CD Review Brandy “Human”
On December 30th 2006 Brandy Norwood’s life changed forever she was involved in a car accident on the Los Angeles highway and a woman died. The press immediately pounced on Brandy blaming her for the woman’s death but Brandy was cleared of all criminal charges.
Brandy became a recluse she rarely left her house for months in fear of being photographed by the media. The car accident was tragic but it was an accident. However, Brandy still has to deal with a $50 million dollar civil lawsuit.
“Human” is Brandy’s first album with Epic Records since she was released from Atlantic records after her 2004 album “Afrodisiac” flopped on the charts. Brandy has a solid track record she is a Grammy award winner and she has sold over 25 million records worldwide.
On Brandy’s first album release in four years “Human” she is clearly trying to reach an older audience. “Human” has a more softer sound Brandy is more emotional and fragile on this album then any of her previous records. The album has a more adult contemporary sound that is a mixture of R&B and pop. Although Brandy does not address the life altering incident of the car accident she does plead for understanding and forgiveness.
The intro to the album is simply Brandy talking about her life in the past four years how she has grown as a woman and as a young mother. The song “warm it up” (with love) is a nice sounding up tempo song about being in love in a relationship. The ballad “Right Here (Departed)” is such an emotional song it deals with losing someone you love and care for in life whether it is a lover, a best friend, or a family member.
The songs “True” & “Shattered Heart” are both beautiful songs they showcase Brandy’s improved vocal skills.The songs deal with moving on from losing someone you love and rising above the feelings of despair and moving on with life. Brandy sings from her heart on these songs.
“Human” is Brandy’s most mature album to date she is more introspective on this album. “Human” is a departure for Brandy because she is singing about depressing subjects such as lost love, self doubt, death, and unhappiness. Some Brandy fans may be surprised at the mellow sound of the album.
The only downside to “Human” is that there are not enough up tempo songs on the album. The song “Piano Man” is a very nice uptempo song. Brandy is known for making club bangers and on this album most of the songs are ballads and mid tempo songs.
The song “Human” is the best song on the album Brandy sings so passionately she is so vulnerable you can hear the pain in her voice . “Human” should of been the first single released but that’s just my opinion. I think “Human” can be a huge hit for Brandy.
I believe the general theme of “Human” is that we are all flawed individuals. We all make mistakes, we all have regrets in life but we can rise above the pain. I still believe Brandy’s second album “Never Say Never” is her best album but “Human” is a solid album.
CD Review: Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson’s debut CD is a solid but imperfect album. The great svengali Clive Davis is the executive producer and he is clearly attempting to appeal to various demographic audiences. Hudson along with Fantasia are the most talented singers to ever be on American Idol. Jennifer Hudson is the most successful former American Idol contestant ever. Hudson didn’t even win American Idol yet she went to become an Academy Award winning actress.
Unfortunately Jennifer Hudson’s debut falls flat with uninspiring songs that just don’t demonstrate Hudson’s extraordinary voice. For instance, the Diane Warren song “you pulled me through” is for the adult contemporary crowd. “You Pulled Me Through” is just a horrible song it is just not very good. Another song I don’t like is “All Dressed In Love” the theme song for the Sex & The City Movie.
I think the producers have to pick songs that showcase Jennifer’s personality more. Jennifer’s voice has a lot of range she has demonstrated the ability to have restraint and be vulnerable. Diane Warren is known for writing saccharine songs but this one is just dreadful. Hudson is an incredible talent but the problem with Jennifer Hudson’s debut is the material it just doesn’t showcase her vocal abilities enough.
The stand out songs include “Giving Myself”, “my heart”, the hit single “spotlight,” and the duet with Fantasia “I’m His Only Woman”. “I’m His Only Woman” is actually an updated version of the 1970s soul classic Shirley Brown’s “Woman To Woman”. Overall Hudson’s voice is strong and she clearly has the abilties to tap into her emotions to give life to the songs. However, the material is just not very inspiring at times. Hopefully in the future Jennifer Hudson will have more control over the songs selected for her albums which will showcase her talent.
