Usher stands tall

R&B star Usher is hoping to regain his pop idol crown with the release of his new album Here I Stand.

The first single, Love In This Club, topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart on its release and went to number four in the UK.

Usher explained his new album is a sign of his maturity as a man - a far cry from his playboy beginnings.

He said: "The ultimate story that I'm hoping to convey with this album is one of a different guy; a guy who has matured from being that hustler, that fly guy, that player, to becoming a little bit more responsible, a little bit more honest and a little bit more revealing with his feelings."

But the star, who's also enjoying life as a husband a father to a newborn son, says he's not about to hang up his microphone yet and hopes to go on tour around the world

"The next five to ten years artistically I'd like to continue to do more innovative creative things," he said. "To put out an album tour worldwide is something that I hope to do."

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