Eric Benet is one of the most distinctive and talented r&b singers on the music scene.

In 2003, Benet joined forces with his friend, David Foster, to work on his third cd. The initial concept was to deliver an elegant soul album with touches of refined adult contemporary music and echoes of classic acts like Bill Withers and Terry Callier. Benet’s soulful tenor and crystal-clear falsetto mixed well with the quality pop landscapes created by Foster. The atmosphere Foster fashioned was fairly close to a black version of Kenny Loggins. Benet and Foster recorded a handful of songs co-written for the occasion by the singer with Foster and other music luminaries including guitarist Dean Parks, singer/songwriter Danny Peck, keyboardist Neil Larsen and lyricist Linda Thompson.

Those esteemed names raised the pop flavor and sophistication of the material resulting in a musical borderland that was impossible to pigeonhole by Warner Music Group’s executives. In fact, the album was put on hold for a couple of years until it was finally released in June 2005 with some changes to its track list. Hurricane still included five songs from the original Foster session.  A crime was the omission of a superb rendition of Van Morrison’s “Someone Like You,” a masterpiece in craft and execution

One of the highlights on Hurricane was the evocative title-track. Co-written by Benet with Foster, “Hurricane” was an acoustic ballad with a dramatic atmosphere and touching lyrics. The singer obviously bared his soul on “Hurricane.” Benet delivered an intense performance full of emotion. Foster provided a stripped down arrangement that fueled Benet’s beautiful, heartfelt singing with strings, keyboards and guitars in an understated way; never going over the top. “Hurricane” and other album tracks including the torch ballad “The Last Time” and the jazzy, soulful “India” were gorgeous pieces of music. Those and others bring back nice memories of the Hitman’s glorious work for legends like Boz Scaggs, Hall & Oates, Loggins and Chicago.

Simply put, Eric Benet’s Hurricane presents some of Foster’s best productions of the new millennium. Check it out.

Listen

Lead Vocals: Eric Benet
Keyboards: David Foster
Guitars: Dean Parks
Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta
Bass: Nathan East
Programming: Jochem van der Saag

Arranged by David Foster
Strings Arrangement by David Foster & Chris Boardman
Produced by David Foster & Humberto Gatica
Co-Produced by Eric Benet

Lyrics

Standing here in disarray comes serenity
The winds of change can devastate
And it took this much for me
With nowhere to run and no reason left to hide, gonna hold on
All the walls around are broken down
Now I can hear the rising sun

Surrounded by everything I want, but nothing that I need
I was blinded by the absurdities, losing all identity
Sometimes what you fear the most is what you need to find that road
Right around that curve, a lesson learned…
Now that I have the eyes to see

A hurricane…a hurricane
It’s sometimes the only way to wash away the pain
A hurricane….a hurricane
It’s sometimes the only thing that brings you back again

With poise and toys I’d isolate
But the wind was strong and true
But now I see where the treasure is
‘Cause they only blocked my view

Spiraling down but so oblivious, got to find my way home
There’s a heart that bleeds trapped in me
But how do I break this shell of stone?

A hurricane…a hurricane
It’s sometimes the only way to wash away the pain
A hurricane….a hurricane
It’s sometimes the only thing that brings you back again

Sometimes I’d cry, but tears wouldn’t fall
And sometimes I’d try to break those walls and feel your love
But I came alive inside when I finally found my way

A hurricane…a hurricane
It’s sometimes the only way to wash away the pain
A hurricane….a hurricane
Sometimes the only thing that brings you back again

A hurricane…a hurricane
It’s sometimes the only way to wash away the pain
A hurricane…

written by David Foster & Junior Miles

“Be The Man” is a power ballad co-written and produced by David Foster for international superstar Celine Dion. The song was originally conceived for a 1997Japanese TV drama entitled “EVE.” Foster composed the entire soundtrack for the Japanese TV movie. Among the many masterfully crafted instrumentals there was “Be The Man.”The lyrics for the song were written by renowned American businessman Edgar Bronfman, Jr. who, since the early Seventies, has had a parallel songwriting career with the alias Junior Miles. Bronfman and Foster also co-wrote “To Love You More,” also a big hit for Dion. In addition, they wrote with Bruce Roberts the R&B legend “Love, Love Again” for Smokey Robinson.

Dion’s version of “Be The Man” was included in the Japanese release of her album “Let’s Talk About Love.” It became the second single off the English and Japanese versions album and was eventually certified platinum. The song was also released in the UK as the b-side of the singer’s hit single, “The Reason.” With “Be The Man,” Foster gave Dion another perfect chance to showcase her peerless voice over an impeccable instrumental scenario. The song’s evocative refrain is extremely catchy and powerful, letting the singer soar beautifully in the best Foster/Dion ballad tradition. The production is obviously top notch with customary collaborators like Dean Parks, Michael Thompson and John Robinson adding their world-class prints to the final result.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/be_the_man.mp3|titles=Be The Man|artists=Celine Dion]

Lead Vocals: Celine Dion
Keyboards: David Foster
Acoustic Guitar: Dean Parks
Drums: John Robinson
Electric Guitar: Michael Thompson
Synths Programming: Felipe Elgueta
Backing Vocals: Kuk Harrell & Sue Ann Carwell

Strings Arrangement by David Foster & Chris Boardman
Produced by David Foster

Lyrics

I would fight not to ever fall too deep
Never sure that love would grow
Now at night as I lay me down to sleep
I could never let you go
And lying here with you
I still can’t believe it’s true
Never thought that I would ever find a love
That lasts forever
Be the man that’s mine
Find the love that never goes away
Be the heart I know will be
The one that beats for me, be the man
Used to be scared if
I would ever get this close
I’m not afraid to touch you now
Long before I knewI’d be making love to you
I dreamed that maybe I would one day
Lose myself in someone, someday
Be the man that’s mine
I always try to find the love that never goes away
Be the heart I know will be
The one that beats for me, be the man
Take me where I have never been
I will follow you, you’ll never be alone
I will run, run to you
I never thought that I would ever find a love
That lasts forever
Be the man that’s mine
I always try to find the love that never goes away
Tell me we will always be together
Make us stay in love this way forever
Be the heart I know will be
The one that beats for me
Wherever you may be
Always be with me, be the man