[ad_1]
Usher’s “My Way” residency, which began in 2021 in Las Vegas (the city where Frank Sinatra himself once roamed), saw the R&B singer court celebrities and viral social media moments for 100 consecutive shows with sold out. The staging was energetic, full of roller skates and striptease poles.
But the show was not the only attraction. Usher, 45, used the retrospective to show off the hallmarks of his 30-year musical career: impeccable vocals, polished but effortless dance moves and heartbreaking charm in the tradition of his idols Sammy Davis Jr. and Ben Vereen, his godfather. It’s fitting, then, that on February 11, the eight-time Grammy winner will perform the halftime show at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, days after he released his ninth studio album “Coming Home,” which he called a “love letter to the legacy of my career.” These are the eras that have defined Usher’s career.
After starting out in his church choir, Usher began singing professionally at age 10 with an R&B group in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee. A solo performance on “Star Search” in 1991 earned him an audition with LaFace Records co-founder LA Reid. , who signed him to the Atlanta-based label. Usher moved there at age 12 and worked under the tutelage of producer Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs, who had developed Jodeci and Mary J. Blige.
Combs lent his signature New Jack Swing to Usher’s self-titled debut album, released in 1994, in which the 15-year-old sang sexualized songs that later said He didn’t have much of a contribution. Although the singles from the LP, including “Think of you,” played well on Black R&B radio, the LP peaked at #167.
1995-2001
Coming of Age in Atlanta
In his late teens, Usher developed his artistic personality under different mentorships. A pubescent Usher temporarily lost his voice after recording the first album, forcing him to focus on perfecting his dance skills and his stage presence. He moved on with Jermaine Dupri, the songwriter and producer who had led the platinum albums of teen rap duo Kris Kross and the R&B group Xscape on the way to building the So So Def record label.
Dupri encouraged Usher to incorporate his experiences into the songs and lean into Atlanta’s musical and cultural identity, singing over crisper hi-hats and deep bass, and working with other local artists like singer Monica.
The resulting album, “My Way” (1997), brimmed with powerfully sung slow jams and youthful confidence, giving Usher his first number one hit (with “Nice and slow”) and his first Grammy nomination (for “You make me want”) and selling seven million copies. She expanded on the formula on her next release, “8701” (2001), which produced two No. 1 singles, “U Got It Bad” and “U Remind Me,” and earned her two Grammy Awards.
Usher parlayed his musical success into roles in teen-centric TV shows and movies such as “Moesha,” “The Faculty” and “She’s All That.”
2004
With the diamond-selling “Confessions” (2004), Usher and Dupri created their semi-biographical R&B masterpiece, combining a womanizing story with buoyant, seductive production that dabbled in the boisterous crunk music that emerged in Atlanta at the turn of the decade. of 2000. .
The basis of the infidelity stories sparked speculation about the end of Usher’s relationship with Rozonda (Chilli) Thomas of the multi-platinum girl group TLC. The music eventually overshadowed the juicy drama, and the album scored four No. 1 hits, led by “Yeah!”, the ubiquitous club jam with Lil Jon and Ludacris, which was knocked off the top spot by Usher’s second single, “Burn.” “Confessions Part II” and “My Boo,” a duet with Alicia Keys that was added to the reissue of the album, also topped the charts.
“Confessions” earned Usher three Grammy Awards and became the second-best-selling album of the 2000s.
2007-2019
Exploring EDM and TV
When Usher turned 30, he sought greater control of his personal and creative life. He left his longtime mother, Jonetta Patton, in 2007, after a brief stint in the Broadway revival of the musical “Chicago.” That same year, he married Tameka Foster and welcomed her first child, Usher Raymond V, events reflected in the moving “Here I Stand” (2008).
His follow-up, “Raymond vs. Raymond” (2010), documented her divorce and saw Usher explore collaborations, with an up-and-coming Nicki Minaj on “Lil Freak” and with Pitbull on “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love.” ”, and with Will.i.am in “OMG”, which spent four weeks at number 1. With “Raymond vs. Raymond” and “Looking 4 Myself” (2012), Usher leaned toward the electro-pop that dominated the charts at the time, working with producers like Max Martin and Diplo, but failing to replicate the critical and sales effect of “Confessions.” ”.
In 2013, Usher joined the reality show “The Voice” as a coach for two seasons and mentored 2014 season winner Josh Kaufman. His recording efforts over the next few years refocused on the dominant rap influences emerging from Atlanta. “Hard II Love” (2016) featured appearances from Young Thug and Future, and the simply titled “A” (2018) was produced entirely by Zaytoven, whose beats provided soundscapes for the rise of rappers like Gucci Mane, 21 Savage and Migos. .
2021-present
A Las Vegas resurgence
When pandemic restrictions were lifted in 2021, Usher signed on to open his “My Way” residency at Caesars Palace. With a staging that embraced Atlanta culture through its skating rink, bombastic dancing and colorful costume changes, the show quickly attracted audiences and generated Viral celebrity moments vibing. to classic hits and melting while Usher serenaded them (see: Keke Palmer).
The show had extensions at the MGM Grand and in Paris when other active artists such as Adele, Garth Brooks and Bruno Mars began their own residencies in Las Vegas. Usher also reviewed his catalog of popular NPR shows. Small desktop concert series in June 2022.
Getting ready for the Super Bowl halftime show, Usher told Vogue last month. that the 13-minute performance would be a showcase for the R&B music that has informed his career, including possible cameos from architects of the genre. “Tonight was specifically selected in my mind for R&B to take center stage,” she said.