Annie Lennox Casts One Undeniable Spell

Annie Lennox has still got it. Truth be told she never lost it in the first place. Her cover version of Nina Simone's hallowed "I Put a Spell On You" defines breathtaking. Of course she has already demonstrated her way around torch song numbers in ages past. "Why" exemplified glamour. That cut from "Diva" showed off how Annie can be both tender and forceful without losing her edge in either department. "I Put a Spell On You" merely asks the battle tested starlet to prove why she's in a soulful class by herself. The backup band she is teamed up with knows better than to infringe on her turf. She doesn't disappoint at all. Nina would be extremely proud. Annie's respectful of the source material. Each note carries with it a special magic that cannot be contained. Annie casts one hell of a spell. Her voice peers right into the heart of her would be betrayer of trust. You'd think Annie had been paying her dues in smoky jazz clubs all her life. She does do one heck of a fine impersonation of such an arts patron. The beat comes off sultry. So does Annie. This woman has always had her own crystal clear identity whether as one half of The Eurythmics or in her solo projects "Diva", "Medusa", "Bare" and now "Nostalgia" which I and numerous other Annie Lennox lovers happily succumb to. The drum keeper isn't pushy with his contribution. Neither is the pianist who methodically lends proper spice to this amazingly seasoned dish. Mid way through the guitar works its way to your vulnerable zone. Annie wears the sex appeal hat well. Annie falls into that category of souls who sound like classic soul singers from eras past. Were any of you '80s music devotees shocked to learn that Rick Astley the "Never Gonna Give You Up" hit maker was about as white as a quarter cup of Minute Rice? Don't blame you for that oversight one whit. During that time frame Annie paired up with Aretha Franklin for "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves". There's your soul royalty right there. The mix of those two makes absolute perfect sense. It jibes that Annie would sidle on over to Blue Note Records to assuage any fears Nina has of her classic not getting a thoughtful overhaul. When she looks into Daddy's eyes and says, "I put a spell on you 'cause you're mine" he's been duly warned that he'd better not give her any sass. She can't stand it that he's runnin' around. That's as believable coming out of Annie's mouth as it was Nina's. Check out Annie's footwork in the video. That's called being possessed by a force greater than herself. She sells it, we buy it, the result is heavenly music that you'd have to have a coal chip heart not to appreciate. The 50 Shades of Grey soundtrack benefits from the class act Annie brings to the mike. Even if the film isn't everybody's cup of tea "I Put A Spell On You" is bound to at least get the crowds talking, get them pondering what the skinny is about. We'd be considering ourselves fortunate if this particular spell didn't wear off anytime soon.