Ché’s Sum of Soul
By: Ccep J. Dew
dews_ccep@yahoo.com
Take R&B singer Ché, add a microphone, and what you get is the true Sum of Soul. Not only does Ché deliver a mix of R&B, hip-hop and soul on this 14-track album, he surpasses the watery standards of todays music by simply being himself.
On the opening track, Not Like Them, Ché lets everyone know that no matter who in the current entertainment world you weigh him up against, he is nothing like them. Comparing himself to the likes of “Teddy P., Marvin Gaye, Al, and some Nat King” is a humble understatement for the singer.
His signature piece from this album, Blessed, is a real man’s declaration of honoring true love. On the chorus he proclaims, “I’ve been blessed. I’m so blessed. Baby, I know blessed and it’s being with you,” as the rest of the song attempts to describe just what it is this woman does for him. Confessions of wrongdoings and mixed prioritizes are revealed in Pardon Me, a track that women and real men can appreciate: “S--- wasn’t right, but you stayed there for me and I loved you for it, baby. Pardon me, running these streets…”
With a hypnotically tantalizing beat and a chorus that oozes sensuality, Moving Grooving Feeling is a highlight of this album. In the opening verse Ché states, “Lady, sit back and relax for a while. I need… need to have your attention,” then proceeds to entice listeners in a tone that rivals Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing.” Following this track is the breezy Go Round, a song that truly expresses the capacity of Ché’s vocal range. Effortlessly he belts out, “You are what makes my world go round.” Indeed, this piece goes backs to soulful, musical days our parents and grandparents were privileged to live in. Capping off what I consider the grown and sexy section of the album is Got Me Gone, a slow, sexy track with a beat that you can groove to. Ché seductively croons, “Over and under…outside in…fighting for words at the start the end. Girl, you’ve got me gone.” Though I love the entire CD, I must admit this track is my favorite, especially the lyrics, “Girl, you’ve got me…something like a child wrapped around your pinkie finger. I’d walk ten miles just to hear you speak my name. H 2 my O, oh how my wants do seem to linger. Yes, I know, I know, but girl, my needs are just the same.”
The perfect conclusion to this album of soul hits is That Good, a
track that sums up what soul should be about. “That good ‘ole fashion lovin.’
You know? The kind ya momma used to school you of. Fa sho! The kind that make
you put your life on the line. No thought. Just the drop of a dime. You’ve got
that good…”
Honestly, I play this CD on repeat in my car and quietly on my computer at work. No matter what type of mood I’m in, Ché’s singing never fails to put a smile on my face and I can’t play one song without dancing. Knowing how much my dad appreciates good quality music, I mailed a copy of this album to the east coast for him to enjoy.
What makes “feel good” music
feel so damn good is the fact that it’s everlasting, and on Sum of Soul,
Ché makes an impression that will allow it to remain a classic for centuries to
come.
For more on Ché, check out his interview in the article “An Evening with Che.”
To listen to and purchase his music visit www.myspace.com/chemusak.