Moving Mountains Usher Album

[Gerald Weiß]

HereI Stand received generally positive reviews from music critics, who viewed it as a sign of growth and maturity from Usher, although others were unimpressed by the change in style from his 2004 album Confessions. It debuted atop the Billboard 200, and sold 433,000 copies in the US in its first week of release, and as of 2010, has sold 1.3 million copies in that country. The album also reached number one on the Canadian Albums Chart, UK Albums Chart and Australian Albums Chart.

In January 2008, Usher's father, Usher Raymond III, died. Both men regretted not spending more time in each other's lives.[4][9] "Prayer for You", the seventh track on Here I Stand, is an interlude dedicated to Usher's son, reflective on his relationship with his own father; "No matter what happened, my father always prayed for me. The only difference is, I'm gonna be there to be the father that my dad wished he was to me."[9] The first album name that artists and repertoire representative Mark Pitts conceived was "Measure of a Man", but that title had already been used by Clay Aiken for his debut album, so Usher called it Here I Stand. Pitts said, "It was perfect because becoming a man is about going through pain, sorrow, and happiness. Usher's done that! From the love songs to the party joints, it's exactly the story he wanted to tell."[1] Usher noted Here I Stand as beginning "a new chapter in my life"; the album's liner notes contain a verse from 1 Corinthians 13: "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."[1] Here I Stand marked Usher's growth from boyhood to manhood.[10][11] In March 2007, it was announced that work on the album had begun.[12] Usher outlined the album's concept: "A lot of what I plan to offer with this album is kinda standing in this spot ... The king's back. I ain't gonna say 'back,' I never left."[13]

Here I Stand is an R&B album,[21] Josh Eells of Blender summed up much of the production of the album as "cocktail-lounge crunk, full of splashy cymbals, jazzy electric guitar and tinkly pianos".[11] Many of its themes were inspired by Foster and Raymond V, resulting in a great number of ballads.[22][23] Here I Stand opens with an "Intro" (titled "Forever Young" on some copies), while the lead single "Love in This Club" follows, on which Young Jeezy appears. The mid-tempo song features a shuddering synth beat[24][25] and speaks of a lusting desire in a nightclub.[26] "This Ain't Sex" is a disco-influenced song that "speaks of sex as a privileged act between two consenting adults".[27] "Trading Places" uses guitar instrumentation[27] to host role reversal in both sexual and non-sexual situations in a relationship.[21] "Moving Mountains" is a ballad that draws on synth beats to relate a love struggle to an impossible task, such as moving mountains.[28] The album's sixth track is "What's Your Name", an electro song[29] which features new wave-influenced synths produced by will.i.am, who also contributes vocals to the song.[30] The "Prayer for You" interlude follows, an ode to Usher's son[9] in which Raymond V cries. Usher prays for his son to be "better than me".[31]"Something Special" is a pop ballad[24] that begins acoustically,[31] and was inspired by Robin Thicke and John Mayer because of its honesty. Usher discussed the song: "It's about the feeling when you're in real love. It could be about my son or my wife."[28]

According to Usher "Love You Gently", a piano-based[31] classic rhythm and blues ballad, is "the one [track] you throw on with your significant other when it's time to get to it. This is why my son's here. It's a baby-maker."[28] Jay-Z appears on the horn-founded "Best Thing",[32] which is about transition to manhood.[31] Usher outlines lifestyle changes since his wife's arrival and turns away from his days as "a hustler and a player" in "Before I Met You", which makes use of guitar and heavy drums.[21][31][33] He is suspected of infidelity and compared to his girlfriend's cheating ex-partner on "His Mistakes".[31] The thirteenth track on Here I Stand is "Appetite", which utilizes flutes and has Usher tempted to cheat on his wife.[31][34] "What's a Man to Do" opens with a Native American call, while "Lifetime" contains influences of 1990s R&B.[31] "Love in This Club Part II" features vocals from Beyonc and Lil Wayne and samples The Stylistics' "You Are Everything" (1971); its lyrical content is similar to that of Part I, and Wayne's voice is modified through the use of a vocoder.[30] The album's soul and pop jazz-derived title track, "Here I Stand", drew comparisons to Stevie Wonder. With a theme of commitment,[35] it was played at Usher's and Foster's wedding.[36] Here I Stand closes with "Will Work for Love", although it was placed as a hidden track on some copies; Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine called it "cute".[37]

