If you have listened to any James Brown song or experienced any of his electrifying performances, then you already know that he is not the easiest artist in the world to cover. For this reason, Christina Aguilera’s rendition of “It’sA Man’s World” practically stopped the earth from spinning when she paid tribute to him back in 2007. I don’t think any of us can forget that moment.

So when I saw that up and coming Chicago-bred songstress Natalie Oliveri took a stab at the legendary ode to female companionship, I was a bit nervous. However, when I pressed play, I was pleasantly surprised by what I heard. Accompanied by a heavenly band of gifted musicians and background vocalists, Natalie is unconcerned with giving us something that we’ve heard before; she reaches from her soul. It is damn-near impossible to avoid giving into what Ms. Oliveri is cooking up here–she surrenders all that she has from start to finish. And this, my friends, is what every artist needs: a perspective.

SOUND OFF.