CD Review: Here I Stand

After listening to Usher’s new album “Here I Stand” I am very impressed. Usher was the second crush I ever had in my life. There is just something about Usher he can sing, dance, act, and he is gorgeous! I melt every single time I see Usher on television. Usher is the new king of R&B since R Kelly is on his way out. Usher is an international superstar although R Kelly is very popular with urban audiences he isn’t as successful as Usher overseas.

I love Usher because he is a positive image of a young black man. Yes Usher admits to one night stands and cheating on girlfriends. Usher is flawed he is not perfect I admire his honesty. Usher is a very sensitive man. I love sensitive men because they are willing to open up about their feelings and emotions. I have to admit I have a weakness for sensitive male singers and songwriters. I don’t like aggressive men or macho men. I don’t like it when a man is reticent.

I read recently that Usher has fired his mother she is no longer his manager. I applaud Usher for moving on from his mother because he is now independent and following living his life on his own terms.

Usher has clearly matured he is no longer a boy he is now a man. Last year Usher married his stylist Tameka Foster and this obviously pissed off a lot of his female fans. Some of Usher’s female fans forget Usher is almost thirty years old he isn’t a twenty one year old stud anymore. Tameka isn’t gorgeous but she obviously is the woman Usher loves. Usher has always had a predilection for older women doesn’t anyone remember Chilli from TLC she’s older then Usher. I guess Chilli was more palatable because she is attractive.

I don’t understand why some black women are always complaining whenever a black male celebrity marries outside the race? Usher even pointed out he was always going to marry a black woman and have a black child. So what’s the problem? Why are some black females upset with Usher now? Some black women have told me they want to see more positive images of black love. Isn’t Usher’s marriage to Tameka good news?

I don’t care that Usher married an older woman that’s his personal business. Yes, Tameka is thirty seven but so what? Love is love. Why should Usher give up the woman he loves just because some jealous female fans can’t handle him falling in love? Don’t Usher’s fans want him to be happy? Usher deserves to be happy we all deserve to have some happiness in our lives.

The song I love the most on “Here I Stand” is called “Trading Places” in this song there is a gender role reversal. Usher sings about “making coffee, eggs, breakfast in bed” for his woman. Another song I love is “His Mistakes” in this song Usher pleads with the woman he loves to stop blaming him for her ex boyfriend’s egregious behavior.

Some fans may be upset because there are a lot of ballads on the album. Usher demonstrates on “Here I Stand” he is an incredible singer.

Other stands outs on the CD are “appetite”, “Love In The Club”, and “Lifetime”. Usher is branching out I doubt “Here I Stand” will sell as much as “Confessions” though. Confessions was Usher’s breakthrough the CD sold over 9.5 million copies in the United States. Since the public is downloading music these days I doubt “Here I Stand” will sell as much as “Confessions”. “Here I Stand” is a solid album demonstrating Usher moving in a new direction.