After dabbling in gospel music on the I Need an Angel album, Season 2 American Idol winner Ruben Studdard returned to R&B for his third album, The Return. “Change Me” was the album’s first single, however the album’s second single, “Make Ya Feel Beautiful,” is the pick for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday.
Ruben linked up with producer Shea Taylor for the song production while Ne-Yo handled the writing. Ruben eases into the first verse, “First off let me start by saying I ain’t trying to get in your jeans. First I’d rather learn your ups and downs and everything in between” and it comes off as organic and natural. Taylor’s lush arrangements give Studdard a chance to show out vocally without ever over-signing the song. Outside of “Make Ya Beautiful” though, there was not anything memorable on The Return, due to the producer’s inability to connect with the singer.
Early comparisons likened Studdard to a Luther Vandross, or Teddy Pendergrass due to his keen talent for singing ballads. Studdard could have a substantial career as a balladeer and songs like this validated that. Given that Studdard has an old soul, his label should have pushed him more in that direction.
However, Studdard is a natural talent, and it is a shame that his career never really took off, despite his later offerings (notably 2013’s Unconditional Love) properly using his voice with adequate production.
Nevertheless, “Make Ya Feel Beautiful” is a solid slow jam that I revisit fourteen years after release.
Final Grade: B-
“Make Ya Feel Beautiful” from The Return is available on all streaming platforms.
As the King of Pop’s biopic continues to perform well at the box office, I wanted to revisit one of Michael Jackson’s overlooked solo albums, “Forever, Michael”, released in 1975, for my first Second Listen Sunday of 2026.
As Joe prepares for his upcoming Tiny Desk performance, it’s a fitting time to revisit “U Should Know Me,” one of the hidden gems in his catalog. This song, which he wrote and produced himself, first appeared in 1998 on the soundtrack for “Caught Up”, a hood drama starring Bokeem Woodbine and Cynda Williams.
As fans look forward to his upcoming co-headlining “Nights Like This” tour with Akon, Ne-Yo is smoothly transitioning into country music while still maintaining his R&B roots with his latest single, “Ms. Tundra.” This infectious track is the third release from his forthcoming tenth studio album, “Highway 79,” set for release on July 10 via Compound Entertainment.