It's been fifteen years since actor and musical artist, Vanessa Williams has released new music. She had a thriving pop music career since the late 1980's but had recently decided to put her main focus on acting on the screen and stage. Yet unexpectedly Williams has dropped a new single, "Legs (Keep Dancing)" that is the first from an upcoming album due out later in the year. Inspired by the memoir, "The Legs Are The Last To Go" by the legendary, trailblazing actress, Diahann Carroll, the sixty-one year old Williams decided it was not too late to resume her recording career. The music video for this dance bop displays Williams in fine form, showing off her legs and some impressive, high energy moves. But Williams has not given up on acting as she is set to return to the stage in London's West End, as Miranda Priestly in Elton John's musical adaptation of "The Devil Wears Prada".
The alt-r&b duo, Lion Babe, that features vocalist, Jillian Hervey and producer, Lucas Goodman have also just released a new dance track, "So Pretty". This New York based outfit have been blending classic soul and electronic beats since 2012 and with their latest release, "So Pretty" delivers a shimmering house music song about feeling confidently beautiful on the inside and on the outside. For the video, looking and sounding very much like her mother, Vanessa Williams, Hervey is seen strutting around the city looking glamourous and fierce.
Here are a few recent songs that I am enjoying: "Espresso", the latest pop single from actress/singer, Sabrina Carpenter which is her first to reach the top-ten in several countries including the Billboard Hot 100; The song, "Make You Mine" from Madison Beer with the music video inspired by the horror-comedy, "Jennifer's Body"; Tinashe is back with "Nasty" which proclaims that she's looking for a freak and "Magnificent", the most recent song unearthed from the seemingly, unlimited musical vault from the late and highly prolific artist, Prince.
And I just recently watched again "Sweet Charity", the 1969 movie adaptation of the stage musical which was based on the Fellini film, "Nights of Cabiria". And while it does not work entirely for me, what makes the film truly stand out is the direction and choreography of Bob Fosse, making his screen directorial debut. He began first as a chorus dancer in the movies before heading to the Broadway stage, working his magic to become an acclaimed choreographer and later a director. Fosse's success continued as he returned to film, making five features and winning the Best Director Oscar for the musical, "Cabaret" in 1972. Here is the incredible number of "Big Spender" from "Sweet Charity" which features Paula Kelly and Chita Rivera that is a marvel in movement and sound.
I have just became aware that the British alt-r&b artist, Corinne Bailey Rae had released her fourth studio album, "Black Rainbows" last September. I consider myself a fan since her debut back in 2006 but had lost touch of the performer largely because there has been such significant gaps between new material and Rae's subsequent music didn't receive nearly enough promotion on this side of the Atlantic.
What brought my attention to this music was Rae's latest single and video for the song, "He Will Follow You With His Eyes" which examines the complicated beauty standards that Black women are expected to endure in order to attract a mate. For this album (which is her first in seven years), Rae was inspired by a visit to a museum exhibition on Black history at the Stony Island Arts Bank in Chicago. The songs came together from there with her thoughtfully offering her examination on the Black experience and the music ranges wildly from experimental jazz, garage rock and futuristic soul. "Black Rainbows" is a fascinating and insightful collection and worth a listen.
TORI KELLY
Tori Kelly has been making music professionally for a while, since her debut album, "Unbreakable Smile" back in 2015. After failing to get far during her time competing on "American Idol" almost fourteen years ago, Kelly took that opportunity to work on her craft, independently releasing music before signing to a major label and recording three studio albums, to impressively become an amazing musician.
Now just signed to a new label, Epic Records, Kelly is embarking on a new era with her image and sound. Gone is the bottle blonde tresses, now appearing with something closer to her natural color and Kelly has shifted her new music to honor the Y2K r&b and pop she listened to while growing up. With her fifth album simply titled, "Tori", the thirty-one year old performer takes us on a nostalgic trip back to the time of bucket hats, biker shorts (without a bike in sight), grunge rock and hip-hop flavored pop sung by boy bands were all the rage. The new single from the album, "Thing U Do" (which features a sample of Suzanne Vega's 1990 hit, "Tom's Diner") is a smooth throwback that still sounds fresh and modern.
And Dua Lipa is inching closer to releasing her next music collection. This latest single, "Illusion" released arrived with the announcement that her third album, "Radical Optimism" will be available on May 3rd. "Illusion" is another classic dance song from the artist that features French house music elements. The video was shot in Barcelona at the Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc, the same venue used for swimming during the 1992 Summer Olympics. And be sure to check out "Saturday Night Live" on May 4th when Lipa will be the host and musical guest on the comedy skit program
