Listen To Two New Jennifer Hudson Tracks: “I Remember Me” And “Why Is It So Hard”

Becky Bain | March 15, 2011 12:14 pm

Jennifer Hudson’s sophomore LP I Remember Me isn’t set to drop for another week, but from what we’ve heard so far, it’s shaping up to be the R&B album of the year. She singer has lined up an impressive list of producers this time around, from R. Kelly and Polow Da Don to Swizz Beatz and even Mrs. Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys. But that’s not all — listen to the Ne-Yo co-produced tune “Why Is It So Hard” below, along with the album’s title track, produced by hitmaker Ryan Tedder.

[wpaudio url=”//static.idolator.com/uploads/2011/03/05-jennifer_hudson-i_remember_me_produced_by_ryan_tedder.mp3″ text=”Jennifer Hudson – I Remember Me” dl=”0″] “What if this life is all that we are given? We just can’t stop living scared of what we’ll see / Cause in this world anything can hurt you, push you then forget you, stole my history / But I remember me,” J-Hud sings on this uplifting, uptempo ballad. Looks like Tedder and Hudson work well together — hopefully their collaboration doesn’t go the way of his working relationship with other Idol alum Kelly Clarkson. (Then again, they apparently managed to kiss and make up, so anything’s possible.) We’re loving this one even more — “Why Is It So Hard” was produced by Ne-Yo and Chuck Harmony, about struggling through a relationship that is totally worth the trouble. [wpaudio url=”//static.idolator.com/uploads/2011/03/08-jennifer_hudson-why_is_it_so_hard_produced_by_ne-yo_and_chuck_harmony.mp3″ text=”Jennifer Hudson – Why Is It So Hard” dl=”0″] “Why is it so hard to love you? So hard to stay? Why is it so hard to love you? But this is the one time I don’t care about the easy way.” This piano-tinkling number is a bit R&B, a bit doo-wop, and entirely contagious. Let’s hope this one gets the single treatment. What do you think of J-Hud’s new tunes?