First Listen: Judith Hill’s “Beautiful Life”

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    She’s been co-signed by two of the biggest pop and soul legends of all times, Prince and Michael Jackson. She starred in an Oscar-winning documentary, 20 Feet From Stardom, on the life of background vocalists and sung all over its stellar soundtrack. Spike Lee was so impressed by her that she was the premiere vocalist for his Red Hook Summer soundtrack. If she hadn’t already wowed the world at Michael Jackson’s homegoing concert or Jackson’s final film, This Is It, where he performed a duet with her, she certainly did through her standing ovation garnering performances on NBC’s talent show competition, The Voice.  She is Judith Hill and none other than Prince is backing and producing her soulfully funky debut album, Back In Time, which dropped this week for Prince followers and music critics.

    She’s been co-signed by two of the biggest pop and soul legends of all times, Prince and Michael Jackson. She starred in an Oscar-winning documentary, 20 Feet From Stardom, on the life of background vocalists and sung all over its stellar soundtrack. Spike Lee was so impressed by her that she was the premiere vocalist for his Red Hook Summer soundtrack. If she hadn’t already wowed the world at Michael Jackson’s homegoing concert or Jackson’s final film, This Is It, where he performed a duet with her, she certainly did through her standing ovation garnering performances on NBC’s talent show competition, The Voice.  She is Judith Hill and none other than Prince is backing and producing her soulfully funky debut album, Back In Time, which dropped this week for Prince followers and music critics. A deal is said to be in place to release it to the world, but we needed to give you a taste right now.

    From “Love Trip” to “Cry, Cry, Cry,” picking just one song from Hill’s bounty of blessings to fans and newcomers alike was tough, with much of it said to be influenced by Sly and the Family Stone and fitting that milieu nicely. Still, we decided to settle on this power ballad that expresses not just Judith’s incredible vocal strength and range, it also gives listeners a taste of the old school she’s bringing back throughout this knockout project that echoes a funk ‘n’ soul attitude taken by another Prince alum, Liv Warfield. The smoother yet wailing “Beautiful Life” is one of the more mainstream, radio-ready cuts from the project. From the Coldplay “Clocks”-like piano opening to the Bonnie Raitt meets Rosie Gaines vocal approach, “Beautiful Life” is an epic piece of gutbucket soul pop. Softened by swirling strings and gentle piano arpeggios, Hill goes for broke and is still magnificently controlled on this light blues. Lyrically touching with an inspirational message of uplift for the wounded soul, the song moved us at SoulTracks, and we think Judith Hill will move you too.

    Update: Those who like what they hear, can download the wav. files for this whole album for free until March 28th: http://bit.ly/1CpDRiI

    By L. Michael Gipson

    Judith Hill - "Beautiful Life"