The Bottom Line
Joy Denalane has a voice that sounds like it was honed in a church choir in the midst of inner-city America. But the amazing fact is: she's German, through and through. Joy was born in Berlin in 1973 and raised in Germany. But like Rakim said in 1986, it ain't where you're from, it's where you're at. And where Joy is at is the epicenter of a tremendous amount of R&B singing talent.
Pros
- Joy has a full, rich voice.
- Many songs are uplifting.
- There's numerous positive messages.
Cons
- Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon on a remake of his song "Heaven and Hell."
- The duet "Something Stirrin' Up," which simmers, but doesn't quite boil.
Description
- The vocals are like those of a restrained Aretha or Patti Labelle, with a touch of India.Arie.
- The song production is simple and soulful.
- The lyrics are positive and meaningful.
Guide Review - Joy Danalane: 'Born & Raised'
Move over, Joss Stone: there's another European singer trying to make her mark in the United States.
Joy Denalane has gotten barely a fraction the attention that the British Soul singer Joss Stone has received in the U.S., but Denalane is arguably far more talented, polished and emotive.
The song "Change," featuring rapper Lupe Fiasco, is the perfect introduction to Joy for American audiences; it's a buoyant, upbeat number that talks about something many people can relate to: rising up, overcoming adversity and making the world a better place.
Denalane, unlike some modern vocalists, doesn't oversing the songs, nor do her vocals lack genuine emotion.
On "Be Real," she sings that, above all else, what she needs in a man, above material objects, is for him to be genuine: You don't have to promise me/a sweet life of luxury/'cause I done heard my share of prophesy, she sings.
One of the more interesting songs is "For the Love," where she takes her fellow artists to task for creating music for material and financial gain, instead of for the love of it:
Now here's a matter of great concern/we're judging others by the money they earn/it seems that for nine out of 10, music's just a means to an end ... We're addicted to the things we crave/A ship full of slaves transported on the airwaves.
Anyone who grew up on the party music of the last decade might not like or not understand Born & Raised. But anyone who's a fan of Amel Larrieux or Alicia Keys would probably enjoy this CD.
Joy Denalane has gotten barely a fraction the attention that the British Soul singer Joss Stone has received in the U.S., but Denalane is arguably far more talented, polished and emotive.
The song "Change," featuring rapper Lupe Fiasco, is the perfect introduction to Joy for American audiences; it's a buoyant, upbeat number that talks about something many people can relate to: rising up, overcoming adversity and making the world a better place.
Denalane, unlike some modern vocalists, doesn't oversing the songs, nor do her vocals lack genuine emotion.
On "Be Real," she sings that, above all else, what she needs in a man, above material objects, is for him to be genuine: You don't have to promise me/a sweet life of luxury/'cause I done heard my share of prophesy, she sings.
One of the more interesting songs is "For the Love," where she takes her fellow artists to task for creating music for material and financial gain, instead of for the love of it:
Now here's a matter of great concern/we're judging others by the money they earn/it seems that for nine out of 10, music's just a means to an end ... We're addicted to the things we crave/A ship full of slaves transported on the airwaves.
Anyone who grew up on the party music of the last decade might not like or not understand Born & Raised. But anyone who's a fan of Amel Larrieux or Alicia Keys would probably enjoy this CD.
