Customer Reviews

Do I Speak for the World

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Gerald is back for his yearly dose of great R&B music. But he has made a little bit of a change in his delivery. He dedicates the begining 6 or so tracks to his views on the direction the world is heading, and asking us if we feel the same. He dosen't go into great detail of what he thinks should be done to change what is wrong, but putting his feelings out there is a strong enough statement in its self,(he's not running for president). But before long, G-Baby gets back to what he does best, baby makin music. The way he tells a story in a song is unrivaled, and he has some of his better songs he has put out in a couple years,(the man drops an album a year). I'm not going to hate on him making a few political and somewhat spiritual songs, but when he sings about love, he is at his best. Still, in the end, it is not a bad change of pace. Much love to ya G.

This is the first Gerald Levert cd I've purchased and I'm glad I did. There is a great mix of the usual love songs, but there are also a few socially conscious songs here and personally, I'm glad that there's at least one R&B singer who is willing to make a statement about something other than love. Gerald's voice evokes a true passion about what he's feeling and it just touches the listener...wonderful job!

Gerald Levert may be best known for bedroom and baby making music but Do I Speak For The World is an album that begins with several socially charged songs. The first song "Speak For The World" and the song "Crucify Me" speak on things that effect the world that we live in. "Speak For The World" is followed up by an interlude by professor Cornel West and Tavis Smiley. On the song "Crucify Me" Gerald touches on 9-11 and the war on Iraq among other social issues. Although these songs deal with real life issues and not romance, these bouncy catchy songs are easy to listen to. "Crucify Me" is a great song to step or hand dance to. "Greater Later" is another uptempo song. Do I Speak For The World is a perfect mix of uptempo and slow songs. The first single from the album, "One Million Times," is a really great song and probably the perfect first single because it will appeal to Gerald's older fans and new fans because it has that new school R. Kelly R&B feel to it. The second single, "So What (If You Got A Baby)" is a slow jam that a lot of single moms will appreciate. Do I Speak For The World is easily one of Gerald Leverts best albums. It is something that his old fans might not get right away because there are more uptempo songs than slow jams, but this CD is hot.

I would hate to say that I am biased since I am a PURE Gerald Levert Fan and has been one for as long as I can remember. As Gerald was preparing the public for the change of pace on his new "Political Project" - "Do I Speak For The World", it never once crossed my mind about whether or not I would be opened to this change. I knew without a doubt that I would be able to relate to whatever it was that Gerald felt he had to speak about. As Gerald promised, this CD is a lot different from the other "Baby Making" CDs that he has been successful at delivering in the past - he is speaking on serious topics that are headlining events in this world - he convey passion in his politically charged cut "Crucify Me"...this song I LOVE. I must admit that I LOVE almost every song on the CD, even the interludes...This CD has a message for everyone...Fortunately for me, I have the ability to empathize which allows each song to speak to me - even if I have not personally experienced a particular situation - I know someone who has - therefore, I can relate. Gerald is an absolute genious...he is truly an exceptional artist...and as I am praying that one day the Music industry recognize talent as talent to the nth power is staring them straight in the face in the name of Gerald Levert. Unfortunately, Gerald and other artist have been put in this genre called 'Adult R&B' which does not get attention on any of our R&B Mainstream stations...I think Gerald has been put in a box and hasn't been exposed to other audiences in which I believe would be opened to his music as well - but if they do not know what he is about because his music isn't being exposed to other stations - then other crowds would never know what his music is about. But all I have to say is, Gerald hang on baby -we are gonna break through one day. And if it's any indication of the impact you have in the music industry - just look at all of your sold out venues whenever you are in town for a concert. During his Father & Son Tour, I attended both shows in DC, 1 in Columbia, SC, and 1 in Baltimore, MD...AND BABY...THEY ALL WERE SOLD OUT...so Gerald you keep doing what you doing....Your day will come - we are gonna get that Grammy and that Rock & Roll Hall of Fame...just like your daddy did!

I'VE NEVER REALLY BEEN A GERALD LEVERT FAN, BUT I AM NOW-LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FIRST SINGLE, THE BLAZING BALLAD "ONE MILLION TIMES" HAS NICE LEAD & BACKGROUND VOCALS- SOUNDS FRESH AND SLIGHTLY YOUTHFUL, DIFFERENT FROM HIM AND I'M LOVIN IT. THE OTHER STANDOUT GEMS ARE THE MELODIC "IT WAS WHAT IT WAS", THE POLITICAL "CRUCIFY ME" THE SEXY "DUTY CALLS" "TALK IT OUT" ,"GREATER LATER" "WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LOVE? IS AWESOME! THIS TRACK FEATURES GERALD & THE LEVERT KIDS- A SOLID EFFORT FROM MR LEVERT -YOU MAY NOT SPEAK FOR THE WORLD- BUT YOU DO SPEAK LOUD AND CLEAR FOR THE WORLD OF R&B!

