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Mary J. Blige|Strength Of A Woman

Strength Of A Woman

Mary J. Blige

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On Strength of a Woman, Mary J. Blige covers a lot of lyrical ground familiar to anyone who has heard her 11 previous studio albums. A significant fraction of this set's sentiments are clichéd. There are self-help platitudes such as "You gotta love yourself before you love someone else," along with timeworn redemptive declarations like "I was lost but now I'm found" and "Now I'm finally free to be me." In fairness, the stock phrases are delivered with conviction, understandably weighed with a sense of "Not this bull again." The alleged extramarital antics that dragged Blige back into this darkness, after all, are as clichéd as it gets. Clearly the time wasn't right for Blige to record a bunch of feel-good jams, but in the listener's favor, the anguish has also inspired the singer and her co-writers and producers -- Brandon Hodge, Darhyl Camper, Jr., Prince Charlez, and Jazmine Sullivan, along with many others -- to illustrate these ballads of confrontation and perseverance with enough specifics to distinguish them from the past work. Take "Set Me Free," where a swanky, winding backdrop supports stinging "hmph" lines like "You musta lost it -- n*gga, you won't get a dime," followed by "There's a special place in hell for you" in dismissive high register. A clinking Kaytranada collaboration ("Telling the Truth"), a back-stabbed weeper that bares Sullivan's unmistakable touch ("Thank You"), and a machine-soul ballad worthy of an extended 12" mix ("U + Me [Love Lesson]") likewise could not have been made at any other point in Blige's career. A few songs do depart from expressing pain and the documentation of recovery. Brightest of all is "Find the Love," pure early-'80s boogie throwback. Just beneath that is the title track, a theatrical empowerment anthem that would likely close just about any other album. Instead, extra punctuation is provided by "Hello Father," another gem. It contains one of the hour's best grooves, provided by Hit-Boy, and is all devotional finesse.

© Andy Kellman /TiVo

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Strength Of A Woman

Mary J. Blige

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1
Love Yourself Explicit
00:04:58

Jon Nettlesbey, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kanye West, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gene Barge, ComposerLyricist - Mary J. Blige, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Inez Andrews, ComposerLyricist - David Brown, ComposerLyricist - Charles Hinshaw Jr, ComposerLyricist - Jaymz Hardy-Martin III, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - David Kim, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Darhyl Camper Jr., Producer - Marshall Bryant, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Conley, ComposerLyricist - Elizabeth Isik, Unknown, Other - Eddie Fourcell, A&R - Darhyl "DJ" Camper, ComposerLyricist

℗ 2017 Capitol Records

2
Thick Of It
00:04:01

Phil Wainman, ComposerLyricist - Jon Nettlesbey, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jazmine Sullivan, Producer, Additional Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jaycen Joshua, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Mary J. Blige, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - J. Sullivan, ComposerLyricist - Charles Hinshaw Jr, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - John Kenneth Goodison, ComposerLyricist - Jaymz Hardy-Martin III, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ivan Jimenez, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Marshall Bryant, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Nakaji, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - David D. Brown, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Isik, Unknown, Other - Eddie Fourcell, A&R - Darhyl "DJ" Camper, ComposerLyricist - Darhyl "DJ" Camper Jr., Producer

℗ 2016 Capitol Records

3
Set Me Free Explicit
00:03:29

Jazmine Sullivan, Producer, Additional Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jean-Marie Horvat, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Aaron Draper, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Mary J. Blige, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - J. Sullivan, ComposerLyricist - Serge "Sergical" Tsai, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kevin Woods, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Hinshaw Jr, ComposerLyricist - Marshall Bryant, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Elizabeth Isik, Unknown, Other - Eddie Fourcell, A&R - Darhyl "DJ" Camper, ComposerLyricist - Eric Whatley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Rein, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Yesseh Furaha-Ali, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - James Hardy-Martin III, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Darhyl "DJ" Camper Jr., Producer, Drums, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2017 Capitol Records

4
It's Me
00:04:30

Richard Butler, ComposerLyricist - Dwayne Nesmith, ComposerLyricist - Tremaine Neverson, ComposerLyricist - Jon Nettlesbey, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mary J. Blige, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Brandon Hodge, Producer - Priscilla Renea Hamilton, ComposerLyricist - Jaymz Hardy-Martin III, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Thomas Cullison, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Marshall Bryant, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brandon Alexander Hodge, ComposerLyricist - Elizabeth Isik, Unknown, Other - Eddie Fourcell, A&R

