Confessions (Bonus Track Version)

iTunes Review

With Confessions Usher made the risky decision to reveal more of himself to his fans than is usually advisable for a pop star. Fortunately for him the response was overwhelming and with over 20 million copies sold, Confessions became the bestselling album of Usher’s career and one of the biggest hits in recent memory. While sales were propelled primarily by the massive popularity of “Yeah!”— a deceptively simple but endlessly enticing Lil Jon dance beat that will certainly go down as one of the definitive songs of the ‘00s — the rest of Confessions is built upon revelations about Usher’s personal life; specifically the fact that his philandering resulted in the collapse of his relationship with singer Chili, of TLC. “Burn,” “Truth Hurts,” and especially “Confessions, Pt. II” deliver on the promise of the album’s title, as Usher makes the listener privy to personal admissions that come off as surprisingly candid. Any singer can talk about cheating, but it takes a special kind of performer to make the audience feel they are experiencing his regret and anxiety as it unfolds.