New Kids On The Block New Album “The Block” Is Out!
Yes I will admit it is kind of weird it has been twenty years since New Kids On The Block became global superstars. NKOTB are still here and they now have a very contemporary sound. Does anyone remember the year 1988? Twenty years ago New Kids were the biggest teen stars of that decade. The New Kids fame died down in the early 1990s around 1992 after a world tour. However they prove they are still very talented. Donnie, Jordan, Jonathan, Danny, and Joey still got it!
I have read some negative reviews about the new album the critics are saying New Kids are too old to be singing. The album is an R&B album because the guys sound has evolved they have to change with the times. Do people really want to hear another “Step by Step” or “Hanging Tough” in the year 2008?
I disagree with the critics the guys are giving us fans what we want! I actually think the music is modern the song “Summertime” is beautiful. Also, why would NKOTB sing “bubble gum” lyrics when they are “grown men”? Of course the music is going to be sexual and mature because they are mature adults. I think the critics and the cynics need to just fall back.
Well in the year 2008 New Kids On The Block prove thirtysomething guys can still crank out the hits. NKOTB new album “The Block” had a solid debut at number two on Billboard selling 95,000 copies. Get the deluxe version it has seventeen songs on it and a few ballads.
I will admit I haven’t heard the entire album “The Block” yet but so far so good. I love the songs “single”, “full service” and “Click, Click, Click” it is a very modern R&B song with an eletronic beat. Some people may say the first week sales were not good but NKOTB debut at number two on the American charts. Remember the last album by NKOTB was in 1994 so I think the sales are good. Also New Kids On The Block also debut at number one on the Canadian charts.
CD Review: Here I Stand
After listening to Usher’s new album “Here I Stand” I am very impressed. Usher was the second crush I ever had in my life. There is just something about Usher he can sing, dance, act, and he is gorgeous! I melt every single time I see Usher on television. Usher is the new king of R&B since R Kelly is on his way out. Usher is an international superstar although R Kelly is very popular with urban audiences he isn’t as successful as Usher overseas.
I love Usher because he is a positive image of a young black man. Yes Usher admits to one night stands and cheating on girlfriends. Usher is flawed he is not perfect I admire his honesty. Usher is a very sensitive man. I love sensitive men because they are willing to open up about their feelings and emotions. I have to admit I have a weakness for sensitive male singers and songwriters. I don’t like aggressive men or macho men. I don’t like it when a man is reticent.
I read recently that Usher has fired his mother she is no longer his manager. I applaud Usher for moving on from his mother because he is now independent and following living his life on his own terms.
Usher has clearly matured he is no longer a boy he is now a man. Last year Usher married his stylist Tameka Foster and this obviously pissed off a lot of his female fans. Some of Usher’s female fans forget Usher is almost thirty years old he isn’t a twenty one year old stud anymore. Tameka isn’t gorgeous but she obviously is the woman Usher loves. Usher has always had a predilection for older women doesn’t anyone remember Chilli from TLC she’s older then Usher. I guess Chilli was more palatable because she is attractive.
I don’t understand why some black women are always complaining whenever a black male celebrity marries outside the race? Usher even pointed out he was always going to marry a black woman and have a black child. So what’s the problem? Why are some black females upset with Usher now? Some black women have told me they want to see more positive images of black love. Isn’t Usher’s marriage to Tameka good news?
I don’t care that Usher married an older woman that’s his personal business. Yes, Tameka is thirty seven but so what? Love is love. Why should Usher give up the woman he loves just because some jealous female fans can’t handle him falling in love? Don’t Usher’s fans want him to be happy? Usher deserves to be happy we all deserve to have some happiness in our lives.
The song I love the most on “Here I Stand” is called “Trading Places” in this song there is a gender role reversal. Usher sings about “making coffee, eggs, breakfast in bed” for his woman. Another song I love is “His Mistakes” in this song Usher pleads with the woman he loves to stop blaming him for her ex boyfriend’s egregious behavior.
