African American Music Appreciation Month 2011

African American Music Appreciation Month continues with...

Usher's Confessions album

If you sing about breakups and sexcapades you too can became a worldwide superstar. I did. 

Released on March 23, 2004, the album turned out to be an immediate commercial success as it sold 1.1 million albums in its first week. The album spawned four chart-topping singles and earned Usher several awards including the Grammy for Best Contemporary R & B album .


Usher's Confessions album was his fourth studio production. The inspiration behind the album was initially speculated to be his seemingly sudden breakup with TLC member Rozanda "Chili" Thomas but Ursh denied the rumors and said he was inspired by the relationships of his friends, "... it's just something that I collectively got energy from everybody around me that had been through it." Jermaine Dupri, one of the producers on the album, later stepped up to claim the album was written about his experiences. Regardless of the inspiration behind the album,  we ALL have that one friend right? The friend who needs advice about a situation they found themselves in. The friend who just happens to be in a conundrum parallel to ours so that any advice you give to that friend all applies to us. Yea, I believed it was Usher's friend too. Moving on. 



According to Billboard, it is the second best-selling album of the 2000s decade in the US and has been regarded by music writers, and ME, as Usher's greatest work. Although the album was marketed as a chance for Usher's fans to get to know him better, at its core it is an album filled with breakup songs from a male point of view. It was characterized by songs like "Confessions Part II," a dramatic story revolving around his reactions to an unexpectedly impregnated mistress and "Burn" a sad tune about deteriorating love, which Usher later revealed was inspired by the disintegration of his relationship with Chili. 


Its the weekend, so I figure if you stopped by today you have a little more free time on your hands or you're bored. Either way, indulge with me in the top 5 songs from the Confessions album, in no particular order. 


1. Burn. 



2. Seduction.



3. Thats what its made for. My fav line: "Game rules, no cap NO CUT." Warning! This is a remake video soft porn and it is NSFW!  



4. Superstar-LIVE.



5. Bad Girl (because I think he wrote this song after he caught a glimpse of me *giggles*)





BONUS: Yeah. Since the best quality video disabled embedding, you're gonna have to click this link. I need to get my video sharing "weight" up. The dance move at 2:44 used to be my ace in the hole *giggles*


Wanna know a little secret? Come closer so I can whisper. I think Usher and Chili should reunite! *looks around* but you didn't hear that from me! 


Whats your favorite Confessions song? Do you think his other albums i.e. 8701, My way, All about U, Here I Stand, or Raymond v. Raymond, are superior? I'm listening...