R&B quartet Dru Hill was basking in the success of their sophomore album Enter the Dru and preparing to embark on its supporting tour when they appeared on the concept album Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida. Arriving in stores on March 23rd, 1999, the album was a concept project that contained songs from but predates the musical Aida, which hit Broadway in 2000.
Dru Hill’s collaboration to the project was “Enchantment Passing Through,” which featured music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice. An adult contemporary ballad, the song features in the Broadway play in Act 1 when the male lead Radames and his love interest Aida share their dreams and regrets. In Act 2 of the play, the song receives a reprisal when the storyline gets a resolution. However, Dru Hill’s take on the song gives Sisqo & Jazz a chance to show off their vocals. Sisqo handles the first verse, while Jazz handles the second verse.
In reading the lyrics, it’s clear that Dru Hill had the type of vocal talent that they could sing anything. If Aida’s planned animated film adaptation hadn’t gotten stuck in development hell with his pending celebrity that would arrive a year later, Sisqo could have easily voiced the lead character.
“A few more days and we’ll be home in glory
Already they’ll be getting out the flags
With Memphis high motive dormitory
Still, I only see a lot of snags
For just because I’ve triumphed as a slaver
Brought beauty back to Egypt by the ton
Of this and every month, now I’m the flavor
And scheduled to do things I’ve never done
And why should I tell you this, a stranger
I just met A woman who in hours from now
I’ll certainly forget Anonymous and undemanding,
Enchantment passing through
My secrets and my confidence are safe enough with you. “
I don’t recall any promotional push for the song by Dru Hill when the song was initially released. However, when Sisqo’s massively successful solo debut Unleash the Dragon hit stores in November of 1999, many R&B fans heard it for the first time.
Final Grade: A-
“Enchantment Passing Through” is available on Unleash The Dragon & Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida, both on streaming platforms.
There are some albums you revisit because of nostalgia, and then there are albums you return to because they remind you just how high the standard used to be. Anita Baker’s Rapture falls into that second category. Released in 1986, the album did more than make Baker a star. It helped define what sophisticated, grown R&B could sound like without losing any soul, sensuality, or personality.
Gwen Stefani had already established herself as a significant force with No Doubt when she released her debut solo album, *Love. Angel. Music. Baby* in 2004. This week, while my iPod was on shuffle, one of my favorite songs from that project, “The Real Thing,” came on. Although the original version has an upbeat new-wave feel, the Slow Jam Mix takes it to another level and is the perfect choice for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday.
Unless you’re a music purist, mentioning Randy Jackson from the famous family is likely to elicit a joke. However, any serious Jackson fan knows that Randy had musical achievements long before the punchlines. Before he was old enough to buy a drink, he had already co-written “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” and “Lovely One” with Michael Jackson.