Hey y'all, I've been following the hype and promotion surrounding Alicia Keys debut album and it amazes me how they are setting her up to be another musical giant in the realms of Whitney and/or Lauryn. I've had the album for about two months and there are a couple of standout tracks but it has been my observation that Alicia Keys hasn't found her "TRUE" voice. She instinctly emulates other singers that she favors. Erykah Badu, Mary J. Blige(on the two tracks that actually sound like they've been lifted from Mary's My Life CD), Mariah with her whispers and flowing in and out of falsetto to her true voice and a little bit of the big voice phenomenon known as Jill Scott.
Alicia is a great musician but her skills as a singer have been over exaggerated. It will be interesting to see who will set the mold(for lack of a better word) for this year's Grammy's.
One talent who is going to be the Faith and Mary J of the music industry is Blu Cantrell. If y'all love Whitney, Faith, Mary or even Jill, you are going to adore Blu Cantrell. I must say I was quite taken aback by this stellar debut. Not only does Blu have the chops, reminiscent of Faith although her voice is much stronger than Faith's, but her songs are stellar within their own right. The infectious and refreshingly different Swingin' is a throwback to the era. I can just see the video with Debbie Allen choreographing the dance routines. Like Whitney, she believes in taking her time and telling the story through her lyrical delivery before "exploding" the vocal. Songs like U Must Be Crazy, When I Needed You explore the depth of today's "..you done me wrong.." songs. Blu's delivery is ever so soulful, jazzy and bluesy that she makes you wonder WHEN her jazz album will be recorded. The gorgeous ballad I Can't Believe displays Blu's amazing vocal restraint. This is the artist of the year. I believe Blu Cantrell is a far greater talent than Alicia Keys. Blu Cantrell has a voice that will be around for a very long time.
Upon listening to the album, it makes you wonder why Whitney isn't given such above standard songs. Whitney could have sang the entire Blu Cantrell album to perfection. But then again, what can Whitney NOT sing!
Buy the album. I only hope that Blu Cantrell gets the recognition at this year's Grammys she so much deserved or will she be ignored much like Faith's stellar debut and Mary's previous efforts.
Time will tell!
Alicia is a great musician but her skills as a singer have been over exaggerated. It will be interesting to see who will set the mold(for lack of a better word) for this year's Grammy's.
One talent who is going to be the Faith and Mary J of the music industry is Blu Cantrell. If y'all love Whitney, Faith, Mary or even Jill, you are going to adore Blu Cantrell. I must say I was quite taken aback by this stellar debut. Not only does Blu have the chops, reminiscent of Faith although her voice is much stronger than Faith's, but her songs are stellar within their own right. The infectious and refreshingly different Swingin' is a throwback to the era. I can just see the video with Debbie Allen choreographing the dance routines. Like Whitney, she believes in taking her time and telling the story through her lyrical delivery before "exploding" the vocal. Songs like U Must Be Crazy, When I Needed You explore the depth of today's "..you done me wrong.." songs. Blu's delivery is ever so soulful, jazzy and bluesy that she makes you wonder WHEN her jazz album will be recorded. The gorgeous ballad I Can't Believe displays Blu's amazing vocal restraint. This is the artist of the year. I believe Blu Cantrell is a far greater talent than Alicia Keys. Blu Cantrell has a voice that will be around for a very long time.
Upon listening to the album, it makes you wonder why Whitney isn't given such above standard songs. Whitney could have sang the entire Blu Cantrell album to perfection. But then again, what can Whitney NOT sing!
Buy the album. I only hope that Blu Cantrell gets the recognition at this year's Grammys she so much deserved or will she be ignored much like Faith's stellar debut and Mary's previous efforts.
Time will tell!
Think about it, there must be a Higher Love. Down in the heart or hidden in the stars above. Without it, life is just wasted time!
