Legendary songwriter/producer duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis linked up with soul and gospel singers Ann Nesby and the Sounds of Blackness for a mighty performance of the early ’90s hit “Optimistic” at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night (May 23).
Delivered as a tribute to the duo’s hometown of Minneapolis, from Prince’s Paisley Park, Jam and Lewis shouted out the “place that musically has always represented change to the status quo.” They were then joined on stage by Nesby and the Sounds of Blackness, who performed “Optimistic” in a towering a cappella rendition, with powerful photos of recent activism (much of which has been recently centered in Minneapolis) shown on a screen behind them.
