Thursday, March 12, 2009

MVD 3-12-09 Melinda Doolittle / It’s Your Love

It’s been almost two years since Melinda Doolittle shrugged her way into my heart during her great run on the sixth season of American Idol. She was always my secret favorite, even though I knew she didn’t have much of a chance against Jordin Sparks’s indomitable cuteness or Blake Lewis’s bubble-butt. Still, third place ain’t bad and a month or so ago her solo album was finally released. Entitled Coming Back to You, it’s a charming collection of diverse covers (from standards from the 30’s to Celine Dion), all of which show off Melinda’s brilliant interpretational skills and amazing vocals.

For those not paying attention, the music world is in the midst of a spectacular R&B/soul/doo-wop revival, especially in the UK (Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Adele, Estelle, and many more), and Melinda is the latest American artist to participate in the trend. These artists not only revel in the old styles, they also revel in recording the songs with as little production as possible, perhaps to capture the live feeling of so many of the great albums from the past. Melinda’s arrangements, when they aren’t appropriately sparse, are full of big-band brass and whispering strings, and the vocals, obviously, are absolutely pristine.

Since Melinda Doolittle famously got her start as a back-up singer, it’s no wonder that many of the songs on the album feature exuberant backing vocals, a quality that probably catches Melinda’s immediate attention. Nowhere is this more obvious than on her first single, It’s Your Love. Personally, the back-up vocals are the hook to this song – I tend to sing along with them more often than the melody…

Here’s the video:

5 comments:

Erin G said...

she was a little TOO "humble" for me. I almost couldn't tell if it was for real or not. But the video is good!

Ryan D. said...

I think it was 'mostly' real - it become her m.o. and I think she got stuck with it. In her interviews nowadays, she seems more confident and sure of... well, everything.

Glad you liked the video :-)

GriotLori said...

Thanks, Reeva!

Did you know that Melinda sang her own background vocals on It's Your Love? Yes! Melinda told another interviewer that she recorded the background vocals first and then she sang the lead - and the result is very happy ears for all of us Melinda-fans!!

I also wanted your readers to know that Melinda is going out on tour with Season 6 buddies Phil Stacey and Gina Glocksen, as well as Season 7 new buddy Chikezie starting March 15 in Ft. Pierce, Florida. Details are on Melinda's official web site - www.melindadoolittle.com

Thanks for helping Melinda's Street Team and Backups spread the Melinda-luv! ;-)

Anonymous said...

Former American Idol Contestant, Melinda Doolittle.

Melinda Doolittle (Season 6), Chikezie
(Season 7), Gina Glocksen (Season 6) and Phil Stacey (Season 6) will be
entertaining the masses once again as they embark on a Spring Tour which
launches March 15th in Fort Pierce, FL and will make stops in 14 cities across the US.
.

The "American Stars in Concert: Spring Break" tour dates and cities are at Melinda Doolittle official website www.melindadoolittle.com or fans website www.melindasbackups.com


she may be coming near you. Don't miss the opportunity to hear her sing live!

Anonymous said...

MELINDA DOOLITTLE IN HER FIRST-EVER NIGHTCLUB ENGAGEMENT

NOVEMBER 17 – 21, NEW YORK CITY

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed "Best of New York" by New York Magazine, will debut MELINDA DOOLITTLE in her first-ever nightclub engagement from November 17 – 21. The “American Idol” finalist will perform an intimate evening of jazz standards, pop hits and Broadway classics, in addition to selections from her CD, Coming Back To You. All shows are at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street). For ticket reservations and club information, please call (212) 339-4095 or visit feinsteinsatloewsregency.com and TicketWeb.com.