Avg Rating: 
4.2 ( 15 total votes )
Raphael Saadiq - It's a Shame
Artist: Raphael Saadiq
Producer: Raphael Saadiq
Album: Levi's Pioneer Sessions
Label: Columbia Records/Pookie Ent.
As we first saw when Nas took on Slick Rick’s classic track Hey Young World, Levi’s Pioneer Sessions series is dedicated to having today’s biggest artists covering the trailblazing songs they idolized growing up. Next up in the series is the esteemed Raphael Saadiq, who we haven’t heard from since the 2008 release of his album The Way I See It, and his new cut It’s a Shame. Essentially a note-for-note cover of The Spinners’ 1970 hit single of the same name, Saadiq’s version of It’s a Shame finds him bravely taking on all five of the original vocal parts, soaring into a sky-high falsetto one minute and dropping down to a conversational tenor the next. It’s an impressive performance that will hopefully introduce a whole new generation to the smooth sounds of The Spinners. As for Saadiq himself? No word on any upcoming projects from the man, but I promise we’ll let you know as the instant vintage crooner has something in the works. And be sure to keep an eye on Levi’s Pioneer series, they’re set to drop a new Roots track any day now.
This song first appeared on the
R&B / Pop Chart
on June 28, 2010
Listen to More: Raphael Saadiq Written by Nathan S.
More From Raphael Saadiq
Submit a Review and/or Rating
Member Reviews and Ratings
|
DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 11882 |
Rating:
If "It's a Shame" was his own masterpiece I would give Raphael a 5-star rating - seriously, the man's performance skills are that good - but since its remake, I'll nicely round down to a 4 and encourage everyone to check up on both Saadiq's catalog and the original works of The Spinners.
|
| Posted on Jun 23, 2010 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1306 |
Rating:
Um...not bad. He doensn't murder the song or anything. He has a good voice but all that being said it's extremely hard to remake a classic.
|
| Posted on Jun 23, 2010 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1345 |
Rating:
BADARSE REMAKE!
|
| Posted on Jun 23, 2010 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 432 |
Rating:
This song is amazing and more than does the original justice with a modern spin. Raphael is always great and this is no different.
|
| Posted on Jun 23, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 52 |
Rating:
We're talking a classic Spinners record here. Ray Ray is probably the closest to top the emotion sustained by the original (sorry Monie Love).
Every time I hear the original I have to sing it all the way through, it's had that kind of effect on me. |
| Posted on Jun 23, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 53 |
Rating:
Damn..just imagine this being played live
|
| Posted on Jun 23, 2010 |
|
Tastemaker |
Rating:
@The Wiseone, this track live would be straight fire! raph certainlu does the remake justice, very nice.
|
| Posted on Jun 23, 2010 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Jun 23, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 2476 |
Rating:
This is exactly the kind of music my dad played in our hourse continuously growing up. Smokey Robinson, the Four Tops, The Spinners, and if anyone is channeling the spirit of those classic R&B greats it's Raphael Saadiq.
|
| Posted on Jun 23, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Song is hot something that i can play over and over again 5 star all the way
|
| Posted on Jun 23, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
its not better nor worse than the orignial....i wish he woulds done something a lil different with it, for un-originality, i give it 3. great voice though.
|
| Posted on Jun 24, 2010 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Jun 24, 2010 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 81 |
Rating:
Very Nice. I truly enjoyed it. My Maing, Raphael Saadiq has himself some good skills. Good Music, period!!! Now's let's play it again, my, Maing!!!
|
| Posted on Jun 27, 2010 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 2949 |
Rating:
Not really in the mood for this sort of music, but if I was, I would just be smiling nodding away. Very relaxing.
|
| Posted on Jun 27, 2010 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 555 |
Rating:
I listened to this the first day it was up on djbooth. It's been stuck in my head since then.
|
| Posted on Jun 28, 2010 |
|
|
Rating:
Hello, summer, good place for shopping, fashion, sexy, personality, maturity, from here to begin. Are you ready?
http://www.madeshopping.com New era cap $ Bikini (Ed hardy,polo) $16 Sunglasses(Oakey,coach,gucci,Armaini)$12 Tshirts (Polo ,ed hardy,lacoste) $16 Air jordan(1-24)shoes $33 Handbags(Coach,ed hardy,lv,d&g) $30 Jean(True Religion,ed hardy,coogi) $30 http://www.madeshopping.com |
| Posted on Jul 07, 2010 |
FEATURED ARTIST
FEATURED ALBUM
TOP 20 MUSIC CHARTS
The top rated new Hip Hop & R&B songs on DJBooth, updated every Sunday.
