Chaka Khan - Funk This
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Free Music Notes for Funk This
Free Music Review: Chaka Khan. Still a Vocal Marvel in her 50's
Hit: 4 Stars
CHAKA KHAN - STILL A VOCAL MARVEL
(A review of Chaka Khan's CD `Funk This')
After ten years without dropping a studio CD, the [other] Queen is finally back: The often unpredictable, occasionally mischievous, frequently ingenious, still imitated and always funky reigning monarch of the kingdom of musical fusion: her highness Chaka Khan.
This time Khan is asking us to "Funk This," with her royal court guided by Janet Jackson's famed producers Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam. With this - some would say - dream team, Khan has produced an eclectic mixture of musical selections almost as vast as her artistic capabilities. Since Chaka Khan first burst on the scene, in the early 70's, seducing us with her elastically funky 'Tell Me Something Good,' with Rufus, she has since proven to be a paradox of sorts. Back in the day, that most of Chaka's imagery presented her as a fiery, sex siren (and she is sexy!), and because society tends to be sexist (and racist too), that Khan is actually a bonofied creative, and profoundly influential artistic genius, is rarely articulated. To date, when BET, VH1 or Soul Train [finally] honors Khan, their accolades rarely mention, explicitly, her musical contribution, and major influence on the sound of Black music in America, and the world.
Anita Baker once said, "Many of us almost lost our voices trying to be Chaka Khan." Luther Vandross often spoke of how Khan was "Always copied, but could never be duplicated," though Vesta Williams (remember her?), among others, did try. Khan is the only contemporary singer mentioned by the late jazz icon Miles Davis, who she did perform with, as a great singing talent, and the props from Khan's peers go on and on. Today's artists continue to bite off of Khan's omnipresent musical signature, probably without even knowing it. But some of them do, like hip-hop artist Mary J. Blige, who sangs a duet with Khan on the tune `Disrespectful.' More about that later.
`Funk This' is very different from most of Khan's past projects. For example, my favorite Khan album, aptly titled `Chaka Khan'; from the sublime `Tearing it Up' to `Sure Thing - Pass it On' Chaka's brilliant versatility and cerebral intelligence are all clearly on display. In a relatively uneven manner `Funk This' attempts to make the old school contemporary, by even including a remake of the stunning, Khan penned `Packd My Bags' and the rock-funky `You Got The Love,' also penned by Khan. Yet upon hearing these and her remake of `You Belong To Me' (a duet with Michael McDonald) the question that comes to my mind is, "Why?"
Lewis and Jam's production bring nothing original to these cuts; while Chaka does show-off that she still has "it." I guess someone somewhere may have questioned that! I would rather Khan's "it" be used to perform new songs crafted around her creative genius, that could reintroduce her to the fame (and fortune) she should have. The only obvious attempt at being current is, `Disrespectful' penned for Khan by protégé Mary J. Blige. Hopefully this will be a hit for Khan, and attract new potential `Chakaholics.` (I pride myself on being more of a Khannoisseur!)
Technically, much of Chaka's vocal prowess is present throughout `Funk This,' though for this reviewer, there is an over-reliance on her tendency now to growl at certain points in a song. What is hard to find on this CD is the beautiful, charismatic purring component of Khan's vocal expression. The late Arif Mardin noticeably featured this sound on every album he produced with Khan. Glimpses of it does show up on the standout track `One For All Time,' penned by Khan and co-producer Terry Lewis. I got goose bumps when hearing a 2007 Chaka beautifully performing her own backgrounds (another one of her unparalled innovations, often copied) on this tune. Another standout track is `Hail To The Wrong' a truly funky number that features some vintage 'Chakafications' in the melody, backgrounds and execution of the song.
Overall, `Funk This' is a good CD. Still, (at least the mix I have) there is something subdued about many of Khan's performances. While Khan's range and incredible vocal capacity is very clear - after thirty years - all of what Chaka can do is not featured here. 'Funk This' will be enthusiastically embraced by so-called "Chakaholics." New listeners as well may enjoy the standouts. Yet, `Funk This' seems purposely timed-lined to be an old-school joint, which may be risky toward invigorating the increased following the now self realized musical marvel deserves. Chaka has always done what she wanted to do, and `Funk This' is yet another example.
If you are driving down the street and hear somebody holler "Sang Girl" it's likely they are playing, `Funk This' by Chaka Khan.
