After venturing too far into the adult R&B lane with 1999's mature Mary, she proved she was no old fogey with the Dre-helmed club banger "Family Affair". But then came her tepid post-No More Drama reunion with P Diddy (2003's Love & Life) and she just as quickly lost her momentum as the once potent chemistry between her and the producer was no longer felt. 2005's The Breakthrough brought her to new heights both musically and commercially, mostly due to the "We Belong Together"-rewrite "Be Without You", a universal love theme that showcased a stronger voice (she had finally put those off-pitch yowls to rest) and became the biggest hit of her career. But the blatant copycat version that followed, the greatest hits album lead-off "We Ride (I See The Future)", just wasn't cutting it. So as goes the pattern, just as you've begun to fear Mary J is past her prime, she comes back with a stunner that makes you feel guity for ever doubting her.

"Just Fine", the first taste of her eighth studio album Growing Pains, has the Queen enjoying herself like never before. Led off by a playful "Don't Sop Til You Get Enough"-like intro ("This joint right here/ It makes me wanna....OOOOHH!") and nervy synth funk bite, the song finds Mary un-budged from the positive outlook on life she's carried since letting go of all the hateration. "No time for moping around/ Are you kidding?/ And no time for negative vibes/ Cause I'm winning", she sings, her voice gleaming with a contagious feel-good performance.

Back in the day, Mary J was always willing to share her pain with the rest of the female population, so it's mighty admirable that she would take the responsibility to lead those same listeners out of their self-imposed rut, stressing the importance of finding a new lease on life. Her self-confidence has skyrocketed ("I like what I see when I'm looking at me/ When I'm walking past the mirror") and even when darkness threatens to take away from her sunshine, she refuses to let it get her down ("I'm-a still wear my smile when it's raining").

Even more likable is that Blige doesn't allow her rose-tinted grown woman stride to siphon away her youthful spunk. She still keeps her beats hip hop-friendly, but the track's homage to the slick live instrument-based R&B of the 1980's that she grew up off (especially when the regal horns come into play on the bridge) truly gives "Just Fine" it's winning charm. Marking the latest peak of an up-and-down catalogue path, this inspiring joint plants the treasured diva firmly in fine form again.

DL: "Just Fine" (YFH)