‘The Way That I Love You’ songstress Ashanti has been away from radio and charts alike for sometime now, but that absence could soon be ending with the surfacing of her latest musical venture ‘Never Too Far Away’. The track, to be featured on the motion picture Dream House, sees Douglas leave her signature, decorative bass bumps and catchy hooks behind in favor of a stripped down piano arrangement to let her voice be the centerpiece.
With her 2008 release ‘The Declaration’ failing to make much of a statement on charts, fans and critics have been itching for its follow-up (which TGJ learned the songbird is readying for release in the coming months) to see if the ‘Good Good’ singer really has the goods.
Does Douglas deliver? You be the judge:
The number will work as proof of the singer’s ever improving vocal demonstrations. Often marked and mocked for a limited vocal ability, a number as simple as ‘Far’ would definitely evidence (as did ‘The Declaration’) that the songstress is on improvement’s road. Even in such, however, the overall feel of the song is dated and its simplicity works as a double-edged sword. Because, with that simplicity, comes the possibility of being boring…which, admittedly, the track did teeter on.
Soundtrack material, yes. Single? By no means.
(polls)
floppy
It’s decent. Her vocals sound good though.
zzzzzzzzzzz
I wish a vocalist would sing this. it’s a beautiful song!!!
FLOPANTI’s vocals improved…… good for her
Flopanti’s back! good for her!
this sounds like a beyonce track with MUCH better lyrics, still her voice is zzz
GO Ashanti cant wait for her single!!! 🙂
i like it… it just needs to grow on me. i know it’s intentional, but i really don’t like how she sounds off pitch in the chorus and in other parts of the song. it definitely has potential and i’m just happy we finally get to hear new stuff from ashanti <3 it's been too long! can't wait for this next album 🙂
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, i’m sorry but no…..she is better than keri though.
Her single, new album whatever is going to be another FLOP. That will be her 3 album flop or fourth?
someone couldnr keep beyonce outta this post anyways its good but her vocals need to be a a lot stronger to give it that extra umphh but overall its a good song im a fan of her so i will support her
this will be an #epic flop
Not because it’s by her flopped ass ! but because that sound is not the business now ..
safely a FLOP !
Brandy or Aaliyah would have slayed this in the 90’s. Ashitti is out of her league and this was a borefest.
queen kelly rowland and queen ashanti 4eva.i cant wait for your new single girl.
Sam doesn’t understand the mass FLOPANTI shade…. 😆
She’s A FLOP but if she puts out a song I like, I’ll buy it…
But to be completely honest ..
The song is good 9.5 / 10 ! she delivered !
but that sound is not the business anymore ! It was in 2006 ! so this will flop badly ! sad but true !
And that is a lead single ?! NO ! that won’t be good !
Anyway .. Good luck Ashanti !
@POP ROYALTY
Its not a single though! LOL! Its for a thriller movie, so it fits perfectly for a soundtrack song!
This is the first and Last time i DEFEND FLOPANTI! 😆
Jazmine Sullivan would have MURDER this…i like you Ashanti but your voice can’t handle this track
@G
YASSSS JAZMINE SULLIVAN WOULD HAVE MURDERED THIS! I have shaded her in the past but there is no denying Jazmine’s talent! Her album is starting to grow on me! I wish she didnt put her music on a halt! I’m kind of looking forward to her next project!
@yeabey :
A soundtrack ?! Lolz ! Even worse !
If it’s not a single ! No one will even care to check it ….
I’m not gonna hate on her because of that A** @lacefronce ! But she is average to me ! If I heard that on the radio ” best believe we don’t promote flops here ” ! I won’t know if it’s Ashanti or not ! She doesn’t have a distinctive sound or whatsoever ! So I see why she flopped ! Plus her break affected her presence ! I don’t see any buzz or hype ! No nod miss her I guess !
but this song is good u_u !
One*
THE GREAT LACEFRONCE smells a HIT with this!Queen Ashanti will END BLEACHonce’s career since the H** is STRUGGLING.
BLEACHonce = Washed Up!
cover looks like rihanna vouge cover
my god her vocals are too weak they should have gave this to jazmine sullivan
@HAIR LICE :
so according to you : beyonce is struggling
So what about Ashanti ?!
I think she will be crawling ! and also will be crying when she see her
FLOPPEDalbum sales !her singles/album will be too far away away away from the top !
just watch what will happen ….. No one miss the h** !
The problem with ashanti is not even her material. It’s just she can’t sing.
Plain and simple.