Cleo Manago
cleomanago@gmail.com
Free Music Review: Chaka has returned to take Beyonce and the rest back to school!
Hit: 4 Stars
I love Chaka! I truly do. This new album is by far the most refreshing collection of R&B music I've heard all year. I also consider this to be the very first "shrill-less" Chaka Khan album. An album where it's producers minimized the 'shrillness' of Chaka's voice so that it doesn't overpower the music. Jam & Lewis ingeniously created an even balance between voice and music and produced a fantastic body of work. However, there are a few exceptions.....
1. Back In The Day
-- I think this was the perfect song to open the album up with. A great re-entry after 10 years. Although I think she strains a bit, it doesn't bother me much. I look at it as her way of saying -- listen suckas... im BACK!!
2. Foolish Fool
-- A Dee Dee Warwick redux. I'm not a fan of remakes only because i believe the originals were initially made to be timeless. However, this is a nice soulful/bluesy track to coast to right after coming through the gates with 'back in the day'. The only problem I have with this is that I wish the drums weren't programmed. A hot track nevertheless.
3. One For All Time
-- I absolutely LOVE this song! Attention Sony -- This NEEDS to be released as single at some point. It is by far the best song on the album, hands down!
4. Angel
-- I loved this ballad when i first heard it. Great song.
5. Will You Love Me?
-- This song has a really hot rhythm to it. Although Jam & Lewis may have stamped their names on the music, it's pretty obvious that the Avilas are the ones who put the groove in it. Their signature is VERY noticeable and they have a great sound. Love it.
6. Castles Made Of Sand
-- A Hendrix redux. Again, im not a fan of remakes of classic material. But Chaka made a wonderful translation of this song. Plus... it has a good rufus'esque rhythm to it. I like it allot.
7. Disrespectful featuring Mary J Blige
-- This is a POWERFUL track. At first, i thought it was a bit too powerful for Chaka. But by her bringing in Mary j to collab, the power was balanced out evenly. Great music, great rhythm. Chaka and Mary J. make a fantastic duo. I hope to hear them work together again soon.
8. Sign 'O' The Times
-- A Prince redux. I think this is the worst track on the whole album. It doesn't belong on here and i think it jacks up the continuity of an album with new material after a 10 year absence. Plus, the programming does a disservice to the original genius of this song. Not feeling it.
9. Pack'd My Bags/You Got The Love featuring Tony Maiden
-- Honestly; I'd rather hear the originals. I think it was completely unnecessary to remake these songs. The programmed "horns" in ' you got the love' are kinda hokey and I think "pack'd my bags" was poorly transitioned into "you got the love". I don't know if it was intentional or a mistake during mixing. But sheesh, they could have given it a bridge or SOMETHING. Not feeling it.
10. Ladies' Man
-- A Joni Mitchell redux. Chaka did a helluva job with this song. Joni should be proud. I love it. But my only gripe with this track is, it's too darn short. 3:30 secs into the song and i asked myself, "Dang, that's it?" Regardless, I still love it.
11. You Belong To Me featuring Michael McDonald
-- Another redux. Was it really necessary for her to remake this song w/ Michael McDonald in 2007? I dunno. It sounds too 1989/smooth jazz'ish to me. This song shouldn't be on the album. It's best for a standards compilation. Otherwise, this track will be continued to be skipped.
12. Hail To The Wrong
-- Great bassline, great sound. This is the track that gets my mornings going. Love it!
13. Super Life
-- Eh, I think this song is corny, but doable. i'll still knock it in the car.
Overall.... I think this album is a certifiable banger. Chaka did a fantastic job and unless you don't mind remakes, this album will not dissappoint. Personally, i think that she has too many unnecessary remakes on her album simply because Chaka has enough classic material of her own. She should continue making her own classics rather than remaking music that is best for it's own time.
Nevertheless, I highly recommend this album! So, go out and support!
Free Music Review: This is the funk-soul siren's creative rebirth.
Hit: 4 Stars
Chaka makes her best and funkiest album for over two decades, and her powerful voice -- that first hit the airwaves with Chicago funk band Rufus in the 1970s and punched out the mighty "Ain't Nobody" and "I'm Every Woman" in the 1980s-- on this recording shines throughout.
"Funk This", which debuted at number 15 on America's top 200 album chart - her highest chart position since her first solo album in 1978 peaked at number 12 - is a return to Khan's purity.
