Anita Baker Been So Long

[Diante Scharsch]

AnitaBaker has brought grace and class to every performance since her teenage days honing her three-octave vocal range at Detroit nightclubs. After gaining more experience on the stage with the Detroit funk band Chapter 8, she set off on a solo career in the early 1980s.

She hit it big with such romantic classics as "Sweet Love" and took the world by storm, starting with her first headlining stint, The Rapture Tour, in 1986. Over the next decade, Baker kept conquering the charts as well as stages around the world, until 1994-95's Rhythm of Love tour.

After a long hiatus, she came back strong in 2004 after signing to Blue Note Records, and she became a regular on the road once again. In January 2018, she announced her retirement, but not before saying goodbye with a bang with her hugely successful Farewell Concert Series tour.

One of the great masters of quiet-storm slow jams, Anita Baker has long been a dependable voice for soft sophistication and everlasting romance. Born in 1958 in Toledo, Ohio, but raised in Detroit, Baker found her passion at a young age, performing in gospel choirs, then singing at local clubs and performing in various bands, including funk band Chapter 8.

The following year, she earned one more Grammy, this time on track "Ain't Got No Need to Worry," a collaboration with brother quartet The Winans. The hits kept coming with Baker's 1988 album, Giving You the Best That I Got, which landed on the top of the Billboard charts and earned her more Grammys for Best Female R&B Vocal and Best R&B Song.

Baker would continue to dominate R&B into the next decade, starting with 1990's Compositions, followed by Rhythm of Love in 1994. From that point on, Baker took a break to focus on family, and it wasn't until a decade later that she returned with her next album, 2004's My Everything and then a holiday release, Christmas Fantasy.

Been So Long by Anita Baker is a beautiful and soulful song that captures the essence of love and longing. The track is a perfect example of the artist's ability to blend soul, jazz, and R&B classics seamlessly. Anita Baker's velvety voice and impeccable delivery make this song a timeless classic that has remained popular over the years.

The song is a part of Anita Baker's third album, Rapture. It was released in 1986 and quickly climbed to #11 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The album was a massive success, and it went on to sell over 8 million copies worldwide, making Anita Baker a superstar in the world of soul and R&B music.

The song is a ballad that highlights the story of a woman who has been separated from her lover for too long. She longs for his return and reminisces about the good times they shared together. The lyrics are emotive, and Anita Baker's delivery of the lyrics is breathtaking. Her voice rises and falls with the emotion of the song, conveying the deep feeling beautifully.

Been So Long is a perfect example of Anita Baker's signature sound where she mixes old-school soul with contemporary jazz and R&B. The song's unique instrumentation, including the electric guitar and drums, creates a melodious yet mellow sound that complements Anita Baker's voice perfectly.

One of the most striking features of the song is its soulful melody that is infused with a tinge of sadness. The slow tempo, along with the way the song is arranged and mixed, creates a deeply personal and intimate feel that draws the listener in and creates a powerful emotional connection.

The song's powerful lyricism and soulful sound have made it an enduring classic that has stood the test of time. It is a demonstration of Anita Baker's exceptional talents as a songwriter, composer, and vocalist. Been So Long has been covered by many artists over the years, but there is something unique and special about Anita Baker's original version that continues to capture hearts and minds decades after its release.

Been So Long is a moving and emotional ballad that showcases Anita Baker's remarkable talent as a singer and musician. It is a testament to her ability to blend different genres of music seamlessly, creating a unique sound that is both captivating and memorable. If you're a lover of soul, jazz, or R&B, this song is a must-listen that will leave you touched and moved.

An independent show guide not a venue or show. All tickets 100% guaranteed, some are resale, prices may be above face value.We're an independent show guide not a venue or show. We sell primary, discount and resale tickets, all 100% guaranteed prices may be above face value.We are an independent show guide not a venue or show. We sell primary, discount and resale tickets, all 100% guaranteed and they may be priced above or below face value.

