Customer Reviews

I Ain't Movin

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I first heard You Gotta Be, and was very pleased with positive lyrics in a time of total absurdities (the 90's and Unfortunately-the current times).Bought the Cd, and have been playing it ever since.I cannot state in words how much I like the title track-it brings me to tears!! If everybody was forced to listen to this cd, the world would be a better place, and everybody would be more grounded in the reality of what life really means, instead of absurdities like Jerry Springer,and the various disgusting displays of the worst of humanity which permeate the afternoon tv airwaves.Herald the day says it all,honesty always pays,people can only blame themselves for their mistakes,just mend your ways .We are unfortunately living in a crazy maze-much crazier than 1994, when this came out!! A truly great artist who doesnt play the commercial game most contemporary artists do.The Fender rhodes electric piano on Living in the city reminds me of Songs In The Key Of Life(Stevie Wonder)-THE MOST INCREDIBLE ALBUM EVER. If you can still find it-the CD single of Feel So HIGH has an outstanding rare bluesy track called Innocent and Naive. PS.I'm also an IRON MAIDEN fan,so never judge anything or anybody until you've seen things from their point of view.Believe it or not,Iron Maiden has a few songs not unlike what are on this DESREE cd, even with the positive messages.Next time you see a kid with the grunge look,he just might be a desree fan!!!!

This is one of my favorite CDs and I have been listening to it for years. It's very rare to find a CD on which you like every track. I originally purchased this CD simply because I loved "You Gotta Be", but after listening to it, I loved it. "You Gotta Be" is a an uplifting song that motivates you when your down. Des'ree puts such emotion into singing these lyrics. Feel So High, and I Ain't Movin are powerful songs.

first and formost i was a weird black female growing up.by the 90's when i was attending middle school,and high school i was into alternative EVERYTHING!.alt hip-hop/rap,alt metal,alt rock,alt R&B etc etc............but i still had a taste for hardcore rap music(go figure)

this album was no different really,

now even though i love this album i dissagree with the editors comment of "You Gotta Be," rode lilting pop jazz backing to widespread acceptance (except, curiously, on "urban" radio, where her sound was deemed not black enough)"

ok heres the problem i have with that statement.although i think some blacks are extremly narrow minded when it comes to musical genres,i still don't think blacks should support black artists just because their black.you know people like darius rucker,tracy chapman,living color(whom i love),lenny kravits(whom i also love).

the thing is it comes down to taste then race.just because a artist is black doesn't mean they automaticly should be shoved onto a urban radio station.i would'nt expect urban radio to play living color,or lenny kravits.besides thats showing favortisim,if their gonna play living color then they might aswell play aerosmith,and the rolling stones.thats just like some rock station playing emenim (wich i heard actually has happened)

not to say des'ree isn't urban,but for the most part she's not.i really don't think she fits on urban radio,and i felt the same way about dionne farris.black listeners and urban radio wasn't really shunning the artists in question,they just didn't fit urban radio's programming.ok i'm off my soap box now lol


now my judgemant on the album itself.this album is so smooth its like rich chocolate.like most people i got it for got to be.but damn i like the whole damn album(who knew?)and it still sounds nice(though slightly dated).i will admit though when i heard dionne ferris album this cd got played less and less.especialy when artists like maxwell,and d'angelo started to emerge(precursing the neo-soul movement).thats how i noticed des'ree REALLY didn't fit on urban radio,same goes to black artists like brenda russell (who's music was more of an adult contemparay imitation of R&B).

either way wether you listen to 2pac,bone thugs-n-harmony,sade,living color,metalica,or alice in chains i think you should keep a open mind when listening to des'ree's "i aint movin" you might actually enjoy it.

Des'ree second delivery is full with smooth pop gems that exposed the different stages of love, a great slick production that flows throughly without any attmeptimg to change Des'ree direction of taking over her music, wich is pure and simple love songs, this album is truly a chillout one and it will suit any peaceful occation, not a party stomper though. Great album that includes such highlights like the unfairly charted single "Feel So High"(my personal fav), the ever radio played "You Gotta Be" and "Little Child", a great songtress a great sound, such a delight.

Des'ree's lyrics are thoughtful and inspirational, and I think it's a real shame that she hasn't been received that well on a national scale on the radio. Her "Gotta Be" video was in heavy rotation on VH1, but I hardly ever heard her music on the radio. With all of the third-rate, meaningless music flooding the airwaves, you would think that more folks would be clamoring for more substantial fare. Released in 1994, right before the wave of neosoul artists arrived on the scene, maybe Des'ree was just ahead of her time with this CD.

"You Gotta Be" is my personal theme song and for a while there I used to play it every morning before I left the house. "You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser. You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger." I love it!

My other favorite "Feel So High," was featured in the motion picture "Set it Off," which undoubtedly broadened the artist's exposure because she surely wasn't getting much love from urban radio. This was the first that many people heard of her, and what an introduction! "Feel So High," finds her singing about being totally into a lover while trying to control herself. Lots of nice metaphors here: "When I touch your sky, I want my joy to be discreet, can't seem to hide the feeling that you knock me off my feet." It works because it's unabashed without being explicit.

I like this CD because Des'ree is really smooth and understated. She kind of puts me in mind of Sade in that respect, but her lyrics are not quite as depressing. This is cool and intelligent music.

I totally agree with the reviewer below. It's a total shame people of the same ethnicity back artists solely for the reason because they share the same race. It's the same way in the Latino community. I think the quality/talent of the performers and musicians is what we should like music for. And with Des'ree, there's no shortage of quality. Although my favourite song off I Ain't Movin' is "You Gotta Be", the whole album is still quite good and worth owning. Alternative music (or an eclectic record collection period) is a great thing to have. The kind of songs off Ain't Movin' are something special that you don't see anymore these days.

For some other Alternative selections, I also suggest Fishbone's Truth and Soul, and also De La Soul's 3 Feet High & Rising.

This is an excellent CD that has far more to offer than the hit "You gotta be." Just about every track on this CD shines, with the notable exceptions of "Love is here," the obligitory attempt at a piano and vocal exercise that never quite rises to the occasion, and "I ain'y movin (Percussion Reprise)," the obligitory reprise attempt that just about every artist in the genre seemed to be doing during this time period. The first ten tracks are all gems though, so this CD would make a very worthwhile intro to Des'ree`.

Des'ree caught my attention years ago when I saw 'You gotta be' on MTV. It's one of those songs that will remind you of good times, struggles, it's emotional and stimulating. But after buying this album you will probably find 'Crazy Maze' one of the best songs you've ever heard. Classic in this genre 'I aint moving' will get it's own special corner in your CD-rack.

This album is as supernatural as it gets! The way Des'ree expresses herself and her own spirituality is overwhelming. If you use music as a tool to lift your mind in times of need this album is the way to go. I can honestly say this is the only album I have ever listened to with EVERY song being THE BEST!

This is a balm for your soul. Her lyrics are wise and insightful. I also liked how Des'ree explains what's behind each of the songs. "You gotta be" is the best song on the album, it's so boyant and bright. "Love is here" makes me think of a sunset. She talks about poverty, love, joy, and every human emotion. I can't wait to buy her others!