History Music / Voodoo

* BreakUpSong: "Spanish Joint":

* {{Sampling}}: It would be utilized throughout the record with the most noted example being Questlove's drum interpretation of Prince's "I Wonder U" from his eight studio album, ''Parade''.
* SelfBackingVocalist: Many of the tracks featured mulit-track layering of D'Angelo's vocals.

** A more general interpretation is that 'the root' in question is a vodun-based metaphor for what the singer (treats like) a spell of infatuation that his ex-lover still has over him, and the song narrates the emotional dialogue he experiences - first in his inability to move past his emotional dejection over his failure to reignite the relationship he had with his old flame, then it gradually shifts towards an 'exorcism' of sorts as the closing bridge of the song echoes a repetitious chorus in a gently rousing crescendo, representing the singer's newfound resolve to break free and move past his ex-lover's influence. In short, it's simply about coming to terms with a break-up.

** A more general interpretation is that 'the root' in question is a vodun-based metaphor for what the singer (treats like) a spell of infatuation that his ex-lover still has over him, and the song narrates the emotional dialogue he experiences - first in his inability to move past his emotional dejection over his failure to reignite the relationship he had with his old flame, then it gradually shifts towards an 'exorcism' of sorts as the closing bridge of the song echoes a repetitious chorus in a gently rousing crescendo, representing the singer's newfound resolve to break free and move past his ex-lover's influence.

* {{Curse}}: The Root" in wherein an ex lover has seemingly cursed the singer by using [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoodoo_(spirituality) hoodoo]].
** A more general interpretation is that 'the root' in question is a vodun-based metaphor for what the singer (treats like) a spell of infatuation that his ex-lover has over him, and the song narrates the emotional dialogue he experiences - first in his inability to move past his emotional dejection over his failure to reignite the relationship he had with his old flame, then gradually moving onto an 'exorcism' of sorts as the closing bridge of the song echoes a repetitious chorus in a gently rousing crescendo, representing the singer's newfound realisation that he can move on from his ex-lover's influence.

* {{Curse}}: The Root" in wherein an ex lover has seemingly cursed him by using [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoodoo_(spirituality) hoodoo]]:

* {{Curse}}: The Root" in which an where, an ex lover has seemingly cursing him by using [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoodoo_(spirituality) hoodoo]]:

* InTheStyleOf: As critics have noted and D'Angelo's own admission, "Untitled (How Does It Feel) is meant to be a Music/{{Prince}} tribute. With the track emulating his style and Questlove describing it as:
-->''"Finding the line between parody and honesty ... In an era of 'the cover song', redoing a Prince song was taboo. This is the second best thing"''

->''"I named the album ''Voodoo'' because I really was trying to give a notion to how powerful music is and how we as artists, when we cross over, need to respect the power of music. Voodoo is ancient African tradition. We use "voodoo" in the drums or whatever, the cadences and call-out to our ancestors and that in itself will invoke spirits. And music has the power to do that, to evoke emotions, evoke spirit. That’s something I learned in the church when I was very young and that’s what I wanted to get across."''

After the success of his debut album ''Music/BrownSugar'', D'Angelo spent four-and-a-half years away from the music scene, struggling with writer's block and generally only recording cover versions of soul songs for movie soundtracks. He would begin recording for his sophomore album in 1998, inspired by the birth of his son, a trip to the American South (UsefulNotes/SouthCarolina, specifically) and his frustration with black music, RAndB in particular, becoming more pop and club-oriented.

In 2001, ''Voodoo'' would win a UsefulNotes/GrammyAward for Best R&B Album. One of its singles, "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" (also itself popular for its infamous music video), won for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. The album has been included in the 2003, 2012, and 2020 editions of ''Magazine/RollingStone''[='=]s list of the [[UsefulNotes/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime 500 greatest albums of all time]]; it placed at #488, #481 and #28 respectively, making it the album with the biggest jump in placement between 2012 and 2020.

[[caption-width-right:350:''Africa is my descent and here I am far from home'']]

->''I named the album Voodoo because I really was trying to give a notion to how powerful music is and how we as artists, when we cross over, need to respect the power of music. Voodoo is ancient African tradition. We use "voodoo" in the drums or whatever, the cadences and call-out to our ancestors and that in itself will invoke spirits. And music has the power to do that, to evoke emotions, evoke spirit. That’s something I learned in the church when I was very young and that’s what I wanted to get across.''
-->- D'Angelo, explaining the meaning behind the album's title in an interview with ''Jet'' magazine.

