Quincy Jones & Akon For "Strawberry Letter 23"

A music video aimed to support the revamped version of Shuggie Otis' 1977 song "Strawberry Letter 23" has been debuted. The Dayo-directed video features Quincy Jones sharing screen with his collaborator Akon, who going to a fantastical world and meeting his beautiful secret admirer.
Legendary producer Quincy Jones is the all-time most nominated Grammy artist with a total of 77 nominations and 28 winning Grammys. He says, "If there are any common denominators, they are spirit and musicality. I go for the music that gives me goose bumps, music that touches my heart and my soul." Jones has pulled together today's musical elite for his latest compilation album "Q: Soul Bossa Nostra," a celebration of Jones' legendary talent and infinite stamp on musical history. In honor of Jones's achievements, today's music stars will cover some of his biggest produced hits. The album will feature Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, Trey Songz, Tyrese, Ludacris, and more!
Seven years in the making, Q's remix album "Soul Bossa Nostra" is scheduled to release this summer. As the first single off the record, Jones to remake a great song from his catalog: the trippy, soulful 70’s gem "Strawberry Letter 23." Written by the great Shuggie Otis and made famous on a Jones-produced album by the Brothers Johnson, the song was inspired by the strawberry-scented paper Otis' girlfriend would use to write letters to him. As a tribute, Akon's music video opens with him holding an envelope and a note that reads, "I've been listening to this song all day."
"The concept of the video is almost like the concept of the new song," Akon told MTV. "It's about receiving a letter, but the letter is scented in a strawberry scent, and it happens to be the 22nd letter or 23rd letter. In the video, I'm receiving it from this beautiful admirer. I go through this fantasy world, this garden, and I'm following her through it. I actually get to meet her." Akon was quoted as saying, "When Quincy called and told me about this album, I said you have to let me do 'Strawberry Letter 23' and the funny thing is that's the song he was thinking about already. We brought a new modern feel to this classic and I think everyone's going to really enjoy it." And Jones couldn't agree more. The producer stated, "It is [opaque]. Its imagery... abstract imagery. It was abstract back then. [Akon] did it. Talk about impeccable taste. That's why it's the first single."