Every time I hear her songs from her
I always think, good song but they would be better if she could actually deliver them vocally.
She has gotten better but she still can’t sing and that’s saying something.
Plus when the whole murder inc vs 50 cent thing was going on.
She should’ve started looking into finding another label.
By the time the whole drug bust thing was going on with them
she should’ve just left.
That is truly what hurt her.
I think it’s too late for her to come back.
It’s been way too long to follow up an album that isn’t even “Gold”
Some of you coons need to stop.
This is a nice song, sang nicely and with good lyrics. Everyone’s always quick to say “Whatever happened to songs with meaning?” I’m glad Beyonce brought it back with “Best Thing I Never had” and Ashanti’s following up. I hope more females do as well.
Cause trust me in 10 years I don’t wanna explain to my kids how growing up the “in” artist was some Ronald McDonald lookin h** singing ‘s** in the air but I love the smell of it”
Please bring Ashanti, Mya, Brandy, Monica, Keyshia, and ALL the real artist back not these trashy h*** like Rihanna.
HOTT song!! She did this….
I find her voice extremely weak, but at least she conveys the emotion successfully.However, without trying to start comparisons, I couldn’t agree more with the person that mentioned Aaliyah!She would have eaten this song ALIVE!Those “away” notes would be too epic for my ears.May her soul rest in peace.
Back on topic, compared to the washed out below average r’n’b’ tracks on her previous albums (with very few exclusions) this is an improvement musically.
I think she delivered..her voice sounds really good.Great Job Ashanti!Plus,she also has some better writers this time around as well!!!Can’t wait for the album..
OK WAIT!!!!!How did this post turn into a Beyonce post??And did I just read that Beyonce brought back meaningful songs with ‘Best Thing I Never Had’?????? 😯 .There is always someone to either passionately hate her (“struggling”, “flopping”) or over-praise her.Beyonce is Beyonce and she doesn’t have to be mentioned in EVERY other post about a female singer.
Btw, I don’t agree about Jazmine Sullivan.Her raspy vocals suit a more soulful sound along the lines of ‘Bust Your Windows’ and ’10 seconds’, but this song needs someone with a rather thin voice to sound good.
Yall needd to stop, if ciara,rhianna,keri,teirra marie,and kelly(YES I SAID IT) can release music with their mediocre vocals so can ashanti….I mean she aint no jill scott,marsha,jazmine,monica or brandy but alot other non singin heffas still doing music and always throwing HOTT rappers on they track for hits…then i dont see why ashanti cant…..
Haters are making Ashanti even more successful because they kept commenting on her post. Why would you check for her if she can’t sing. Because to me, it sounds clear that you’ haters are insecure about your favor singer and worried that Ashanti will snatch each of their wigs.
The song is amazing. She sounds incredible. I agree, it’s not strong enough to be a lead single – but that’s why it isn’t. It was made specifically for the Soundtrack.
Ashanti? A flop? She had one album that sold less than 100,000 in the first week, which was her last effort (which was not promoted due to label differences) and she still sold more than some of your favorites (Kelly Rowland, Ciara, etc) – anything she’s done, with the exception of that has sold at LEAST a million.
Because she isn’t consistently in the spotlight doesn’t mean she is a flop.
The lyrics are relevant, relateable. Her voice delivers the message.
I am a fan true enough, but without being biased, I can honestly say I think Ashanti is going to take over music again.
Don’t really like it. Ashanti’s voice may have improved but it’s still not strong enough for a song like this in my opinion. I think she should stick to uptempo and maybe lighter ballads. I also think the song had some lyrical weakness issues so I’m not sure the problem would be solvd with a stronger voice. It almost sounds like a Celene Dion song but with weaker lyrics and vocals.
So now when Ashanti wails on a simple song it’s boring…. but when BeYAWNce does it, she’s a genius. When Mariah Carey makes a solid R&B album, it’s “dated, old” and when BIONCI makes a boring generic FLOP album, it’s “classic, throwback.” PATHETIC the psychotic and disrespectful stans BeYAWNce has. Some of you BIONCI stans forget that Ashanti is SELF MADE. She hustled writing and ghosting and turned that into a successful HOWEVER SHORT-LIVED career. She didn’t have Papa Knowles buying her way into the music industry kicking people out of her way and stealing people’s styles, stealing people’s videos, STEALING PEOPLES SONGS to do it. The level of DISRESPECT from a BeYAWNce’s stans AKA TEENAGERS and basement dwelling black queens is astounding
WOW…. SHE DID A GREAT JOB ON THIS SONG…. HER VOCALS ARE AMAZING AND ARE REALLY IMPROVING…. DOES THERE REALLY NEED TO BE HATE IN THIS WORLD…. FOR REAL…. THERE’S ENOUGH OF IT…. QUIT WITH THE RUDENESS AND UGLINESS…. GOD HATES UGLY…. ASHANTI IS AMAZING…. WOW…. I LUV IT…. TRULY AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL…. GO ASHANTI…. GOD BLESS YOU ASHANTI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No. She should give up.