->''She done worked a root\\
In the name of love and war took my shield and sword\\
From the pit of the bottom, that knows no floor\\
Like the rain to the dirt, from the vine to the wine\\
From the Alpha to creation, to the end of time, yeah\\
To the end of time''
-->- "The Root"

''Voodoo'' is the second studio album by African-American musician Music/DAngelo, released on Virgin Records in 2000.

After the success of his debut album ''Music/BrownSugar'', D'Angelo went into a four and a half year absence from the music scene and releasing his sophomore record. He was also stuck with writer's block and generally only recorded cover versions of soul songs for movie soundtracks. He would become inspired by the birth of his son, a trip to the American South (UsefulNotes/SouthCarolina, specifically) and his frustration with black music, RAndB in particular, becoming more pop and club-oriented and began recording in 1998.

Noted for its jam-like quality and eclectic nature, ''Voodoo'' is a concept album inspired by black music, in particular jazz, funk and the blues. Taking influence from artists such as Music/JDilla, Music/SlyAndTheFamilyStone, Music/MilesDavis and Music/FelaKuti, ''Voodoo'' would be defined by a loose, jazz-esque improvisational style defined by lazed guitar based funk, groove-oriented atmosphere and a mild hip hop production style with a vintage 70s aesthetic permeating throughout the record. It would become a noted release in the [[NeoSoul neo soul]] movement, with many considering it to be one of the greatest works of its genre and of the 2000s. It would also inspire future recordings by the experimental black music collective, the [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soulquarians Soulquarians]] (a group which had been present in the production of this record and of which D'Angelo was apart of), with member, Questlove, drummer, producer and bandleader for Music/TheRoots and founding member of the Soulquarians, citing its recording process as a influence on their third album ''Things Fall Apart'', in an [[https://www.webcitation.org/5uUMdbMQI?url=http://web.archive.org/web/20080430011914/http://www.okayplayer.com/theroots/viewreview.jsp?rid=6 essay / review of the record]].

In 2001, ''Voodoo'' would win a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 43rd Grammy Awards. Ehich was awarded to D'Angelo and recording engineer Russell Elevado. One of its singles, "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" (also itself noted for its infamous music video), won for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, as well. In 2003, ''Magazine/RollingStone'' ranked the album at number 488 in their list of the [[UsefulNotes/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime 500 greatest albums of all time]], at number 481 in the 2012 list, and in the [[UsefulNotes/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime2020 2020 revision]], the album was ranked at 28, making it the album with the biggest jump between the last time they updated the list in 2012.

In 2001, ''Voodoo'' would win a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 43rd Grammy Awards. Ehich was awarded to D'Angelo and recording engineer Russell Elevado. One of its singles, "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" (also itself noted for its infamous music video), won for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, as well. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked the album number 488 on its list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and at number 481 in its 2012 list. And in 2020, the album was re-ranked at 28, making it the album with the biggest jump between the last time they updated the list in 2012.

In 2001, ''Voodoo'' would win a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 43rd Grammy Awards. Ehich was awarded to D'Angelo and recording engineer Russell Elevado. One of its singles, "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" (also itself noted for its infamous music video), won for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, as well. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked the album number 488 on its list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and at number 481 in its 2012 list. And in 2020, the album was re-ranked at 28.

* EpicRocking: Due to the album's jazz influence and the fact that majority of the record was initially recorded in a jam like fashion. Multiple track break six minutes ("Playa Playa", "One Mo'gin", "The Root", "Feel Like Makin' Love", "Greatdayndamornin' / Booty", "Untitled (How Does It Feel"), "Africa") with the longest tracks stacked back to back near the end of the record.
* FaceOnTheCover: The album cover shows a photograph D'Angelo shirtless with lyrics to the album written across from it, where the album title is in a gothic for.

* MeaningfulName: "The Root" is about a woman who curses D'Angelo with rootwork, another name for hoodoo, an Afro-American spirituality and folk magic that originated in the American South from African slaves.
** Doubly so, the album itself is named after ''Voodoo'', an Afro-diasporic ecstatic religion similar to hoodoo, which is characterized in part by ancestral veneration, which fits the album's general theme of homage to Afro-American tradition.

