He has listed various influences, most notably Chet Baker, David Bowie, The Police, Andre 3000, Marvin Gaye, The Specials, Billie Holiday, Rosster, Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzee Rascal. When he was with The Library they were known for their energetic live performances which include steelpan and a piano. They were nominated for "Best Newcomer" at the 2007 UK Festival Awards.
Mr. Hudson has worked with acts such as Kanye West, Dizzee Rascal, N-Dubz, Kid Cudi, Tinie Tempah and Jay-Z and toured with Calvin Harris. His vocal performances have been compared to those of Sting.[3] He is accompanied by Joy Joseph (vocals and steel drum), Rob Barron (electric keyboard), Raphael Mann (bass guitar) and Andrew "Wilkie" Wilkinson (electric drums).
One of his first appearances was on JUMPOFF producer battles in 2005. Mr Hudson first came to prominence after featuring on Later with Jools Holland on 8 December 2006. The band's debut LP titled A Tale of Two Cities, was released in 2007 to strong reviews and received national airplay on Jo Whiley and Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 shows.
In 2007, Mr Hudson and his band The Library embarked on a tour through 12 British libraries as part of the 'Get It Loud' initiative, and also supported Amy Winehouse on her tour, along with Paulo Nutini, Mika and Groove Armada.[5]
During the summer of 2007 they appeared at several UK festivals, such as Glastonbury, T in the Park, The Big Chill, V Festival, Godiva Festival, and Bestival. In October 2007, the band played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in support of The Police. They also supported Kanye West on his Europe leg of his Glow in the Dark Tour, performing in Dublin and other European cities.
On 11 November 2008, "There Will Be Tears" was given its first UK radio airplay on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show as 'The Hottest Record in the World Right Now'. Mr Hudson's new album – given a working title of Straight No Chaser[6] is set for release in mid-2009 with Kanye West acting as co-producer. As announced in December 2008, Mr Hudson will tour the UK to preview material from his forthcoming album visiting cities such as London, Cardiff, Glasgow and Newcastle.
Mr Hudson featured on Paranoid on Kanye West's fourth album, 808s & Heartbreak. He also co-produced "Street Lights" as well as supplied additional vocals on "Say You Will" and "Amazing". Kanye West has stated: "I believe Mr Hudson has the potential to be bigger than me, to be one of the most important artists of his generation" In the autumn of 2009 Mr Hudson will support Calvin Harris on his UK tour.
A Tale of Two Cities (2007–2009)
The production ... on the band's debut album uses acoustic guitar interspersed with classically informed piano, soulful, Motown-inspired backing vocals and bass guitar, steelpan, electric drums and unusual rhythm patterns to create an expansive sound. Two of the tracks from A Tale of Two Cities are covers; "On The Street Where You Live", ..................mr hudson rules.................is a cover of a number from the musical My Fair Lady[9] and "Everything Happens to Me" is a well known Great American Songbook classic as popularised by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Chet Baker. The album was greeted with warm reviews from the music press.
[edit]Straight No Chaser (2009 – present)
According to Amazon.com, on 1 December 2009, Mr Hudson is set to release a new album, Straight No Chaser (via G.O.O.D. Music and Mercury Records), executive produced by Kanye West.
"I wanted to make a mainstream record, not structured or ornate," he explains. "The first album feels like an Escher drawing, all these layers and you don't know where you're going at any point. The way the songs are written and produced on this one is much more direct. It's not trying to reinvent the wheel. It's straight, no chaser.
