John Legend - Get Lifted
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Free Music Notes for Get Lifted
Free Music Review: Great voice, but lyrics are sketchy
Hit: 4 Stars
Well, I've got to admit, this guy's voice is amazing! He is very original and you won't hear many people singing in the "old school" R&B style anymore. My one and only complaint with an otherwise solid cd (with little to no filler) is the number of songs about cheatng. Even one of the "love songs" was apologizing for cheating (number one). He tells his girl that even though he sleeps around he "wraps it up" and she is still his number one girl. I really wouldn't care if there was only one song or maybe two. But theere are references to cheating in four songs straight(some of which the whole song is about cheating). Sadly, one of the best songs on the album is She Don't Have To Know. I would just appreciate the cd more if it had more love songs and relatable songs, and if I could play it around my fiance' without making her uncomfortable.
Also, I kind of found it funny, but I could swear that "get lifted" has little more to do with a plant that a lover. Great cd, but not one that is easily relatable through the whole cd, and not one that you would play at a romantic dinner.
If you want great soul vocals and lyrics that you can identify with, check out Anthony Hamilton. Hope this helped.
Free Music Review: This is What True Music is About--A Musician
Hit: 5 Stars
John Legend is one of the best and most-promising male R&B/Soul artists to arrive on the scene in the last decade and more. His voice is notably distinct in music where most males have a highly nasal, squeaky vocal tone and where their music is relatively one-dimensional. John speaks about so many different things. Pair this with the fact that he writes and composes his own music and can play the piano and we have the male counterpart to Alicia Keys, who both herald from the school of Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and other music extraordianaires.
Let's Get Lifted-Produced by Kanye West and John Legend, this opening track is a mid-tempo that has a very uplifting theme of John lifting music, giving the listener something fresh, something different. When I listen to the song, I do not listen as much to the lyrics as I just get encapsulated in the instrumentation of the song and the vocal arrangements. Lyrically and musically, this is a great introduction to the talent that is John. A
Used to Love u-Produced by Kanye West and John Legend, John's first single which did minimally well as an introductory single, is a mid-tempo cut with a very strong drum/percussion prescence as well as horns and trumpets. The background vocals add a haunting element to the song which simply talks about not loving someone anymore. The references to Puffy, Jay Z are kind of standard but in this non-standard song, they are refreshing. The song has many elements which makes it a very tight musical piece. A
Alright-Produced by Kanye and John, this song contains a trumpet, saxophone, trombone and tuba. How many modern-day songs contain such a diverse array of musical instruments? All I hear are electronic instruments and programmed drums. However, this dark-toned song which has a relatively haunting, sneaky mood to it, has John talking about a girl who already has a man that she is "alright" to him and he still wants to experience her. The lyrics really create a story as does the music of the song. Not as good as some of the other songs, but still a very strong musical piece. A-
She Don't Have to Know-Produced by will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas I believe, this cut has drums, a sax, trombone, moog bass and clav, another testament to the musical diversity on the CD. John is singing about his girl not having to know about him dipping off with another girl, whose man does not have to know about John and his mistress' shenanigans. I do not like the theme of the song, but it is a reality and the arrangement of the vocals and of the instrument really fit the song. John sings the song in the right key and it just works. You can almost hear it in his voice that it is something that he is doing, but he knows that it is wrong and that he should not. The regret is there in his voice, which is a quality missing from so many singers who sing all the songs with the same voice, the same emotion or lack of emotion. A
Number One-Produced by Kanye West and John Legend, this old/new school soul mid-tempo with elements of Curtis Mayfield's "Let's Do it Again" is a mini-masterpiece with a theme of John telling his girl that even though he may go out there and cheat on her that she still is his number one. The sample works really well here and gives it a classic feel. Kanye's rap is very humorous and is worth listening to the song as he says some very "different" things. This was John's third single which unfortunately made no gains on radio. A+
I Can Change-Produced by Dave Tozer and John Legend and featuring Snoop Dogg, this old school mid-tempo with John's scratchy vocals either sounds like an old song or a new song sung by an older, veteran artist. The song has many different musical instruments which seems to be a standard. The song speaks about John being able to change his unfaithful ways for his woman. Compared to its predecessors and even the ones that follow, this song is probably the weakest on the CD as it really goes nowhere and is not different at all. B+
