nice nod to the master. The video tells one heartbreaking story between two brothers that speaks volumes about the plight of young Black men. If you enjoy this song by Aloe Blacc then you should check out the first single from Lift entitled The Man. Enjoy!