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Lions and Tigers and Bears (Oh My!)

I usually leave the entertainment-type stuff to my girl, Tiffany, but this song -- Lions and Tigers and Bears by Jazmine Sullivan -- really touched me. How many times have we thought something similar about a romantic situation?

I'm not scared of lions and tigers and bears,
But I'm scared of loving you.
I'm not scared to perform at a sold-out affairs,
But I'm scared of loving you
Am I the only one who thinks it's an impossible task?
Why won't it last? Is that too much to ask?
Why do we love love, when love seems to hate us?

Even though this Philly native is only 21, her experience in music is vast. Ms. Sullivan got an early start as a Apollo Amateur Night contestant, and she's been going ever since. She was signed to Jive Records, but got dropped before anything was released. Her singing and songwriting skills were honed by working with Missy Elliot on Fantasia's Free Yourself album and by writing Say I for Christina Milian. By the time she got her solo deal with J Records, she was more than ready to tackle the music world, and her debut offering, Fearless, proves it.

I haven't even made it past Lions and Tigers and Bears, and I'm already loving this album. What's really getting me is the musicality of it. This particular song, which boasts strings and horns and 3/4 feel, inspires the music major in me in a way usually reserved for folks like Donny Hathaway and Marvin Gaye.

I'm sure you can't tell it right now, but my trip to Amoeba -- the Mecca of record stores -- was quite fruitful. In addition to Jazmine, I picked up selections by Wayne Brady, Eric Benet, Mary Mary, and Ty Tribbett & Greater Anointing. As soon as I can get past Lions and Tigers and Bears, I'll let you know about the other stuff I got.

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