Sheléa | Love Fell On Me

Shelea | Love Fell on Me
Breath Of Life Records
By Peggy Oliver

While the world was mourning the passing of Whitney Houston, the tributes were understandably fast and furious offerings of documentaries and musical friends on award shows, whom all embraced the passion from this electrifying icon. But what generated one of the biggest fan love fests came from the mighty world of the internet. The YouTube video entitled, RIP Whitney Houston Tribute, was merely a moving piano and vocal painting by Shelea Frazier, sans the fanfare and lavish orchestrations. Her sincere gratitude to Whitney’s legacy can easily be witnessed throughout Sheléa’s video and Whitney rarities like “Who Could Imagine a King” with Stevie Wonder.

It would be the touch of a wooden piano at age seven that affirmed Shelea’s God-given gifts of music. Though her talents were rooted and matured in the church, it was a meeting with producer extraordinaires Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis that encouraged her to explore all the possibilities beyond the gospel stage. From producing and writing two tracks on R&B chanteuse Chante Moore’s, Love the Woman to interpreting pop masterpieces like “Someone to Watch Over Me” with Take 6, Sheléa’s personal musical future was assured, one way or another. Shortly after the Whitney video tribute, Sheléa has now released her recording debut.

Love Fell on Me revolves around different shades of love decorated with Sheléa’s fluid piano artistry and expressive voice in a mix of R&B, pop and jazz. Where the vocalist hits her biggest stride is on the exquisite ballads. “Love the Way You Love Me” celebrates romantic love at its unconditional finest: “You always see the good in me/ When others doubt me, you believe/ I know what I have, everyone sees/That I finally got it right this time.” Caressed by Spanish guitar, harp, strings and piano, “I Fell In” drips with vulnerability as Shelea tackles love’s complexities. The first single, “Seeing You,” illustrates romantic fantasy to the maximum. “I’m Sure It Was You” has all the trimmings to become the next wedding song.

By far, the ballads are the solid winners on Love Fell on Me. Yet the misfires are few, only because of lackluster song choices. The cases in point are the upbeat eighties pop of “City of Angels” and “I’ll Never Let You Go,” that aims for more of an edgier, Mariah Carey-like feel. Fortunately, there is bonus coverage with the Brian McKnight duet, “Can’t Play it Cool,” that plays to Sheléa’s strong traditional jazz sensibility.

The overall verdict on Love Fell on Me reveals an extremely promising career for Sheléa. Perhaps, while she establishes her diva spotlight, the internet loyalists who remembered this passionate voice and genuine spirit on the Whitney tribute will begin to receive her with wide open ears.

Four-and-a-half out of five stars.

Peggy Oliver
The Urban Music Scene