Usher Raymond has really carved himself a unique place in R&B music. Young girls adore his boyish good looks and chiseled body, while more mature audiences revel in his smooth voice and charm. Whatever the driving force is that makes Usher so wildly popular, he’s worked it to his advantage. A child star in his own right, Usher has made the transition seem easy and he’s managed to maintain a stable fan base all along.
8701 got its name for the day it was released. Having been pushed back numerous times due to problems with bootlegging and the like, it is Usher’s best and most thorough work to date. Filled with radio-friendly tunes as well as the mid-tempo ballads that Usher seems to bring to life – 8701 has continued to sell and do well.
- Track Listing -
1. Intro-lude 8701
2. U Remind Me
3. I Don’t Know featuringP.Diddy
4. Twork It Out
5. U Got It Bad
6. If I Want To
7. I Can’t Let U Go
8. U Don’t Have To Call
9. Without U (interlude)
10. Can U Help Me
11. How Do I Say
12. Hottest Thing
13. Good Ol’ Ghetto
14. U-Turn
15. U R The One
Song for song, 8701 has 13 potential hits. With this album, every song could have been a single – that’s not to say that every song is amazing or mind-boggling but they all have a hit quality which is great production, great vocals and catchy hook – which is invaluable in crafting a song.
”U Remind Me” was the first single released from 8701, a good choice for it’s excellent production – what makes this song still remain interesting is that its one that you could quite possibly almost never get sick of hearing (I said almost). Equally as infectious is the Neptune’s produced ”U Don’t Have To Call”. Yet another time I’m going to have to commend Pharrell Williams for making a song that doesn’t necessarily sound like it came from the Neptune hit-making factory.
What’s most respectable about Usher is that as an artist he goes by the if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it philosophy that really works for his sound. 5 of the albums tracks were produced or co-produced by Jermaine Dupri, 1 co-produced by Babyface and several by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. All of those people have made hits for Usher in the past and it was a wise decision to not deviate from the formula that has earned him so much success. It’s also nice to see when someone’s voice has matured and when they’re completely in control of their instrument it shows.
”U Got It Bad” was on the radio or television every 10 minutes for a while is a sweet ballad that features a simple arrangement and not a whole lot of lyrics. ”How Do I Say” has a high cheese content for its Spanish spoken female vocals, but the song itself is rather beautiful. Although Usher isn’t a slouch on a ballad, he really excels at songs that make you move. ”Hottest Thing” is a great song that was done by Mike City (“Full Moon” by Brandy). Electrified and completely computer generated, this song is a great showcase of Usher’s depth as a singer and blends nicely with the music.
It’s no secret that Usher wants to be the next Michael Jackson and songs with a strong groove not only move listeners, but allow Usher to show his dance skills. 8701 ends on a really strong note with ”Good Ole’ Ghetto” and ”U Turn”, the former is a funk infused track that makes you bob your head.
- Final Thoughts -
8701 just cements Usher’s place within the music community. Growing up is difficult in the public eye, but Mr. Raymond had done it and done it well. 8701 has continued to sell and is a testament to the solidity of this album and Usher’s talent.
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