Justin vs Robin: Crooners of the decade, but who is the best?

So definitely you have heard that song that is so good, well produced and with an excellent collaboration, with this white guy singing smooth R&B over an infectious beat. And of course, a controversial video, with nude supermodels dancing arond and the fully clothed singer strutting around like he just doesn't care, with innuendos and lyrics deemed "rapey" by some hardcore feminists.

Now, make a guess: which artist I'm talking about?

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It is so common on pop music, and for that matter in any musical style, that comparisons between two seemingly similar artists arise, especially if those artists are almost indistinguishable one from the other. And no, I'm not saying this is the exact case between Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke, but oh boy it has been a fun summer trying to spot the differences (if there's any).

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Of course, credit goes where credit is due. Robin was the first one back in 1999 to start experimenting with this suave R&B formula that ultimately became his signature style. First as a producer of several songs for mainly pop acts (including one of my faves from Christina Aguilera's debut album, "When You Put Your Hands on Me"), and then started a solo career that took off with the release of "When I Get You Alone", a fine and excellent mash up of R&B and classical music courtesy of Beethoven. If you haven't listened it, please be my guest. It's just amazing.

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Meanwhile, Justin was on the top of the world with 'NSync and the whole boy band hysteria of the 2000's. But somehow, it was very clear that his fate was not meant to be attached to those guys for long (pun totally intended). So in 2002 he embarked in a solo adventure, with a huge pay-off. "Like I Love You", his frist single and a clear homage to Michael Jackson, both musically and stylishly, met his ready-for-stadiums appeal and his R&B influences, and get a positive response. However, "Cry Me a River" was THE song, after a much publicized breakup with then beau Britney Spears, that launched him on superstar-level.






It is clear that the most successful of those two has been Justin, but clearly this is no Robin's fault. Each album he has done have been consistently good and improving on every aspect. But no doubt about Justin power on music, and he has developed a certain charisma that only superstars can achieve.










(I deliberately put songs similar in style so you can spot very well how these artists have been doing for the past years, and how a person with no knowledge of music and celebrities can easily confound them).

Frankly, I always thought Robin deserved much more attention and recognition. Fortunately, that pretty much changed this year when "Blurred Lines" hit the airwaves, and of course, that infamous video came out. How exactly the video has been helpful to the success of this song? I would dare to say that on a great scale. The song itself is excellent. With the help of Pharrell (who seems ubiquitous this season, don't you think?) and T.I. and a kick ass rhythm, this is the quintaessential summer tune. But the video, with three topless supermodels, certainly made his own indelible mark on pop culture and certainly put Thicke on the A-List of pop music, a place that I'm sure he won't let go for a while. I'm not going to discuss if the video is anti-feminist or derogatory to women; if you take a look on his work pre-Blurred Lines, you will know he's the crooner by excellence, always singing love songs with a smoothness that shows us how devoted he is to the feminine figure, so in my mind, this is just an attempt to reach a wider audience through controversy and of course, talent. Which he certainly achieved.



And then, Justin, which was on a hiatus on music trying to achieve a decent film career, came with the glorious and mature album "The 20/20 Experience", a concept album with sound going from pop, R&B, soul, and many influences, and instantly became a hit. Many people realised that this more stylish approach was very Thicke-influenced, but then the third single "Tunnel Vision" came out and well, we are talking some major blurred lines over here. A state-of-the-art video featuring (just wait) naked woman, over an infectious beat, summer-ready and definitely, the comparisons over the years became so much clear. To be honest, the Tunnel Vision concept is more stylized, and really a great video, but it's clear that whatever muse has inspired these two, is clearly giving them pretty much the same advice.



Let's just list the similarities:

1. Both songs refers to a very serious eye-related conditions.
2. Both songs are very R&B influenced.
3. Both songs are produced by very-recognised hip hop and  R&B producers, who also happen to made a cameo in the corresponding video and sang certain lines in it.
4. Each video has been censored by You Tube for "sexual content", and later reinstated "because of the art" (?).
5. On both videos, all women appear nude, meanwhile men are fully clothed and stylish.
6. Both songs mention on their lyrics stuff that has infuriated feminists, accusing them of being "misogynists" and "disrespectful towards women". The lines? "I know you want it" (Robin) and "I know you like it" (Justin).
7. Both song are really great.

So, who's to blame for all of this? Have they realized about this whirlwind that they created? Are they comfortable with this situation? And ultimately, who cares? There's plenty of room for every other artist, and if they decided to improve musical scenery by making excellent pop music, so let them. Maybe they will provide inspiration for many other male acts and that will be great, since it has been rough times for a male pop act to really stand out on the pop scene in a while.