So if you're like me---a lifelong fan of not only Gerald but of all the Leverts stretching back to the early days of The O'jays and continuing to the present-day when a new album is released every blue moon---chances are you walked in a store, browsed the new music section hoping and praying an old skool playa had released something to counteract the nauseous effect that the music scene today gives you in the pit of your stomach, and you ran across this slick lil devil Mr. Levert who managed to sneak in an album without anybody knowing about it. And if you're like me you also knew there was no question about whether you were going to buy it but there was some lingering doubt about its content when you saw the rather bland cover art, witnessed a mind-boggling 16 tracks on the back cover, and then studied the questionable subject matter of those 16 tracks considering it was a Gerald Levert album! Hmmmm....what's a fed-up-with-music-these-days-and-leary-about-anybody-who-releases-anything, old-skooler-for-life like myself to do???? Duh. It's the G man, had to have it, so I sprinted to the cashier and forked down the cash!

Let me issue a firm warning to you, though: there may be 16 tracks on the cd but each track is only approximately 4 minutes long and continues a nasty trend these days of beginning a groove only to have it end before the groove even has a chance to take effect! Also, 4 of the 16 tracks consists of interludes and an outro so those don't even count. And I'm not exactly sure what Gerald was thinking during the first 9 tracks but if I've said it once I've said it a thousand times---an artist, especially one of Gerald's calibur, should stick to doing what they do best and resist the temptation to branch out and try new stuff. Nine times out ten it won't work and it doesn't work here. Note to Gerald: leave all the political, social commentary mumbo jumbo for the rock n' roll artists, and sing and make songs that people actually expect to hear from you---slow jams and mid-tempo grooves! Of the 12 tracks on this cd (excluding the interludes, intro,and outro) only 4 are truly Geraldesque in nature and even those 4 don't feature the usual powerhouse and sensual vocals we've come to expect from him. The tracks "Duty Calls," "One Million Times," and "So What If You Got A Baby" are the closest you get to Gerald breakin' it down and telling it like it is!

I'm a bit disappointed in this latest effort and would recommend it only if you are a dedicated G man fan and must add it to your collection out of allegiance.

Hey everybody, understand, we've all got to grow up sometime. All the baby making music was fine, but the brother felt he had something to say about conditions. And I applaud him. Too often, these days, entertainers have nothing to say, even in the love songs. THE BROTHER GREW UP!

First of all let me adress that that I too am deeply hurt and saddened by the utimely passing of Gerald Levet, he was truly legeng in his own time. I really didn't write this review to talk about this album although it's a great album. See I was born in the mid seventies and to me he was what Marvin Gaye Barry White, and Teddy Pendergrass was to the generation of my parents. I now see how they felt when Marvin Gaye died back in 1984 and I am devestated. See all I listen too is the true greats of music be it soul,funk,jazz, or rock and I could see the apple didn't fall too far from the tree in the case Gerald. He was the ultimate soul singer who passionate pleas to woman made men really wanting to step their games up so to speak. See in this day and time we have very few artist who transcends their respective genres of music and Gerald was one of them. Just two weeks I purchase his group Levert's album Bloodline off of Amazon from a private seller for about thirty bucks. That's how much a fan I was (and still) of Gerald's music, which by the way copleted my whole Levert and Gerald Levert collection.

See to me, he was truly the last of the great baritone singers of our time and one of the true "real man voices" of soul music that is rarely heard in todays music. See he comes from a bloodline of great singers (no pun intended), such as his dad the legendary Eddie Levert of the O'Jays. Just a couple years ago I was just so dissapointed at the state of hip-hop and music in general that I decided to go back to where music had substance and style. While doing this I came across a greatest hits cd of Levert and started to listen to the first track on it fom their first album Bloodline called Pop,Pop,Pop,Pop,Goes My Mind. By hearing that song It took me back to that summer of 1986 back home in D.C. playing with my friends and and chasing girls. See, Gerald bridged the gap between the old and the new generations which was one of the reasons I still listened to curent R&B. But now I and many others will have huge void in ours hearts because of his passing. Every year you could expect an album release by Gerald just like my parents every year back in the 1970's saw a new release by the O'Jays and both were always great. My condolensces to his family and friends, especially Eddie who he was so close to. And last may his music live on forever in our hearts and may God bless his soul. We all love you and thanks for all the great memories we'll never forget. R.I.P. Brother

I went through all the signing up and whatever here to write this review. After reading everyone else's review, I had to bring my own conclusion to the "Teddy Bear's" latest effort. This is GOOD music. Nah, correction this is GREAT MUSIC. The entire CD is full of creativity, and every track differs in style. I've been listening to it for two days. I drag it back and forth from the car to the house. My favorite is "So What" (You've got a baby). "Duty Calls", also tops my list of favorites. "Greater Later" is a positive motivating joint. "Crucify Me" is keeping it real when it comes to the haters. Basically this entire CD is a collection of things that happen to us everyday. He compiled different flavors of what we all need to hear and want to hear. This CD is a jewel. Buy it! I promise you won't be disappointed. As I write this review, guess who's playing in the background?

I have been a fan of Gerald Levert since the beginning, so I guess I am not a good one to write a review because I think all of his music is awesome. This CD is just as the others - AWESOME- Eddie Levert along with the Levert children (Eddie's grandchildren) are featured on one of the songs, which shows family unity. Then "Lay You Down" shows that "G" has not lost his touch when it comes to real music. Not music where he is sampling off of other music. G keep up the great work and if no one else listens...I will! Much love to you!