This doesn’t sound like ashanti at all….yes, at one point I thought it was beyonce….
I love ashanti baby, foolish, only you, rock wit you, rain on me, always on time….her first two albums were amazing….but she’s trying to be something she’s not….and to those saying if this was 2006 it would be a hit…no….so does that mean people don’t like songs that were in 2006 or before…Thats a stupid statement.
This is exactly why rnb females are flopping because their putting out this boring/ not creative music…I luv asthanti but I’d rather buy her old stuff than her new stuff…..
if this is for a soundtrack lets hope her album singers ain’t nothing like this.
Um shut up idiots what are u complaining about? This ain’t a single. Read her Twitter. And how can u say Ashanti can’t sing but praise rihanna and ciara none singing assess Lmfao
beyonce stans stay hating on other artist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@jer u so right the beyonce stans mad 4 floppeddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
lol at beyoncs fanbase hating on real r&b
@JER I SEE YOU LOVE BRINGING UP KING BEYONCE FOR SOMEONE WHO DON’T CARE FOR HER……YOU AND ALL THE OTHER HATER WILL DEAL WITH BEYONCE BEING THE BIGGEST FEMALE IN THE GAME, THATS WHY SHE HAS SO MANY HATERS…THEY POST IS ABOUT ASHANTI NOT BEY
Anyone else hear how out of tune her vocals are?
I’m so confused lol
Maybe someone tweaked the track a little but it sounds unnerving
ITS THE TRUTH I LIKE ASHANTI BUT SHE IS IN ON THE SAME BOAT WITH THE REST OF THE NON SINGERS…….#TRUEFACT
TO ALL THE MUDD DUCK HATERS ITS ONLY A FEW WOMEN IN THE GAME THAT CAN SING BETTER THEN BEY AND ASHANTI AINT ONE…HATERS YOU WILL DEAL
CAN SOMEONE PLZ TELL ME HOW 4 FLOP?
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @HONEY_DIP11 I FOLLOW BACK!
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @HONEY_DIP11 I FOLLOW BACK!
Yup! Jazmine sullivan or Brandy would have killed this!!!!
I like the song.Good Job Ashanti can’t wait for the new single. Lets go!! #teamashanti
ASHANTI LOOK KINDA OF CUTE IN THE PIC….I SEE U SHANTI
NO SHADE HER VOCAL HAVE GOT BETTER
Don’t care how nice the song is …she cannot sing and the producer who gave this to her should have saved it for a real singer…. uugggghhhh People who can not sing should not have a career as a singer… really? why is she still a factor… the people have spoken..
@DIAMOND I have been thinking the same lately. Was just remembering the times of brandy,monica aalyah. Now it’s all about s**, s**, and more s** singles. To actually read comments from Rihanna fans about Ashanti vocals are ridiculous!!! Rihanna vocals are polished by engineers and sound like a grazing goat live. Atleast Ashanti can pass with live vocals! like damn these stans.
ASHITTY SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!
I REMEMBER HAVING STAN WARS WITH HER DUMB ASS FANS BACK WHEN YOUTUBE WAS THE HOT SPOT FOR STAN WARS. SHE SUCKED THEN AND SHE STILL SUCKS NOW.
@ JORDAN can you sound more ignorant. These vocals are produced in the studio with an engineer, how is she out of tune, when the recording must be perfect? I am NOT an ashanti fan but if your favorite cannot sing,( keri, ciara,, rihanna, )and others why come for ashanti. Atleast her voice is tolerable. Damn
jORDAN you seen just desperate to throw shade you type crap. learn about music, vocals, recording and more. She may have weak vocals but not out of tune idiot.
