hello. apparently this is a breakup song, but I’ve never heard it that way. the Rundgren track has always been a favorite, and who can deny it? Badu and André’s duet gets me close to tears every time and brings memories of more than one close friend to mind. and the Isley Brothers tune, with Ronald Isley’s beautiful lead, acts as a perfect bridge between the Rundgren and the Badu. the evolution of this ballad reveals itself with repeated listening, each iteration slightly shifting an identical narrative. in library cataloging we may ask: are these different expressions of the same work? or are they distinct works? something to think about as you groove and hang. happy vday <3 - garry

“Hello It’s Me” - Todd Rundgren from Something/Anything? (1972)
“Hello It’s Me” - The Isley Brothers from Live It Up (1974)
“Hello” (featuring André 3000) - Erykah Badu from But You Caint Use My Phone (2015)