Following 2020’s Heavy Love, her first studio album in 20 years, Louise arrives three years later with more new music. This time, packaged with an updated Greatest Hits compilation.
The singer, actor, style icon, and television star, who rose to fame in 1993 as one-fourth of the pop/R&B girl group Eternal, has had quite an impressive career in entertainment (30 years to be exact!) since her global breakthrough, something which is reflected on the 30-track release. With nine top hits as a solo artist and another four during her time with Eternal, Louise casually joins the list of stars with the most top 10 entries in the UK, an achievement that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
While compilations are usually both a celebration of a musician’s career as well as a nostalgia fest, Louise kicks off hers with the four new tracks she recorded specifically for the release. Opening with the ‘80s-infused “Super Magic,” Louise proves that her ability to still produce top-tier pop music is by no means out of reach. The Janet Jackson/Prince-inspired bop, first released in 2022, still manages to sound fresh for today’s market while also paying homage to the golden ‘80s era when said superstars ruled the charts. The follow-up single, however, “High Hopes,” is Louise at her most mesmerizing. Singing to a gospel-inspired chorus, she effortlessly shows off her beautiful voice on what might become her most classic song to date.
Unreleased tracks, “Right Now” and “Feel” both take on a different approach. “Right Now” embodies a more beachy, sitting by the pool in Ibiza at 2 pm vibe while “Feel” can be perceived as the darker sibling with a little more grit. “I like the way you make me feel / And every time it hurts at least I know it’s real / I like the way you make me feel,” Louise confidently sings in the chorus.
In addition to including her substantial amount of hits that have been adored by fans for many years, Louise made the decision to put breathe new life into nine of them, three from Eternal and six of her own. Standouts include “Naked,” a signature song from her whole career, and Eternal’s “So Good,” which is arguably more enjoyable than the original. No stranger to being a massive fan of Jackson, Louise finishes off the deluxe with a wholesome cover of 1997’s “Together Again.”
For someone whose talent sometimes feels goes way under the radar for some obscure reason, it’s important to mention that Louise has never been a better pop star than she is today. And luckily for us all, more of her best material is still yet to come as she previously told EUPHORIA. that a fifth studio album is what is already on her radar.
“I like there to be a cohesiveness to it,” Louise explained. “I’d really like it to have that ‘Super Magic’ old-school feel to it, from the whole early Jam and Lewis kind of days. I want it to sit in that world and try and make it really flow as an album.”
Louise’s Greatest Hits drops June 2nd via BMG.
