Congratulations, Noel Gourdin…

I awoke to see my stats for this site going up and up and up.

Finally someone commented that they played The River on The Steve Harvey Morning Show this morning.

The River by Noel Gourdin is blowing up!

Okay, so I just jumped that Noel Gourdin has officially made Google’s Hot Trends list today.

That’s awesome.

Just when I thought I may have been a little kooky for immediately starting a Noel Gourdin fansite after the first time I heard “The River” riding home from Chicago to Ohio last summer with my husband, Christ the Lord has once again proven Himself to know more than I do.

Now the world can be exposed to that beautiful song.

Where’s Noel Gourdin’s CD?

I still only see an import version of the CD that’s not available anywhere yet — only The River MP3 download for sale.

But now that Noel Gourdin is positively blowing up across the globe, I know Sony will be pouring more money into making and promoting it.

At least I pray that if it’s Hill will, it will.

(Minus that one song you know I’m talking about…)

When you’re ready for an interview, Noel

If you haven’t deleted the email with my cellie number, hold on to it if you ever feel led to give me an interview.

Either way, bless you for the MySpace comment and keep looking at that cross when life gets rough.

I’m so happy for you!

by Paula Neal Mooney

“Noel Gourdin posted a new comment about you at 8/27/2007 4:51 PM”

That’s what the subject line of an email read in my AOL inbox.

Noel Gourdin had actually posted a comment to my MySpace page!

This is, of course, after I’d left a gushing email in Noel Gourdin’s MySpace inbox asking for an interview, giving him my cell phone number and waiting…

Isn’t it wonderful how the Lord leads us?

In the previous post I wrote that I felt Noel Gourdin was reading what I was writing. Lo and behold — he sure was!

So Noel promised to get back with me. I hope and pray he does.

Noel Gourdin, let me “Buy U a Drank” next time you roll thru Cleveland, Ohio…

There are so many question I want to ask you, like:

1 - What is Noel Gourdin’s exact birthdate? (Journalists need to know these kinds of things for future articles…)

2 - Does Noel have a girlfriend? Wife? Kids? (Oops….I see Noel’s MySpace answers say “someday” on the children question.)

3 - Is Noel Gourdin a Christian? (My son just said his songs sound like church.)

4 - What’s your favorite Prince song, Noel? (I, too, was a Prince freak growing up. Guess mine would be Holy River (Disc 2 Track on the Emancipation CD.

5 - Did you know “Noel” means “shout joy” and “good news”? I found a little info on where the Gourdin name comes from…sounds like the French-African-American thang…

6 - …which doesn’t quite line up with the Native American heritage of your biological dad. By the way, have you ever wanted to look him up? What if he shows up when you blow up like Shaq’s biological dad did? Will you forgive him?

7 - Finally, WHEN EXACTLY IS YOUR CD DROPPING? I hope soon…

As you can see, I’ve been researching the hell outta Noel Gourdin.

But our talk will be fun.

I tend to talk about myself and open up, and God grants me the grace and favor to have many of my interview subjects to open up, too.

And might I say I’m hella happy that I finally checked the MySpace.com Official Noel Gourdin Fan Site and found Noel’s video of his appearance on the Apollo.

Here’s Noel Gourdin singing “The River” on the Apollo. (At least I know how to pronounce “Gourdin” now!):

Here’s Noel Gourdin singing “Summertime,” described as a sultry song (guess I got some more lyrics coming up to post!):

by Paula Neal Mooney

The searches on Noel Gourdin are increasing, and somebody searched for his “One Love” song today, so I figured it was time to get back on my job and get the “One Love” lyrics blogged, which are below.

For you youngin’s who don’t know where Noel Gourdin gets that “One Love” chorus from, it’s a throw-back from Whodini’s “One Love” rap song — the original video has been removed from YouTube. Sucky.

But check the beat and original “One Love” lyrics by Whodini.

I used to think that lead singer and other guy were so fine with their light green eyes. Wonder where they are now?

I wish the original video would resurface so I can show y’all the laughably basic dance moves.

Anyway, either I’m just in a mood tonight (and really want to get a good video in to i-Caught), or Noel Gourdin’s “One Love” just ain’t doing much for me.

It’s pretty and his voice is nice and lovely, but I don’t know if he’s really feeling what he’s singing like he sings on The River.

C’est la vie.

I guess Mr. Gourdin still outshines whatever he sings, rising above the material. And the voice-morphing thing is kinda cool.

And I love that Noel throws words like “indignant” in his lyrics. You don’t find that every day.

So maybe it’s just me.

What do y’all think?

Noel, hit me up with a comment. I got a feeling you’re reading…

One Love lyrics by Noel Gourdin

Ever since you’ve been gone
Got me wondering baby
Why it’s taken me so long
To make you my baby

Now I know we said we weren’t gonna rush
I was the first to say it
But I’ve been thinking about your touch
My mind keeps replaying it

Chorus:
And everything I once stood for
I take it all back for your love
I realize that I want you more
Talking ’bout maybe getting serious

‘Cause baby it’s time we talked
So that we could just discuss
Where we gonna try and go from here
‘Cause baby this here ain’t us

Baby what about us?
(Baby what about us?)
We could be just one love…
(We could be just one love…)

Baby what about us?
We could be one love, one love
We’re lucky just to have just one…

And ever since you left that night
I can’t stop thinkin’ ’bout cha
Seems like something just ain’t right
Spending days without cha

Now I try my best to hold my tongue
But it’s time to get indignant
Baby we should just be one
So just say you’re with it

Repeat Chorus

Baby I need you
‘Cause I adore you
You’re the only one I’m kissin’ babe
You’ll be the only one I’m missing baby

You hold my heart and soul
Making plans, setting dates
Gotta let me know
If I’m the one for you…

…my one and only LOOOOOVVVVEEEE

Baby what about us?
We could be one love, one love
We’re lucky just to have just one…

Baby what about us?
We could be one love, one love
We’re lucky just to have just one…

by Paula Neal Mooney

The Washington Post is confirming that Noel Gourdin will join Angie Stone tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Rock Creek Park’s Carter Barron Amphitheatre.

