This week, our From The Vault pick comes courtesy of siblings Brandy and Ray J; it’s their 2001 rendition of ‘Another Day In Paradise.’
The track was featured on ‘Urban Renewal’, a tribute album to the great Phil Collins which saw artists from the Urban arena take on the classics from the singer-songwriter.
‘Paradise’ was the first single of said project and saw the ‘Best Friend’ belle trading lines with her brother Ray.
Produced by Guy Roche, it became a European hit gracing the Top 10 of numerous charts including the UK, France, Germany and Sweden. The single was never officially released in America.
Staying true to the song’s theme of homelessness, the video focuses on the indifference and disdain that is showed to people in need out in the streets. Though it can easily be labelled as contrived, we feel it’s important to make social commentary through art. Indeed at times artists have a reach that is way superior to any journalist’s or politician’s.
The ‘Urban Renewal’ project was all about celebrating a tremendous artist and ensure that their classic tunes could be “passed on” to the younger generation. In this day and age, we at TGJ HQ can think of many artists deserving of such an honor, but we want to know, can you?