@ JER you are so pressed. This is not shade RICHNBLACK said before Ashanti is rowing with the non singers. If my favorite couldn’t sing I wouldn’t say that. I am secure darling, and you are unsecure. I need you to go back to your previous posting on TGJ and see all you negativity and shade. What you do not like stans / fans to say about the basics you favor don’t do to others “MAN IN THE MIRROR’
You haters need to fall back. If Ciara,Rihanna,Keri,Katy and Britney can continue to make music so can Ashanti. Everyone has their own opinions but she did a good job on this track. Her vocals were meant to be “Light” on this song, now if she would’ve screamed on this track then you idiots would really be saying she cant sing. She sang the song with emotion,passion and feeling. At least she writes her own music, MOST artists dont do that today. If the song becomes a hit I’m gonna laugh at you dumbassess. Hatin ass Beyonce fans just mad because her album UNDERPERFORMED!SMH
Wow Ashanti is back now we got some real R&B in the game again even tho this not a single I can tell that she increase vocally welcome back Ashanti we miss you..
I like it!! It’s something different from Ashanti. I can’t wait to hear more!
She’s gotta be singing this as a demo for another artist or something, or this isn’t mastered or something. lol.
Dang, I didn’t realize Ashanti had sooo many haters. Why ya’ll mad though?! It’s not like she is actually any competition for any of your faves! Damn! Get out of Ashanti’s ass! SMH!
I had forgot all about my Shanti. I used to LOVE her back in the day! Her first album is still my s*** to this day! She has long sense fell off my radar though. She was never the best vocalist, or performer for that matter, but she had some hot songs!
Anywho, I like this song, it’s cute the lyrics are really nice and she sounds nice, very smooth. I think it sounds like something I can hear on the radio, but at the same time it doesn’t sound too generic like everything else on the radio. It’s nothing new exactly, but it’s still refreshing.
It’s too soon to tell if this would be a good choice for a first single,mabye just a album track but it’s a good start. I’m interested in hearing new music from her. Good luck to Ashanti!
^I’m not hating nor am I up her A** but I’m just critiquing what was placed in the public…. if you were referring to me that is.
I couldn’t wait for the song to end. #ThatIsAll
why do artists record songs they know they cant perform live? It pisses me off cause you know this track is auto tuned, it’s a tight song, but i know tic for tac she cant give the same effort live>
im just gonna act like i didnt read all the stupid comments about comparisons, just gotta say the song is great and definitively a good come back for my girl. love her. #teamashanti
i LIKE ASHANTI, BUT NAH THIS IS JUST BLAHHHH, NOT BAD, BUT NOT GOOD EITHER, ITS JUST BLAAAAAHHHH., IDK…HER, AMERIE, MYA, TEIRRA MARI NEED TO MAKE A LITTLE GROUP, I AM TELLING U, THEY WOULD DO GOOD….
l love the song,really smooth mature and …just great
clap
While I don’t see how it will fit with the motion picture it was created for, I think it’s a bit refreshing. It’s melodies carry it a bit, and while it may not be a single, it’s definitely a GREAT B-Side, or filler for her next album. Glad to hear from you again Ashanti. 🙂
This is WEAK. Real talk. I’ve given ashanti credit in the past but this is boring.
love it!! get it gurl!
I love the song and it’s great for a soundtrack too.
Great track Ashanti! People this song is for a SOUNDTRACK idiots! Not the first single off the album. Did you even look up the movie on IMDB? Classless idiots on here seriously. Most likely with NO f****** talent to even record 1 TRACK! LOSERS GET A GRIP!
GO ASHANTI!
y’all h*** sound pathetic (@the haters) df u bring up heyonce like she somebody b**** sit the f*** down failed as h*** at least ahsnti didnt have to suck d*** or force herself to be with camel face to keep her career like heyonce fake ass and her pathetic ass marriage s*** is all a flop… now moving on what i find funny is the h*** that trying to hate on ashanti are still here and commentiong on her song and still checking for her so u failed just like your mother did when she had yo fake ass…. the song was dope and her vocals have definitely improved drasticaly and the way y’all judging the song is sad y’all are like some dumbass kids who don’t know how to read and failed to finish school, the s*** is only a song for a soundtrack calm the f*** down and get df off her post if u gonna hate on her like someone gives a f*** about your immature ass comments and lmao @ having to nerves to say fat ass jasmine sullivant b**** please that h** is a flop even she admitted it thats why she decided to quit singing, hell if i were her i would to everytime i see that h** perform she sing like she need a donut or juice like always ut of breathe she cant even hold a descent vocal df wrong with you, but anyway ashanti! u did the damn thing let the haters hate but at the end of the day they just 2 faced h*** that be rockin to your songs and buying your CD so u just work on getting this album done and let these h*** know who you are once again, she wasn’t crowned the princess for nothing…. oh and btw to the haters ashanti only had 1 disappointing album and it was only because she left wack inc and it had no promotion but yet it still sold better than most these h*** who have the promotion lmao at least unike 5head rihanna she dont have to sell her body to people to get sales and finally (1) platinum album! #thats what you call a real epic fail! h** cant even perform live her vocals are horificle go check out her live videos lmao if u want to hear a terrible voice. AnyWay! #TEAM ASHANTI FOR LIFE THE HATERS NEED A NEW OCCUPATION HATING IS JUST LIKE WORKING AT MCDONALDS STEP YA GAME UP SAD ASS KIDS.
