Happy People/U Saved Me
| Happy People/U Saved Me | ||||
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| Studio album by R. Kelly | ||||
| Released | August 24, 2004 | |||
| Recorded | 2003–2004 | |||
| Genre | R&B, gospel, soul | |||
| Label | Tavdash, Jive, BMG | |||
| Producer | R. Kelly | |||
| R. Kelly chronology | ||||
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Happy People/U Saved Me is the sixth studio album and the second double album by R&B singer R. Kelly, where he mixed feel-good danceable soul records (Happy People) with gospel anthems (U Saved Me). Released in 2004, it peaked at No. 2 on the pop albums chart and went on to be certified three times Platinum. This is R. Kelly's 2nd double album in 6 years. The album contained the hit single "Happy People" (US No. 19, UK No. 6), and the minor hit "U Saved Me" (US No. 52, UK No. 6). On "Red Carpet (Pause, Flash), Kelly sampled the song "Step in the Name of Love" on his previous landmark album which was released in 2003.
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | (66/100)[1] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
| BBC | (mixed)[3] |
| Blender | [1] |
| Robert Christgau | D+[4] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+/(B-)[5] |
| PopMatters | (favorable)[6] |
| Rolling Stone | [7] |
| Stylus | B−[8] |
| Uncut | [9] |
| Village Voice | (favorable)[10] |
Critical response
Happy People/U Saved Me received mostly positive reviews. The Los Angeles Times said, "Charming, unpretentious and effortless, the singer presides over a party whose pace never flags and whose soul is fun-loving and wholesome." Uncut said, "Happy People is a cunning, crackling, can't-keep-still classic." However many found his gospel/Christian based songs to be at stark contrast to his legal history.
Track listing
All songs written, produced and arranged by R. Kelly.
Disc 1 (Happy People)
- "Weatherman"
- "Red Carpet (Pause, Flash)"
- "Love Signals"
- "Love Street"
- "Ladies' Night (Treat Her Like Heaven)"
- "If"
- "The Greatest Show On Earth"
- "It's Your Birthday"
- "Steppin' Into Heaven"
- "If I Could Make The World Dance"
- "Happy People"
Disc 2 (U Saved Me)
- "3-Way Phone Call" featuring Kelly Price, Kim Burrell & Maurice Mahon
- "U Saved Me"
- "Prayer Changes"
- "How Did You Manage"
- "I Surrender"
- "When I Think About You"
- "The Diary of Me"
- "Spirit"
- "Leap of Faith"
- "Peace"
Note: "I Surrender" was a last-minute replacement for "I Need an Angel", which nonesofacto has appeared by other artists.
References
- ^ a b "Happy People / U Saved Me - R. Kelly > Critic Reviews". metacritic.com. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- ^ "R. Kelly: Happy People/U Saved Me" at Allmusic. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- ^ Smith, Jack (7 March 2003). "R Kelly Happy People/You Saved Me Review". BBC.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "R. Kelly". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- ^ Browne, David (16 August 2004). "Happy People: R. Kelly". Entertainment Weekly (779-780).
- —— (16 August 2004). "U Saved Me: R. Kelly". Entertainment Weekly (779-780).
- ^ Zerwas, Katie (17 September 2004). "R. Kelly: Happy People/U Saved Me". PopMatters.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (2 September 2004). "R. Kelly: Happy People/U Saved Me". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Burns, Todd (25 August 2004). "R. Kelly: Happy People / U Saved Me". Stylus.
- ^ "R Kelly - Happy People". Uncut. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- ^ Catucci, Nick (19 October 2004). "Steppin' Wolf". Village Voice.
See also
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