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But on the meantime, you have to decide which one is the best for you. For me? I guess I can easily spend some quality time with both of them and enjoy making music together. Oops... I guess that didn't come out as expected. (Again, pun totally intended).

So shut up and enjoy their music. With the lights off, please.

10 years of being "Crazy In Love" with THAT song!

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I'm thinking every pop connoisseur like myself remember exactly where we were when we first heard this GLORIOUS song. Me, I was at an Internet café, which were very popular at that time (10 years from now! I'm getting so old). Looking up on the web, I encountered the announcement that Beyoncé song was available for download, so I proceeded to did the obvious, and oh, boy, I've never looked back since.

 

 

 

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I have to be honest: I didn't immediately dig it. A song so atypical of that time, with horns, trumpets, and the like, and a very 70's vibe so unlikely for that era. I mean, not the current sound on the charts (mostly filled with hip hop collaborations and R&B contemporary sounds). But then, this song and the magnetic sample courtesy of the Chi-Lites changed the face of the pop, R&B and hip hop music, for sure.

 

 

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The song gradually grown on me and everyone else, and it was a matter of time for it to reach number 1 on the Billboard charts for eight straight weeks. That's an accomplishment itself, but being the first single as a soloist, Beyoncé really knew how to made an impact on the public. Of course, Jay Z's rap was also responsible for its success (I'm very proud of the fact that, still to this day, I'm able to sing the Jay Z's part in its entirety).

 

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Rich Harrison was the producer of this gem, and of course his popularity went through the roof with this one. Many artists worked with him, and he produced several hits trying to revive the success of this sound, but none of them took him to the levels that this song reached. And that's fine, so many great songs and artists came out of this effort. Just to name a few:

 

 ...and so many others.

 

The legacy of this song, besides the fact that established Beyoncé as a global superstar, is that brought a breath of fresh air to the sound of the 2000's, so plagued with disposable rappers, hip hop collaborations and a declining on pop music. So basically, this song, using a sample of a 70's song, established a model to be followed by many artists and a sound so fierce, as her moniker Sasha Fierce would tell us years later.

 

Of course, this song has been covered many times, but my favorite is the current version of Emeli Sande and the Bryan Ferry Orchestra, in a 20's spirit and it showed this song is indeed timeless.

 

Oh, Beyoncé, this song of yours is already unforgettable. Here's to another 10 years of being 'Crazy in Love' about it! 

Who is Paulina Rubio and why is she a new judge on The X-Factor USA?

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Recently the line-up of new judges on that disaster called The X-Factor US has been known, and among past judges Simon Cowell and Demi Lovato, two new stars has been announced as a regular on the series: Kelly Rowland, former Destiny's Child member and judge on the UK version of Factor, and Paulina Rubio.

 

Many american people -and possibly around the world - were like: who the heck is Paulina Rubio? Me, being Mexican, I'm very familiar with her and I think is my duty to explain why an otherwise obscure artist to most English-speaking world has been granted such a role on this program, supposedly replacing the likes of Britney Spears, nonetheless.

 

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At least in Mexico, Paulina has been a star since she was a child. Member of the 80's group Timbiriche, she has always been a household name but not always on a good way. Being regarded as obnoxious and diva-ish, Paulina is either loved or hated; no middle ground about her.

 

After Timbiriche she became a soloist and release several mediocre albums, with two or three good songs and starred on several telenovelas, all forgettable (maybe you should check Baila Conmigo on You Tube, to see a mexican take of the 50's and 60's era. Be warned). After that, she decided to expand her horizons and contracted several composers and producers to record a great album called Paulina, circa 2000.

  

Of course it was a hit. The best album she has come up with. For 2000's standards, this was such a breath of fresh air, on Mexico and all Latin America. Always syrupy ballads, midtempo numbers and then some girl defy the chances and made an album into dance-meets-latin pop and we all go nuts. even a ranchera-hip hop hybrid was on point.

Then, the crossover was inevitable. And indeed, with the latin boom on the US, this was a no brainer. Then Border Girl came, and although it wasn't a real success on America, at least established her as a real power on latin music and a force to be reckoned with. And if you check the video of "Don't Say Goodbye", you will realize it served as an inspiration of various pop divas on their own videos (looking at you, Shania Twain and Britney Spears, of all people).





