India Arie – SongVersation Album Review



SongVersation

1. SoulBird Intro: This is like the call for all of India’s fans, they know when they hear this, it’s time to groove, get down, and rejoice in music and goodness. The intro sounds very mystical, and magical, the heartbeat drum bass really adds to its power. It’s like being born again, or entering into a new world, heart heavy, ready to be released…a real SongVersation

2. Just Do You: After she calls the birds, she pumps up the bass and gathers the birds by encouraging them to live for themselves… Click Here For More the second single off of Songversation.


3. This Love: The piano and crescendoing string sounds leading into the lead vocals will make your spirit rise! This song will elevate you, it gets more and more exciting as it’s moving along, and so will you. The repeated bass at the chorus adds for the anxiety of the record it’s almost as if you’re running on the beach thinking “Never giving up on this love”. She brings you back down for the second verse, it’s a roller coaster of excitement and the words lead you and keep you contained as you sing loudly in your car, or in your house after a breakup, or when thinking about your loneliness this song will encourage you to get up and fight for LOVE! This song makes you wanna jump up and down and say “YESSSS, I can do this NEVER GIVING UP!!!!” You will surely repeat this record after you play it the first time…a deep Songversation.

4. Nothing I Love More: This is an easy breezy song, roll your window down, or take down the top of your convertible, cruise and have this blasting. Seat your loved one on the passenger side and reminisce in the love that got you there. This song is for the lovers out there, family, friends, whomever you love. The guitar strings and screeches really add to the lightness of the record. This is a feel good record. The male voice in the bottom really adds for that duality, so if you are driving down with your Husband or wife you both can sing along! “There’s nothing that I love more then you!”…

5. Flowers: My personal favorite, coined next single, hopefully. This record is beautiful, and different. The references to the Ancient times; Persian, Egyptian, Arabic, Indian, and Mesopotamian are tremendous! The ALADDIN ARABIAN NIGHTS feel to the tracks chorus really adds to the original factor of this record, I haven’t heard anything like it in Neo-Soul R&B, before. This record adds to the magic that this entire album holds in its soul. It’s an ode to the perfect person, to your perfect person, the person for you, why wait? “For showing me that I am a star, that’s why I wanna give you, your flowers, now”…


6. Coaco Butter: The hit single off SongVersation, is simply perfect. The bass and guitar funk leading to the drop is really catchy, something to remember. The reemergence of the Brown Skin tripled with what Brown people love most, coaco butter. It could be the perfect part two to Brown Skin. Its uplifting the Brown Man elevating him to Kingship exploiting the greatness of a good man, of a good human, you can groove to this as it encourages you to realize what you have waiting for you at home, or at school, in your dorm, in your face! The VIDEO to the record adds to the energy of the track, two beautiful Dark Brown people in BLISS, this is how you say thank you to your loved one…a SongVersation.

7. SoulBird Interlude – Trumbone: Introducing the world to real instruments and the powerful energy and depth real sounds bring to music, again calling all birds to join her for the next chapters…

8. Moved By You: This record starts off with India’s signature style of audience participation, by repeating “la” melodically it’s reminiscent of “Little Things”. Soulbirds will connect the two and rejoice in the comforting fact that India is still who we’ve always loved. This is a soft record. It is made for a soundtrack, the soft piano chords and melody really leaves room for your mind to imagine. This is one of the more simple tracks, it gives appreciation to a special person and how they’ve effected you. You can definitely rock slowly side to side to this one…

9. Life I Know: The song starts off as a different variation of the melodic theme that can be heard in the intro and the many interludes connecting the album together melodically. The song is beautiful, the voice is prominent so that you can really hear the message. As the song builds, more instruments, the shakers in the left ear, the guitar spats and strums, the bass, the pans, everything adds to the meaning and the strength of the song. This songs explains the truth of India, what she went through, and all she knows up to, I guess this point in her life. This song can definitely be played while cleaning house and reflecting on self. This is one of the most honest songs on her album…

10. Break The Shell: Comes in with nice guitar, when India starts singing you notice the story telling perspective she takes, this way you can apply it to yourself more easily. This is a message song, the push you feel as each musical element is added is really effective when it comes to the feeling you get as a listner. This song makes you feel like “I CAN DO IT” “ITS TIME TO BREAK THE SHELL!” Very inspirational, iconic India…

11. SoulBird Rise: This is the SoulBird’s song! It’s time! GET UP! RISE! This song is the message to all fans, and people in the world. Each song of this album connects to the one before, after you’ve broken the shell, tis time to RISE. The song starts off with the theme of the album underneath the strings, and then, present connecting it all. It’s simply brilliant! When the voice starts to serenade you, I promise your diaphragm will rise and you will feel whole, and free, and happy. This is a very easy record, nice and simple, but effective. Cut the lights off in your room, light some candles, get your journal out, or start one, press play and RISE…

12. Thy Will Be Done Feat. Gramps Morgan: The title, and feature alone let’s the consumer know that it is a biblical reference shaped to a groovy-feel , but when the song begins and the Caribbean feel of the record hits you, it makes for a nice slow groove dance song, while getting the truth about the facts of life. Many will ignore the words and slow grind to this song, not in a nasty unfitting way, but a happy, joist way and later on after hitting the replay button realize the purity in the song. We here at The B.L.A.C.K Media want you all to get life with this record, but remember what the words are saying and live by truth…

13. Brothers’ Keeper: This song starts off with a nice hip-hop feel, a bit more masculine sounding when compared to the other lighter songs. India.Arie asks the questions that many think about but may be afraid to speak about. Its a simple song as far as the instrumentals are concerned, but it works! This song is easy for you to bob your head to and suggest to your male friend, brother, or even sister to get a piece of mind from it. I can imagine being in the car with my brother saying, “aw man you’ve got to hear this song, it’s good right?” Towards the end of the record when everyone joins in, in harmony saying YEA, it lifts the spirit and connects the listener to the meaning of the record.

14. One: Tying the theme of the entire album, this song is pure. The homage to some countries in the Middle East and their musical styles, much like “Flowers” is an amazing connection for the album. The appreciation of God is also another tie that connects to the biblical references in the song “Thy Will Be Done”. “It all comes down to love” this song is powerful, never mind the lack of “booty shaking” “dropping” “and get yo life hood factor” good music doesn’t need it! This song is good music. The ending is the best you can just relax and really dove deep into the realm of joy and live in it knowing “it all comes down to one”…

15. SoulBird Outro: Clarinet: WHAO!!!!!!! Being a classically trained Clarinetist for 10 years of my life, I appreciate this melodic goodness on a different level! Although it has been years since I played the Clarinet, approximately Five years, I still know how to play very well, and I can always pin point a Clarinet in a song. This Outro is amazing, it ties with the theme of the other interludes and songs, but in my opinion its not long enough, then again, I could just be being bias…a literal Songversation!

16. I Am Light: The final song on the Non-Delux version of the Album SongVersation is zen! This song sums up who, and what India has portrayed to the world, and I believe it. It makes me want to be light, prepare your mats, fold your legs and breathe. Take in the sweet vocals, the beautiful, subtle guitar melody, the simplicity of the music, of the lyrics and the song, become strong from this. We are all what this song is about, it just takes time to realize it and accept it…


Now that you’ve explored the Album if not by listening, simply buy it, but if you found this review helpful let us know below in the comments!

We Here At The B.L.A.C.K Media do not give out stars, instead we give out fists

The B.L.A.C.K Media gives SongVersation 5/5 Fists


© 2017 Tahir Register TheBLACKMedia On Twitter


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