LMAO THESE RIHANNA/CIARA STAN B****** MAKE ME DIE LAUGHING BWAHAHHAHAHH B**** RIHANNA ONLY GOOD FOR HAVING GOOD SINGLES SAD THAT A H** LIKE RIHANNA HAS ALL THESE FANS BUT YET NOT EVEN 3/4 OF THEM H*** BUY HER ALBUMS AND THEY SAY THE B**** VOICE IS HORRIBLE LIVE AND EVEN DEMANDED THEY MONEY BACK LMFAO HANG THAT S*** UP RIHANNA VOICE IS ONLY GOOD IN THE STUDIO, BUT LIVE? LORD I WOULDNT PAY $5 DOLLARS TO SEE THAT B**** SING THE MOST I WOULD DO IS LOOK AT THAT GIGANTIC ASS 8HEAD DF DOWN ASHANTI DELIVERS EVERYTIME AND SHE IMPROVES EVERYTIME DONT HATE HER CAUSE SHE HAS VOCALS AND CAN ACTUALLY SING PRETTY GOOD LIVE AT LEAST U DONT SEE HER STRIPPING MORE THAN EVEN F***** SINGLE AT HER SHOWS (LMFAO) THE END. AND LORD DID SOMEONE MENTION CIARA? WTFFFFFFFFFF WHO IS SHE ISNT SHE A CLUB DANCER OR SOMETHING? ALL I KNOW IS SHE DEFINATELY HAS NO VOCAL CAPABILITYS. GET IT ASHANTI LET THESE HATERS DROOL OVER YOUR SUCESS AND SONGS BUT YOU STILL TOPPPIN THE CHARTS ANYWAY AND DELIVERING TRUE R&B NOT SWITCHING UP YOUR S*** JUST TO GET SALES AND MORE FANS BWAH! H*** JEALOUS NEED TO GROW UP THE END.
Ashanti is bad I dont care what you haters say. Shes soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo smart and intelligent she stay makin money all kinds of ways. Other artist are just looking to sing, but ashanti is doing it all. She is so humble until its un real. God will always see her through. SINGE SONGWRITER, SHE HAS HER OWN RECORD LABEL, AUTHOR,MODEL, JUST TO NAME A FEW, jUST LIKE SHE SAID I HAVE TO EXECUTIVE PRODUCE THAT , NOW A DAYS IT’S SO MANY WAYS TO MAKE MONEY AND SHE IS DOING IT AND YOU;LL HATERS ARE MAD. U MAD
GOOD JOB ASHANTI i LUV YOUR SONG BYE HATERS, YOU’LL ARE ASHANTI BEST SUPPORTERS
I love this song…It’s about time to hear a good voice and good singing. You go Ashanti!!
HER VOICE IS AMAZING AND I LOVE THE SONG. THE MUSIC GOES WELL WITH THE THRILLER MOIVE IT WAS PRODUCED FOR. GO ASHANTI!!!!!!
THIS COMPOSITION OF ASHANTI IS PHENOMENAL! IT IS ABSCENCE OF THE TRASH AND DECADENCE YOU FIND IN MODERN MUSIC. LONG LIVE THE LOVELY ASHANTI!!!
yall can eat p**** yall dont know wat music is ashanti is wat music beyonce is wat h**-ish n rihanna is a just nasty a** hell f*** yall ashanti n keri hilson is wat music about
vao se fuder caranho ashanti e uma diva eu sou do brasil d sou fan de ashanti mais respeito com ela flop meu cu pra vcs
a diva Ashanti and more respect for her I’m from Brazil and I am a fan of Ashanti and many others like Jazmine Sullivan and Kelly Rowland and you have no right to speak her flop and you do not know who the hell-morrow flop and beyonce so far not seen or a song on the Billboard top 10 then we’ll see if this song will be if she flop.porque divesse electronic music singing singers like so many other black music as we call it here in Brazil would talk ninquë nada.ah my ass for you idiots