AOL Music has an exclusive first listen to Joss Stone‘s new single, "Tell Me ’bout It" (from the upcoming Introducing Joss Stone) — so exclusive, in fact, that I can’t seem to hear it on either a Mac or a PC. (Is anyone else having that problem?) The good news is, however, that Beauty N The Beat also has the track streaming today, so I decided to give it a listen there.
Now in the interest of full disclosure, I’ve always felt a little lukewarm about Stone. Yeah, she’s got a big voice for one so young, but the material on her previous records always let me saying "Meh." In that regard, "Tell Me ’bout It," written by Stone and Raphael Saadiq, is an improvement. There’s shades of Xtina’s "Ain’t No Other Man" and some of Candi Staton‘s ’70s soul stuff in the track’s scratchy beat and funky bassline, and Stone is a capable wailer. But after a couple listens, I keep on feeling like the track is like a car that sits in the driveway revving its motor; there’s potential under the hood, but it never really goes anywhere.
What think you, PopWatchers? Does Stone have a winner with "Tell Me ’bout It," or should it instead be discarded in the box to the left? Tell us ’bout it in the comments section — stat!
Haven’t heard the single yet, but I love Joss and she’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.
aol music is playing 3 songs and i love all of them. i loved joss the first time i ever heard her. i love her throwback style. and of course her voice is on-point. can’t wait for the CD.
I heard the song, and it’s definitely just as good as your girl Christina, Michael. I’ve never bought a Xtina CD, but I might take a chance with Joss. I do love Joss Stone’s voice.
While “Tell Me ’bout It” sounds alright, the real suprise is “Tell Me What We’re Gonna Do Now”. Though the new look may be a little derivative of X-tina one “Dirrrty” hair coloring ago, the sound on this new single definitely is not. Awesome song. It’s already on repeat in my minimized Explorer browser.
Thanks to AOL, Popwatch isn’t the only thing that might get me fired today.
I will listen to the tracks (once my office empties out for lunch), but can I make a snap judgment about her new look. Disclaimer: I’ve enjoyed Joss Stone since she came out and I’m glad to see a young artist who appreciates soul music, BUT—
Joss needs to cease and desist all usage of bright red hair dye, weave, extensions. It wasn’t cute on Xtina and it’s not cute on her. The girl is too pretty for that foolishness.
Well isn’t she saucy looking?
She looks ridiculous. Give that weave back to Tyra, girl. The song? I agree with Slezak: meh. The lyrics are super-lame, and the song is just kind of boring and repetitive. She has a cool voice and I wish she’d get a decent writer and interesting producer.
Just because you aren’t that crazy about Ms. Stone is no reason to run a picture of Lisa-Marie Presley next to a story about her. I mean, really.
I heard the songs on aol.com. Do i love them? No. Do i like them? Yes. They are cute little songs but none of them drive it home. The songs travel at the speed limit when they should be speeding.
Ever since Joss replaced SJP as the face of Gap, I lost all interest.
Who could not resist SJP running around town feeling great about her Gap outfit; as apposed to Stone looking like a stone in all white.
Is she Jocelyn Wildenstein’s daughter?
I really like the tracks. Why can’t there be room in the music scene for a few belters? I love Xtina, but I also really dig Joss – the fact that she’s not sold out by doing teen pop early in her career speaks volumes. She could have easily done a Genie in a Bottle to sell a few million records, but she chose a White Stripes cover as a first single instead. I think she’s smart. And I hope this album finds her a bigger audience. She deserves it.
bricq, lol! I am not sure if Joss had plastic surgery but Wildenstien’s cheeks are so overdone she looks as if she barely has eyes.
I’ve liked Joss since she dropped her White Stripes single, and I coincidentially HATE the White Stripes! Her new single “Tell Me ‘Bout It”, isn’t incredible, but I do like it. I always enjoy the 1st singles most off her releases, but I have to admit, the song featuring Common, “Tell Me What We’re Gonna Do Now” is equally good, if NOT better, and may actually warrant Joss finally receiving Urban radio play here in the U.S. I think she has grown alot over the past few years, eventhough she is still a teenager, but I have to say this: The red hair is still questionable. I mean she has beautiful blond hair, why dye it purple-ish crimson!? I guess we all experimented with our hair when we were younger, why not her? I am digging the tracks, even the snippet of “Music” featuring Lauryn Hill..here’s hoping March gets here soon enough!
I think the song is solid. If anything, knowing that there are collabs with Common and Lauryn Hill waiting in the wings, it’s building anticipation for me. I’m looking forward to hearing more…