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Live Review
by SashaS
11-4-2002
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| india.arie, soul queen |
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Live: india.arie
Shepherds Bush Empire, London
Wednesday, April 10, 2002
India Arie’s seven-times Grammy nominated disc is served live – spiritually
Sweet soul music used to provide us all with plenty of feelgood, and some reflective times, but that used to be in the past as the genre quietly slipped out of music dictionary. But, over the past couple of years, a new breed of artists has started to emerge that has taken it to the new heights, infused with elements of other genres, to revive it as a vibrant force, once again.
Following in the footsteps of Lauryn Hill, Erikah Badu, Jill Scott, Alicia Keys, the Atlanta soul queen India Arie’s musical currency is an organic, socially aware, modern soul music. Nominated for seven Grammys earlier in the year, she disgracefully won none, and despite lack of real chart action, she had no problem selling-out two nights here in no-time whatsoever. Which is an encouraging sign that not all are too caught up in the ‘Pop Idol’ shenanigans!
Her arrival onstage with a bodyguard who lifted her on the, until then, mystical/puzzling black box centre-stage where she sat cross-legged, was greeted with an ovation. She had to hush the audience and re-start ‘Interlude’ again. Then, India’s ‘book-of-influences’ was open wide revealing Bessie Smith and Billie Holliday, Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye, as much as Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan. That’s what any music should reflect, the whole society rather than a ‘ghetto-ized’ genre.
Apart from playing her own songs, such as ‘Strength, Courage and Wisdom’ (with some beatbox improvisations), ‘Brown Skin’ and ‘I Can See God In You’, plus two unreleased ones – ‘India’s Song’ and ‘Beautiful Surprise’ – the lady journeyed the last century’s music by covering a wide variety of songs. Bill Withers’s ‘Lovely Day’, Sade’s ‘The Sweetest Taboo’, Terence Trent D’Arby (is this obscurism or what?) ‘Sign Your Name’ and even, wait for it, ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’, all get her treatment.
An impressive selection handled with confidence that certainly can place her in the pantheon of greats. She emits optimism from stage (although some could see it as hippy-ism) and spending a couple of hours in her company made one feel better as a human being.
The whole enjoyment of the show was increased by the audience participation who were ready, willing and supportive of her every note, which certainly lifted the whole experience onto another level. India couldn’t but be moved to remark that she’d like to take them everywhere she played. If she had asked nicely, they’d have obligingly come, for sure.
A legend is born and longing for a speedy return is understandable: more people need to be provided with some more of this kinda spiritual time.
SashaS
11-4-2002
india.arie album ‘Acoustic Soul’ is out now on Motown/Universal
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