I remember walking into the Virgin Megastore that was on Union Square on August 25, 2001. It was my first day at my dorm at NYU for my sophomore year. It was a small tradition that I made for myself that each year I go back to New York I would buy a CD at that store. The first year it was Dilated Peoples “The Platform,” and that year it was Canibus’s “2000 B.C.”
I walked up to the counter and while ringing up the CD, he asks me, “Did you hear about Aaliyah?”
I said, “No, what happened?”
He replied, “She was in a plane crash and passed away.”
My jaw dropped.
I admired Aaliyah, because her “One in a Million” album was a classic to me. The combination of Aaliyah on top of Timbaland beats were a match made in heaven, and I had bumped the songs from that album consistently for a number of years, most especially “If Your Girl Only Knew,” “One in a Million,” “Four Page Letter,” and the remix to “Hot Like Fire.” Her voice was just right; she wasn’t a flashy singer, but on point with emotion and delivery with that correct amount of soul. Her harmonies always sounded great.
Most people usually use the word “angel” to describe her, and I’d have to say that description is pretty accurate especially when it came to her voice. There was a smooth feel there that just made you feel, “this girl’s definitely got it.”
And you have to admit, the hair over the eye, shades, and the baggy jeans/pants and tank tops were a good look without sluttiness giving a touch of not-so-feminine but sexy.
She had great versatility too. On that album alone you had ballads like “Four Page Letter” and “How Could the One I Gave My Heart To,” more funky songs like “If Your Girl Only Knew” and “Hot Like Fire” (remix was RIDICULOUS), and sensual sounding songs like “One in a Million,” and she handled her business properly on each.
Couple that with Timbaland’s ingenuity, and you had the perfect combination. Sorry Keri Hilson (even as great a songwriter as you are), but Keri doesn’t match nearly as well with Timbo as Aaliyah did.
Even her later works, like “More than a Woman,” “We Need a Resolution,” “Rock the Boat,” “Try Again,” and “Miss you,” were all really good songs, and I thought Aaliyah opening up “Up Jumps the Boogie” with Timbo, Missy and Magoo was just epic; there was just a feel to it that made you feel something was about to happen.
When I think of female R&B artists now, there’s a void where Aaliyah should be. No disrespect to the Beyonce’s and Alicia Keys’s of the world (both great artists, mind you), but there was something about Aaliyah that was different. The right amount of soul and sweet melody with no gimmicks, no overdone sexiness, and a good amount of versatility.
Here’s just some of my favorites from YouTube so you can enjoy the greatness that was Aaliyah:
Music Scene Spotlight: Aaliyah Was One In a Million
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010I remember walking into the Virgin Megastore that was on Union Square on August 25, 2001. It was my first day at my dorm at NYU for my sophomore year. It was a small tradition that I made for myself that each year I go back to New York I would buy a CD at that store. The first year it was Dilated Peoples “The Platform,” and that year it was Canibus’s “2000 B.C.”
I walked up to the counter and while ringing up the CD, he asks me, “Did you hear about Aaliyah?”
I said, “No, what happened?”
He replied, “She was in a plane crash and passed away.”
My jaw dropped.
I admired Aaliyah, because her “One in a Million” album was a classic to me. The combination of Aaliyah on top of Timbaland beats were a match made in heaven, and I had bumped the songs from that album consistently for a number of years, most especially “If Your Girl Only Knew,” “One in a Million,” “Four Page Letter,” and the remix to “Hot Like Fire.” Her voice was just right; she wasn’t a flashy singer, but on point with emotion and delivery with that correct amount of soul. Her harmonies always sounded great.
Most people usually use the word “angel” to describe her, and I’d have to say that description is pretty accurate especially when it came to her voice. There was a smooth feel there that just made you feel, “this girl’s definitely got it.”
And you have to admit, the hair over the eye, shades, and the baggy jeans/pants and tank tops were a good look without sluttiness giving a touch of not-so-feminine but sexy.
She had great versatility too. On that album alone you had ballads like “Four Page Letter” and “How Could the One I Gave My Heart To,” more funky songs like “If Your Girl Only Knew” and “Hot Like Fire” (remix was RIDICULOUS), and sensual sounding songs like “One in a Million,” and she handled her business properly on each.
Couple that with Timbaland’s ingenuity, and you had the perfect combination. Sorry Keri Hilson (even as great a songwriter as you are), but Keri doesn’t match nearly as well with Timbo as Aaliyah did.
Even her later works, like “More than a Woman,” “We Need a Resolution,” “Rock the Boat,” “Try Again,” and “Miss you,” were all really good songs, and I thought Aaliyah opening up “Up Jumps the Boogie” with Timbo, Missy and Magoo was just epic; there was just a feel to it that made you feel something was about to happen.
When I think of female R&B artists now, there’s a void where Aaliyah should be. No disrespect to the Beyonce’s and Alicia Keys’s of the world (both great artists, mind you), but there was something about Aaliyah that was different. The right amount of soul and sweet melody with no gimmicks, no overdone sexiness, and a good amount of versatility.
Here’s just some of my favorites from YouTube so you can enjoy the greatness that was Aaliyah:
If Your Girl Only Knew:
One in a Million:
Four Page Letter:
Hot Like Fire [remix]:
Rest in Peace Aaliyah. We all miss you.
-mnshyn
Tags: 4 page letter, aaliyah, canibus, dilated peoples, four page letter, hot like fire, if your girl only knew, missy, missy elliot, music scene spotlight, one in a million, timbaland, union square, up jumps the boogie, virgin megastore
Posted in Music Commentary, Music Reviews, Video Clips | 1 Comment »