In recent years I've had to put five fingers and a palm up to put a stop to all the Michael Jackson cover songs that have come my way after being buried in them throughout the course of 2009 and 2010. Yet, all the groans and apprehension of seeing yet another MJ song being covered were silenced and cast aside when I saw the name of British vocalist Laura Mvula being attached to Jackson's "Human Nature." I have recently become a fan of Mvula's thanks to her alluring single "Green Garden," and from hearing the rich textures and tones in her voice I know she's capable of singing pretty much anything. As this is one of my all-time favorite MJ songs, bringing something special to the table is a must, and well, Mvula has plopped herself down at the head of the table with this sublime reading of the Thriller classic. We all know that SWV's prolific "Right Here" refix is the crème de la crème of "Human Nature" re-imaginings, but Mvula's acoustic rendition for BBC's Live Lounge is just all around gorgeous and worthy of multiple viewings. So take a little time to nestle into this remake, as it's a tribute that's not only a heartfelt nod to Jackson's legacy, but further shines a light on the boundless achievement of Mvula's vocal artistry.
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