CD Review: This One's "For Colored Girls"

The soundtrack “For Colored Girls” contains some of the biggest names of women performers in the music business. The soundtrack places songs performed by legends (Gladys Knight & Nina Simone) along with songs performed by some of today’s hot artists (Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings & Estelle).

Beginning with the “Main Title” a piano interlude plays in the background as the actresses in the movie recite lines from the movie. Then the music lifts-off with the funk of Sharon Jones with “Longer & Stronger” and the R&B flavor of Estelle’s “All Day Long (Blue Skies).” Laura Izibor brings a ‘70s vibe with “What More Can They Do”, while Zaki Ibrahim gives an updated dance beat to the song “Ansomnia.” The operatic “La Donna In Viola” seems a bit out of place on this soundtrack, but the album gets back into the groove with Macy’s Gray’s “Stand Up.” The album reaches a creative peak with “Four Women” that includes vocals by Nina Simone, Simone, Laura Izibor and Ledisi before finishing with the angelic voice of Leona Lewis in “I Know Who I Am.”

The soundtrack was released on Atlantic Records at the beginning of November and the movie is still in select theaters.