“Latifah knows what she’s doing, phrasing with warmth and a touch of jovial flirtation. At least there’s one rapper who can sing.”—The New York Times
Check out Queen Latifah’s rendition of Frank Sinatra’s classic “I’m Gonna Live Till I Die” off her upcoming album Trav’lin’ Light. The album, which hits stores September 25, also features guest appearances from Jill Scott, Erykah Badu and Stevie Wonder.
AUDIO: I’m Gonna Live Till I Die
http://verve.edgeboss.net/wmedia/verve/queen_latifah/audio/live_till_i_die.wax
http://verve.edgeboss.net/real/verve/queen_latifah/audio/live_till_i_die.smi
Queen Latifah’s new album Trav’lin’ Light will be released by famed jazz label Verve Records in conjunction with Flavor Unit Entertainment on September 25. Produced by three-time Grammy® winner Tommy LiPuma and by Geffen Records chairman Ron Fair, the album is the long-awaited follow-up to Latifah’s critically-acclaimed and Grammy® nominated release The Dana Owens Album (2004).
Trav’lin’ Light is Latifah’s second foray into the realm of jazz, soul, and blues. Once again, she embraces a sultry and saucy mix of fabled female vocalists who’ve inspired her. Exploring the songbooks of PeggyLee, Etta James, Sarah Vaughn, Nina Simone, Shirley Horn, Carmen McRae, Roberta Flack, Mary Wells, Phoebe Snow, and more, Latifah adds her warm vocals and playful personality to a hand-picked mix of familiar classics and forgotten jewels.
Like its predecessor, the album features contributions by a number of stellar artists. On Trav’lin’ Light, Latifah is joined by neo-soul singers Jill Scott and Erykah Badu, piano and keyboard pioneers George Duke and Joe Sample and bass virtuoso Christian McBride. Engineered by 15-time Grammy® winner Al Schmitt, the album also features Jeff Hamilton (drums), Anthony Wilson (guitar) and John Clayton (arrangements). Furthermore, Latifah realized a lifelong dream of recording with Stevie Wonder, who contributes harmonica on one track.
LiPuma, who has worked with Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole, George Benson and Barbra Streisand, produced the first six tracks on Trav’lin’ Light. Fair, who produced half of The Dana Owens Album and has lent his considerable talents to Black Eyed Peas, Christina Aguilera and Mary J. Blige, returns to produce the second half of Trav’lin’ Light. The album was recorded at the legendary Studio A at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, host to notable recordings by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Peggy Lee, among others.
Though Queen Latifah displayed promising glimpses of her emerging vocal ability with performances in Chicago and Living Out Loud, The Dana Owens Album cemented her reputation as an extraordinary vocal talent. With songs spanning every decade from the 1920s through the 1970s, The Dana Owens Album paid homage to those who influenced Latifah’s singing. Featuring guest appearances by Al Green and Herbie Hancock, the album opened with an interpretation of Dinah Washington’s 1949 hit “Baby Get Lost,” and included versions of songs by Nina Simone, Bill Withers and Cannonball Adderley.
This summer, opening July 20, audiences will see Latifah in the most highly anticipated film of the summer Hairspray as Motormouth Maybelle with John Travolta and Michelle Pfeifer. An acclaimed television and film actress, Grammy® Award-winning rapper and now a critically lauded singer, Queen Latifah highlighted her multitude of talents in the recent film adaptation of Chicago. As Mama Morton, she emerged as a formidable singer and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe® nomination and a SAG Award nomination. Latifah has also starred in such films as Life Support, which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, the box-office hit Bringing Down the House and Living Out Loud, in which she sang the Billy Strayhorn classic “Lush Life” (produced by Mervyn Warren of Take 6).
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WatchMojo NewsletterThousands of Elivs fans are still out there, which was clearly proven on Wednesday when they gathered in Graceland in the scorching 40-degree Celsius temperature, in order to perform a vigil as a mean to commemorate the King’s 30th anniversary since his death.
“ MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Thousands of Elvis Presley fans braved 40-degree C heat as they wound down Graceland’s driveway in a graveside procession Wednesday in advance of the 30th anniversary of the singer’s death. The heat led to the death of a fan from New Jersey, a 67-year-old woman.
Despite the promise of another furnace-like day, some fans began lining up early in the morning for the candlelight vigil, setting up umbrellas and folding chairs on the sidewalk along four-lane Elvis Presley Boulevard. The memorial was expected to run through the night and into Thursday, the death anniversary.”
Read the full details in this article.
Watch a video on a short biography of Elvis’ life.!
I had the priveledge of seeing the Rapture live not more than a couple of weeks ago and they really impressed me. I liked them enough to scour the web for a while for tunes, videos, bios, etc… and I really enjoyed this video. The sound of this song is pretty much explained by the title and also is a good representation of The Rapture’s sound in general. Upbeat and danceable with memorable sounds. The video uses a combination of great retro animation a la School House Rock and live action shots of the band. I especially like the shot where the guitarist raises his instrument up to his hands with animated lightning bolts… sick. Check out this video and give The Rapture a listen if you haven’t already:
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