Soul Train Awards 2023: 6 Jazmine Sullivan Songs That Take You on an Emotional Rollercoaster
Few artists have the range and the type of presence that make you want to bust the windows out of your ex’s car, tell someone how much you love them, and speak your mind like Jazmine Sullivan.
The Grammy-winning soulful artist has released hits for over a decade and is not showing signs of slowing down anytime soon. She has collaborated with other R&B powerhouses like Ari Lennox, H.E.R. and has written for artists like Jennifer Hudson, Faith Evans, Chrisette Michele, and Monica. Over the years, Sullivan has been celebrated and received many accolades for her work. Her work of art that received much acclaim was her comeback EP, Heaux Tales, which won her multiple Grammy Awards, NAACP Image Awards, BET Awards, and Soul Train Awards.
Heaux Tales, which broke its five-year hiatus, took the industry by storm because of its theme of women reclaiming their power in every sense of the word, romantically, financially and sexually. Last year, she won the “Best R&B/Soul Female Artist” award for the second year.
As we get closer to the Soul Train Awards 2023, let’s reflect on the seasoned soulful star’s most vulnerable records that made us fall in love with her over the years and get us in the feels.
Lions, Tigers & Bears
This soulful ballad from Sullivan’s debut album Fearless received a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and a nomination for Best R&B Song. The waltz track was written by Sullivan and S. Remi and samples Salaam Remi’s “Shila’s Playgound.” In the vulnerable track, Jazmine sings about being able to sing at sold-out affairs and being unafraid of lions, lions, and bears, but she is terrified about falling in love. From start to finish, Jazmine is in an inner battle with whether she believes falling in love is worth it.
Bust Your Windows
This catchy revenge track based on a true story showed fans the true powerhouse of Jazmine Sullivan; it also put the singer on the map, proving just how dedicated she is to her craft. Listening to the record, you could almost hear her heart breaking as she wondered why she was still crying even though she had taken revenge on an ex-lover. The pain in her voice almost brings you the edge as you realize the damage he’s done is much worse than a damaged car. The song was nominated for Best R&B Song at the 2009 Grammy Awards.
Pick Up Your Feelings
If there’s one thing Jazmine Sullivan can do, it’s speak her mind unapologetically and show at the end of the day she makes the rules. In the track off of her comeback EP, Heaux Tales, she starts by finally putting her foot down, letting her ex-love know he is not welcome back. Like many of her other songs, there is a strong sense of empowerment, letting women know they deserve the utmost respect from their lovers. The track was written by Sullivan herself alongside Audra Mae, Kyle Coleman, Michael Holmes, Brittany Coney, Denisia Andrews. The record was nominated for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance at the 64th Grammy Awards, winning the latter in a tie with "Leave the Door Open" by Silk Sonic.
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Lost One
Sullivan and Dave Watson wrote the melancholy track, the lead single from Heaux Tales. In the song, Sullivan pleads with an ex-lover not to fall in love again and move on with her, unable to accept that she truly lost this person for good. As usual, Sullivan knows how to get you in the heartstrings with a devastating tale of lost love.
Girl Like Me ft H.E.R.
In this highly intimate guitar-driven track featuring the soulful H.E.R, Sullivan tells a tale about being brokenhearted by a lover who did not want her anymore and the insecurity of wanting to be like the women most men are running after, the ones wearing Fashion Nova dresses. The lead single of Heaux Tales, produced by BongoByTheWay, peaked at number 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Need U Bad
In this classic reggae soulful love song, Sullivan sings about needing her lover back and doing anything to make him hers again. The song features Missy Elliot and Pepa from Salt-N-Pepa. Elliot and Cainon Lamb produced the song. The R&B debut single from Fearless peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming her most popular single on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart.
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