Recorded in analogue, it's how she sounded before the "I Feel for You"-style disco anthems of the '80s.
The album opens with an autobiographical song she co-wrote with Terry Lewis. Over the slap-wristflick of retro-funk, Chaka recalls growing up fast in "Chi-town" where her "Momma was strict about them kids".
The vocals are tight and scratchy-raw. They capture the pent-up frustrations of a young girl whose curfew meant she was "Missing the funk of the night".
The mid tempo dancer "Back In The Day" has that Rufus sound to it, and that is also evident in the covers of two Rufus classics "Pack'd My Bags/You Got The love" featuring Tony Maiden.
The funky mid tempo dancers "Superlife" , "Sign Of The Times" and "Hail To The Wrong" keep up the pace, whilst the melodic mid tempo floater "One For All Time" is also classy.
Most of Khan's musical heroes are women: she's particularly effusive on the subject of her friend Joni Mitchell, who she says is "a genius and always just a beat away from funk." The new album features a cover of Mitchell's "Ladies' Man", on which Khan pours the ache of personal experience into lines such as: "Couldn't you just love me like you love cocaine?"
The beat ballads "Angel" and the raunchy version of "Foolish Fool" are also good. On "Angel", Chaka works through of her own drug use. "Troubled little angel," she sings "inconsistent flying blind most of the time/ Drama Queen/ Preening and untangling the feathers in her wings/ Captured by her dreams desperately she sings".
"Funk This" is a mixture of originals and covers of some of the best Rhythm and Blues, Funk, Blues, and Soul music from the past thirty to forty years.
One of the songs to show off her delicacy of touch is her cover of the Jimi Hendrix's "Castles Made Of Sand". A mid-tempo song about the impermanence of dreams and the dangers of living in a fantasy world, where Ms. Khan utilizes her voice to help generate a mood appropriate to the song.
This song is also a good example of her ability to put the song ahead of her ego instead of making it about her and her talents. While younger, less mature singers will look for any excuse to unload pyrotechnics and show off their abilities, Chaka is content to let the mood of the song dictate her performance. Listening to her duet with up- and-coming powerhouse singer Mary J. Blige on the most exciting track of the album "Disrespectful" that difference is made perfectly clear. The song is a Blige composition.
"It's the kind of song two women can really sing together," says Khan, who admits that when she listens to the track now she can hardly tell where her voice ends and the younger singer's begins.
You certainly wouldn't want to be the man on the receiving end of this duo. As the jerky beat smacks you round the face, Blige and Khan take total control of the song and the relationship it describes. "You can't make me lose my mind," they roar. "I'm too strong for you".
Also amazing is Chaka's versatility as a singer as demonstrated by the range of material that "Funk This" has to offer : from the full throttle Funk of the opening track "Back In The Day" to the ballad "Angel".
She shows that slowing the pace down does nothing to detract from her sincerity as a singer.
Too often people with strong voices become stentorian when faced with a ballad and equate emotion with loudness and straining for the upper regions of the scale.
Music icons like Chaka Khan are often stifled by the pressures of delivering a successful album to their fans.
"Funk This" is an album for all skeptics.
Through the preparation for this album, Chaka has admitted that she has "been on a little journey in the last few years".
Sometimes the path to re-discovery leads us back to where originally we began. Chaka Khan's "Funk This" reminds us why we fell in love with her over 30 years ago.
The reason is because she's hopelessly...FUNKY !
Free Music Review: It's not a bad album but...
Hit: 4 Stars
On a positive note, this is definitely a welcome return to the music scene from one of my favourite female vocalists ever (second only to Ella Fitzgerald). This is her first album of new material in well over ten years and her voice is intact, rich and powerful as ever. The production is tight and razor sharp; Jam and Lewis have done an incredible job of creating a modern funky sound that is nothing like what I've heard them create in years gone by for people like Johnny Gill or Ralph Tresvant or, more notably, Janet Jackson or The SOS Band. Songs like "Back In The Day", "Angel", "Castles Made Of Sand", and the updates of the classics "Pack'd My Bags/You Got The Love" are all pretty respectable and somewhat reminiscent of vintage Chaka at her best.
I also find "Disrespectful" very interesting indeed and it reminds me of the stuff Amerie is known for. Mary J. Blige does a good job at keeping up with her idol (though she does sound like she's straining in places) and the whole song is charged with an exciting energy.
