Pages tagged “faith evans”

In honor of this Friday night's presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama (the first of three)—and my obsession with politics as full-contact sport—I've compiled the following playlist to tell the story of the 2008 election so far. Whether you're red, blue, independent or other, enjoy.

Part I: The Primaries 

“Changes” - David Bowie

The Thin White Duke sings about what us young (and old) Americans want in Washington this year.

Like another “First lady”—Jackie Kennedy—Faith Evans has managed to survive some hard times: the assassination of her husband (Evans is the widow of the Notorious B.I.G.), endless public scrutiny, fair-weather friends and serious self-doubt. And although she prefers Roc-A-Wear to a pillbox hat, on her fourth album, The First Lady (her first for Capitol Records), Evans proves she’s one class act.

Lyrically, The First Lady offers plenty of revelations: First, we hear from the good-time gal on “Goin’ Out,” which features Pharrell Williams and Pusha T. “Me and my girls are goin’ out tonight,” a sassy Evans states on the number. “Tonight I’m hangin’ with my girlfriends / And I’m startin’ a new life.”

Next, she breaks all the rules on “Again,” offering a birds-eye view of her recent stint in rehab, admitting, “If I had to do it all again / I wouldn’t take away the rain / Cause you know it made me who I am,” then sagely deciding “Nobody knows what life may bring / It might make you happy / It might make you sad.” Hardly the topic you’d expect for a hit single, but Evans just might create the exception.

We get a glimpse of a fragile Faith on “I Don’t Need It,” when she croons “I’m here alone again / You know I’ll do what it takes to hold you down / But all this lyin’ to myself is starting to stress me out.” Later, on the ballad “Stop N Go,” she proclaims “I’m not super woman / So I can’t see what’s goin’ on in your mind,” before concluding “I know if I break down / I’ll be wanting more … I’ll be wanting a commitment from ya.”

Although Evans has managed to find love again, the song is a cruel reminder of the difficulties of being single in this day and age, juggling motherhood (she has three kids, including Biggie’s son, who was born in late 1996), a career, and her own insecurities without a dependable man to help shoulder the load.

Over and over again—singing atop dance beats, ’70s-soul riffs and punchy funk numbers—Evans examines her life, particularly the contrast between her early (i.e. poor) life and the complexities of newfound wealth. “Even though my money changed / I try my best to stay the same / But you know with more money more problems came,” she notes; a few songs later, she confesses “I’m not ready to trade in all my Kelley bags [or] take the Bentley back.”

In less capable hands, listeners would be rolling their eyes about the poor little rich girl—but Evans’ soaring, sorrowful voice and perfect control paint a powerful portrait of her difficult life. And just when you’re about to feel too sorry for her, Evans pulls out the delicious “Mesmerized,” a modern-day love song on par with the late Lyn Collins or hizzoner Soul Brother #1. A funky breakdown, spirited backing vocals and a righteous attitude—the sentiment on this cut is guaranteed to make her soul sisters shout.