Product Description

Third album by the Wolverhampton-born R&B, soul-pop diva. Although 'Who I Am' is by no means a country album - before writing it - Knight travelled to Nashville to find inspiration from other songwriters. The singles, 'Get Up' and 'ShouldaWoulda Coulda', are included.

Track Listing

1. Get Up!
2. Shoulda Woulda Coulda
3. Shape Of You
4. Fallen Soldier
5. Beautiful Contradiction (Duet with Musiq Soulchild)
6. Hurricane Jane
7. Same (As I Ever Was)
8. Whatever's Clever
9. Ambition (It All Comes 2 U)
10. Bestseller Mystery
11. Gold

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #91772 in Music
• Released on: 2002-03-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import

Amazon.co.uk Review
Beverley Knight's third album, Who I Am shows how far the "girl from Wolverhampton" has come from her admittedly brilliant debut, B Funk. Knight, whose bright up-tempo R&B songs have crossed age and genre barriers, is clearly making the most of being Britain's most popular soul singer since Sade. Knight has surrounded herself with some impressive producers and guests such as Musiq Soulchild flexing his Stevie Wonderish voice on the lovely ballad "Beautiful Contradiction". Produced by James Poyser and Che Guevara, who between them have worked with Lauryn Hill, D'Angelo and Jill Scott, Beverley revels in impressing us with her gospel-great voice and her tight songwriting. The reggae-tinged "Get Up" and the funky "Shoulda Woulda Coulda" showcase Beverley's command of the dance floor and bear witness to her stunning range (vocally, emotionally and texturally). While her playful and sexy challenge of "The Shape of You" to the multifarious sounds of "Same (As I Ever Was)", along with the Prince-esque "Ambition (It All Comes 2 U)", demonstrate her undeniable hip-hop sensibility as well. Knight is obviously more comfortable with herself, as the push-me-pull-you tension of second album, Prodigal Sista, has given way to a much more upbeat direction. Who I Am quickly proves why Knight, unlike many of today's studio-enhanced artists, is the real deal.--Reuben Dessay

Customer Reviews

Heavvy!
Yet another amazingly under rated British artist. In my opinion Bev is gem amongst a lot of the mediocre rubbish being blasted through the air waves. This album is real cool my fav songs are Beautiful contradiction with Musiq-lyrics on this are bad. Ambition is just a superb tune from start to finish, her vocals are beautiful and on point. Purchase if you know and recognise good music!

Fantastic - Knight is just brilliant
I decided to buy this album purely on the srength of her second album, "Prodigal Sista" (which is also very, very good -I highly rate that too). The opening track of "Who I Am" is very upbeat, and as Beverley manages to do so well, the lyrics are sometimes painfully truthful. This helps to get your attention to begin with, then slowly you are pulled in deeper. With a mixture of fast positive songs and slower, emotional ones, this album is everything you could want.
I really can't fault this album, it is top quality. There was one reviewer who described it as "bland", I really don't see how they can reach that conclusion (although I think that they preferred soul to be by American artists). This really is doing an injustice to Knight's work. She is certainly not an artist who produces bland songs. Her lyrics are powerful, true and intelligent. She is leagues ahead of a lot of groups around at the moment, who seem to get into the listings by their appearances more than anything else.
Although there is not one song which I do not like, the high points for me are "The Shape of You", "Beautiful Contradiction" (a duet with Musiq Soulchild), and "Gold" (which is probably my all time favourite song by Knight - I heard this after a relationship break-up, and it made me look at things in a different light).
Soul does not have to be by Americans to be worthwhile of playing time. Beverley Knight has proven this - and possibly that she is the one of the best acts around.
Buy it, you won't be disappointed.

Shes Gold
One of the finest albums I own. Beverley Knight is one hell of a performer. I had the privalige to see her perform at the Hammersmith Apollo in december of 2002 and she did not dissapoint.
It was her "Who I Am" tour - and that is the title of her third album.
Its great to see a british female soul artist bringing out such quality - something at is lacking into today's music scene.

This album is for anyone who loves to hear a great voice - a voice which is powerful and at the same time clear and crisp.

Track 1 - Get Up
The first single to be taken from the album. Its such a perfect beginning. Has a bit of a reggea feel and is a track you will be humming along to the more you listen to it. Excellent.

Track 2 - Shoulda Woulda Coulda
The top 10 hit should be familiar to many of you. A great song, sung with real heart (as most of her songs are).

Track 3 - Shape Of You
A beautifuly written song with some very touching lyrics.

Track 4 - Fallen Soilder
An acoustic song which I love to just lie back and listen to. Bev's voice is just spine tingling. One of the albums corkers.

Track 5 - Beautiful Contridiction (duet with Musiq Soulchild)
Such a pity this wasn't a single. I love Musiq soulchild and for him to do a duet with the queen of nu-soul is just top notch. The song has one fantastic beat, with both artists adding there style. Highly recommend you listen to this song.

Track 6 - Hurricain Jane
In my opinion its the albums weakest song. Which is not to say its a bad song, but in comparison to the rest of the album this to me is the track which lacks a certain something.

Track 7 - Same (as i ever was)
Bev shows off her funky soul ability. And it works like a charm! Its a message to the world that she is the same girl who grew up in Woverhampton all those years ago. Great song, great lyrics.

Track 8 - Whatever's Clever
Like track 8 - its a funk soul number which I think is just a bit better than Same (as i ever was).
Once again her voice is faultless, and I believe that musically this is the best song on the album.

Track 9 - Ambition (it all comes 2 you)
For anyone with an ambition - this is the song for you. Its such a beautiful song. Beverley knight goes up in my estimation once more for this track. Its a beautiful song. The Lyrics are just breathtaking and add great lyrics to a voice like Miss Knights - and you have a great song.

Track 10 - Bestseller Mystery
The album makes a bit of a music change here with track 10. Blues is the theme of music choice in this one. and after all RnB stands for Rhythem & Blues. But some people forget that. Not Beverley Knight.

Track 11 - Gold
The third single from this album. And yes Bev - you are gold.
I don't know really what to say about this song. Its just fantastic.

Bonus track - Who I am
Can the album get any better? Yep - with this accapella. Her voice is on full display here - shes a performer who could sing anywhere with little preperation - simply because shes a natural talent. Very refreshing.

I've heard many many albums - but none sung with the amount of heart and soul Beverley Knight sings with.

A must for people who appreicate great music.