I also really like "Ladies Man", "You Belong To Me" (though I'm still waiting for the Michael McDonald duet to beat the one he did with Patti LaBelle back in '86), "Hail To The Wrong" and my personal overall favourite, "Super Life". These are what make the album worth keeping.
But I'd be lying if I said I was totally happy with the CD. In my view, the songs - even the best of the bunch - are a bit lacklustre and that's where this album falls slightly flat in my view. They're okay by today's dismal standards, I guess, but they're not very memorable and are not even remotely close ('somewhat reminiscent,' was the phrase I used) to the stuff Chaka used to give us back in the day. It's not a bad album but I was hoping for much more. The reviewer (not on Amazon) who cooed: "Chaka makes her best and funkiest album for over 2 decades!" simply doesn't know what he's talking about. No way is this better (or funkier) than 1988's C.K.. Not in my opinion anyway. Not with funky gems like "Baby Me", "Make It Last", "Where Are You Tonite", not to mention those two awesome jazz tunes, "The End Of A Love Affair" and "I'll Be Around" (which featured Miles Davis, no less) on it. And those are just the tunes on side two of the LP!
And to make matters worse, other songs like "Foolish Fool", "Sign 'O' The Times" just got on my nerves. (No, I'm not a Prince fan, though I do adore Chaka's version of "I Feel For You". Who doesn't?)
Any song I haven't mentioned, and that includes "One For All Time" and "Will You Love Me?" simply didn't make an impression either way, which is hardly a good thing. I think it's as my good friend Joseph says: When it comes to GOOD QUALITY and REAL music, the best days of our lives are behind us. There can never be any doubt that this woman is one of the best singers of our generation but she does need good songs to sing. My overall impression of this CD is that she was let down. Not by her voice, not by her producers but by weak material. The album gets three stars from me. The extra star is because, well, it's Chaka Khan.
Free Music Review: Chaka Updates the Funk with Her Powerhouse Voice Intact
Hit: 4 Stars
One of my favorite R&B vocalists for the past three decades, Chaka Khan shows that at age 54, she is even more of a powerhouse now than she was in her salad days with Rufus. Khan's unique gift is in the way she modulates her commanding lung power to fit the musical genre, whether it's jazz, power ballads, or pure funk. After a decade-long reprieve from recording, she comes back strong with the assistance of Janet Jackson's former producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, along with James "Big Jim" Wright, on a mix of original songs and covers that lives up to the album's title. In fact, the new material shows how relevant Khan still is now, for example, the quiet storm styling of "One for All Time", the poignant "Angel", the percolating swing of "Hail to the Wrong", and the wah-wah groove of "Super Life".
"Back in the Day" opens the disc with a twangy paean to her hometown of Chicago ripened with Khan's full-out belting. She goes old-school with her sauntering cover of Dee Dee Warwick's 1969 "Foolish Fool", while "Will You Love Me?" is straight-ahead funk wrapped in a beat-heavy chorus. Khan's cover of Prince's "Sign `o' the Times" shows her to be a true kindred spirit to the Purple One as she dexterously manages his complicated lyrics over a loping beat. A wave of welcome 1970's-era nostalgia wafts over the medley, "Pack'd My Bags/You Got the Love" split quite discretely and sounding very much like vintage Rufus replete with former group member Tony Maiden on guitar. She tackles Joni Mitchell's jazz-oriented "Ladies' Man" (from Mitchell's 1982 Wild Things Run Fast album) with surprising aplomb and a sharp affinity with the scabrous lyrics.
The album stumbles a bit on the inevitable star duets. She pairs up with Michael McDonald on his old chestnut, "You Belong to Me", written when he was fronting the Doobie Brothers and covered successfully by Carly Simon in 1978. While both sing effectively with their signature voices, the arrangement lacks any surprise as it's basically the same as before save for a few funk flourishes. Khan also duets with Mary J. Blige on the latter's James Brown-inspired "Disrespectful", though I wish more effort was placed on melding their competing voices more seamlessly. While the song jumps and swings, it unfortunately feels like Blige and Khan are in two different rooms. By herself, Khan covers Jimi Hendrix's classic "Castles Made of Sand" with her trademark sass, although she inexplicably moves in and out of a marginal sing-speak approach. Overall, it's a welcome return for a legendary singer well missed.