℗ 2017 Capitol Records

5
Glow Up Explicit
00:04:05

Missy Elliott, FeaturedArtist - Dexter Randall, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jazmine Sullivan, Producer, Additional Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jaycen Joshua, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - K. Khaled, ComposerLyricist - DJ Khaled, FeaturedArtist - Mary J. Blige, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - J. Sullivan, ComposerLyricist - Melissa Elliott, ComposerLyricist - Ayanna Depas, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Quavious Marshall, ComposerLyricist - Ivan Jimenez, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Marshall Bryant, Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Quavo, FeaturedArtist - David Nakaji, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Elizabeth Isik, Unknown, Other - Eddie Fourcell, A&R - Darhyl "DJ" Camper, ComposerLyricist - Darhyl "DJ" Camper Jr., Producer

℗ 2017 Capitol Records

6
U + Me (Love Lesson)
00:04:57

Dexter Randall, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mary J. Blige, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Brandon Hodge, Producer - David Brown, ComposerLyricist - Charles Hinshaw Jr, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jaymz Hardy-Martin III, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Kim, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Marshall Bryant, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brandon Alexander Hodge, ComposerLyricist - Elizabeth Isik, Unknown, Other - Michael Frenke, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eddie Fourcell, A&R

℗ 2017 Capitol Records

7
Indestructible
00:04:43

Eric Dawkins, ComposerLyricist - Jon Nettlesbey, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mary J. Blige, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Brandon Hodge, Producer - Davion Farris, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Jaymz Hardy-Martin III, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Thomas Cullison, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Brandon Alexander Hodge, ComposerLyricist - Elizabeth Isik, Unknown, Other - Eddie Fourcell, A&R - Elese Russell, ComposerLyricist

℗ 2017 Capitol Records

8
Thank You
00:04:05

Dexter Randall, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jazmine Sullivan, Producer, Additional Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Vanessa Freebairn-Smith, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Daphne Chen, Violin, Concertmaster, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Gorfain, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Lucia Micarelli, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Raphael Saadiq, Conductor - Mary J. Blige, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Caroline Buckman, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Leah Katz, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Marisa Kuney, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Timothy Loo, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Songa Lee, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - J. Sullivan, ComposerLyricist - CHRIS WOODS, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Gerry "The Gov" Brown, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Conductor, String Arranger, Viola, Strings Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Ina Veli, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jennifer Takamatsu, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Lea, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Cartwright, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Campbell, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Peter Jacobson, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Alison Bjorkedal, Harp, AssociatedPerformer - Dexter Story, Contracting With - Marshall Bryant, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Hotae Alexander Jang, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Elizabeth Isik, Unknown, Other - Eddie Fourcell, A&R - Darhyl "DJ" Camper, ComposerLyricist - Nicole Ranalli, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mary Kathleen Sloan, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Darhyl "DJ" Camper Jr., Producer

℗ 2017 Capitol Records

9
Survivor
00:04:44

Jon Nettlesbey, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - William Tyler, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mary J. Blige, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Brandon Hodge, Producer - Davion Farris, ComposerLyricist - Simon Emmerson, ComposerLyricist - Jaymz Hardy-Martin III, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Thomas Cullison, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Marshall Bryant, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alison Statton, ComposerLyricist - Brandon Alexander Hodge, ComposerLyricist - Elizabeth Isik, Unknown, Other - Eddie Fourcell, A&R - Dave Hoddell, ComposerLyricist - Sound Oracle, Producer, Additional Producer - Alun Mark Williams, ComposerLyricist

℗ 2017 Capitol Records

10
Find The Love
00:03:23

Cainon Lamb, ComposerLyricist - Jon Nettlesbey, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Derrick Baker, ComposerLyricist - Mary J. Blige, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Jaymz Hardy-Martin III, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Derrick "Bigg D" Baker, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Cullison, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Marshall Bryant, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vincent Berry II, ComposerLyricist - Elizabeth Isik, Unknown, Other - Eddie Fourcell, A&R - @TheRealLambo, Producer - @DaRealBiggD, Producer - Steven “Q-Beatz” Kubie, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Cortni Elisa Jordan, ComposerLyricist

℗ 2017 Capitol Records

11
Smile
00:03:42

Mary J. Blige, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Theron "Neff-U" Feemster, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Charles Hinshaw Jr, ComposerLyricist - Stuart Schenk, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Thomas Cullison, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Marshall Bryant, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Prince Charlez, FeaturedArtist - Elizabeth Isik, Unknown, Other - Eddie Fourcell, A&R

℗ 2017 Capitol Records

12
Telling The Truth
00:03:57

Mary J. Blige, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Badbadnotgood, Producer, FeaturedArtist - Kaytranada, Producer, Mixer, FeaturedArtist, StudioPersonnel - Louis Kevin Celestin, ComposerLyricist - Daniel Caesar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Matthew Tavares, ComposerLyricist - Chester Hansen, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Leland Whitty, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Celestin, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Cameron Graham, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matty Tavares, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alexander Sowinski, ComposerLyricist - C. John "Jack" Hansen, ComposerLyricist - Elizabeth Isik, Unknown, Other - Eddie Fourcell, A&R - James Hardy-Martin III, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Alexander Sowinkski, Piano, Clapping, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2017 Capitol Records

