Song
Turn Me Away (Get MuNNY) by Erykah Badu
Back story
In 2008, Erykah Badu released the first of a planned trilogy called New Amerykah Part One: 4th World War. It was mostly a hip-hop album, utilizing studio effects and a heavy political message, taking her music in a challenging direction. Many fans missed her easy-going grooves, but I thought it was among the most interesting releases of 2008. After a long delay, volume two is finally out this week, and has a much different sound. It’s mostly an R&B/Soul album, using live instruments and lyrics focusing on romance. This isn’t to say it’s entirely conventional. Though much of the record has a steady stream of mid-tempo grooves, there are occasional harps, Theremins, children’s choirs, and spacey vocals. The first single, Window Seat, is causing a bit of a stir, as the video features Erykah completely disrobing in downtown Dallas. She is an artist who expresses herself regardless of what she refers to as GROUPTHINK.
Why this song
Turn Me Away (Get MuNNY) is from Erykah’s latest release, New Amerykah Part Two: The Return of the Ankh. It’s built upon a minor 1981 R&B hit by Sylvia Striplin, You Can’t Turn Me Away. She adds a modern groove and instrumentation, layered harmonies, and draws out the vocal lines until they are way behind the beat, increasing the funkiness. The lyrics are not progressive by today’s standards, and it’s hard to tell if she’s singing it straight or as a parody of love and money. She also adds a bit of the 1995 Junior M.A.F.I.A./The Notorious B.I.G. song Get Money (which also samples Sylvia’s song). In any event, Erykah’s version is fresh and fun, and is destined to be a big summertime single.
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