Some fans may be upset because there are a lot of ballads on the album. Usher demonstrates on “Here I Stand” he is an incredible singer.
Other stands outs on the CD are “appetite”, “Love In The Club”, and “Lifetime”. Usher is branching out I doubt “Here I Stand” will sell as much as “Confessions” though. Confessions was Usher’s breakthrough the CD sold over 9.5 million copies in the United States. Since the public is downloading music these days I doubt “Here I Stand” will sell as much as “Confessions”. “Here I Stand” is a solid album demonstrating Usher moving in a new direction.
CD Review: E=MC2 Is An Outstanding Album
Is Mariah Carey just a dizzy moron with a big voice? Is Mariah just a flake with no emotional core or center? If you pay attention to the news articles you would swear there is a tinge of anger mixed with jealousy after Mariah shattered Elvis Presley’s record. Thank goodness Mariah surpassed Elvis. I am a bit sick of Elvis Presley to be honest I just don’t think he’s as talented as the media claims. Mariah Carey is much more talented then Elvis. It is wonderful that Mariah Carey a woman of colour shattered Elvis record this is an incredible achievement. Mariah Carey is here to stay and if people don’t recognize they better wake up now and get with the program.
What is so special about Elvis Presley anyway? Elvis wasn’t that great a singer he had a couple good songs but that’s it. Why are some music critics so bitter? The negativity towards Mariah Carey is pathetic and immature. Mariah has surpassed Elvis with the most number one hit singles for a solo artist she currently has eighteen number one hits. Mariah is currently in second place behind the Beatles they have twenty number one hit songs. The Beatles were huge long before my time I just can’t relate to them. I think in terms of cultural resonance and importance the Beatles are superior to Elvis. Elvis is supposed to be considered a huge legend. I view Elvis a bit differently he was at the right place at the right time.
Part of Elvis popularity is the fact he appropriated African American rhythm and blues sounds to make it palatable to a mainstream audience. Justin Timberlake’s popularity is similar to Elvis he’s a white male singer that had some soul. Elvis was attractive and indeed talented. So why the scorn against Mariah Carey? The fact is many music critics are also middle aged male snobs. The hypocrisy is some of these male music critics have a problem with Mariah Carey because she is a very beautiful and very talented woman. Mariah isn’t just a pretty face she knows the music industry she has worked very hard for her success. In fact, Mariah has also survived numerous lawsuits by frivolous people attempting to discredit her songwriting skills. Mariah Carey has the skills she knows how to write radio friendly hit songs.
Mariah has gone through an evolution some fans complain about Mariah working with hip hop artists. Where have these people been? Mariah has been working with rap artists since 1995! Mariah is a shrewd business woman she knows hip hop is the music that young people gravitate towards she’s not messing with a winning formula. On E=MC2 Mariah mixes the ballads, with the club bangers and mid tempo songs. In the early days of Mariah’s career she was considered adult contemporary pop music but that wasn’t the real Mariah Carey she loves hip hop. I will admit when I was younger I wasn’t a Mariah Carey fan I just wasn’t interested in the elevator music she used to sing in the early 1990s.
Mariah Carey can actually sing really sing she has a multi octave range. When Mariah started her music career in the early 1990s she was criticized for being a technically proficient singer without the emotional core. It is true in the beginning of Mariah career she she simply had a huge vocal range and that’s it but Mariah has changed for the better. Now Mariah is a lot smarter she has more restraint on her voice she lowers the range when necessary to convey the lyrics. There is no need to shout a song lyric that’s not good singing that’s just being stupid.
Being a good singer isn’t just about a big vocal range, a singer is an artist that can convey emotions to the audience transcend the lyrics and make the words have meaning. Christina Aguliera and Beyonce Knowles are good technical singers but they haven’t matured and learned how to really sing. A good singer doesn’t just scream a lyric at the top of her lungs to convey emotion to make a point. A talented singer can twist the words make certain lyrics have an emotional core.
