Mary J. Blige in Love with Life
PUSSSYKATT
NEW YORK (Billboard) - Mary J. Blige is jubilant.
And it is evident on her sunny new album, "Love & Life."
"This album is a celebration of life," says the R&B singer, whose previous sets
often have been steeped in pain and heartbreak.
"All the bad things in the world couldn't have happened to a better person than
Mary," she says, speaking of herself. "If Mary can do it, then others can, too.
Learning to love yourself takes work. And right now, I love Mary."
Indeed, Interscope Geffen A&M chairman Jimmy Iovine says the album shows Blige
"at the top of her game."
Due Aug. 26 (one day earlier internationally), the gorgeously soul-smacked set
finds Blige reteamed with producer Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. It also sees her
joining the restructured Geffen Records, which recently absorbed MCA, Blige's
former label.
Joining Blige on "Love & Life" are special guests Jay-Z ("Love & Life Intro"),
Eve (the Dr. Dre-produced "Not Today") and 50 Cent ("Let Me Be the 1").
Additionally, Method Man raps on the first single, "Love @ 1st Sight," which
rebounds this week to No. 10 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks
chart.
"Love @ 1st Sight" has been championed by numerous radio stations, including
mainstream R&B outlets WUSL Philadelphia, WQHT New York, KMEL San Francisco and
WGCI Chicago.
"This track moved faster at radio than any single from her last three albums,"
Geffen senior executive Jeff Harleston says. "It did exactly what we wanted it
to: It took Mary back to the clubs; it got people dancing. And because it's
Sean and Mary, it becomes an event."
WGCI PD Elroy Smith confirms that the station has been getting a sizable number
of requests for "Love @ 1st Sight."
"Will it be the biggest single from the album?" he wonders aloud. "Well, after
being given a sneak preview of the album, I don't believe the world is ready
for this one. We're talking about a multi-platinum success story."
The single's video, directed by Chris Robinson, has been embraced by BET, MTV
and VH1, paving the way for appearances on MTV's "Total Request Live" and BET's
"106 and Park."
While "Love & Life" is certainly Blige's album, Combs' influence on the overall
sound cannot be denied.
Though Blige has worked with numerous producers through the years, her
collaborations with Combs appear to have left the most lasting impression on
fans.
Combs handled the bulk of production duties on the singer's first two albums,
the classics "What's the 411?" and "My Life," released in 1992 and 1994,
respectively.
Citing creative differences, Blige and Combs parted ways for the remainder of
the decade. They reconnected last year, when Combs remixed the single "No More
Drama."
Because the mix "came out hot," Blige says she and Combs realized that the
chemistry between them was very much intact.
For Blige, working again with Combs "wasn't overwhelming. I don't let anything
take me over the top. He still wants what he wants, and I still want what I
want. He's still Puffy, and I'm still Mary."
Combs says he was excited to be back behind the boards working with Blige. "For
me, the new album is a continuation of 'My Life,' " he explains.
But there was one major difference.
During the recording of "My Life," Combs says he told Blige how to do
everything. "We went our separate ways because of this.
"With 'Love & Life,' I was less of a dictator," he continues. "It was more of
an even playing field this time."
He credits this to Blige's confidence as a singer/songwriter. "We have both
grown in many ways over the years."
Industry observers will be closely watching the marketplace performances of
"Love & Life," in part to see how Combs' touch affects Blige's sales.
Blige has released six studio albums (including the special edition of "No More
Drama"), a live album and two remix collections.
Collectively, she has sold 14.1 million albums in the U.S., according to
Nielsen SoundScan. Outside the U.S., her total album sales are just shy of 5
million, her label says.
But her biggest individual U.S. seller to date remains "What's the 411?" It has
moved 2.9 million copies.
All of her subsequent studio albums have performed well, selling at least 2.1
million units. Her most recent, 2001's "No More Drama," sold 1.9 million units.
A 2002 special edition moved an additional 1.1 million copies.
"Because it's a reunion of sorts, both Mary and Sean need this album to be a
home run," says Jim Kaminski, pop/rock buyer for Tower Records in New York's
Greenwich Village.
"And for Mary in particular, this album needs to connect with fans beyond her
core audience," he adds.
Kaminski says he is at a loss to understand why Blige--one of the most gifted
and talented female R&B singers--remains somewhat unknown outside of the
R&B/hip-hop world.
In addition to the basic album, a limited-edition version of "Love & Life" will
include a bonus DVD with "making of the album" film footage.
Blige plans a global promo tour--which includes a "bus tour" of major radio
markets in the U.S. She also is confirmed to perform Aug. 29 on NBC's "Today
Show" as part of its Summer Concert Series.
In the fall, Reebok will begin airing TV ads that feature Blige introducing a
new sweat suit line.
On the Internet, several initiatives are being finalized. Blige is already
confirmed for Sessions @ AOL later this month.
At the artist's official site, mjblige.com, enthusiasts can click on "Mary TV"
for video streams of the artist's promotional bus tour, among other visuals.
"This gives Mary's fans a sense of where her head is at right now," Harleston
says.
"Let it be known," the artist says. "Mary is in love and enjoying her life. But
the songs on this album show that you must keep pressing on. I am only human. I
am not a statue to worship."
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Greg Hunt
know she worked with him in the beginning of her career, but that new song
does nothing for me. I won't even be downloading it, lol.
Greg
"PUSSSYKATT" <agcgoss...@aol.com> wrote in message
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