Customer Reviews

Happy People/U Saved Me

5 star:		(78)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I've been looking forward to this album ever since I heard the Happy People single. The R promised a two disc album with one disc dedicated to stepping music, and the other dedicated to a spiritual vibe. All I can say is that he most certainly delivered the goods. I find this to be an amazing album. With each new project, Kelly rises to new levels. This is a mature feel-good album that can be played around people of all ages. I praise R. Kelly for providing music that doesn't offend, degrade, or serve to defeat those who are faced with socioloical limitations. Disc one is smooth, care free, and fun. Disc two is inspiring, insightful, and uplifting. This is an album that will mark a place in time for everyone who is drawn to the creative touch of one of the greatest R & B artists of this generation.

A journey to the dance floor and Heaven with Rob
you are the GREATEST Honey, There's nobody out there that provides so much inspiration and joyful music like you do!
You make my day everyday with your music.
Keep doing your thing man, you are tight!!!

My favorite tracks on this album are:

CD1: "IF", "Red Carpet", and "The greatest show on earth"
CD2: 3-way call (i almost cried), "Spirit", and "Diary of me" very deep songs.

You are the BEST R KELLY!

R. Kelly's "Happy People/U Saved Me" is pretty straightforward in concept: one disc is filled with upbeat positive messages, and the other is inspirational, with themes of salvation, redemption, and faith. We'll start with the first disc, since that's the better of the two. On "Happy People," Kelly takes on the role of a DJ in the fictitious LOVE radio station. Here, we get songs like "Ladies Night," "If," and "Love Street," which all have hooks strong enough to sink Jaws. Easily, every other jam could be released as a single and has "hit" written all over it. On "U Saved Me," Kelly gets his praise on, serving up a platter of gospel-themed tunes that hold up, even when the disc occasionally has lyrics that resort to inspirational cliches we've all heard on Sunday mornings. Kelly Price, Kim Burrell, and Maurice Mahon join the big R on "3-Way Phone Call," one of the better songs on "You Saved Me," while Kelly also holds up on "I Surrender" and another favorite of mine, "Prayer Changes." Unfortunately, he does resort to melodrama on "Leap of faith," the disc's one true misfire. Still, the virtues outweigh the flaws, and "Happy People/U Saved Me" comes out a winner. His current troubles may make it difficult for some (myself included) to justify buying his records, but his latest double disc reminds us how talented R. Kelly really is.

R. Kelly released two albums, Happy People and U Saved Me, so here are my views on both.

R. Kelly - Happy People (Jive, 2004)

This album capitalizes on the "stepping" dance craze that's popular in the Midwest, moer specifically his hometown, Chicago. But if you're not from the Midwest, you'll probably think that this album sounds like a lot of "Step in the Name of Love" remixes. The title track is the highlight here and most of the other tracks follow the same formula (some even use the same beat). "If I Could Make the World Dance" and the ballad "The Greatest Show on Earth" break up the sameness nicely. Happy People is designed more to play for a stepping party than to listen at home. -EJR

R. Kelly - U Saved Me (Jive, 2004)

U Saved Me shows R.'s spiritual side. Things start off interestingly with "3-Way Phone Call" (featuring Kelly Price and Kim Burrell). This sung conversation between all of them contains moving lyrics but if you recall past R. Kelly-penned "conversational songs" like The Isley Brothers' "Contagious", "Busted", Kelly Price's "Friend of Mine" remix or Nivea's "Laundromat", this may sound like a tired gimmick. The title track is the best song as R. plays three different people giving their testimonies; unfortunately, "Prayer Changes" sounds more like "U Saved Me Part II". While the rest of the tracks run tepidly, "Spirit" becomes the only other highlight. -EJR

Conclusion: While neither album is better or worse than the other and while no song is weak, both albums feel formulaic because of the same songs being heard over and over again. More themes or even trimming down to a single disc would make this release stronger. R. Kelly's last double-album, 1998's R., suffered from repetition and this one is no different.

First off D. Milton, you're absolutly correct when you say "Mr. Bump and Grind has left the building". You say you understand that R. Kelly is trying to change his image yet you make a statement like this. Obviously you really don't understand what an image change really is. But enough about ignorant people, here's my review on Happy People/U Saved Me. This CD is an absolute hit. It's refreshing to see this side of R. Kelly. I'd like to see more CD's released by him without the Parental Warning sticker. No doubt his past hits have been just that... absolute hits, but with all the drama going on world wide it's a blessing to have this kind of CD released from a universal mainstream artist. With hardcore thug rap at an all time high, faith albums seem to be pushed aside and shoved into a whole different catagory of music. In fact, most people never even enter the Christian section at music stores. While mainstream artists sell millions upon millions, religious artists are considered VERY lucky if they reach the 1 million mark and they consider their album a hit if they reach the 500,000 mark. I hope this album will open the eyes of the world to the wonderful message that religious artists are hoping will one day be accepted and loved as much as the not so glorious 50 Cent thug stories. So go get this CD... you won't regret it.

WOW, I was amazed at how good this album turned out. I expect a lot from R Kelly since he is, in my opinion, the best singer of our time and arguable the best of all time. Yes I said it, the best of all time. I knew little about this album in the coming weeks that it was to be released. When I recieved the album, one week before it was to be released, I discovered that it was a double album and I got very happy since I was expecting a single CD album. The first album is called "Happy People" and the second is called "U Saved Me".

