"Closer," Goapele [SONY RE-RELEASE]

[Deleted]

Listen to "Closer" here: www.geocities.com/jrebirth04/goacloser.rm

www.billboard.com/bb/feature/index.jsp

Borrowing a phrase from the movie "Bull Durham," independent artist Goapele is "going to the show." That's thanks to the recently announced joint venture between her label, Skyblaze Recordings, and Columbia/Sony Urban Music.

"We've been growing as much as we can by ourselves," the Bay Area-based singer/songwriter says in her first interview since the announcement. "But now we have more resources to expand and finally get international distribution. We feel good about this being the right next step."

Under the terms of the joint venture, Columbia/Sony Urban Music will re-release Goapele's 2002 Skyblaze/RED debut, "Even Closer," Feb. 3. The reissued set will feature a bonus track: a remix of the cut "Childhood Drama." Columbia has also signed a production deal for future Goapele projects.

"Even Closer" has sold more than 61,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The singer has also wrapped a video for lead single "Closer." Directed by Dave Meyers protégé Dave Dean, the video is slated to premiere in two weeks. The single, which is also featured on Elektra's "Honey" soundtrack and is heard in the film, reached No. 83 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart in August.

Even though she's made herself known as an independent artist, Goapele vows the joint venture won't alter her artistic vision.

"I did fear that originally and was mindful of that issue," she says. "But we've been patient regarding who we wanted to move forward with and how we wanted to move forward so that who I am [artistically] still comes across."

Last week, Goapele performed at Joe's Pub in New York and over the weekend at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. She's also slated to appear Feb. 14 on the syndicated series "Soul Train."

Fans will definitely get a chance to see her in the near future. In a recent message posted on her official Web site, Goapele wrote, "Get ready, we will be touring a lot this new year!"

[Deleted]

I am VERY happy to hear this. She is one of my favorite new artists and she isn't getting much nationwide respect. She's basically only getting recognition in small areas of California.

"Even Closer," the album was released in 2002. The vinyl single for "Closer" was released in May of last year. "Closer" peaked on my personal chart in August. I really thought it was going to be the end of Goapele. I'm really excited to hear that they are re-releasing the single, the album, touring, and trying to make her a success. She really deserves it.

[UX]

She's great and I'm glad to hear about her getting a chance on a major-label release...Even though I'm tired of "Closer" I'll still back the project.

[Deleted]

Here's the original version of the video directed by Beto Lopez.

www.goapele.com/videos/index_closer.rm

Like I posted, Dave Meyers will be directing the new one.

[strong4PMB!]

She's gotten a TON of recognition in San Francisco. At one time, both KMEL and KYLD had her in heavy rotation. KMEL kept her in heavy rotation for at least 6 months. I'm pretty sure it still gets played too.

Great song. I never charted it since I thought maybe it was an old song, since it was only played on the 2 stations here at that time.

Go Goapele!

[strong4PMB!]

I saw the music video today! It was cool. Much better than the EPK she had in late-2002/early-2003.

[Deleted]

www.goapele.com/flash/home2.html

You can view the new video there.

[HER MINAJesty]

I see it all the time on BET Midnight Love

it's not bad, it's different

[Deleted]

Here's a more reliable audio link:

spotlight-on-rnb.warp-int.com/Singles/Goapele.ram

This made the Top 30 at Urban AC!

[strong4PMB!]

The said:

This made the Top 30 at Urban AC!