In November 2007, Usher hoped to release his fifth album, titled Here I Stand,[12][38] but "issues in his personal life" delayed the album.[39] According to reports, Usher has to spend more time with his then-pregnant wife. The expected November release date was booked to coincide with that of Usher's fragrance line.[40][41] Released on May 13, 2008. The continually changing release dates became frustrating for Usher; Dupri said to Billboard, "The last couple [of] times I've been around [Usher], you could tell he's got the bug to hurry up and put this record out. He wants to get back out here and give the people that. He's got that itch."[19] Here I Stand was first released by LaFace Records in Mexico and several European countries on May 13, 2008; releases in other countries followed.[42]

In 2008, Usher promoted Here I Stand by appearing at Radio 1's Big Weekend, where he performed "This Ain't Sex", "Moving Mountains", "What's Your Name", "Here I Stand" and "Love in This Club", as well as singles from his previous albums.[43]Usher performed "Love in This Club" with Young Jeezy on The Hills' third season finale (May 12, 2008),[44] and along with "This Ain't Sex" on Saturday Night Live (May 17, 2008),[45] and again on the sixth season finale of Dancing with the Stars (May 20, 2008).[46] Usher performed a one-off showcase concert for 1,500 fans at indigO2, London on May 22, 2008, for which the tickets were allocated by ballot.[47] Usher signed copies of Here I Stand for the military during Fleet Week in New York City, aboard USS Kearsarge on May 27, 2008.[48] On the day of the album's release, Usher appeared on television shows TRL and 106 & Park, and performed on Good Morning America on May 30, 2008.[49] Usher performed "Love in This Club" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, on June 4, 2008.[50][51] At the BET Awards, hosted on June 23, 2008, Usher opened the show, performing the single again.[52] On September 4, 2008, Usher performed "Here I Stand", "Trading Places" and "What's Your Name" at the 2008's National Football League Kickoff game at Columbus Circle, New York City. Natasha Bedingfield and Keith Urban also sang before the game, which saw the Washington Redskins play the New York Giants.[53][54]

Usher toured fourteen cities in North America. Mainly targeting women, the tour commenced on November 2, 2008 and concluded on November 25, 2008.[55] The tour's female-focused concept was inspired by other male recording artists who "did things special like this for their female fans", such as Teddy Pendergrass, Marvin Gaye and Prince.[56] Enjoying the challenge of a female-only tour, Usher said, "There [are] only a few artists that can pull that off, I feel like I've had such a connection with my audience. This album, I felt like, was definitely the type of one that was more intimate. So what better way to get up close and personal than to make it all women?"[57][58] Usher performed the tour with a Dsquared2 wardrobe.[59] At each show, one fan was brought onstage "for an even more intimate experience with the singer".[56] This took place during "Superstar"; a female fan was served champagne and strawberries by Usher while sitting on his lap as he sang to her.[60] Among Usher's own songs, the setlist also included portions of Stevie Wonder's "Rocket Love", Gaye's "I Want You" and Prince's "Do Me, Baby". At the Detroit show he also gave T-Baby's "It's So Cold in the D".[60] Usher was supported by a five-piece band, three backing vocalists and four backup dancers.[60]

The following setlist was obtained from the concert held on November 3, 2008, at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, New York. It does not necessarily represent all concerts for the duration of the tour.[61]

Sun Media's Jason MacNeil rated the Toronto show three-and-a-half stars out of five, praising Usher's connection with the female audience.[63] Lee Hildebrand of the San Francisco Chronicle commended Usher's live vocal ability.[64]Parimal M. Rohit from Buzzine stated in his positive review of the Los Angeles show that "everyone will be talking about the entertaining concert".[65]

Five singles were released from Here I Stand. "Love in This Club" was leaked in early 2008 by its producer, Polow da Don,[66] prior to its release on February 22, 2008.[67] The song topped the US Billboard Hot 100,[68] the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and the New Zealand Singles Chart,[69][70] while reaching the top ten of numerous other record charts. It was certified five-times platinum in the United States and platinum in New Zealand.[71][72] A sequel was created, titled "Love in This Club Part II" with Beyonc & Lil Wayne, and was sent to radio as the album's second single on April 28, 2008.[73] While it did not have the commercial success of the original, it emerged on the Hot 100, the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, the Canadian Hot 100,[74] and the ARIA Singles Chart,[75] and received a platinum certification from the RIAA.[76]

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