13
Strength Of A Woman
00:03:49

Eric Dawkins, ComposerLyricist - Mark Cargill, Violin, Contracting With, AssociatedPerformer - Teddy Riley, Producer, Additional Producer - Benjamin Wright, Conductor, String Arranger, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jon Nettlesbey, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jaycen Joshua, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Miguel Martínez, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Reggie Dozier, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Ford, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Mary J. Blige, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Keith Fiddmont, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Glenny, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jeanie Lim, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Karen Elaine, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Stefanie Fife, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Fred Jackson, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Louis Taylor, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Susan Chatman, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - CHRIS WOODS, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Brandon, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Jorgensen, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Davion Farris, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Lesa Terry, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Kathleen Robertson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Yvette Devereaux, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jaymz Hardy-Martin III, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nicole Garcia, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Steffan Smith, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Nika Ross, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Adkins, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Duane Benjamin, Trombone, Contracting With, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Fronke, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Ernest Ehrhardt, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Ivan Jimenez, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Mayo, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Napolitano, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brandon Alexander Hodge, ComposerLyricist - Brandon "B.A.M." Hodge, Producer - David Nakaji, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bianca McClure, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Crystal Alforque, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Isik, Unknown, Other - Eddie Fourcell, A&R - Mei Yee, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - James “Jimbo” Ross, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Si Tran, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Edwin Livingston, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Sal Crachiolo, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Wyndell Kelly, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2017 Capitol Records

14
Hello Father
00:03:19

Mark Cargill, Violin, Contracting With, AssociatedPerformer - Benjamin Wright, Conductor, String Arranger, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jon Nettlesbey, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chauncey Hollis, ComposerLyricist - Miguel Martínez, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Reggie Dozier, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Ford, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Mary J. Blige, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Keith Fiddmont, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Glenny, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jeanie Lim, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Karen Elaine, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Stefanie Fife, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Fred Jackson, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Louis Taylor, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Susan Chatman, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - CHRIS WOODS, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Brandon, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Jorgensen, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Lesa Terry, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Kathleen Robertson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Yvette Devereaux, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jaymz Hardy-Martin III, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nicole Garcia, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Steffan Smith, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Hit-Boy, Producer - Nika Ross, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Adkins, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Duane Benjamin, Trombone, Contracting With, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Fronke, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Ernest Ehrhardt, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Mayo, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Napolitano, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Thomas Cullison, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Marshall Bryant, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bianca McClure, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Crystal Alforque, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Isik, Unknown, Other - Eddie Fourcell, A&R - Mei Yee, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - James “Jimbo” Ross, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Si Tran, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Edwin Livingston, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Sal Crachiolo, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Wyndell Kelly, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2017 Capitol Records

Albumbeschreibung

On Strength of a Woman, Mary J. Blige covers a lot of lyrical ground familiar to anyone who has heard her 11 previous studio albums. A significant fraction of this set's sentiments are clichéd. There are self-help platitudes such as "You gotta love yourself before you love someone else," along with timeworn redemptive declarations like "I was lost but now I'm found" and "Now I'm finally free to be me." In fairness, the stock phrases are delivered with conviction, understandably weighed with a sense of "Not this bull again." The alleged extramarital antics that dragged Blige back into this darkness, after all, are as clichéd as it gets. Clearly the time wasn't right for Blige to record a bunch of feel-good jams, but in the listener's favor, the anguish has also inspired the singer and her co-writers and producers -- Brandon Hodge, Darhyl Camper, Jr., Prince Charlez, and Jazmine Sullivan, along with many others -- to illustrate these ballads of confrontation and perseverance with enough specifics to distinguish them from the past work. Take "Set Me Free," where a swanky, winding backdrop supports stinging "hmph" lines like "You musta lost it -- n*gga, you won't get a dime," followed by "There's a special place in hell for you" in dismissive high register. A clinking Kaytranada collaboration ("Telling the Truth"), a back-stabbed weeper that bares Sullivan's unmistakable touch ("Thank You"), and a machine-soul ballad worthy of an extended 12" mix ("U + Me [Love Lesson]") likewise could not have been made at any other point in Blige's career. A few songs do depart from expressing pain and the documentation of recovery. Brightest of all is "Find the Love," pure early-'80s boogie throwback. Just beneath that is the title track, a theatrical empowerment anthem that would likely close just about any other album. Instead, extra punctuation is provided by "Hello Father," another gem. It contains one of the hour's best grooves, provided by Hit-Boy, and is all devotional finesse.

© Andy Kellman /TiVo

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