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Ne-Yo
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It's The Year of the Gentleman – and you're cordially invited to an exclusive set with one of R&B's most talented singers.
You've arrived at Soundcheck...
Walmart’s original performance series where you get up close and personal with your favorite artists. Check out live performances and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from original in-studio sets – all filmed exclusively in HD. Soundcheck is broadcast in Walmart stores nationwide – or catch us online 24/7.
Help/FAQ
You won't need to download any additional video players or downloads. The Soundcheck performances play right inside the site itself, making it quick and easy to access.
Try hitting the refresh button on your browser. If that still doesn't work, review the minimum system requirements below.
PC
• Windows 2000, XP Home or Professional, Vista or Windows 7 in 32bit and 64bit
• Intel Pentium 4 2.33GHz, AMD Athlon™ 64 2800+ processor (or equivalent)
• At least 256 MB RAM
• 64MB of VRAM (video card memory)
• Internet Explorer 6.0 to 8.0 (IE 8.0 recommended)
• Mozilla Firefox 2.0 to 3.5
• Flash Version 9.0.115 and up.
MAC
• Mac OS X v10.4 or later
• PowerPC G5 1.8GHz, Intel Core Duo 1.33GHz or faster processor
• At least 256 MB RAM
• 64MB of VRAM (video card memory)
• Mozilla Firefox 2.0 to 3.5
• Safari 3.0
If you have the minimum system requirements, reinstall your Flash Player by clicking here
We have a top-notch music label relations team that helps us book acts. They are constantly on the phone with music labels around the country trying to get the best bands on Soundcheck.
Soundcheck is an original performance series created by the Wal-Mart Music team, giving you the opportunity to go behind the scenes and get an in-studio look at some of your favorite artists. Soundcheck plays right here on Walmart.com, or, for the full high definition experience, visit any Walmart store and head to the Electronics department to watch it on the Walmart TV Network.
We'll be adding new performances on a regular basis throughout the year, so please check back regularly at Walmart.com/soundcheck for more information.
We'll have artists from all genres; some old, some new, some huge, some more emerging - but all will be presented in the same intimate studio environment. So be on the lookout!
Check in regularly at Walmart.com/soundcheck, or visit your local Walmart store and watch the Walmart TV Network.
No. Just visit Walmart.com/soundcheck and watch for free!
Once the performances launch, you can play it anytime you want, 24 hours a day. We'll keep all artists up on the site under "The Performances" tab.
We recommend broadband DSL or Cable to anyone who wants to truly enjoy video and audio on the Internet. However, we have made available a smaller dial-up version so you don't miss out.
If you are reading this page right now, you likely have everything you need. However, watching the Soundcheck performances requires at least the following in order to properly stream media content:
PC
• Windows 2000, XP Home or Professional, Vista or Windows 7 in 32bit and 64bit
• Intel Pentium 4 2.33GHz, AMD Athlon™ 64 2800+ processor (or equivalent)
• At least 256 MB RAM
• 64MB of VRAM (video card memory)
• Internet Explorer 6.0 to 8.0 (IE 8.0 recommended)
• Mozilla Firefox 2.0 to 3.5
• Flash Version 9.0.115 and up.
MAC
• Mac OS X v10.4 or later
• PowerPC G5 1.8GHz, Intel Core Duo 1.33GHz or faster processor
• At least 256 MB RAM
• 64MB of VRAM (video card memory)
• Mozilla Firefox 2.0 to 3.5
• Safari 3.0
If you have the minimum system requirements, reinstall your Flash Player by clicking here
Browse Videos
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Performance Photos
About The Artist
The Set List
- The Crew at Wal-Mart Soundcheck
Gentlemanly Duties
The title of Ne-Yo's new album is a throwback to a more sophisticated era. Explains the polite superstar: "The inspiration came from me basically looking at the music business as a whole and just making an assessment of what it is to be a gentleman. The essence of what it is to be a gentleman ... from outward appearance to the way we perceive and treat our women. It is just lacking nowadays. I always take it back to the days of the Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and, you know, the class and integrity that it was to be an entertainer back then. You don't see that nowadays. This album is just me trying to lead by example."
The Ne-Yo Science Project
"Just listening to different genres of music, different artists, artists that I'd never heard of before. I decided to do this experiment - that's what I call this album - my big science experiment." That's how Ne-Yo explains his third solo album, and it's an apt description of a record that celebrates every possible genre of music. "At the end of the day, good music is good music. That's the music that I was trying to produce for this album. Not black music, not white music, not R&B, not pop. Just good music."
