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Here I Stand | 
| Artist: Usher
Label: Jive
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $9.99
You Save: $8.99 (47%)
New (6) Used (4) from $9.99
Rating:  112 reviews
Sales Rank: 116
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.8 x 0.4
MPN: 723388
UPC: 886972338828
EAN: 0886972338828
ASIN: B0015519VS
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | Intro | | • | Love In This Club featuring Young Jeezy | | • | This Ain't Sex | | • | Trading Places | | • | Moving Mountains | | • | What's Your Name featuring will.i.am | | • | Prayer For You Interlude | | • | Something Special | | • | Love You Gently | | • | Best Thing featuring Jay Z | | • | Before I Met You | | • | His Mistakes | | • | Appetite | | • | What's A Man To Do | | • | Lifetime | | • | Love In This Club Part II featuring Beyonce & Lil Wayne | | • | Here I Stand |
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Album Description
2008 album from the R&B superstar. Here I Stand is Usher's follow-up to his history-making, nine-times platinum-selling Confessions. The album tells the story of growth: triumphant, reflective, somewhat defiant and it marks a new period in Usher's life and creative expression. Here I Stand finds Usher working with some of the best producers and writers around including Polow Da Don, Jermaine Dupre, Dre & Vidal and Dream & Tricky Stewart. Features the first single 'Love In The Club'. Laface.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 107 more reviews...
 Married Man Music (MMM) May 28, 2008
Shamontiel L. Vaughn (Chicago)
32 out of 41 found this review helpful
Two stars means "ok," and I want to clarify that beforehand because there's absolutely nothing wrong on this CD. However, I listened to it twice, and there was also no song on here that stood out to me, made me want to replay it, or dance to the beat. I'm used to turning Usher's CDs up full blast and trying to memorize all the words, but I didn't get that on this album. There were a lot of songs about being in love, marriage, and being a father (including doing what all parents seem to think is cute--recording their baby(ies) making baby noises). This album was weird for me. It was like Usher lost all his swagger and the cool feel of his music. If you've listened to "Love in This Club," that's basically the feel of the CD. Who thinks about "making love" in a club, as the magazine "Vibe" says in "20 Questions". Usher has definitely grown up, and I think he will gain an older audience with this album. But if you're looking for the old usher who oozes sexy in his songs, flirts with the ladies through melody, and gives us a little bit of hip hop through a lot of R&B, this isn't that album. (Note: He kept that sex appeal when he was with Chili, so I can't say it's the relationship. Man, I loved those two as a couple!) Listeners will, however, get the Usher who sounds head over heels for his wife and child. Again, nothing wrong with this album, but it was kinda repetitive, a little boring, and out of my element (no kids, no marriage). But I am happy for him being in a stable, happy relationship, and I hope him and Tamika stay together forever.
UPDATE (AFTER FIFTH LISTEN): I followed That Juice's advice and listened to the CD again on my MP3 player. Then I listened again. And again. I sincerely am an Usher fan, and I wanted to like it. And I think That Juice is right, along with another reviewer on here who said that maybe the reason some fans couldn't immediately get into the CD was because we weren't READY for it. There was no leading up to the ballads or such a dramatic shift in his music. He just up and did a completely different album. I think my hesitation was that I was unprepared for what I'd listen to. Now that I've settled with the idea that Usher is making MMM, I'm more content with it. I still can't convince myself to change the stars though and think it's "just okay," but I look forward to the next album and will buy it!
 All grown up! May 27, 2008
Nse Ette (Lagos, Nigeria)
19 out of 37 found this review helpful
In the 4 years since Usher released his blockbuster "Confessions" album, some major changes have occured in his life; He has gotten married and become a father. The influences of these are heard in his new album, "Here I am", from the album cover art that shows his son's birthdate on the car license plate, to the cries of his son on the interlude "Prayer for you" (on which he promises to be there for his son).
On the beautiful ballad "Before I met you", he confesses that he was a playa before I met you, and on "Appetite", he is painfully honest as he talks about the fight to keep his lust under control whenever he's away from his wife.