For instance, Billie Holiday may not be considered the best technical singer but she was an incredible emotive singer because she had the ability to discern how take turn the lyrics and make them magic. Words are just words they mean nothing if the singer doesn’t provide some “feelings” behind the words. Mariah Carey has progressed in her career she doesn’t feel the need to belt out multi octave songs because she is now concentrating on the emotional aspect of singing.
On the track “side effects” Mariah sings about waking up at night thinking about the “violent times” with her ex husband and she still feels the “side effects”. I was shocked when Mariah sings the line “the private hell we built”. Mariah doesn’t just write songs for herself she writes for her fans letting people know you can get out of a difficult abusive relationship. On the track “I’m That Chick” the song has a disco groove it is just mellifluous and wonderful. The song “Touch My Body” the current number one hit is about Mariah letting her lover know she prefers her love life to be private. The lyrics are playful, sensual, without being trashy.
“For The Record” is a song about wanting to go back in time dreaming, thinking about a lost love and wanting the lover back. Anyone that has ever loved someone but secretly thinks about their former flames can relate to this song. We always told to not talk about “ex lovers” because it is viewed as a sign of weakness.
Mariah Carey has dealt with sexism in the music industry and judging from the reviews I have read the sexism continues. From the beginning of Mariah Carey’s career she has always been a songwriter and she resents the fact she doesn’t get respect for her songwriting skills. Why is it so hard for the public to believe a woman can write incredible songs with Mariah’s remarkable consistency? Mariah always has a number one hit for every single album she released in her career with the exception of her two year slump.
Some people forget the movie Glitter and the soundtrack was released on 9/11 this is not an excuse people simply weren’t interested in watching movies or purchasing CDs that week due to the terrorist attacks on New York City. Mariah has more substance then people give her credit for. Mariah Carey is clearly a romantic she believes in love and she sings about the good side of love and the dark side of love. Love is a recurring theme in Mariah’s music but on this album she also sings about forgiveness, death, resentment, and there is a bit of anger on this album too.
On the track “I Wish You Well” Mariah quotes from the bible this gospel song is about moving on from pain. Another incredible track is “bye bye” it is mainly about Mariah’s deceased father but is also a song for anyone that has lost a loved one.
Has Madonna Gone Back To Black?
The year 1994 for the first time in Madonna’s career she was in a slump. Madonna’s controversial coffee table book “Sex” had tarnished her career. The feminist community was upset with Madonna due to the sexually explicit photos in “Sex”. The mainstream media branded the pop legend as a washed up whore. Madonna was pushing the boundaries of sexuality exploring her sexual fantasies such as S&M, role playing, and lesbianism. Madonna was fighting the negativity and the misogyny.
It is interesting that Madonna will return to hip hop and R&B on her new album “Hard Candy”. Fans need to know this isn’t the first time Madonna has explored R&B music. Although Madonna’s record sales are still very strong internationally in North America her sales have dropped dramatically since the 1998 hit album “Ray Of Light”. Madonna desperately wants to obtain the interest of the youth music market so she is going back to R&B in an attempt to jack up her record sales.
Madonna’s last album “Confessions On A Dance Floor” was a moderate success selling 1 million copies sold in America. The sales are a disturbing trend for Madonna she’s losing the youth audience and market. However, Madonna’s 2003 album “American Life” was a flop by her standards the album only went gold. Madonna realizes she isn’t connecting with young music fans and on “Hard Candy” she hopes to reproduce the success of “Bedtime Stories”. So does Madonna only go black when her career is in a slump in North America?
Although the 1992 disc “Erotica” sold 2 million copies the North American media bashed Madonna and called her a washed up pop singer. In 1994 Madonna always the shrewd businesswoman decided to change her image, sound, and go back to black music. Bedtime Stories is an R&B album it was a deliberate attempt by Madonna to crossover and obtain the R&B audience.
Madonna’s risk paid off her music “Bedtime Stories” sold 3 million copies in the United States. Madonna also reached black radio stations and acquired a new demographic.One of the best songs on the CD is “I rather be your lover” a funky duet between Madonna and Meshell N’degeocello. I love this song!
