Review: Lorraine Reid: How Can I Keep Him Lovin' Me?

<h1>Review: Lorraine Reid: How Can I Keep Him Lovin' Me?</h1>Author: <a title="Mark Kirby" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/mark-kirby/39834.htm">Mark Kirby</a> Over a decade ago, rappers Chuck D and Public Enemy asked, "Who Stole the Soul?" Today, after Christina Aguilera's R&B-infused Back To Basics double CD and the Amy Winehouse soul explosion, the real question is, "Who stole it back?" Part of the answer can be found in Lorraine Reid's single "How Can I Keep Him Lovin' Me?" It always comes as a surprise when I hear a modern R&B singer who has both the pipes to belt out with intensity and the good taste to let the song tell the story, choosing to not over-saturate a classic melody with vocal gymnastics. Reid dazzles her listeners with the perfect balance of vocals, just like the classic soul, rock and pop singers did back in the day. This timeless track by the Canadian, 7-time Juno nominee would fit right in with the best of soul and funk in any age. "How Can I Keep Him Lovin' Me?" begins to amaze listeners with its instrumentals -- the keyboard starts with mellow soul chords and is followed by gently plucked guitar and sparse bass that flows with restrained energy even while in ballad mode. The drums play a beat that has previously anchored old pop and soul songs as well as bawdy stripper show tunes; it's a beat that is part-waltz, part-easy-going phat back groove. While this stew is bubbling, Ms. Reid tells the story: "No more than 15 but grown before her time / This young girl was seekin' love from men who would dim the lights / How can I keep him lovin' me? / Here she was still seeking love / it was no where to be found." Aside from the modern beat of the drums and the contemporary soul sound, the track is undeniably old school because it deals with real people and real-life issues, concepts that are often lost in mainstream music today. The sales of R&B records -- as with those of hip-hop and most other genres -- continue to slump. Illegal downloads aside, the vast majority of these records deal with unattainable fantasies of sex, glamour, white linen suits and matching Bentleys. People who have just been laid off, had their benefits run out, or their home foreclosed don't want to hear about such lavish topics. And they can't even afford to buy overpriced CDs, anyway. That's why real people, especially women, like Mary J. Blige's tales of being a survivor. Like Blige, Reid tells a tale of survival and, like the best soul and gospel singers, past and present, she goes beyond this simple tale: "At 22, a mom of two, but she was still a child / Her mama's advice to her was a message meek and mild / what this baby boy sees in you I tried my whole life to find / so dry your tears, my baby girl, you're lookin' at piece of mind." Throughout the song, Reid's vocals follow the lyrics and melody on a rollercoaster of emotion, saving the soaring peaks of her sweet yet powerful voice for the pinnacles of the song, especially the last lines. By the end of "How Can I Keep Him Lovin' Me?", the sadness becomes both redemption and a spiritual epiphany -- all because of the power of love. Now ain't that what soul music is all about? <a target="_blank" href="http://www.myspace.com/lorrainereid">http://www.myspace.com/lorrainereid</a>About the Author: Mark Kirby received his B.A. from Oberlin College back in the days when heroin was harder to find than pot and sex didn't kill you. He is a drummer, screenwriter, and fixture in the bars and clubs of N.Y.'s Lower East Side and the current mecca of the New Bohemia, Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

When not mining his past for the bizarre, weird and unseemly experiences that are the impetus of his short fiction, Kirby is hard at work writing paranoid, political rants and cultural criticism for various printed and online magazines such as Agree/Disagree, AltarNative, and Dream Forge online magazines. He is currently serving beers at various bars in Brooklyn and Manhattan, N.Y.Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/review-lorraine-reid-how-can-i-keep-him-lovin-me-486665.html" title="Review: Lorraine Reid: How Can I Keep Him Lovin' Me?">Review: Lorraine Reid: How Can I Keep Him Lovin' Me?</a>

Over a decade ago, rappers Chuck D and Public Enemy asked, "Who Stole the Soul?" Today, after Christina Aguilera's R&B-infused Back To Basics double CD and the Amy Winehouse soul explosion, the real question is, "Who stole it back?" Part of the answer can be found in Lorraine Reid's single "How Can I Keep Him Lovin' Me?"

It always comes as a surprise when I hear a modern R&B singer who has both the pipes to belt out with intensity and the good taste to let the song tell the story, choosing to not over-saturate a classic melody with vocal gymnastics. Reid dazzles her listeners with the perfect balance of vocals, just like the classic soul, rock and pop singers did back in the day. This timeless track by the Canadian, 7-time Juno nominee would fit right in with the best of soul and funk in any age.

"How Can I Keep Him Lovin' Me?" begins to amaze listeners with its instrumentals -- the keyboard starts with mellow soul chords and is followed by gently plucked guitar and sparse bass that flows with restrained energy even while in ballad mode. The drums play a beat that has previously anchored old pop and soul songs as well as bawdy stripper show tunes; it's a beat that is part-waltz, part-easy-going phat back groove. While this stew is bubbling, Ms. Reid tells the story: "No more than 15 but grown before her time / This young girl was seekin' love from men who would dim the lights / How can I keep him lovin' me? / Here she was still seeking love / it was no where to be found." Aside from the modern beat of the drums and the contemporary soul sound, the track is undeniably old school because it deals with real people and real-life issues, concepts that are often lost in mainstream music today.