Excellent crowd excited & happy! The music before Ms. Baker stepped onstage was phenomenal &took u back to the good ole days, when folk enjoyed dancing &singing together. Suddenly the beautiful lights danced & the spectacular band began to play. Live musicians, live background singers & the mother of all REAL singers opened her mouth and the hairs on the back of my arms stood up! Believe me that was a miracle bc I barely have hairs on my arms. She danced & sang from the time she hit the stage until the time she left (8pm - 10:30pm) I kid u NOT! Anita Bakers' voice NEVER waivered, strong & beautiful as ever. Beautiful dress w. heels, the woman seemed to enjoy herself as we all danced,& sang. She allowed the audience to serenade her -I don't want to brag, but our California audience was awesome &on-key! Then she song the entire song back to us & it was awesome! Her next concert soldout! U will not be disappointed! Nice to hear a live band & singers.

Unbelievable. Still the Songstress. My 5th time seeing her. 2 shows, both sellouts. 1st show sold out in 6 hours. A venue record. Great seats. Row F center. Only complaint, not enough. 2 hour show. And WE still look good at 60!!! If shes coming to your town, a must see. For whatever price. Worth it.

We saw Anita Baker last night at the Ryman in Nashville. Wow is all I can say...the best concert I have ever attended. She gave her heart and soul into the performance and her voice was perfection. She had energy, wit, and grace. I have loved her music since her first hits and now at 70 years old, I finally got to see her perform in person. It was my 37 year old son's birthday and he loves Anita Baker as much as his mom does and this was a concert we both came away from in total awe of her performance. It was sold out and tonight she is performing there again. How I wish I had purchased tickets for both nights. If she comes out of retirement, I will be there to see her again.

She deserves 10 Stars. Anita Baker was the best! Her voice was perfect and the crowd loved her. I am so happy she didn't have an opening act. She is a class act on her own does not need to share a stage. She gave us two hours of Sweet Love and I loved it. Don't retire Anita, we need more of you!!!!! We had excellent seats and it was worth the $400 we spent. BTW I took my 36 years old daughter and she was singing alone with Anita, I guess she was listening to my CD's after all.

Concert was on a Wednesday Night. So much love in the air for this lady. Anita you still look good and sound good. She sung so many of her hits that made her famous and loved over the years. The band was rocking! The adoration you felt in the arena was so strong. People singing along at first was drowning her out, but it was beautiful. Of course, she said, "ya better sing!" Beautiful to feel unity and connection from all kinds of people to "one person". Confetti surprise was spectacular! Thank you Anita for a "love" night from someone who still believes in the amazing power and influence of love !

I thought the show was great. The audience did sing her songs instead of letting her perform them,, so what she did she re song every song the audience took over which was a real pleasure. She said not only did you get two shows you get two songs. It was great that she did that though we didn't come to hear the audience but it was love. She is so humble. I wish she had sang Joy. Overall I thought it was a great concert. Confetti at the end was special.

I had a great seat, front row of the pit, just in front of her pianist. Anita looked beautiful and her voice was enchanting. Her performance was sensual and graceful. She has a way of making you feel like family. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. As she prepared to end the show, she tossed roses into the audience. I felt very special to have received one and grateful to attend her farewell tour. Anita Baker is my all time favorite singer. I loved the show, I am still feeling the excitement of her performance almost two days later.

What an amazing evening! The concert was excellent from beginning to end. Anita can SING like no one else, and it seems the years have just seasoned her. Her voice is unique and oh so beautiful.and she had us all in the palm of her hand from the minute she stepped on stage. She seemed as genuine as could be...I love that she wore flat shoes...she knew we came to hear her sing, not ooh and ahh over her costumes even though she looked great. We had magnificent seats...my daughter treated me and a friend as my birthday gift this year. Our hotel, the Omni was right across the street! I really would love seeing this show again...yeah that good! She came out and sang a few more songs as an encore because the crowd just wouldn't go home after the show...Loved it!

Fabulous concert last night from the great Anita Baker, a true living legend! She gave the sold out crowd a terrific all around performance, singing many of her timeless classic ballads from over her amazing career! Her one of a kind supple voice still sounds flawless to this day! She is one of the greatest vocalists to ever grace any stage! This particular show meant the world to me because she is my favorite female singer and it was the first time seeing her live in concert. It left a lasting impression with me going forward. She is the consummate professional and definitely a perfectionist in her craft while performing on stage! It was truly fascinating watching her perform. She told the crowd how much this tour means to her. This show ranks very high on my list as one of the best concerts I have seen, and I have witnessed many over these years! Definitely go and see Anita if you are able to do so while she is on this Farewell Tour. You will not be disappointed!Grade: Solid A

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