In 1994 Madonna had an infamous interview with David Letterman and she was very vulgar and petulant. Madonna says the media was picking on her because she is a confident woman expressing her sexuality. The song “Human Nature” explores Madonna’s feelings about sexism in society. Madonna hired the best black producers she could find she enlisted the help of superstars Dallas Austin, Dave Hall, and Babyface. Babyface wrote the biggest hit song of Madonna’s career the duet “Take A Bow”. “Take A Bow” was number one on the Billboard charts for seven weeks. Madonna’s image changed once again she decided to be more vulnerable and more gentle. “Secret” was also a hit reaching number three on the Billboard singles charts.
I like Bedtime Stories because it proves Madonna is a versatile singer. Of course Madonna isn’t Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Toni Braxton, or Whitney Houston she doesn’t have the mega pipes. Madonna does have a way of conveying emotion with her voice though. I believe Madonna is a decent singer she’s not the best but she’s not the worst either. On the sleeve for Bedtime Stories you see Madonna on a bed she appears fragile and delicate her makeup is a light shade of blue. Bedtime Stories gave Madonna a lot of credibility with the public and music critics.
CD Flashback: SWV 1992 album “It’s About Time” I Love SWV!
One R&B group ,I am just dying to see return to the top of the charts is SWV. I remember when I was a kid in 1992, I just loved SWV first album “It’s About Time”. In the year 1992, singers actually had to be able to sing. Now in the music industry anyone can be called a “singer” due to technology. SWV also wasn’t trashy or had a licentious image. SWV were simply around the way girls that had a clean image and sang heart-felt love songs. SWV didn’t exploit their sexuality in order to bridge the gap between the R&B audience and the mainstream.
SWV’s first album was a smash selling over three million copies. I still listen to all their hits such as “Weak”, “I’m So Into You”, “You’re Always On My Mind”, “Right Here Human Nature Remix” (featuring Michael Jackson), “Downtown”.
I was surprised it took four long years after “Its About Time” for SWV to release their second album New Beginning. New Beginning was a solid album selling over 1 million copies. The hit songs on New Beginning were “Use Your Heart”, and “You’re The One for Me”. SWV image changed the three singers were no longer teen girls they were now mature women. There also were more ballads on this CD. SWV’s third album “Release Some Tension” I believe is their worst album it didn’t sell well. Coco the lead singer went solo but her solo CD flopped.
I still have fond memories of SWV’s first album because the melodies, harmonies, songs, still sound good today fourteen years later. SWV did the unthinkable in the early 1990s,they were able to match En Vogue in terms of success. In the early 1990s, SWV were able to find their own niche singing ballads with a hip hop beat. SWV is underrated in my humble opinion. I hope SWV consider making a comeback they are desperately needed. I am just not impressed with R&B music right now so many untalented artists are getting record deals based on physical appearance and marketability.
CD Review: Discipline
The atrocious and ludicrous reviews I have read about Janet Jackson’s stunning new album “Discipline” makes me cringe. It is obvious some journalists have no objectivity and clearly are unprofessional. A critic needs to think about the audience and demographics an artist is trying to reach. Why don’t some music journalists just be honest and state that they hate Janet Jackson? Some critics are too esoteric they have this pretentious attitude that their views are the only perspectives that are acceptable. The Entertainment Weekly review of Janet’s latest CD “Discipline” was just lazy journalism and has zero credibility. Some people just don’t have any perspective and are treating Janet Jackson so unfairly.
When Madonna was extremely sexual in the early 1990s with “Erotica” she encountered a major backlash from the mainstream press. Madonna is a shrewd business woman she transformed her image in order to maintain “respectability” and her popularity by “softening” her image. People also immediately forget Madonna also had a bomb 2003 “American Life” only went gold. I think Madonna became more boring and less relevant. The white media praised Madonna for toning down her sexual image and claimed she was “maturing”.