The album is ballad heavy, with only 2 uptempo tracks, the really groovy "This aint sex" (which has an 80s vibe), and the will.i.am produced "What's your name" (with techno-sounding strings and Usher saying "Like Donna Summer, girl give me this last dance"). It seems Usher has been listening to Techno quite a bit as techno strings are also used in the smash hit "Love in this club", the awesome ballad "Moving mountains", and the acoustic "What's a man to do"
Other standouts are the retro soul ballad "Something special", "Love you gently", the Stevie Wonder channelling title track "Here I stand", and the hidden track "Will work for love" (which tells the tale of some man down on his luck and begging for anything to do).
Jay Z appears on "Best thing" while his new bride appears on "Love in this club Part 2" (a different song, if you ask me) which is currently climbing the Billboard Hot 100.
My favourite track though is the stunning ballad "His mistakes", a piano ballad with awesome vocals from Usher. In fact, his vocals are so much stronger and soaring on this album.
I usually don't like ballad heavy R&B albums, but a lot of thought obviously went into this album, and in my opinion, this is his best album yet.
A Weak "Stand" May 30, 2008
Antoine D. Reid (Durham, NC United States)
15 out of 23 found this review helpful
Based on the first single "Love In This Club", I thought this Usher release was going to be great and exciting. After listening to the entire CD, this was, for me, a rather weak release. My problems with it are mainly that it lacks spirit and variety, all the songs at first listening pretty much sounding similar and few chances being taken to show that Usher's grown as an artist. Another problem is that Usher seems to have suffered the same fate that many married artists do; the songs seem to be written about his relationship or he's attempting to debunk the rumors of the media and tabloids through song. For me, it didn't work.
What I did like were those songs like "Love In This Club" on the album that really stand out and have feeling matched with great production value. "Moving Mountains" and "His Mistakes" both speak of being burned by love and having a few missteps in a relationship. These songs give you chills and manage to make you a bit misty and teary eyed with how relatable they are. I also enjoyed "Trading Places" which is about sex but sets up a curious and playful situation lyrically with some great vocal work. "Love in this Club, Part II" is also fun simply because it features Beyonce and is a total reworking of the song. The Lil Wayne part of the song is weak, but still, I appreciate that for once instead of just having two artist singing over the regular track, someone took the time to totally revamp the song and the feel of it.
Then, the other songs fall flat. The production value isn't great, making some of the songs sound as if they are mix tape quality and in need of more mixing. Usher goes on to sing about women and sex, his two main subject matters, but at this point in his career they simply sound tired and overdone. The other songs on the CD compete with one another due to the sound and lack of excitement put into it. It makes me wonder if some of these songs were rushed through and shows you that an abundance of songs on a cd isn't always a necessarily good thing. It loses my attention and many of these track have 'b-side' quality to them making them fluff and skip-worthy.
In all, let down by this release and feel it was or has been over-hyped and weak. Not worth the money or attention put into it.
 HORRIBLE!!!!! May 28, 2008
boogie baby (Philly)
11 out of 18 found this review helpful
I waited all this time for this man to drop a CD. I brough it yesterday on BOOTLEG thankgod. It was the worse. i love Usher and his wife, but I dont want to hear him sing about her on every freaking track. He cant even compare this Cd to a CHRIS BREZZY CD. and that young boy dont have nothing on Usher. But I guess when he got married, he got comfortable and lazy. i cant even remember anything on the CD except for Love in this Club. I tossed it right out the window when the remix went off. Step you game up USHER that "spit" was wack!!!! I still love you though, just disapointed.