What I noticed about "Happy People" immediatly, was that this album is an album for "the steppers". Just think of songs such as the lead single, "Happy People" and "Step In The Name of Love Remix" off the Chocolate Factory. I would classify this album as a feel good album, since it has more uptempo and happy songs, with the exception of "Greatest Show On Earth", which a slower type song. R Kelly is simply magnificent on this album. Every track from start to finish is very good. Although all the songs are good, songs that really caught my attention are

"If"
"Steppin Into Heaven"
"Intro(Weatherman)"
"Red Carpet"
"Love Signals"
"Happy People"............just to name a few.

It is very hard to decide but my favorite song that has been on my mind for days is "If"

I believe that all the "ol school" R Kelly fans are going to be happy with this album too. I'm talking about those fans who really love his slow and heart felt songs. Right from the start of the second disc "U Saved Me", I got the vibe that this album was going to be an album be just that, more slow and heart felt songs. The second single off this "Happy People/U Saved Me" album was "U Saved Me", which is a very good song. At first, I didn't think much of the single, but it grew on me after I really listened to it. I believe this disc was very very good aswell. Just like "Happy People", this album is good from start to finish.

Songs that stuck out in my mind are (not in any particular order),
"U Saved Me"
"3 Way Phone Call"
"How Did U Manage"
"When I Talk About You"
"The Diary Of Me"
"Spirit".....................just to name a few

This album is a mix of what I would say, R Kelly's two singing styles. Some people like R Kelly's new style which is featured on songs such as "Happy People". And other fans enjoy R Kelly's deep songs which he lets it all out on. Whether you like both styles or hate one off his styles, you will love this album. Me, I like both his styles, so I loved this album. It is hard for me to find an R&B album that is good from start to finish. I would call this album an instint classic. Go Out and Buy 2 copies of the album and help support R Kelly. This is probably the best R&B album of the year.

I like the album. I really enjoy the "U Saved Me" disk. It's really inspirational and like someone mentioned in a previous post, it can save some lives. The "Happy People" disk will have you stepping and just feeling good. No, it's not traditional R. Kelly but it's not supposed to be either. He said that his next album is an inspirational/hand dance (stepping) album, Music that's designed to make you feel good. That's what we got!

It takes me back to when I was growing up and my mother would play music that just made you feel good and put you in a happy mood. Even the look of the CD takes you back to those days. Those who enjoy feel good music AND R Kelly, you will not be disappointed in this CD.

this man has done it again. just when i thought there was no way he could beat chocolate factory and its no 1 hit "step in the name of love (remix)" r kelly drops another bombshell. this album is like a drug... i'm addicted and i can't get enough of it. man...what can i say? disc 1 is great from beginning to end. "red carpet" is one of my favorites. my obvious favorite is "happy people" but besides that one "steppin into heaven" is really good and i love that song so much. i like the style in this album. disc 2 makes one reflect on his/her life and if you're a christian you'll definitely understand where r kelly is coming from. i love disc 1 so much that there are not enough words to describe it. i like the whole "stepper's" beat. if you're a person like me that loves all kinds of music but loves the "stepper's" beat a lot...then this album is for you. definitely an A+!!!

I have had many discussions with my friends of the past few years on how annoying R.Kelly can be always talking about the "after party, hotel lobbys, and the feeling on of various 'booties'"...though we put him down for these things, you could still find us dancing to the music and singing along at times...Why ? Not only b/c we were hypocritical, but because R.Kelly has a gift for music--prouducing ,writing, arranging--you can't deny his talents, and the songs are so darn catchy. Then one day I heard the CHOCOLATE FACTORY cd....and I really liked it. There were no overtly sexual songs and his throwback to the 70s with the song "You Knock Me Out" really did it for me, I love that song. But anyways,FAST FORWARD TO TODAY...When I heard "You Saved Me" on TV I rolled my eyes because, it just seems like Jesus is the popular thing to claim in the Hip-Hop R&B world at this moment and 5 minutes before hearing "U Saved me" I heard "So Sexy" by Twista feat. R. Kelly. Then I heard that this new album was 2 cds ,1 inspirational, the other Stepping music. SO I figured I would stop being judgemental(I certainly wouldn't want anyone to judge me as I have him), and I'd support R. Kelly while he is doing something POSITIVE. If this album does well, it may encourage him to do more things of this nature. Which will help to change the music world in general, because it is in GREAT NEED of a a change. The songs that are popular in music today have no substance, and that's how alot of the people are that listen to it... but getting to the point, this album is different for R. Kelly. It is a nice album, and he achieves his goal of making the listeners happy and inspired. The inspirational music is really sincere, and you can tell he's sharing his problems in an attempt to show others that you are not the only one going through a situation, and there is something bigger than you that will help you through your struggle,whatever it may be. The only thing I feel is missing is a really HOT beat. I wish he would have taken a beat that you can really dance to (aside from stepping) and put a positive/uplifting message to it, that would have realyl put the album over the top for me.

I wasn't into "U Saved Me" at all because I'm agnostic, but I wouldn't knock it either. The man can sing and the beats were very cool, it just wasn't my cup of tea. I plan to sell that half of the cd. Now as for the other part--I'm all over stepping! My mother used to drag me on the floor and forced me to learn how to step and now I'm glad she did because this side was popping. R. Kelly is a performer but if he decided to become a deejay, he'd be GREAT because I love his intros about as much as I love his songs. I like it when he breaks it down at the end of some of the songs "Uh uh uh...alright now...uh huh...now if you wanna step..." you know the rest. He's just a phenomenal artist. I prefer the body knocking hip-hop feel he usually provides but I can see why he went this route. It shows how well-rounded he is too.