After nothing happened on the US, she continued to amaze us with incredible music and videos. Pau-latina, her next effort, was a consistent album well ahead of the Latin Pop market at that time, and rightly so. Excellenet music and videos, like the ones above, made her a well-established name in Mexico and Spain, where she had made a good career pretending to have an Spanish accent and marrying washed up wannabes from that country.





An aside: Do you find something oddly familiar in the Algo Tienes video?

Yep, Lady Gaga took inspiration from her for the "Telephone" video. Now, people would say: "Lady Gaga doesnt even know who Paulina is" and I will say for Gaga, that is a great advantage. Taking fashion and inspiration for obscure artists is something Gaga knows what to do very well, right? Besides, who look better on that outfit? End of aside.

So, it's safe to say that even if Paulina is certainly not that talented and great singer as many other latin artists, she has a certain je ne sais quois to her advantage. It doesn't hurt that she always chooses songs very infectious and fun, and made them her own.







Besides, she has an experience being a coach on musical talent shows. Before the X-Factor gig, she was a coach during the second season of The Voice Mexico version, and on "The Voice Kids" on the US. So she had a minimal experience in these kind of shows, something that can work on her advantage (not that she was the best coach, either, but definitley one of her alumni is right now the most happy person in the world. Just saying).

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So, I'm gonna say: Simon Cowell could be as egotistical and maniac as he is, but sure he knows what he's doing. Bringing something as big as Britney, but equally lifeless and boring didn't work on the long term, so maybe it's better to bring some sort of D-listers (as much as he was back on the day on American Idol), and turn the show into something tolerable and fun. Hopefully, he will get it.

 

 

So, for the record: Yay for Paulina for getting this big opportunity on the US. As a mexican, I'm proud of that. But she better does a great job, or else I'm going to deny everything I said in this post!

 

 

And finally, a photo so you can get to know all of Paulina Rubio (including her camel toe):

 

 

You're welcome.

 



Songs That I'm Currently Obsessed About...

Here are a list of the songs that are on heavy rotation on my iPod and my Spotify account (BTW, there will be a ost about this great, great program, I promise!). In no particular order:


1. "Radioactive", Imagine Dragons. I mentioned it on a previous post, and I will say it again; this is golden pop. This group, although indie on their basis, made such a great pop electronica blend in this track, that it's irresistibly delicious. The video, I'm no fan of it, but it's fun nonetheless. I predict great things for this band if they continue on this route. Amazing, haunting and provocative song.




2. "Get Lucky", Daft Punk. The return of this excellent electronica band,after a 3 year hiatus, is salted with an ode to the pop made at the end of the disco era and the beginning of the 80's. Like I said on a post on the You Tube video: "It's kinda ironic that this song, with a sound so reminiscing of said era, sounds so feriouciously refreshing among the bland pop of the Justins, Rihannas and Harlems out there". And I stand for that sentence. This is the sound of an iconic band.




3. "Come & Get It", Selena Gomez. I know, I know, Selena is pre-manufactured, Justin Bieber's hearthtrob, how on earth, bla, bla, bla. And yet, this song is so infectious with their Indian influences and slick move dances courtesy of this fine young lady. Many people would say this is a desperate attempt to stay relevant in a market filled with easy-forgettable pop young acts; I say, for a girl that is developing a sense of growing up without betraying her roots, this is a great pop song, as it is.





4. "I Love It", Icona Pop. There's a fact that states some of the best dance music comes from Sweden. So it's no surprise that this duo of girls stormed the scene with this club banger, rightfully entitled "I Love It", aware of the meaning of that phrase. We really came to love this song. Really powerful, and of course this is only the beginning for these girls. To get ready for the dancefloor.





5. "White Noise", Disclosure Feat. AlunaGeorge. Granted, EDM is taking over the world one beat at a time. So DJ's are now the rock stars of this era. And this duo of UK DJ's did a great job with this gorgeous song. Mesmerizing since the first listen, it goes well for both club hungers and indie folks alike, who would appreciate the take of Aluna George and the lyrics. A really playful and marvelous track.





6. "Can't Hold Us", Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Feat. Ray Dalton. Some people would accuse this this singer of being another cheap and lame Eminem impersonator. I said: "back off!" This is the real deal. Macklemore sure is clever and current, and his music is actually cool, giving odes to some old school a-la 70's music. This song, appropiately using a black guy on the chorus, gives me a warm sensation and made me feel good when I listen to it. And that what songs should do for us.





7. "Sail", AWOLNATION. Definitely not my type of music, but there's a hypnotic quality on this song that it is imposible to resist. Rock and electronic music always make a great combo, and this epic song futher proofs that corollary, and then some. Not a geniune blast like other songs, and it get a few listens to be liked, but this is something you better not overlook.





