Ledisi, Anything for You | Track Review 🎵

Hearkening back to the R&B of old, Ledisi delivers a home run on her first single of 2020, the dedicated, heartfelt “Anything for You.”

It wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that Grammy-nominated R&B singer Ledisi (Ledisi Young) has one of the most powerful voices in the game.  For years, Young has been preserving the ‘sanctity’ of old-school, grown-folks R&B.  While this hasn’t made her ‘trendy’ by any means, she is incredibly respected – quite revered.  Young ‘brings the heat’ once more on her soulful single, “Anything for You.” 

“Anything for You” is Ledisi at her best, period.  Rex Rideout produces with Young, and as in the past, the results are excellent.  Is the wheel reinvented on this throwback, adult contemporary R&B record? No, but the nostalgia of that gospel-tinged, highly soulful sound can’t be written off.  The introduction, led by its lazy piano sounds hearkens back to the D’Angelo gem, “Untitled (How Does It Feel)”.  The chord progression isn’t quite the same, but if you’re a lover of neo-soul, you feel like you’ve hit the jackpot here.

Adding to the allure of course is none other than Ledisi, who sings like a beast. Always a powerhouse, she gives us a little bit of everything here.  She exhibits vocal control, but also knows when to ‘let her rip.’  The nuances and the runs are absolutely everything.  The one part of “Anything for You” not touched upon? The songwriting.  Here, Young is willing to do anything for you, best exemplified by the memorable, emotional chorus:

“I’ll do anything for you (I will do anything for you, you)
Heart and soul, I
I’ll do anything for you (You are my life)
My life (One means us two)
Yeah, yeah, I’ll do anything
Anything for you.”

Final Thoughts

Closing this review out, to reiterate, “Anything for You” is Ledisi at her best, period. How so? She’s soulful as albeit, hearkening back to R&B of old.  For some, perhaps that’s old fashioned, but for those of us who love vintage, retro-sounding music, this is everything. Cheers Ledisi – cheers!

Ledisi • “Anything for You” • Listen Back Entertainment / BMG Rights Management • Release: 4.3.20

Photo Credits: Listen Back Entertainment / BMG Rights Management