I’m so glad to see Angie Stone back.

Her new CD called The Art of Love and War drops September 18, 2007.

And Angie Stone’s “Baby” video with Betty Wright is hot!

It’s funny how Angie Stone’s “Baby” video is reminiscent of her relationship with her baby’s daddy, D’Angelo, who has been compared vocally to Noel Gourdin.

I wonder if that’s why Noel Gourdin got hooked up with Angie Stone for this concert?

Anyway, the tickets for the concert with Angie Stone and Noel Gourdin are listed at $23 and you can call these number for more info as listed in the Washington Post:

Veteran Grammy-nominated soul singer and actress Angie Stone headlines a show Friday at Carter Barron Amphitheatre.

She’ll be joined by young R&B artist Noel Gourdin. Tickets cost $23.

ANGIE STONE Friday at 7:30 at Carter Barron Amphitheatre, in Rock Creek Park at 16th Street and Colorado Avenue NW. For tickets, 202-397-7328; for information, 202-426-0486 or http://www.nps.gov/rocr/cbarron

Of course, living all the way in Ohio, I don’t plan tromping over to DC tonight to check out the show. (Especially if Noel’s planning on singing that horrid “Clap 4 That” song.)

But Noel Gourdin with Angie Stone in Rock Creek Park (a place I want to visit ever since hearing that famous “Rock Creek Park” song) should be an amazing concert.

For all y’all that do go, please leave a comment and let me know how it was! Thanks…

This is the beginning of the beginning for Noel Gourdin. Once that crowd hears his fabulous voice and style, word of mouth will carry this brotha all over the nation. God love him and bless him.

Please subscribe for free email updates from the Noel Gourdin Official Fan Site or add it to your Google Homepage or Reader or add it to your Yahoo homepage or any of your other favorite news readers for updates about Noel Gourdin.

by Paula Neal Mooney

Okay, I’ve finally listened to Noel Gourdin’s (and co-writer’s?) “Sorry” lyrics long enough to write them all down.

The not-sorry “Sorry” song and its lyrics are sultry and intoxicating.

No wonder the girl referenced in Noel Gourdin’s “I Hear You Talkin’” lyrics “came back every time.”

Noel sounds like an honest man not afraid to put his heart on his sleeve in this era of over-exaggerated machismo.

The “she really put me on” confession about the girl he cheated with must’ve felt like a knife in the gut to his cheated-upon love, but at least he felt guilt over having creeped.

Other than that, the melodic “Sorry” and its lyrics are lulling but not a standout in an otherwise crowded R & B world.

I’m so glad that the Negro spiritual (as Noel calls it) The River came out first and is hopefully in heavy rotation on XM radio.

“Sorry” doesn’t hold water (get it?) compared to “The River,” other than the outstanding jazzy riff Gourdin does at the end — which really shows the mirror-like vocal quality to D’Angelo, whom I meant to compare Noel Gourdin to more than Maxwell.

Turns out Raphael Saadiq produced both D’Angelo as well as some of Noel Gourdin’s songs, and it seems Noel is already trying to distance himself from being called D’Angelo 2.0:

“I hear the comparison…” Noel says on his MySpace page, “…our voices are similar but you can tell us apart.”

Indeed we can, Noel, indeed we can.

And I love D’Angelo, so here’s plenty of prayers that he comes out of his latest troubles, and that Noel Gourdin never touches that path.

Sorry lyrics by Noel Gourdin

Girl we need to talk
‘Cause I can’t look at you
And keep this to myself

‘Cause every time I see your eyes
The thought comes back to mine
Girl I didn’t want to do it
But I gave into temptation

I couldn’t hold it back
She really put me on

And I swear I never meant to hurt you
But it’s killing me
‘Cause now I’m so afraid

Chorus
‘Cause I don’t want to lose you
Girl I’m sorry
Forgive me
If you just let me explain
Girl I’m sorry
Forgive me

Baby now I understand
If you just want to up and leave
After what I done
‘Cause I don’t deserve you

But if you can only take the time
And think of what we had
If you could just give me a second chance
Baby we can live romance
Baby just me and you
With no one in between us

Oh…now I know I’m asking for too much
But if you still have a heart
Girl that’s all I need

Repeat Chorus

I don’t want you to leave
Because I love you
(Girl, you know that I love you baby)
Girl I can’t see myself living without you
(I can’t see me living without you)
I don’t know what I’d do if I’d lose you

Repeat Chorus Twice

I’m sorry babe
I’m sorry babe
I’m sorry babe

I’m sorry babe
Sorry babe
Sorry baby
Sorry babe

Sorry

Oh! Ooohhhh!

What do you think? Would you forgive Noel Gourdin if he sang the “Sorry” lyrics to you?

Leave me a comment.

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