Central Park
Mr Hudson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Knock on the door and the city wakes
But you, you're still sleeping
And you, you're in love
Painting a pretty picture
How I wish, more of this were drew
But you, you're in London
And you, you're still in love
Fuck this, I'm a go out walking
Rent a bike and make a few laps in Central Park in the dark
Love is just a memory
Love along the shadow in my heart, in my heart
This is where you'll stay, while I'm at the Hudson
I'd like to see my name above the door
It says we, we're still in Brooklyn
And we, we're never in but you're always welcome
If you run out of dough you know
that I'll spot you
Mr Hudson's song Central Park is about the insurmountable heartaches of love and the memories that it leaves behind. The lyrics describe the noises and commotion of a bustling city, New York City to be precise, and how it continues even while some people remain asleep, perhaps dreaming of a love that they can't physically have. The singer, however, is not 'in love' anymore and has accepted that love is now just a fond memory that exists as a shadow in his heart.
The song's opening highlights the hustle and bustle of living in a big city where the noise from traffic, trains and routine city living never stops. At this point, the singer could be anyone, as they're not yet identified but later the lyricist reveals him as someone who, from the lyrics, is missing someone or something in his life. The lyrics describe a painting, and the singer wishes that he was part of it, hoping to live and have the love that the painting wants to express. The central protagonist counts himself unlucky in love, as he is stuck in London while the person he loves remains in New York City. He tries to overcome the hurt through walking and biking, hoping that the Central Park skyline will provide a sense of comfort and some way of making the distance between his present location and where his woman is a bit closer.
In conclusion, the song Central Park is a poignant reflection on the reality of love and how it can impact people differently, depending on their life experiences. The lyrics of the song paint a picture of love as a memory, a shadow left behind in the heart of a broken man, who tries to find solace in unfamiliar surroundings. Overall, the song is an excellent blend of meaningful lyrics, melancholic tunes, and a soft melody that takes listeners on an emotional journey.
Line by Line Meaning
First few horns and the squeak of brakes
The hustle and bustle of the city begins while cars and buses screech to a halt.
Knock on the door and the city wakes
The moment someone knocks on a door, the city is said to be alive because of its fast-paced lifestyle.
But you, you're still sleeping
However, you are still asleep in your own world, participating in your own dream space.
And you, you're in love
Even though you are asleep, you are still in love with the same person you have strong feelings for.
Painting a pretty picture
You are creating your own beautiful picture of how you want things to be in the future.
How I wish, more of this were drew
I wish I could draw more vivid pictures of how I would like things to be.
But you, you're in London
However, you are not here physically because you are currently located in London.
And you, you're still in love
Despite being far apart, your love for each other remains as strong as ever.
Fuck this, I'm a go out walking
I don't want to be cooped up indoors anymore. I will go out for a walk instead.
Rent a bike and make a few laps in Central Park in the dark
I will rent a bicycle and ride around Central Park at night.
Love is just a memory
Love is a mere memory in my heart. I still remember it fondly, though.
Love along the shadow in my heart, in my heart
The love I once felt is still lurking in the depths of my heart.
This is where you'll stay, while I'm at the Hudson
This city will always be your home while I'm away visiting the Hudson River.
I'd like to see my name above the door
I want to belong somewhere in this city and leave my mark behind.
It says we, we're still in Brooklyn
We still have ties to Brooklyn even though we are not presently in the city.
And we, we're never in but you're always welcome
We may not be physically present, but we will always welcome you if you ever come to visit.
If you run out of dough you know
If you ever run out of money or face hardships, you know we are always there for you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BEN HUDSON MCILDOWIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
L Lawliet
This is literally his best song, It has something so genuine about it.
bigbidalls
im really impressed with mr hudson...great album
Gemma C
he is actually amazing. his album is something so fresh and beautiful. I am very impressed also. I love it.
George French
this is like his older stuff with the library :) and i love it
doey100PSN
I cant belive i forgot about him! Love his music! Thumbs up if your still listening to this in 2011 :)
Richin George
this guy would be so much more popular in United States OTHER than doing forever young.....GOOD MUSIC WATT UPP**
John Salinas
You're still in love... that line echoes in my head
SPOLIERZ
I love the Gutair on this!
café au lait
0:48 love that lol he's so gorgeous
pompom2001
yo Hudson, you're a fittie