Jazmine Sullivan has released a remake of “Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child.” The song is the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter’s contribution to the new soundtrack for Baz Luhrmann’s biopic, Elvis, in theaters now.
Grammy and Oscar winner D’Mile produced Sullivan’s faithful rendition of the lonesome tune. Her singular voice evokes the melancholic blues of the timeless recording made famous throughout the years by Fisk Jubilee Singers, Odetta, Mahalia Jackson, and many more.
The Elvis soundtrack was released on June 24, the same day the film debuted in theaters. The 36-track project includes music performed by the iconic Elvis Presley. It also features guest appearances from CeeLo Green, Eminem, Yola, Doja Cat, Swae Lee, Diplo, Shonka Dukureh, and many more.
In a recent interview with Rated R&B, Dukureh shared her experience portraying playing Big Mama Thornton and recording her version of “Hound Dog.”
“The whole experience has been out of this world. It’s nothing that I could have even prayed for or thought of. It’s just been one wonderful thing behind another,” said Dukureh to Rated R&B’s Keithan Samuels.
Sullivan won Best Female R&B/Pop Artist at the 2022 BET Awards. During her acceptance speech, she asked men to stand in solidarity with women following the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, which protected women’s constitutional right to an abortion.
“I do this for the women — for my sisters, especially. It’s a hard time right now for us and I want to speak directly to the men,” said Sullivan.
“We need y’all. We need y’all to stand up, stand up for us, stand up with us. If you’ve ever benefited from a woman making one of the toughest decisions of her life, which is terminating a pregnancy, you need to be standing with us. This is not just a woman’s issue. This is everybody’s issue, and we need your support more than ever.”
Sullivan is still on the move promoting Heaux Tales, her multi-awarded album, issued on RCA Records in January 2021. She extended the album with ten new songs and tales earlier this year. The new version’s current radio single, “Hurt Me So Good,” peaked at No. 14 in its fifth week on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart.
In March 2021, Sullivan had her first ascension to the top position with “Pick Up Your Feelings.” The platinum-selling kiss-off won Best R&B Performance in a tie against Silk Sonic’s “Leave The Door Open” at the 2022 Grammys.
This weekend, Sullivan, named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2022, is headed to New Orleans, Louisiana, to perform on night three of the Essence Festival of Culture. Music icon Janet Jackson headlines that evening. Other R&B and soul acts to take the stage Saturday, July 2, include Summer Walker, Carl Thomas, Lucky Daye, D-Nice, Stephanie Mills and many more. There also will be a tribute to Patti LaBelle.
On July 28, Sullivan will perform at Lollapalooza 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. Then, she’ll travel to Toronto, Canada, on Aug. 12 to hit the Budweiser Stage. Following that concert, on Sept. 3, Sullivan is on the lineup for Jay-Z’s Made in America Festival in her hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Later this fall, Sullivan is on the performance bill for the Austin City Limits Music Festival and the ONE Musicfest.
Stream Jazmine Sullivan’s rendition of “Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child” below.