The sales of R&B records -- as with those of hip-hop and most other genres -- continue to slump. Illegal downloads aside, the vast majority of these records deal with unattainable fantasies of sex, glamour, white linen suits and matching Bentleys. People who have just been laid off, had their benefits run out, or their home foreclosed don't want to hear about such lavish topics. And they can't even afford to buy overpriced CDs, anyway. That's why real people, especially women, like Mary J. Blige's tales of being a survivor. Like Blige, Reid tells a tale of survival and, like the best soul and gospel singers, past and present, she goes beyond this simple tale: "At 22, a mom of two, but she was still a child / Her mama's advice to her was a message meek and mild / what this baby boy sees in you I tried my whole life to find / so dry your tears, my baby girl, you're lookin' at piece of mind." Throughout the song, Reid's vocals follow the lyrics and melody on a rollercoaster of emotion, saving the soaring peaks of her sweet yet powerful voice for the pinnacles of the song, especially the last lines. By the end of "How Can I Keep Him Lovin' Me?", the sadness becomes both redemption and a spiritual epiphany -- all because of the power of love. Now ain't that what soul music is all about?

http://www.myspace.com/lorrainereid

Mark Kirby received his B.A. from Oberlin College back in the days when heroin was harder to find than pot and sex didn't kill you. He is a drummer, screenwriter, and fixture in the bars and clubs of N.Y.'s Lower East Side and the current mecca of the New Bohemia, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. When not mining his past for the bizarre, weird and unseemly experiences that are the impetus of his short fiction, Kirby is hard at work writing paranoid, political rants and cultural criticism for various printed and online magazines such as Agree/Disagree, AltarNative, and Dream Forge online magazines. He is currently serving beers at various bars in Brooklyn and Manhattan, N.Y.

Rate this Article:

0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)

Re-Publish

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/review-lorraine-reid-how-can-i-keep-him-lovin-me-486665.html

Article Tags: Music, CAnada, Single, Review, Soul, Urban, Vocal, Rnb, Singer

Related Videos
Related Articles
Ask / Related Q&A

Play

How to Find Your Soul Mate

Play

Demon's Souls Review

Play

Samsung Soul - Review

Play

Soul Trapper iPhone App Review

Play

Soulcalibur IV: Tower of Lost Souls Walkthrough

Latest Music Articles
More from Mark Kirby

The Steps to Learn Electric Guitar

By: Mrs Forex | 15/11/2009
In this post I could explain ways to learn electric guitar. A lot of guitarists have difficulty learning to do these, but it is's truly an easy strategy. Click here to learn electrig guitar online for free! I'm going to touch on every type of harmonics in an effort to explain how Pinch Harmonics work when you learn electric guitar If your like me you want to add a little expression while playing your guitar, by adding some...

What to look when purchasing guitar chords

By: John Cvetkovic | 15/11/2009
Buying a guitar chords isn’t difficult if you know the right vendor to ask for these. You can purchase these guitar chords either from library or a private instructor and the best way is to purchase it from online guitar chords sites. They offer you absolutely free of cost and save your time in searching.

The fundamental of guitar- guitar chords

By: John Cvetkovic | 15/11/2009
To learn the guitar chords you must have some basic knowledge of the instrument. You must know which number denotes what and what a fret is and which string to play and what series which you should follow is. To learn to play guitar chords, you will have to first familiarize yourself with these terms and then you are ready to go. Use the free of cost online guitar chords lessons.

Techniques to play guitar chord

By: John Cvetkovic | 15/11/2009
Guitar is a musical instrument that is used for solo performances as well as rock bands and other performances like jazz. Guitar chords are the symbols that are used to play guitar. Even when learning online guitar chords, these symbols are used. There are several techniques and skills that are used by the guitarist and the professionals to play guitar chords. Have you ever thought that how these famous guitarists make themselves unique in bands and melodies?

Read guitar chords by tablature

By: John Cvetkovic | 15/11/2009
Tablature is nothing but the learning of guitar chords tabs. As we all know that to learn guitar chords, the old technique of sheet music is used to teach beginners but it is also necessary to learn tabs as well and for this tablature is used. For learning to play guitar chords and tabs, first there is need to understand them. You can learn tablature from online guitar chords websites also.

Primary Guitar Chords

By: John Cvetkovic | 15/11/2009
Learning guitar is not so difficult but generally people feel have a misconception that it requires years to learn guitar. Especially when you have got online sources, learning guitar has become a lot easier. Guitar chords are the word which is associated with the guitar each time use plays it. You can never think of playing a guitar without its chord. You often play notes.

Prerequisites of guitar chords playing

By: John Cvetkovic | 15/11/2009
Guitar is one musical instrument that has its relevance in all the different sects, customs and background of people. Each of them play guitar in a different fashion. Some use the guitar music for soothing the soul and in God’s name while others take it as a mode of entertainment and excitement. But, in short, guitar chords playing are very common and so are its problems. As the guitar chords are a part of a machine, they may also get disturbed seldom.

Play Guitar Chords and make beautiful music

By: John Cvetkovic | 15/11/2009
Great music comes from the ability to play guitar chords in harmony. There is no better sound after a long day than the gentle stroking of the chords on a guitar. Before you can play those beautiful harmonies you must first learn the chords. This is the most important factor to learn for beginners. The chords are the glue that holds the music together, and forms the notes in a way that they flow on the page correctly.

An Interview With Koko Dozo: Bringing a Little Madness - and Lots of Teamwork - Into the Mix

By: Mark Kirby | 24/07/2008 | Music
On their debut 'Illegal Space Aliens', Koko Dozo - Polarity/1, Rubio and Amy Douglas - shows that individual and group expression can meld into one.