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Ne-Yo: Year Of The Gentleman |
Contributed By: Joanna Ester
Created On: Thursday, 11 September 2008
Hits: 62
 Year Of The Gentleman 'Year of the Gentleman' is the third album by American RnB star Ne-Yo. Following on from his Grammy Award winning album 'Because Of You', Ne-Yo shows off a more mature persona. Referencing the iconic look and style of the 'Rat Pack' makes this album a cut above your average RnB record. Ne-Yo cited the 1960s American group 'Rat Pack', particularly members Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra as influences, whose style inspired his clothes and music. Slick and smooth vocals combine with sophisticated beats, highlighting Ne-Yo's extraordinary talent and class.
Beyond its genuine lyrics, Gentleman also proves that Ne-Yo is a brilliant pop omnivore, gifted with a silky voice and an ability to pull everything from the Beatles to Stevie Wonder to clubland synths under his sonic umbrella. He plays quick beats off slow vocals on the Stargate-produced Closer', deploys clarinet and harpsichord on the Seventies-pop 'So You Can Cry' and pulls out tinkling piano for 'Lie to Me', a real-talk meditation on unfaithfulness. The moody piano and chord progression recall Justin Timberlake's 'Cry Me a River', but the lyrics have a great twist: This time, Ne-Yo's the one in tears.
Ne-Yo's RIAA platinum debut album In My Own Words was nominated for a Grammy as Best Contemporary R&B Album. It spun off three chart-topping hits, starting late-2005 with his debut Def Jam single, the #1 Grammy-nominated 'So Sick', followed by 'When You're Mad' and 'Sexy Love'. Ne-Yo capped 2006 as Male R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year at the Billboard Music Awards. At the The 21st Annual Soul Train Music Awards in February 2007, Ne-Yo won the Coca-Cola Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap new Artist for 'Sexy Love'.
 
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