Ordinary People-Produced by John Legend, this song is what put John on the map. For me, it is modern-day musical masterpiece that artists will be covering in decades to come because it is a song that tells a story and is complimented with simple piano chord progression. John interprets the lyrics of the song wonderfully and the lyrics are well-crafted. The song has a perfect climaxing effect as it builds slowly and by the end it returns to where it began...wonderful. This is one of the best songs of the 21st century thus far, and is part of the impetus in John being accepted and embraced as a serious talent. A+
Stay with You-Produced by Dave Tozer, this mid-tempo with John's scratchy, longing vocals makes this song a great follow-up to Ordinary People as John confesses that he will stay with his woman through the "ups and the downs." The background arrangements are on-point and the simple instrumentation fits the mood/theme of the song making for a very listenable/engaging melody/harmony. This song is wonderful and has classic written over it. It could even be serviced to Urban/Urban AC stations as a single. A+
Let's Get Lifted Again-Produced by Dave Tozer, this quiet slow song which is short and is basically an interlude has John singing in falsetto as he invites the listener to stay with him and to continue getting lifted as he continues to offer something new...."come fly with me." He hits some nice falsetto notes that are surprising because I did not think he could get that high. A
So High-Produced by Devon "Devo" Harris, next to Ordinary People, this song is the next best musical masterpiece on the CD. It is a very simply arranged song with just live drums, bass, piano and organ. But these instruments are used to help slowly build a climax to the song. Couple this with the fact that John interprets the song perfectly using his vocals as an instrument to paint the picture of his devotion to his girl. The song talks about a love that takes a couple so high and it works as you can picture someone flying on the wind of love. The melody of the song is awesome. The climax is killer as John takes it there like only an experienced, talented vocalist could do. Unfortunately, this is his fourth single and has not really been faring well on radio. But it is a masterpiece no doubt. I really feel this song. A+
Refuge (When It's Cold Outside)-Produced by Devon "Devo" Harris and Paul Cho, just as Stay With You follows Ordinary People, this song that follows So High is one of the best songs on the CD with its swirling beat and its different arrangement as John vows that his woman will be his refuge always from war, from violence, from the cold. It is a different song and it too has classic written on it. It could easily be a single in the Urban format. One of my favorites. A+
It Don't Have to Change-Produced by John Legend and featuring his family, this old-school, 70s sounding cut is a traditional soul groove that is missing on so much of today's music as John invites his family to vibe with him on this cut singing about things not having to change. A very different listen. A
Live it Up-Produced by Devon "Devo" Harris, Kanye West and John Legend and featuring Miri-Ben-Ari containing elements from "Love is Missing From Our Lives", this classic which sounds like the first song is one of the better as John tells his woman that they can now live it up after the sacrifices they have made for each other. A different love song in a different arrangement. A+
Overall, John Legend is a talent who I hope will stay around and truly become a legend just like Stevie, like Marvin, like so many others. He understands the elements of music...vocal interpretation, vocal effects, melody, harmony, various instruments, telling a story with music, chord progression, all of that. What stands out the most is how he changes his vocals to fit the song. He does not use the same vocals even with the same kind of song...sometimes scratchy, sometimes determined, sometimes falsetto, sometimes belting it. John is a musical extraordinaire for this generation. His sales of 1.5 million are a testament to that.
Free Music Review: Thank you very much
Hit: 5 Stars
I've been looking for an artist like this many years. Buying CD's like crazy, and finally comes Johm with smootheness, and a very nice flow. Every song in this CD is really good. Everytime I listen to it, I just want to kiss and hug my girlfriend. For any ocassion or gathering, this CD will just put everyone in a good mood
This CD is one of my favorites. The bonus DVD is really good, and self-explanatory, making you know the John Legend world.
If you don't have it, what are you waiting for.
Free Music Review: This man is cool!
Hit: 5 Stars
I heard his first single''Used To Love U''and I heard that John Legend was singing that song.Then I heard the song''Ordinary People''.The song was saying that when we are in love we should get along.Then I heard ''Get Lifted''.I wish I could get his CD.To John:You are a nice man and you are a wonderful singer.I can not wait until your next CD drops.And to Kanye:Thank you for bringing John's music to life.Free Music Review: This man is cool!
Hit: 5 Stars
I heard his first single''Used To Love U''and I heard that John Legend was singing that song.Then I heard the song''Ordinary People''.The song was saying that when we are in love we should get along.Then I heard ''Get Lifted''.I wish I could get his CD.To John:You are a nice man and you are a wonderful singer.I can not wait until your next CD drops.And to Kanye:Thank you for bringing John's music to life.