I think the anger the white media have against Janet Jackson is misplaced. The black press has always been more balanced in their views about Janet Jackson. 20 Y.O. was a crappy album and I think even Janet Jackson would admit this. However, Janet Jackson isn’t “withdrawing” or “softening” her image at all for anybody. When male singers sing explicit songs nobody says they are acting desperate or trying too hard to be sexual. So why are different standards applied to female singers? It appears to me the media is still extremely sexist against women expressing their sexuality. Some people are uncomfortable with female sexuality but that’s their problem. Janet Jackson is a grown ass woman and she has the freedom to express herself anyway she wants.
In fact, Janet is continuing on her own path singing the songs she wants to sing she’s not letting anyone tell her what to do. I applaud Janet Jackson for refusing to allow anyone to stop her from expressing herself through her music. The media need to stop complaining about Janet Jackson and get with the program. Janet Jackson has always been a very provocative artist.
One of the most important aspects of any Janet Jackson CD are the numerous interludes this is Janet’s trademark. Some people complain the interludes are “boring” but where have these people been all these years? Janet Jackson’s albums always have interludes she is interested in providing some context and perspective to her songs. “Discipline” is Janet’s strongest album this decade. Many artists have attempted to copy Janet but there is one and only Janet Jackson. I think the interludes allows the listener to understand Janet’s personality better.
There are times on this album that Janet sounds like her brother Michael. The ballad “Can’t B good” reminds me of a Michael Jackson song. Janet is vulnerable on this song questioning herself about a relationship that didn’t work. Sometimes when Janet sings she reminds me of her older brother. Another wicked track “Never Letchu Go” Janet vocals are strong. The ballad “Greatest X” is about heartbreak it is a beautiful song. The S&M song “Discipline” is a mellifluous slow burn that some conservative people may not appreciate since the lyrics are steamy and sexy . Another ballad I love is “Curtains” the song has a wonderful beat. The mid tempo song “The 1” with Janet and Missy Elliott is so playful, cute, and cool I love the funky beat.
I can admit due to my own ingrained sexism since I was raised in the Occidental world that sexuality is viewed as being reserved for young people. If Janet Jackson wants to sing about having multiple orgasms then she has the right to. Thank goodness Janet’s enjoying sex and she’s just letting us know about it. If Janet Jackson wants to moan about masturbation then more power to her. If Janet wants to sing about the various sexual positions she has sex then good for her. We all masturbate, we all have sex, and we all try various different sexual positions. I don’t see the big deal here.
Sometimes I wonder if there is a subversive message that the mainstream is fearful of black female sexuality? Since the days of slavery black women have had a tug of war of being viewed as licentious or being pristine. Why can’t a black woman be confident about her sexuality and not be depicted as a loose or fallen woman? I don’t think Janet is stereotyping black women at all by discussing sex and I don’t think its just a marketing tactic either.
Male sexuality is never scorned men are granted permission to discuss sex until we die. Why are there double standards for women? Sex is beautiful and America is still a puritanical nation that attempts to force female sexuality into certain categories. Janet Jackson is 41 years old and girlfriend works out she has an amazing body. Janet takes care of herself she has a right to flaunt her sexuality if she wants to.
It is obvious to the discerning eye that some people in the media have an axe to grind and a vendetta against Janet Jackson because she’s a Jackson. Thankfully for all Janet Jackson fans she has learned from the mistakes from Damita Jo, and 20 Y.O. I believe Damita Jo is an underrated album but the media crucified Janet Jackson and branded her with the Scarlet Letter after the 2004 Super Bowl. Damita Jo according to the RIAA has shipped platinum and sold about 1 million copies. 20 Y.O. was a flop it was only certified gold. 20 Y.O. was definitely a sloppy album with only a few solid songs such as “Take Care”, “So Excited”, “Get It On Me”, and “Enjoy”.