Channeling MJ
Fans and critics have noticed similarities between Ne-Yo and Michael Jackson, and we wondered if the inspiration was intentional. "Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder are the two artists that my mother gave me to study when I was learning how to sing. My mom used to listen to Smoky Robinson, Donny Hathaway, Billy Ocean; these guys with these distinct kinds of smoky, heavy voices. I didn't have that when I was a kid. I had a very high, teeny voice. I wanted to sound like those guys so I hated my singing voice. My mom gave me Michael Jackson's 'Off the Wall' and Stevie Wonder's 'Hotter Than July.' I knew 'Off the Wall' backwards, forwards, every lyric to every song. I became a fan of Michael Jackson, his tone ... his stage presence. So when you hear that Michael Jackson essence in there ... that's where it comes from."
- Ne-Yo is Shaffer Chimere Smith and was born on October 18, 1979
- There's not a lot he doesn't do. He is an award-winning singer-songwriter, record producer, rapper, film and television actor, and dancer.
- He's written and produced songs for some of the biggest names in the biz: Rihanna, Beyoncé, Enrique Iglesias as well as upcoming albums from Lindsay Lohan and Michael Jackson.
- He began his own record label in 2007: Compound Entertainment. Associated acts include Paula Campbell, Sixx John and Shanell.
- He is the proud father of a son with his longtime friend, Jessica White
- His influences include Marvin Gaye, the Rat Pack and Sammy Davis Jr., Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder
Ne-Yo has stated that much of the inspiration for 'Year of the Gentleman' came from London house clubs where the singer spent four months last year. As Europop sounds played in the entertainer's ears, he vowed to make an album to make people dance. Explains Ne-Yo: "House music is solely about the way the music makes you feel. It's not about what's being said - it's about how that music's making you feel." Produced by the Norwegian producing duo Stargate, 'Closer' is the album's most delirious dance track, and it's the one he chooses to kick off our set.
Because of You
Perhaps one of Ne-Yo's best-known tunes, 'Because Of You' is the Stargate-produced first single from the performer's second album. As the slinky, classic R&B groove plays in the background, Ne-Yo uses the song to display his old-school showmanship. Introducing his band, 'The D Boys,' he channels a performance from a bygone era - as well as dance moves that show off some seriously slick, sophisticated choreography.
So Sick
"I'm so sick of love songs / so sad and slow / So why can't I turn off the radio?" So sings Ne-Yo in this bittersweet ballad to the torture of romantic tunes. Another song produced by Stargate (clearly a favorite of Ne-Yo's), 'So Sick' was the second single from his debut album, 'In My Own Words.' The song hit No. 1 on the charts and it's easy to see why; Ne-Yo delivers an affecting vocal performance that is an emotional highlight of today's set.
Go on Girl
This tune from Ne-Yo's second studio album, 'Because of You,' sounds like it could have been the original inspiration for Beyoncé's hit, 'Irreplaceable' (which, incidentally, was also penned by Ne-Yo). With a sophisticated smash-cut verse and a slinky solo from the singer's accomplished horn section, 'Go on Girl' stands out as signature Ne-Yo. "I was inviting her into my heart / But she was riding in some other man's car / Guess I was wrong / but see I'm strong / Won't take me long / to move on."
So You Can Cry
It's time for a new track from the upcoming record, 'Year of the Gentleman.' If there's a musical trend evident on Ne-Yo's new disc, it's that the songs summon gorgeous old-school sounds - think the Rat Pack if they were recording today. Sounding like a possible future single, 'So You Can Cry' has a sensitive vocal track and love-gone-wrong lyrics: "There will be pain / but life goes on / With every day / a brand new song / But if you'd rather stay at home / let me do you a favor ..."
Do You
Originally conceptualized as a retort to 'So Sick,' Ne-Yo ends his set with 'Do You,' a highlight from his second album, 'Because of You.' Produced by The Heavyweights, 'Do You' is a classic Ne-Yo composition (the original single even featured remixes by Kanye West and Mary J. Blige.) Ending his emotional set, Ne-Yo croons a question anyone in love has asked: "I just wonder / do you ever / think of me anymore / Do you?"
