Jennifer Hudson's New Single

[TonyaFanatic]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 10:48pm

Jennifer finally has given us a single after Clive Davis scrapped her whole album citing, "no hits". So he got all the 'it' people of Pop/R&B together to fix it: Neyo and production team Stargate who came up with her breezy new single "Spotlight". It was very surprising to me that I liked it (LOVE IT) because I have felt very on/off about her since Dreamgirls (I was one of the first to suggest her casting on this very board when they announced solid plans for a film) she just seems very blah to me after all the hoopla. She never really proved to the world why she was on top of the world a year ago. I personally believe she thought Dreamgirls would speak for itself at the end of the day, but it did the opposite; after the glitter rubbed off, more and more people criticized her performance as hammy and amateurish. She had a golden opportunity to take over the world of entertainment and I don't believe she took advantage of it. Maybe it was her management or her naivety to the industry but all the same a year later is Jennifer still relevant?........ I think if they put as much money into this song as they do with masterpieces like, "Love In This Club" or "Take A Bow", Jennifer could have a solid hit on her hands. Maybe not #1, but she definitely could crack the Top Ten. But with all the hype for her being sort of diminished, let's hope she can make us fall in love with her again and not go the way of that other Jennifer...
Spotlight

[Trekkie2]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 11:00pm

Interesting. It's very catchy. I'm also surprised that I like it. She didn't make a smart career move at all last year. She should have taken her Oscar and immediately signed on to star in something totally different; as opposed to taking a small, forgettable role in SATC a year and a half later.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 11:18pm

Well I hope she saved her money. That song sure ain't gonna do anything.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 9:54am

That is not first single material.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 10:12am

It's not really my style of music.

[artscallion]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 10:48am

It's catchy, competent and pleasant. Jennifer's challenge, though, is that catchy, competent and pleasant will never satisfy people when it comes to her. She was born into the other Jennifer's spotlight, under constant scrutiny and comparison. She's also subject to that AI phenomenon of the public suspicion that these kids got to the top without earning it and don't really belong there. She can't have her first single be a step down from "And I Am Telling You..." In order for her career to spark, she really has to put something out that is at least maintains that level.

Granted, that's a pretty high standard, and probably why the other Jennifer could never get beyond it. Seems that history tells us that when you burst onto the scene at the top, there's really no where to go but...nowhere.

[EugLoven]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 11:15am

She's the special surprise guest (oops, did I give it away?) at the Gay Pride Pier Dance on Sunday, June 29. Hope she premieres some new material like this!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 12:43pm

Her CD is probably going to sell very well. And I like the song a lot.

[Kristie-K2]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 2:10pm

Cute....Miss Hudson is starring in The Secret Life of Bees along with Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Sophie Okonedo coming out in October 2008

[javero]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 9:32pm

Tony...
I agree with everything you wrote. I've been a huge fan of her since the AI debacle. The biggest problem I have with JHud is that she is still too raw a talent and not yet refined enough both on and off the stage for someone who's enjoyed the spotlight for me than a minute.

Let's be honest here. She grew in the music video era which rewards being "eye candy" beyond any other positive attribute. Her singing voice is a bit of a throwback to a bygone era. It doesn't really lend itself to the material that sells from female pop/rnb artists such as Fergie, Beyonce, Mimi, Kelly, Alicia K., Pink, Kylie, Madge, Xtina and PCGirls, etc. Those acts have also all starved themselves at one time or another to remain telegenic by Hollywood standards.

The song is catchy but a bit repetitive for my taste. It also sounds like typical NeYo/Stargate fare. I sense the label is testing the waters. Hopefully, she'll release a followup single packing a big more of a punch before the album drops. I also hope that Clive doesn't water down her sound too much or attempt to make her the 4th member of Destiny's Child. He has to strike the right balance with her artistically.

I still thinks she a better singer than actor. Wishin' her the best in her recording career and hope to see her on the boards some day.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 6/23/08 at 7:41pm

i really wish she would've recorded an adult contemporary album as opposed to this booty-shakin' Rhianna R&B trash. she's really really better than this single.

i guess there really is still some Whitney Houston in J-Hud after all...

[javero]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 12:35pm

"i guess there really is still some Whitney Houston in J-Hud after all..."

I'm not following you here. Is the nexus of Whitney and J-Hud based on similar artistry in your opinion or other observations?

[folkyboy]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 12:38pm

Both of them are amazing vocalists who pandered their ability for their audience. That's what I am referencing.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 12:46pm

I'm still surprised that her rendition of AITY wasnt a big hit. It was for JHol in 1982, and I love what JHud does with it...it makes me tear up, and those high notes....I was expecting a Grammy nom.

Updated On: 6/24/08 at 12:46 PM

[folkyboy]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 12:50pm

I agree, doodle. I also expected better remixes of it than were actually released. ¤shrug¤

[javero]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 12:59pm

I'm no fan of Rhianna's music but she clearly has a following and the right creative team behind to help her crank out the hits. As much as I hate to admit it, if J-Hud's CD isn't somewhat Rhianna-esque it'll be DOA. The marketplace rules!

In construction, there's an addage "build it and the people will come". That ain't necessarily the case with performance art.

Hopefully, J-Hud will continue to get lucrative acting jobs on screen so that she can at some point put out the kind of music that she's fond of and that's not beneath her. She's still a diamond in the rought to me though.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 1:02pm

Well, Whitney does have a new album out in December, so J-Hud got competition.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 1:06pm

She should forget huge sales and go for the niche that her voice is...smooth R&B and Jazz...she should take the Queen Latifah route.

She is a much better musician than I ever gave her credit for on AI.

[javero]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 1:10pm

"I'm still surprised that her rendition of AITY wasnt a big hit."

May I be brutally honest for a moment. Her rendition and the arrangement of AITY sounded "dated" due to no fault of her own. The material and her voice are a throw back to a bygone era. Too much Aretha/Jennifer Holliday, not enough Rhianna/Miley Ray Cyrus for generation iTunes.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 1:25pm

I meant an adult contemporary hit.

If Josh Groban can have a #1 record, why couldnt JHud?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 1:37pm

I honestly don't see this single being any kind of hit.
I am much more interested in her film career. Her debut as Effie was impressive, and she turned an underwritten role in SEX & THE CITY into a hoot. Her upcoming films include WINGED CREATURES with Forest Whittaker and THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES with Queen Latifah. I think she is handling her film career extremely well.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 1:46pm

The AI debacle? Oh that's rich.

[javero]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 2:10pm

With her burgeoning film career she strikes me as a prime candidate for a career as an Indie artist. She has name recognition and a following already as a recording artist.

I mean does she really need to sell herself to some record label?

IMO what she needs is a team of top-flight "songwriters" and a competent producer that can deliver material that suits her voice and vibe. Timbaland need not apply! Please don't let her come out as some permutation of Rhianna, Gwen, Fergie, Beyonce and the Pussy Cat Dolls.

I like the 1st single only because I was desparate to hear something new from her but it doesn't bode well for her debut set.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 2:13pm

^

IAWTC

[TonyaFanatic]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 7:28pm

Yea well the song did a huge jump from 99 to 50 a couple of weeks ago so that's why I believe it will eventually be a hit. They also released the video during last night's BET Awards and the feedback is VERY positive.