Janet has made some drastic changes and I am glad she has the courage to move forward in her career . Discipline is a blend between the old Janet Jackson sound and a new fresh R&B sound. First, Janet’s long time producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are gone. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are wonderful producers but their time has passed. Janet has worked with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for over twenty years and her sound was starting to become stale and dry. It was a shrewd move on Janet’s part to hire producers such as Johnta Austin, Rodney Jerkins, The Dream, Tricky Stewart, Stargate, Shea Taylor, Ne Yo, and her boyfriend Jermaine Dupri to work on the album. Janet has also switched record labels she left Virgin for Island. Virgin America disrespected Janet Jackson when they didn’t campaign hard enough to generate publicity for Janet’s last two albums Damita Jo, and 20 Y.O.
Jackson is a legend and people need to let the Super Bowl incident die and move on. One thing I don’t understand why Justin Timberlake never received the same treatment as Janet Jackson? Justin was the aggressor he rips off Janet’s top yet Janet gets all the grief. Once again, the white man is the stud while the black woman is scorned. The mainstream media are demonstrating the pernicious racism and sexism against black women. Why is Janet still being treated like she is Hester Prynne? I respect Janet because unlike some stars she doesn’t air her dirty laundry to the press. For example, Janet was married for nine years yet kept her marriage secret. Janet is an icon and she deserves our respect for all her hard work in transforming pop culture for black entertainers. Janet seems so humble and so sweet and has a very interesting personality I have always found her to be mysterious. Janet also seems to genuinely love her fans she comes across as a real person unlike certain pop stars.
Janet Jackson is very rare in the entertainment industry she has a very famous brother Michael Jackson and yet she emerged from Michael’s shadow to become an international superstar. Janet’s father Joe Jackson pushed Janet into becoming a singer in the year 1982 and finally in 1985 she fired Joe and became independent. The rest is history. Every superstar has times in their career when their record sales goes down nobody stays on top forever.
So many young female singers such as Beyonce, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, Rihanna, and Ciara have all been influenced by Janet Jackson. Janet Jackson was the first modern black female pop star that had the hard baseline grooves, mixed with the pop sound. Janet has evolved over the years. The bottom line is Janet Jackson is going to talk about sex and she doesn’t care what the media or public has to say. I think this CD “Discipline” demonstrates Janet is very confident about herself and this is a very effervescent CD.
The album is mostly club bangers and mid tempo songs but this is Janet Jackson’s strength. I wonder what some reviewers want from Janet? Janet Jackson has never been about saving the world or about the environment. Janet has already had hit songs about racism, homophobia, sexism, family discord, and domestic violence.
The first five songs are club bangers “Feedback”, “Rollercoaster”, “Luv”, “Rock With U”, and “2nite”. I also love the mid tempo songs such as “What’s Ur name”, “So Much Betta”. I hope Janet decides to go on tour this year. The production is incredible, this album represents the real Janet Jackson. Discipline is definitely a solid CD and I definitely recommend that people purchase a copy. Welcome back Janet Jackson!
CD Flashback Review: Brandy’s Hit Album “Never Say Never” Still A Classic Nine Years Later
The year 1998 Brandy Norwood was only nineteen years old she was nervous prior to the release of her second solo album “Never Say Never”. Four long years passed since Brandy’s quarduple platinum debut. The music industry was changing and becoming more “market driven” then ever before. Monica and Aalyiah were challenging Brandy and she needed another hit album to solidify her place as the princess of R&B music.
Unlike a lot of artists Brandy was heavily involved in the songwriting process of “Never Say Never” writing most of the songs on the album. Brandy also has a songwriting credit on the number one smash hit “The Boy Is Mine”. “Never Say Never” is Brandy’s best and most successful album to date selling over fourteen million copies worldwide.
“Never Say Never” made Brandy an international superstar. Every single song has a purpose such as the thumping “Angel In Disguise”, the heartbreaking number one hit smash “Have You Ever?” and the soulful “One Voice”. Brandy proved on this album she should be taken seriously as a singer and a songwriter.
“Never Say Never” was Brandy’s breakthrough internationally introducing Brandy to new markets in Europe, Australia, South Africa, and Asia. Brandy also won a Grammy award for the song she wrote “The Boy Is Mine”. Brandy proved she was a force in the music industry with her talent.
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