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.
Learning to Live
Mr Hudson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Day by day, day by day
I'm learning to live without your love
Day by day, day by day
You kick me in teeth
As I was heading for the door
I can see you speak, but can't hear you anymore
Unexpected tears (Unexpected tears)
From our faces fall (from our faces fall)
For years we've talked this through
But I look at you and you look at me
Anyone can see
I'm learning to live without your love
Each day by day, each day by day
I'm learning to live without your love
Each day by day, each day by day
Take a look around your yard
And you ask yourself
What can't I leave behind
Their just things after all
You don't need things anymore
No, you don't need things anymore
It's funny how much junk
Into one trunk can fit
I knew this day would come
When I look at you and you look at me
Anyone can see
I'm learning to live without your love
Each day by day, each day by day
I'm learning to live without your love
Each day by day, each day by day
Where in the world will I go, I don't know
Anywhere but here
Where in the world will I go, I don't know
Anywhere but here
Where in the world will I go, I don't know
Anywhere but here
Where in the world will I go, I don't know
Anywhere but here
Where in the world will I go, I don't know
Anywhere but here
Where in the world will I go, I don't know
Anywhere but here
Memories, ever so sweet
I started thinking, maybe this love is unique
Memories, ever so sweet
I started thinking, that this love is unique
Memories, ever so sweet
I started thinking, stupid me, I started thinking,
Never think, I started thinking
Memories, ever so sweet
I started thinking, never think, I started thinking,
Never think, I started thinking
The lyrics of Mr Hudson's "Learning to Live" capture the experience of dealing with heartbreak and learning how to live without a person's love day by day. The song begins with the singer declaring that he is adjusting to life without the love of his life, a process that he has to do bit by bit. He remembers unpleasant memories of how their relationship ended, with the woman he loves kicking him out as he headed for the door. He admits that the two of them have talked things through over the years, yet their relationship has still come to an end.
The emotional weight of the song continues as the singer tries to move on with his life. He advises his ex-lover to think about what she is leaving behind as he packs his bags to leave but also spills his own emotions about having to leave behind things that remind him of their time together. He tries to find a way to leave everything behind, to start fresh somewhere else, too broken by memories of love so he can't even put them to words anymore.
Overall, "Learning to Live" is a moving song that captures the struggle of losing someone you love and having to move on with your life day by day.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm learning to live without your love Day by day, day by day
The singer is coming to terms with the end of a relationship and learning to move on little by little each day.
You kick me in teeth As I was heading for the door I can see you speak, but can't hear you anymore No I can't hear you anymore
The singer feels hurt and rejected by the other person in the relationship, and has reached a point where they are no longer willing to listen to what the other person has to say.
Unexpected tears (Unexpected tears) From our faces fall (from our faces fall) For years we've talked this through But I look at you and you look at me Anyone can see
Both partners are experiencing sadness and grief over the end of their relationship, even though they have discussed it many times before.
Take a look around your yard And you ask yourself What can't I leave behind Their just things after all You don't need things anymore No, you don't need things anymore
The artist is urging the other person to let go of material possessions and realize that they are no longer needed after the end of the relationship.
It's funny how much junk Into one trunk can fit I knew this day would come When I look at you and you look at me Anyone can see
The artist reflects on how little their possessions matter in the grand scheme of things, and how they always knew this day would come where the relationship would end.
Where in the world will I go, I don't know Anywhere but here Where in the world will I go, I don't know Anywhere but here
The singer is uncertain about where their life will go now that the relationship has ended, but they know that they need to move away from their current situation.
Memories, ever so sweet I started thinking, maybe this love is unique Memories, ever so sweet I started thinking, that this love is unique Memories, ever so sweet I started thinking, stupid me, I started thinking, Never think, I started thinking Memories, ever so sweet I started thinking, never think, I started thinking, Never think, I started thinking
The singer remembers the good times in the relationship and starts to question whether their love was truly unique, but then realizes that it's dangerous to get stuck in the past and dwell on those thoughts.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BEN HUDSON MCILDOWIE, RAPHAEL MANN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind