First off, Usher wants fans to know that he's doing much better, thanks.

Less than a week after pulling out of an appearance at 'NSYNC's "Challenge For The Children II" charity event (see [article id="1435069"]"Usher Misses Charity Game Due To Exhaustion"[/article]), the singer's health had rebounded enough to where he was able to start promoting his new album, "All About U.

During an interview with MTV Radio, Usher talked about his recent collapse in the studio, and while he avoided getting into specifics, he did admit that his intense work schedule had taken his mind off such things as his diet and his general well-being.

[article id="1451490"]"My doctors just told me that I was working so hard that I forgot to do the necessary things,"[/article] Usher said, [article id="1451490"]"like eating and drinking water and stuff like that, so I was sorta dehydrated and just overworking myself.[/article]

HREF="/sitewide/utils/playmedia.jhtml?clip=/mtv/news/real/u/usher000801_3.rm">"I was a bit under the weather," he added. "My doctors asked me not to really discuss exactly what went on, but I wanted my fans to know that I am better, and I wanted them to know that I have a lot still going on. I'm really excited and still working hard on completing this record and coming up with visions for the videos as well as concepts for the next album."

All About U," Usher's third studio effort, is set for release on October 31, and he indicated that the record's focus on a dance-oriented sound was, in many ways, a response to some of the overly materialistic themes in hip-hop.

"That is the stereotype that everybody is coming with right now, the 'bling bling,' the 'Rollies' and the Mercedes-Benz,"

Usher said, "but

with this album, I'm trying to take it back. I'm trying to do a U-turn.

"Let's go back in time and pick up where we left off when we were dancing, when it wasn't about what you had," he added. "When music was just all about feeling good, making it to the dance floor that night or that weekend... or the skating rink. Just bringing it back to the essence of what dance and entertainment really is -- that's what I'm going to do with this record.

"At the same time, you'll have records to listen to that'll hopefully help you through a situation, or coach you through the dramatic situations in life where you don't know what to do with your girl or your guy. Hopefully, you'll have a record on there that you

can listen to together and say,

'Well, we'll work through this," or "Let's get busy," or whatever. But this is definitely a record all about you and all about myself." [RealAudio]

Usher said that he is currently deciding between no less than three songs for the possible first single from "All About U," including "U-Turn," "Pop Your Collar," and "I Can't Let You Go.