On October 2nd, 2026, multi-talented musician Meshell Ndegeocello released her album Synonym. Synonym is an album full of reimagined, reworked covers of classics across a multitude of decades. Each track features an artist within the same gender identification as the original partner in the duet. The tracks range across a broad group of genres, but each one is reproduced as groovy, R&B songs.
Starting off the record is George Michael and Aretha Franklin’s “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” with singer and actress Cynthia Erivo. This cover is a much more laid-back, mellow version of the original song, leaning more into a jazz sound than the original pop sound. Strings are carefully, gently picked with a soft keyboard accompanying it. Erivo and Ndegeocello’s voices blend together melodically on this track, Erivo’s soprano melting into Ndegeocello’s deep alto. Next is Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” with singer-songwriter Cat Power. This groovy, jazz spin on the 80s synth-pop hit is still upbeat and high energy, all while capturing the dreaminess of the instrumentals. So many elements of the instrumentals stand out that it’s difficult to pick apart what truly shines and elevates the track, but the bass on the track serves a lot to push how rhythmic it is.
Yarbrough & Peoples’ “Don’t Stop The Music” features Nick Hakim and Robert Glasper. It takes the 1980 R&B track and slows it down into a gentle duet, with soft guitar strumming that eventually breaks into a more funk sound, with similar jazz elements heard in “Don’t You Want Me.” After that track is Bee Gees’ “Islands In The Stream,” featuring Chaka Khan. Ndegeocello’s take on this track leans a little more R&B, yet stays pretty true to the original production. Chaka Khan was a masterful choice of an artist for singing Dolly Parton’s part, as they share similar tones in their voices. The next track, Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe,” features jazz, alt-rock artist Madison Cunningham. This reimagination takes the melancholic track and turns it into something more danceable. Cunningham’s folk sound was a great pick for what’s originally a more folky, country song.
Singer, songwriter, and bassist of the group Khruangbin, Laura Lee, is featured on the cover of Ja Rule and Ashanti’s “Always On Time.” What was originally an R&B track gets more jazzy in Ndegeocello’s recreation. It slows down the track, substituting Ja Rule’s rapping for something more akin to spoken word. Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway’s “Be Real Black For Me” features Emily King and Lizz Wright on this record. This cover maintains the brightness and sunniness of the original track while remaining mellow, featuring the careful strumming of the guitar and the beautiful tone of both King and Wright’s voices.
Next on the album is Dennis Edwards and Siedah Garrett’s “Don’t Look Any Further,” which features Lianne La Havas. The production on this track is pretty similar to the original; the keys are just less bright, the bass is a little heavier, and the track leans more jazz while maintaining the R&B vibe. Another Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway classic, “The Closer I Get To You,” features Destin Conrad and Moses Sumney. It’s more electronic than the rest of the album, taking the slow-dance vibe of the original track and turning it into something more upbeat.
The iconic Brandi Carlile is featured on George Jones and Tammy Wynette’s “Golden Ring.” Carlile and Ndegeocello’s voices blend beautifully on this track, as a country-esque song is morphed into a melodic, jazzy piece of gentle keys. Next on the album is Sonny and Cher’s “I Got You Babe” with ANOHNI. The original 1965 track is bright, while this reimagination is much softer and chill, featuring tender brass. “Here We Come (Here He Comes)” with Evan McIntosh is a rework of Brian Eno’s ‘77 classic “Here He Comes.” It’s one of the more upbeat, higher energy tracks on the record, with energetic keys and a rhythmic drum line.
A second Bee Gees cover features Ink on “Guilty,” and it maintains the softness of the original track. WILLOW is featured on Temple of the Dog’s “Hunger Strike,” which is just as introspective and dreamy as the original rock track. The outro is much more gentle than Temple of the Dog’s, but they keep Chris Cornell’s belting, just replaced with WILLOW’s voice. Closing out the record is Bob Dylan’s “With God On Our Side” featuring Bill Callahan and Chris Thile. It takes the folk classic and introduces more rock aspects to it as production builds with the percussion.
Meshell Ndegeocello shows off incredible producing talent on this alternative R&B record. Between the lineup of talented artists featured throughout the record and the creative reimagination of hits and classics, it’s a great album to check out.