8. "#thatPOWER", Will.i.Am Feat. Justin Bieber. Everything that Will did wrong with Britney, now it is done well, except for the horrendous title (seriously, people should stop using the # sign, it only looks well on Twitter). Justin sounds decent, but the production of this sure-to-be pop anthem for the 2013 summer is spot on, and the video is really amazing, with the choreography and all. Again, not the best song out there, just a funny one.





9. "Suit & Tie", Justin Timberlake Feat. Jay Z. Now a married man, this fine gentleman is delivering some serious music that still manages to sound cool and breezy - the 'breezy' part courtsey of the music mogul Jay Z. The beginning of the song could well be on the loop of my iPhone ad-infinitum, and the video is really well executed and precious, on a black-and-white motif. All in all, a great comeback for Justin.





10. "Poetic Justice", Kendrick Lamar. The only thing that does for me in this song? The Janet Jackson simple from "Any Time, Any Place" song. Whatever thet has Janet's signature on it, it's a yes-yes-yesss on my book. And if it is as clever as it is in this song, that's a bonus. And of course, Drake, that man is ubiquitous, and rightfully so. He's so tight in all these collabos, really amazing.



Hope you like them all!

Fashion disasters at the MET Gala?? And a Kylie and Madonna reunion, why not??

I'm not a fashion expert, but this morning I saw some pictures of the MET Gala 2013, a yearly event that takes place obviously on  The Metropolitan's Museum and gathers the creme of the creme of Hollywood. And of course, this being a fashion event, you would think people would be more aware of what they dress because this is THE event for it. Not even The Oscars had this exposure regarding fashion, but judging from the pics I've seen, so many people definitely missed the mark, dropped the ball or didn't read the memo, whatever analogy works best for you.

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Apparently, that grim face was part of the Kristin Stewart attire.

The theme of the night was Punk: Chaos to Couture, because there has to be a theme in these things. And obviously, punk was the attitude all the attendants needed to demonstrate through their clothes and all. Some of them got the look right, and definitely showed the fashionista that lies within them.

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Emma Watson and Miranda Kerr, being cute and fierce.

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Rooney Mara

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Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Watson, Anne Hathaway & Taylor Swift

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Kylie Minogue, being Kylie Minogue. That is, regal.

What these artists show was a very good sense of simplicity, a thing not too many of the Hollywood stars are known for. And obviously, it worked. Those gals looked amazing and although some of them (like Jennifer Lawrence) were not as punk as they should, they definitely hit the mark and passed the fashion test.

Others? Not so much.

Kim Kardashian:

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Seriously, this woman knows no limits. Whoever that said pregnant woman can't be fashionistas, obviously got inspired by this woman. I mean, not nitpicking her weight (it is obvious that a pregnant woman can be that big), but using a dress that accentuates you weight is just plain wrong. It looked like a table cloth, and a cheap one.

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...or a sofa. With an integrated cushion

She knows that there's a thousand ways a pregnant woman can deliver on the red carpet, but she seems to think nobody will notice this mess of a dress. Or maybe she knows and she's teasing us. Either way, this is not the look of an entepreneur and a 'celebrity' (not sure how to call her), so this will go into history as an utterly failure. Again, it's not her body weight, it's the way she didn't accept it as an aside from being pregnant.

Nicki Minaj

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Obviously, Ms. Minaj is particularly known for her fashion style, bordering into the ridiculousness. So a MET Gala inspired in punk could seem like a perfect setting for a bold statement on her part. Instead, she definitely missed the mark by being way too tame by her own standards, let alone the punk standards. Afro looked way out of tune, and definitely this attire didn't look well on her. Maybe it's the waistline. She looked so out of place. And I hope one day women understand that those tatoos don't look so well on dresses (looking at you, Rihanna).

Beyoncé

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Beyoncé is Beyoncé, a force of nature to be reckoned with. And yet, this is so dissapointing. Aside from the fact that this is not punk at all (being punk an attitude more than a dress), it seemed a little bit excessive from her. And God, I'm not sure if those dark hair roots are on trend now, but they look so awful. She can do better than this.

Madonna

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I really, really love Madonna. Why wouldn't I? But this? Let's face it: she is no longer a thirty something to rock these outfits, and although she looks fit and glam, this is way too much for her to handle nowadays. For a woman with a punk and fuck you attitude, this comes cheap and underwhelming. And the bob, so much Edna Mode resembling, was also something so wacky. But then, who can assure this is what Madge intended for it to be? If that's what she was all about, well, mission accomplished.