Noted for its jam-like quality and eclectic nature, ''Voodoo'' is a concept album inspired by black music, in particular jazz, funk and the blues. Taking influence from artists such as Music/JDilla, Music/SlyAndTheFamilyStone, Music/MilesDavis and Music/FelaKuti, ''Voodoo'' would be defined by a loose, jazz-esque improvisational style defined by lazed guitar based funk, groove-oriented atmosphere and a mild hip hop production style with a vintage 70s aesthetic permeating throughout the record. It would become a noted release in the [[NeoSoul neo soul]] movement, with many considering it to be one of the greatest works of its genre and of the 2000s. It would also inspire future recordings by the experimental black music collective, the [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soulquarians Soulquarians]] (a group which had been present in the production of this record and of which D'Angelo was apart of), with member, Questlove, percussionist and frontman for Music/TheRoots, citing its recording process as a influence on their third album ''Things Fall Apart'', in an [[https://www.webcitation.org/5uUMdbMQI?url=http://web.archive.org/web/20080430011914/http://www.okayplayer.com/theroots/viewreview.jsp?rid=6 essay / review of the record]].

Noted for its jam-like quality and eclectic nature, ''Voodoo'' is a concept album inspired by black music, in particular jazz, funk and the blues. Taking influence from artists such as Music/JDilla, Music/SlyAndTheFamilyStone, Music/MilesDavis and Music/FelaKuti, ''Voodoo'' would be defined by a loose, jazz-esque improvisational style defined by lazed guitar based funk, groove-oriented atmosphere and a mild hip hop production style with a vintage 70s aesthetic permeating throughout the record. It would become a noted release in the [[NeoSoul neo soul]] movement, with many considering it to be one of the greatest works of its genre and of the 2000s. It would also inspire future recordings by the experimental black music collective, the [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soulquarians Soulquarians]] (a group which had been present in the production of this record and of which D'Angelo was apart of), with member, Questlove, percussionist and frontman for Music/TheRoots, citing its recording process as a influence on their third album ''Music/ThingsFallApart'', in an [[https://www.webcitation.org/5uUMdbMQI?url=http://web.archive.org/web/20080430011914/http://www.okayplayer.com/theroots/viewreview.jsp?rid=6 essay / review of the record]].

* OdeToFamily: "Africa" is a song D'Angelo wrote in dedication to his son.

Noted for its jam-like quality and eclectic nature, ''Voodoo'' is a concept album inspired by black music, in particular jazz, funk and the blues. Taking influence from artists such as Music/JDilla, Music/SlyAndTheFamilyStone, Music/MilesDavis and Music/FelaKuti, ''Voodoo'' would be defined by a loose, jazz-esque improvisational style defined by lazed guitar based funk, groove-oriented atmosphere and a mild hip hop production style with a vintage 70s aesthetic permeating throughout the record. It would become a noted release in the [[NeoSoul neo soul]] movement, with many considering it to be one of the greatest works of its genre and of the 2000s. It would also inspire future recordings by the experimental black music collective, the [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soulquarians Soulquarians]] (a group which had been present in the production of this record and of which D'Angelo was apart of), with member, Questlove, percussionist and frontman for Music/TheRoots, citing it as a influence on their third album ''Music/ThingsFallApart'', in an [[https://www.webcitation.org/5uUMdbMQI?url=http://web.archive.org/web/20080430011914/http://www.okayplayer.com/theroots/viewreview.jsp?rid=6 essay / review of the record]].

* BigNameFan: Questlove went on record to say, in his own essay that:
-->''"If I was a singer this would be the record I'd make. Hands down. But that doesn't mean this is for everybody. Music lovers come under 2 umbrellas those who use it for growth and spiritual fulfillment and those who use it for mere background music. The thing is, this record is too extreme to play the middle of the fence."''

* CreatorsFavoriteEpisode: Questlove, a producer on the record would state that "Africa" was his favourite song on the record, stating:
-->''D'Angelo didn't see this at first because we had already did a song about his son. But I told him the music here fit the mood better. It's like a bunch of toy boxes playing at once... It gives you that sad feeling that 'Higher' gave you on Brown Sugar; a dope song that you don't want to hear because you know that this is the last song you're gonna hear in some time. I know D wanted to do a song that spoke of history. Not just to his son. but to God, to Africa and the world.''

* EvenBetterSequel: The record is generally considered to be a major improvement upon the musical themes touched upon on on his previous record, ''Music/BrownSugar''.

* AWildRapperAppears: Method Man & Redman on "Left & Right"

* HotterAndSexier: This record was this to ''Music/BrownSugar''. It being exacerbated furyher by the cover art and the music video for its single "Untitled (How Does It Feel)".

In 2001, Voodoo would win a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 43rd Grammy Awards. Ehich was awarded to D'Angelo and recording engineer Russell Elevado. One of its singles, "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" (also itself noted for its infamous music video), won for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, as well. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked the album number 488 on its list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and at number 481 in its 2012 list. And in 2020, the album was re-ranked at 28.