20 August 1 -7, 2024 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents All Hail Dallas’ queen of neo-soul Erykah Badu was recently named Forbes’ No. 1 R&B singer of all times in a list that includes Usher. BY SAMANTHA THORNFELT E rykah Badu, the queen of neo-soul, was honored this year by her hometown of Dallas with her very own line of DART buses. Just a year before that, she made the cover of Vogue — a rare honor for an artist not promoting a new album or film. Now, she is getting her flowers from Forbes. Earlier this week, the magazine released yet another list, this time ranking the greatest R&B artists. Forbes writer Jac- queline Schneider listed 25 artists who “exist across the genre and across generations” and “pioneered the genre.” The genre of R&B has produced countless legends — or, you could say it was the other way around — including Sam Cooke, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles. Un- surprisingly (to us, at least), Badu was ranked by Forbes at No. 1 as the greatest R&B artist of all time. The list also included Mariah Carey, Anita Baker and Al Green. Schneider credited Badu with changing the trajectory of mainstream music in 1997. That year, Badu opened for D’Angelo and released her debut album, Baduizm, which Schneider dubbed “an iconic blend of R&B, soul and hip hop” that eventually won a Grammy for Best R&B album and went triple platinum. “The Dallas native’s cultural impact touches music in a way other artists can’t compete with, and she’s known as the ‘queen of neo soul’ by music critics and fans,” Schneider wrote. “Uniquely able to express her identity, Badu encapsu- lates the ultimate in artistry, style and storytelling.” The queen herself decided to share the news on her Ins- tagram, where she posted a video with screenshots of the ar- ticle, as well as a regal glamour shot of her own. “Good stuff,” Badu captioned the post, which was appro- priately set to her own song, “The Healer.” Badu is widely considered as a groundbreaking pioneer. Just a few years ago, when Joseph Gordon Levitt was asked by Chance the Rapper during a game segment on Jimmy Fal- lon to name the greatest artist of all time, the actor replied “Erykah Badu.” (The “correct” answer was “Beyoncé.”) Now, that’s not a Forbes ranking, but a good sample repre- sentation of what Dallas has long known to be true about our favorite hometown hero. While nothing beats Badu, she wasn’t the only Dallas- born artist to make the Forbes list cut. Usher also made the top 10, landing at no. 8. Schneider recognized the Super Bowl LVIII performer’s triple-threat status as a singer, song- writer and performer. “Usher’s tunes are etched into the memory and cultural toolboxes of generations of people that grew up in the late 1990s and early 2000s,” Schneider wrote. “On stage, Usher’s dance moves impress with an innate sense of rhythm and the ability to sing, dance and entertain in unison.” ▼ CONCERTS HOME AGAIN SINGER SUDIE RETURNS TO DALLAS TO DEBUT HER FIRST FULL-LENGTH ALBUM.BY CHARLES FARMER L adyLove, the popular bar in Bishop Arts was packed for the debut of former Dallasite Sudie’s new album, Doldrum’s End. This album was recorded when Sudie was staying in Mex- ico City for about a year before moving to Atlanta for personal reasons. Despite this, she’s an adamant proclaimed Dallasite. “I do miss Dallas, of course!” Sudie says. “I am so thankful, always, for how much Dallas has done for me. ” Sudie has an effervescent charm and presence that stands out in a room (on Wednesday night, that room was soundtracked by her close friend DJ Sober and filled with Dallas artists). On the small stage in the center of LadyLove’s lounge, basked in a red glow of the trendy nightlife spot’s neon namesake hanging behind her, Sudie performed with her “bandmates,” a series of synthesizers and instruments too complicated for the layman (an Omnichord and a Zoom v6 vocal processor, among others). Her stage presence, however, is nothing compared to the sheer strength of her vocal talent. With a voice that can fill a room and leave the audience cheering and gasping for air, she performed the songs from her newest album. The standouts were “Vermouth,” which Sudie says is her favorite song she’s ever made, and “Memento Mori,” the bal- lad that closes out the album. This is an album that can simultaneously calm you down and speak to your soul on the first listen. “Doldrums End was inspired by my own experiences and the universal struggles many people face when dealing with the aftermath of a difficult relationship,” Sudie says. “It cap- tures the journey of navigating the tumultuous path of self- love and self-worth, re-entering the dating world, and facing heartbreak again. However, at its core, it’s about the ultimate discovery of the love we have for ourselves and the beauty we can create through our art.” It’s an album that can heal you, and according to Sudie, that was the takeaway. “The main thesis point I want people to take away from Doldrums End is that the self-love and healing are challeng- ing but incredibly rewarding processes,” she says. From the album art to the Pearl-inspired video for Grease, horror movies inspired and motivated some of the ideas and themes for the album. “I love horror, and horror imagery and themes can be gut-wrenchingly beautiful,” says Sudie. “Rebirth, facing your demons, etc. This was the best way I could show the brutality of engaging in the practice of self-love, self-heal- ing, [and] taking responsibility for oneself and one’s action, and navigating building a relationship with all parts of one’s existence.” The album was created with intentionality, and when you hear it you can feel those themes expressed both in the lyrics and in the tenderness and power of Sudie’s performance. “A ‘song chemist’ is someone who approaches music cre- ation with precision and creativity,” the singer says. “It’s about blending different musical elements and genres in innovative ways to create something new and unique. I think this term captures the balance of technical skill and creative intuition that goes into the songwriting process. I like to approach mu- sic creation with a holistic and experimental mindset.” Making this was an experience for Sudie to define her own sound in a way she’s never done before. “I think this record is the first time I’ve actually really found my ‘sound,’” Sudie says. “Making something like this was just so much more, just more than I would have thought or could have even wrapped my head around when I started.” And in the dark club bathed in a red glow, Sudie showed us that artistic beauty with a powerful performance. Vera “Velma” Hernandez Erykah Badu, Dallas’ favorite artist, making headlines. | B-SIDES | ▼ Music Dream Jobs - Dream Talent Since 1998 THE PLACE TO BE AND BE SEEN Scan Me Baby! www.dallasobserver.com/signup go to WEEKLY EMAIL D SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY EMAIL LIST for feature stories, movie reviews, calendar picks and more!
