Songstresses On Soundtrack Bring To Life Heartfelt Emotions

Date: January 08, 1996
By Ayana Fakhir

From Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio)
Submitted by: Larry A.


It is not your typical R&B soul music. No outrageously explicit or even distasteful lyrics, or artists who are unable to carry a tune because they are too consumed with fame and attention.

The "Waiting to Exhale" soundtrack is something much more meaningful. It's soul. It's blues. It's love, happiness and pain. It's a combination of heartfelt emotions conveyed through the voices of several of R&B's most illustrious songstresses.

Women such as Whitney Houston, Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Toni Braxton, Mary J. Blige and many others bring to life the songwriting talents of singer/producer Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, who wrote or co-wrote 15 of the 16 tracks on the "Waiting to Exhale" soundtrack.

Babyface took what he saw in the movie - four women experiencing the roller coaster of life and love - and let his creative juices flow. The result is one of the most original and fascinating albums of 1995.

Its tunes range from Houston's powerful vocals on the title track "Exhale (Shoop, Shoop)," to the incredible scat of Chante Moore on "Wey U." Houston is featured on two other songs on the soundtrack, "Why Does It Hurt So Bad" and "Count On Me" (a duet with CeCe Winans).

Braxton takes over as a reigning queen of R&B, letting a laid-back guitar float through her song "Let It Flow." Franklin gives us a taste of pure soul delight on "Hurts Like Hell," as does LaBelle in "My Love, Sweet Love."

The soundtrack moves into a faster pace with Brandy on "Sittin' Up In My Room." TLC sings a racy and sexy tune, "This Is How It Works," and Mary J. Blige contributes "Not Gon' Cry."

The soundtrack takes an interesting turn with a beautiful spoken-word poem set to music called "And I Gave My Love to You" by Sonja Marie. SWV, Faith Evans, For Real and Shanna are also featured.

The "Waiting to Exhale" soundtrack is great. If ever there was a time when soul music needed a revival, it's now. These lovely ladies give R&B fans marvelous and beautiful lyrical performances.