(November 30, 2022) The legendary Freda Payne has addressed every aspect of love throughout her distinguished career. So, it perhaps takes a legend like Payne to polish off a tune performed by another legend – the late, great Nancy Wilson. That is what Payne does on her straight-ahead rendition of Wilson’s “Do You Still Dream About Me.”
Wilson released the tune in 1989 at a time when R&B radio was filled with female vocalists who could sing this kind of smooth ballad that possessed a lot of soul and a good helping of jazz. It was easy then to take for granted the kind of balladry that addressed the real-life questions that grown folks asked and had to answer in real life.
(November 30, 2022) The legendary Freda Payne has addressed every aspect of love throughout her distinguished career. So, it perhaps takes a legend like Payne to polish off a tune performed by another legend – the late, great Nancy Wilson. That is what Payne does on her straight-ahead rendition of Wilson’s “Do You Still Dream About Me.”
Wilson released the tune in 1989 at a time when R&B radio was filled with female vocalists who could sing this kind of smooth ballad that possessed a lot of soul and a good helping of jazz. It was easy then to take for granted the kind of balladry that addressed the real-life questions that grown folks asked and had to answer in real life.
Here we are in 2022, and while tunes like “Do You Still Dream About Me” still get made, they don’t populate the airwaves (or digital waves, for that matter) the way they did in the past. To hear Payne, who at 80 can still sing a ballad with range, give an honest interpretation of this tune is both welcome and not very surprising. It won’t be surprising to anyone who enjoyed her mid-tempo jam “Be With You” from earlier this year or the swinging with a big band along with Kenny Lattimore on “Let There Be Love.” “Do You Still Dream About Me” shows that Payne remains in good voice. Check it out here.
By Howard Dukes
Freda Payne - "Do You Still Dream About Me"