One of my favorite songs this summer was Joe´s exuberant power ballad “Beautiful”. The song came out in July, timing the only two really hot weeks we were blessed with in Sweden this year. It was a real heat wave, which is quite ridiculous to think of now when it’s completely dark for about 18 hours a day. Anyway the song suited my mood perfectly those weeks, I used to play it way too loud when I rode my bike down a long slope to the beach. A bit corny perhaps but that was the whole idea, a true rnb moment.

Surprisingly the song wasn´t featured on New man, instead it was used  as an exclusive for Joe´s Greatest Hits. I didn’t check that one out and would probably have forgotten all about the song if there wasn´t for a new version showing up last night. This time it’s sung by the grandfather of rnb, Uncle Charlie Wilson. At first I didn’t like his version, but now, after repeating it for an hour, I like it better. He´s much more laid back than Joe which is quite nice since the song is rather melodramatic.

“Beautiful” was credited to the genius song writer James Fauntleroy and producer team The Underdogs when it first came out. I haven´t found any official confirmation backing it up but to me it really sounds like a Fauntleroy song. I’m also quite sure its Fauntleroy’s voice in the beginning and background of the song.

Which version do you prefer?

Joe - Beautiful

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Charlie Wilson - Beautiful

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