Not every pioneer is a swashbuckler. Dido Armstrong, the hit-making British singer-songwriter, has a gentle voice that recalls backyard birdsong and a Jane Austen-like grasp of everyday heartache and perseverance. She helped change pop, however, when she agreed to let the rapper Eminem sample her 1999 song "Thank You" in what became his monster hit "Stan." Since then, calm feminine voices paired with florid male rappers' declamations have become a permanent fixture on the Top 40.
She has been working in the studio with a lot of great producers like: Rollo Armstrong and Sister Bliss (Faithless members), Lester Mendez (Shakira, Nelly Furtado), A. R. Rahman, Rick Nowels (Lana Del Rey, Colbie Caillat), Greg Kurstin (Marina & the Diamonds, Ke$ha, Rita Ora) and Jeff Bhasker (Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift).
The album is called “Girl Who Got Away“, the singer confirmed the title on her Twitter page. The album hit stores on March 5, 2013 via Sony Music and the first single entitled “No Freedom” is scheduled for release on iTunes on January 2013.
On December 15, the singer unveiled the official tracklist:
“No Freedom”
“Grl Who Got Away”
“Let Us Move On” (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
“Blackbird”
“End of Night”
“Sitting on the Roof of the World”
“Love to Blame”
“Go Dreaming”
“Happy New Year”
“Loveless Heart”
“Day Before We Went to War”
Deluxe Version
“Let Us Move On” (feat. Kendrick Lamar) [Jeff Bhasker Version]
“All I See” (feat. Pete Miser)
“Just Say Yes”
“Let’s Run Away”
“Everything to Lose” (Armin van Buuren Remix)
“Lost”
“No Freedom” (Benny Benassi Remix) [Bonus Track]
Leading off with this vigorous track featuring current rap favorite, Kendrick Lamar, who like Eminem is a member of Dr. Dre's Aftermath label. Produced by Dido and her brother Rollo Armstrong with Jeff Bhasker, "Let Us Move On" has the fractured gloss of a Kanye West track and a message of realistic hope that fits with Dido's previous music. Lamar revs the song's engine with a rhyme that starts out quietly and rises like a temperature. "Got these burdens under my wings, but I'm still free," he admits, before taking his final flight. Then Dido comes back to help us ride out the journey.
[Lyrics]
Don’t wrap it up and go,
Or hide it behind the sun
Just give it to me as it is,
And let it stand
Don’t fly it like a kite, between the clouds
It needs no excuse, just bring it down
Let us that are in pain look upon it
In all its glory
Let us move on
Let us move on
This is short and it will pass
Let us move on
Let us move on
For this is short, and it will pass
Every voice that is lifted, river and some pain
Show us now, and let love not be chained
We should feel what we can stop let us be alive
Show enough, and we’ve done, now we can
Let us that are frozen get to see
In all its glory
Let us move on
Let us move on
For this is short and it will pass
Let us move on
Let us move on
For this is short, and it will pass
And let all that is lost be forgotten, and it will pass
So let all that is lost be forgotten
Let us move on
Kendrick Lamar:
Like the waters and the open sea
With tribulation come over you say yes hopefully
And yesterday you could probably say there’s no hope for me
But today I’m overly dedicated
I’m posting via testimony for broken hearts in the city
You’re either crash-landing or planning on flying with me
Misery love standing behind his company,
Well, vividly I could see that your feelings would like to dwell
On our past encounters, reaching over the counter
Told me that it’s appealing to ṗop a pill less or down now
I heard emotions burn deep,
I heard when you fall out of love, the drop is deep
I heard when you see a thug that’s what you try to be
Git these burdens under my wings but I’m still free
Cause I can make the decision to let it all go away
Before I ever run astray, I looked you in the eye and say
Let us move on
Let us move on
For this is short and it will pass
Let us move on
Let us move on
For this is short, and it will pass
Let us move on
Let us move on
For this is short and it will pass
Let us move on
Let us move on
For this is short, and in the past
And in the past
I love the song, my queen is back!!!
Sources: 1,2