Shemekia Copeland’s “Never Going Back”

April 24, 2009 at 9:50 pm (art, culture, journalism, life, music, random, Uncategorized, Writing)
Tags: cd, culture, entertainmennt, music, Shemekia Copeland, Uncategorized

Some times you just have to put aside all economic stress and put out some bucks to support what trips your musical trap–especially when you KNOW you won’t be hearing much of it on the corporate radio stations. Even though Copeland wowed David Letterman on late night television with her performance–and her band’s smokin’ hot performance–of “Never Going Back to Memphis”–her cd could only be found in my Independent Music store. Apparently none of the corporate commerical establishment bothered to guage either Letterman’s or the clearly appreciative studio audience’s reaction to Copeland’s truly wonderful rendition of the title song. Or maybe they just don’t think anyone would put out for such a dark dark number.  Anyway, the title song resonates on the fourth track of the cd which opens with a social/politically aware track.  While there’s not quite the entertaining naughtiness of her “Wicked” cd–there’s more polished vocals and a different quality of engagement about “Never Going Back”‘s tracks, eg “Dirty Water,”  there’s still plenty of Copeland’s big woman passionate sound in abundance.  “Never Going Back to Memphis” alone is worth the price of admission.  Any woman who has ever gotten entangled with the WRONG sort of man can relate to the song story.  Also, it’s clear throughout the cd’s offerings that Copeland and the Band are engaged in a mutually responsive and supportive relationship that pays and pays the listener back again and again.