Don’t you love when you haven’t listened to an album in a really long time and you pull it out and realize just how great it is? That’s the sentiment that follows Baduizm for me, I was recently inspired to pull this one off the shelf, dust it off and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Two years ago if anyone asked me how I felt about this, the debut album from Erykah Badu, I would have probably shrugged and said it’s definitely not my favorite of her works, but it’s okay. Today, I have a new appreciation and respect for this album and encourage everyone to give it a try. Released in 1997 – Baduizm has a an appeal that makes it seem timeless it sounds just as fresh today as I think it will in 5 years.
Track Listing
1. Rimshot (intro)
2. On & On
3. Appletree
4. Other Side Of The Game
5. Sometimes (Mix #9)
6. Next Lifetime
7. Afro (freestyle kit)
8. Certainly
9. 4 Leaf Clover
10. No Love
11. Drama
12. Sometimes…
13. Certainly (flipped out)
14. Rimshot (outro)
On & On was the song that introduced Badu to the world as a head wrap wearing goddess of neo-soul music. She was a breath of fresh air when rap was taking over the airwaves and her talent was undeniable. Listening to this song now you are reminded of all the singers that Badu helped birth – Blu Cantrell, Jill Scott, and Lina to name a few. Using her personal poetry and spinning it into stories backed by music that most of us can relate to. Bridging the gap between Hip-Hop and Soul music, Badu evokes the spirit of Billie Holiday while name-dropping the Wu-Tang Clan, that’s what kind of album this is.
On her 2001 release (Mama’s Gun), Badu addressed the issue of ”what good do your words do – if they don’t understand you…” Sometimes as a listener the lyrics are so personal that you might not “get it”, which lead to some alienation within audiences. For me, that’s the relativeness of poetry – only you can determine whether or not it’s good to you and you have to apply whatever meaning to it that you feel is suitable. I think it’s important to not look to deep and just enjoy the music, if you “get it” that’s great and if you don’t that’s okay too.
Appletree may seem complex but I think the messages are fairly simple: be careful of who you choose to surround yourself with and be yourself, two very important fundamentals in life. ”See I picks my friends like I pick my fruits/ My daddy told me that when I was only a youth/ I don’t walk around trying to be what I’m not/ I don’t waste my time trying to get what you got/ I work at pleasing me ‘cuz I can’t please you/ And that’s why I do what I do/ “
Erykah Badu has one of those voices. It’s an old soul’s voice that reminds you of greats like Nina Simone and Etta James. Her voice has a really interesting texture but doesn’t sound strange a la Macy Gray. There’s also a lot of percussion and jazz type feel to the album. The album flips from one minute to the next you could be dancing, then romancing, then reflecting, then laughing – it really is just that dynamic.
Next Lifetime was another song that was released from the album that happens to be one of my favorites. A song about meeting someone you connect with but being involved in another situation that doesn’t allow you to pursue it – it’s the song about an unattainable relationship, definitely one of the best on the album. I’m not a fan of “skits” or interludes but I really like Afro. It’s supposed to be a studio freestyle and has Badu flexing a little bit of her rhyming skills (not bad at all), plus I’m a sucker for TWA’s (teeny weeny afro’s).
Certainly is by far the funkiest of all the songs. You can just picture the jazz club on this one, Badu with flower in her hair like Billie and smooth cats strolling around trying to impress women. Oddly enough if you really stop and listen the music on this song isn’t that beautiful but it works. 4 Leaf Clover has always been and still is my favorite song on the album. Try Love: that message is easy to uncover. ”Here I am/ On a cloud/ If you only take the chance/ Try love out loud/ As I drift/ Through the sky/ Shooting Cupid’s loving arrow/ You just might try/ So don’t miss me/ Take your time/ You’ve only got one chance”
No Love I really like as a showcase for Badu’s voice – you get to really see what she’s capable of (a lot) and just appreciate her voice a little more. On Drama, Badu ponders the ills and troubles of the world and shows she’s a woman with a conscious. This album is to me giving it a listen now, perhaps one of the most overlooked debuts by an artist. I think one of its downfalls is when it was released. Yes, she was something new to listen to but at the same time, lots of people weren’t ready for the soul movement. So, if you’re looking for a quality soul album, give this one a try.
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