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Image courtesy of the Singers Room site.
Never mind the stars in the sky/Never mind the when and the why/Got a feeling higher than high/This is the real thing ~ "The Real Thing" from Lisa Stansfield (1997)
Soul comes in all colors. You don't have to sing R&B, Jazz, or the
Blues to have soul. And you don't have to be a person of color
either. Soul transcends culture, race, gender, and genre. Lisa
Stansfield is an example of that. Inspired by the sounds of Motown and
her musical idol Barry White, Stansfield has a sound that's steeped in the old
school R&B/Soul music of the 60s and 70s, but has a feel good, contemporary
flair. After 20+ years and over 20 million in album sales, Stansfield has
amassed a loyal legion of fans with her sexy, rich, velvety, passionate voice.
Stansfield's breakthrough single "All Around The World" from her
debut album Affection (1990) was an otherworldly, massive hit that
became an instant classic. The song is an infectious, pleading confession
and listeners, some of which I'm sure could relate, fell instantly in love with
it and with Stansfield. From her debut solo album to 2004's The Moment,
Stansfield's music has remained a consistent vehicle for her voice. While
she experimented with elements of Pop, Hip-Hop, Dance/House, 2-Step/Garage over
the years, her music never strayed too far from the soulful, jazzy lush style
she's most loved for.
Regardless of the style or genre, there's a heartfelt sincerity in her music. Her songwriting showcases a knack for storytelling and an innate ability to get inside the lyrics and emote experiences that are endearing and relatable to the audience. Songs indicative of this are "Suzanne," "Change," "Easier," "Didn't I," "Real Love," and her classic anthem "All Woman." With her commendable remakes of Phyllis Hyman's "You Know How To Love Me" and Barry White's "Never Never Gonna Give You Up," Stansfield respectfully paid homage to two of her obvious musical influences while still putting her own stylistic stamp on them.
Regardless of the style or genre, there's a heartfelt sincerity in her music. Her songwriting showcases a knack for storytelling and an innate ability to get inside the lyrics and emote experiences that are endearing and relatable to the audience. Songs indicative of this are "Suzanne," "Change," "Easier," "Didn't I," "Real Love," and her classic anthem "All Woman." With her commendable remakes of Phyllis Hyman's "You Know How To Love Me" and Barry White's "Never Never Gonna Give You Up," Stansfield respectfully paid homage to two of her obvious musical influences while still putting her own stylistic stamp on them.
Aside from being a singer and songwriter, Stansfield is also an
actress. She's appeared in 5 films, Swing (1999), Goldplated
(2006), Marple: Ordeal By Innocence (2007), Röllin Sydän (2007),
and The Edge of Love (2008). Rumor has it she's ready to begin
work on a new studio album. It's been 8 years since the release of her
last album (The Moment). According to an article on the Singers Room site, she turned downed a
number of offers to star in reality TV shows to instead focus energies on her
return to the music scene. Whenever that day comes, it will be a welcomed
return from this stylish, striking beauty with the captivating voice.
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