This Is Who I Am

Heather Headley

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 8, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B00006JJ6L
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (149 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,923 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
You don't expect a Broadway star to be slow burning and funky (Ben Vereen notwithstanding), but Heather Headley is both. Best known for her stage roles in The Lion King and Aida--the latter won her a Tony--the Trinidad native is used to arch performance. Yet her debut album focuses on smooth, lean R&B grooves and Headley's honeyed voice. Heartbreak is Headley's ace. "I Wish I Wasn't" is a tortured missive dispatched from an empty home. "Always Been Your Girl"--the set's hands-down centerpiece--finds Headley pleading with a longtime friend to consider her in a different light. It's a staggeringly powerful song--the kind you can imagine Headley belting out beneath a stark spotlight--made all the more stunning by the fact that the whole collection isn't tied to that one emotion. Also here are the breezy, Mars-Venus meditation "Nature of a Man" and the near-tribal thump of "Like Ya Used To." There are producers and guests aplenty, but Headley is, as always, the star of the show. --Kim Hughes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hopefully the start of a long and sucessful career, October 9, 2002

By	eclectictastes "eclectictastes" (Columbus, OH USA) - See all my reviews

I was aware of Heather Headley from her stint in the Broadway musical Aida and the concert recording of Dreamgirls. However, I bought this CD with some trepidation. Too many sucessful Broadway stars don't quite make the transition to genres such as Pop and R&B. But the relatively cheap price of the CD made me go for it.

It turns out that I got quite a bargain. Headley's debut is a winner. Standouts include "He Is", "Nature Of A Man", "Fallin' For You" and "Sista Girl".

Headley's vocals are strong...no weak singing glossed over by beats here. You know just by listening to the material that this is a real singer who doesn't have to resort to lip synching, booty shaking or other tricks to camoflauge lack of vocal talent.

A word of warning to musical theater fans who are expecting material similar to what you find on an Audra McDonald type CD. Headley's effort is strictly R&B so if you don't enjoy the genre this is not for you.

For those who do enjoy R&B, you're in for quite a treat.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVE IT, February 28, 2003

By	S. M. Anderson "sma331" (Lithia Springs, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Another woman who should be getting more radio play. What is wrong with these radio stations? Ashanti who? Heather has taken her broadway skills and put them on a nice CD that will really touch your heart. He is that song is AWESOME. This is an album you should have in your collection and won't be sorry to play it years from now.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Can't Say Enough....., October 14, 2002

By	Y. Kenton (St. Louis, Missouri United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Looking for a well performed CD that is full of passion, with great lyrics and a good blend of tempos, without all the bump `n grind undertones? Well, this is it.

In a time when many of us are wondering where all the "real" R&B singers are, along comes Heather Headley. This album is the perfect blend of R&B and neo-Soul music. I highly recommend this CD for anyone who feels the same. For anybody who enjoys India.Arie, Jill Scott, or Anita Baker, I think you'll enjoy this CD.

I instantly liked this CD. Less than 24 hours after listening to the CD (which belonged to a friend), it was in my collection. As a matter of fact, I'm listening to it as I write this review.

For anyone who loves the lyrics in the first release "He Is", this album is full of beautifully written songs that are performed with such passion. Just take a listen to "Fulltime", "I Wish I wasn't" and "Always Been Your Girl", three ballads that have you saying, I know how that feels. Heather Headley is a performer who can sing both ballads and up tempo songs that have you singing and/or dancing, for example, "Sunday" is an up tempo groove with a slight comical appeal.

"Sista Girl" has the neo-Soul appeal, but is a very poignant song. It is also a song that all teenage girls should listen to, I mean really listen and hear everything that is being said.