Just saw a TWEET about this today and am kinda feelin’ it. Check out this new track by Jesse McCartney called “Up.” It’s featured on the upcoming soundtrack for Step Up 3D (due out July 27th) and was produced by Dapo Torimiro. The sexually-charged, AutoTune-heavy track features McCartney really flexing his R&B muscle, giving us a taste of what his new album is likely going to sound like.
Singer/Songwriter/Actor McCartney has come a long way since “Beautiful Soul.” His second album, 2008’s Departure was exactly that…a departure from his teeny-bopper pop roots, opting instead for a more mature-sounding pop music. Looks like the “departure” paid off in the end. Lead single “Leavin‘” hit #10 on Billboard’s Hot 100…that’s 6 spots higher than “Beautiful Soul’s #16 chart peak. While follow up singles, “It’s Over,” “How Do You Sleep?” and “Body Language” failed to do the same kind of chart damage as “Leavin’,” the latter two seem to have shaped a NEW direction for McCartney – R&B/Pop. McCartney experimented with the sound on his singles “How Do You Sleep” (featuring Ludacris) and “Body Language” (featuring T-Pain) and although the singles only managed to peak at #26 and #35 respectively, it was enough for McCartney to shift gears for his upcoming fourth album. Not sure if this move really makes a lot of sense, considering how the more POP-leaning “Leavin'” charted vs. where the two urban-influenced singles ended up but who knows. Listen to “Up” below and tell me what you think!