Still Standing With His Head High May 27, 2008
Josephll (CET)
9 out of 13 found this review helpful
Usher Raymond already debuted in in 1994 at the tender age of 16 with a epnymous album and after several strong sequels he slowly established himself as one of the most popular R&B stars of his generation. But it wasn't before the 2004 album "Confessions" that Usher went to a popular American R&B star to a international superstar. "Confessions" was also more mature and personal then anything else he had released with songs revealing secrets like infidelity, shame and the tragic end of his relationsip with TLC's Rozonda "Chili" Thomas. But it also had the big hits like the crunk song "Yeah" and the Alicia Keys duet "My Boo" on the re-release. Producers, Jermiane Dupri, Bryan Micheal Cox and Dre & Vidal did miracles for Usher and ultimately making it one of the finest R&B albums of the decade. But 4 years have passed since and the wild playa life of Usher seems long gone. In the meantime he got married and had a son and much of this album is about finally settling down and being happy to be in a strong relationship and valuating parenthood. "Here I Stand", Usher's 5th album is diffrent but once again we find him combining good lyrics with stong melodies and the end it's another successful effort.
The album starts with a intro that seems to be dedicated to his wife and sets he tone for what's coming. Right afterwards the Polow Da Don produced #1 single "Love In This Club" arrives and it's one of very few uptempos here, eventhough it's said that Polow utilized beats from Garage Band there is no doubt how catchy this one is. Basically it the obvious commercial club song about having the urge to pick u a hot lady in the club. It also features a strong closing verse from Young Jeezy. On "This Ain't Sex" produced by Tricky Stewart/The Dream/Jazze Pha he sais "And this ain't sex
This is a symbol Of two makings love". A sign of the new Usher and defenitely a highlight here. Tricky Stewart associate LOS Da Mystro who's most famous for producing J Holiday's "Bed" and songs on The Dream's album is next up with "Trading Places" which is very simular to "Bed" with it's un-orthodox beats andlong verses with myraids of words. The song feature some quite naughty lyrics aswell, which aint surprising when Dream wrote it. Tricky/Dream is once again in the spotlight with the wonderful ballad "Moving Mountains", scheduled to become the second single. Winning back lost confidence and turning a bad relationship back where it should be is like Moving Mountains, or maybe even harder?. Highlight for sure. Will.i.am contributes with the next song "What's Your Name" which is the second uptempo song with his ususal retro poduction with heavy bass and obligatory guest verse.
The next song is a interlude called "Pray For You" where Usher blesses his newborn son, we also hear him crying. After this many of the remaining songs are in slower pace. "Something Special" from Jermaine Dupri is a midtempo with some bluesy chords, another love song to his wife. "Love You Gently" from Dre & Vidal is classic sexy bedroom R&B that Keith Sweat would be proud of. "Best Thing" from Dupri got some memorable Hip Hop beats and a guest verse from Jay-Z. "Before I Met You" from Bryan Michael Cox, is another love song in mid pace while "His Mistakes" from Stargate and Ne-Yo is a strong ballad of a girl coming from a bad relationship that must be able to trust him and not compare him to the mistakes of her ex. For some reason it feels like Usher is singing almost exactly like Ne-Yo in a song that Ne-Yo could have done just the same. The third and last real uptempo comes from Danja, the greatest beatmaker at the moment? As usual it got some very original beats and should be a perfect floor filler for the summer partys. Stargate's second addition "What's A Man To Do" could be a future single, it goes like "What's a man to do
/When he's loving two/And he don't wanna lie/ But he can't tell the truth". Producer Jlack contributes with "Lifetime" a midpace ballad with good lyrics but not quite a hit single. I have no idea why a remix of "Love In This Club" called Part 2 made the final tracklist? The title track from Dre and Vidal is also rather boring, a ballad with piano. A hidden JR Rotem song called "Will Work For Love" is the last song here, a pretty good midtempo ballad aswell. It closes the album with 18 songs.
Overall, "Here I Stand" is another steller effort that shows a 30 year old Usher ready to get on with his life as a husband and father. The album got both great songwriting and hit potential, well performed on every occasion. This proves more then ever that Usher is re-claiming his lost crown as the R&B world's greteast male performer. While this album certainly got plenty to offer and will be successful, the problem is what it ain't got. The Rich Harrison produced "That Girl Right There" with the sickest beat of year was a sacriledge to leave out. And where is Neptunes's "Flash" or BMC's "Echo" that also would have made decent additions instead of some of the slower songs here. Either way, "Here I Stand" is an exellent album and I would be recommending it to anyone who's a fan of modern R&B.
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