Ashley Olsen

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Now, entering the realms of the ludicrous. Like a moth to a flame.... This has written 'absurd' all over the place. This posture tries to make sense for this dress, but God it's awful. I know she's rich and all, and this is vintage and all, but seriosly, can someone advice these young starlets regarding haute couture, please? Won't somebody think of the children??

Of course there were plenty of dreadful dresses, but these are the ones that really drive me to write on this subject. I'm not usually a savvy fashionista (I don't consider my style fashion as a 'style', per se) but I know what looks good and bad on myself and others.

A corollary for this Gala: if Lena Dunham somehow manages to look better than you, consider it a big fail on your personal style.

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I wonder if she can manage those high heels.

And get this consolation prize: Madonna and Kylie Minogue, together in this gala. Pop royalty on the same roof! Amazing, isn't it? The Queen and The Princess of Pop. Besides the fact that Madonna's boy toy photobombed the pic blocking Kylie, this is pure bliss right here.

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Seriously, whats-his-name. You're blocking a historical moment. Shit head.







Who was the best and the worst dressed for you on this Gala? Sound off in the comments!







Garbage in concert... and what else can I ask for??

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By now it should be clear that one of my favorite bands in the world for many years have been Garbage. And no doubt when I heard they were returning to Monterrey for a full concert after that tease @ the MTV World Stage, I prepared myself for the showdown, this time solely devoted to them. And quite a show it was!!

 

The date: April 16th, 2013

The  place: Arena Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico

The setlist:

1. Automatic Systematic Habit

2. I Think I'm Paranoid

3. Blood For Poppies

4. Hammering in My Head

5. Control

6. Why Do You Love Me

7. Queer

8. #1 Crush

9. Battle In Me

10. Cup Of Coffee

11. Special

12. The One

13. Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go!)

14. The Trick Is To Keep Breathing

15. When I Grow Up

16. Only Happy When It Rains

17. Vow

18. Beloved Freak

19. Push It

20. Stupid Girl

21. You Look So Fine

  

It's incredible the amount of energy these guys have, at their age (Duke Erikson is 62), something having to do with the great chemistry they have as a band. Definitely, they looked the part while on the stage and didn't dissappoint at any minute. With the banging start "Automatic Systematic Habit", they made it clear that this was NOT a night where you have to be sitted.



Shirley Manson is a veteran at this point in life on stage, and certainly made it clear from the beggining. Although she really made some long speeches that I'm positive half of the arena didn't understand, she is obviously in love with Mexico and mexican culture. They made a contest where you have tomade any form of art resembling two very mexican things: Frida Kahlo (she declared to be a fan of her work) or "Día de Muertos" (All Souls Day). And basically, through various assertions, she declared all the thing that made her so attached to our roots, and I appreciated that, for being a nice and a really genuine gesture.



We had the chance to revisit the greatest hits of this magnificient band, as well as songs from their last album. But really, their catalogue is just breathtaking. Hit after hit, the sounds of the people were mixed with those from the instruments morphing into a wave of emotions that flowed all over the place. This music trascends time and space, and effectively teleported us into a world I'd like to call "BeautifulGarbage", as the name of their third album, and the best in my opinion.



There were only a screen behind them projecting videos and collages, and a very decent set of lights. The show was very simple in its manufacturing, but who does it need all that paraphernalia if you have this type of band? Seriously. And they delivere every single note and every single riff as if there's no tomorrow. This is the work of a band that definitely don't take things for granted and show the appreciation for their fans. And I'm humbly thankful for that.



For me, the nostalgia was present since the first song. After listening to them when I was just a teenager (oh, those were the days), this reminded me simpler times and the fact that this was the soundtrack of one of the most special stages of my life. Maybe this would sound melodramatic, but their music was a constant presence during those years, and it is unforgettable. So for me, this band is beyond a "flavor of the moment" band to a "cult" band, if you like.



So definitely it was an awesome concert. And definitely I have proof of that. You are more than welcome to dropping my You Tube page, where you can find the entirety of this show (the whole thing!) It is my duty to let people know how inspiring and commited this band is on stage, and why they have remained as a part of my life with their music.

So please, enjoy it!

Stupid Sexy Dubstep

You know when you say you hate one thing and then you discover this thing is the best thing since slice bread and then you fall in love with it and you don't want to, reluctantly getting away from it and then all of your thoughts and dreams are about that thing you thought you hate and now all you can say is.... "That is so stupid. And sexy. Damn!"

That's what happens to me and dubstep.

For all you people that still thinks that dubstep is a series of noises and grunts and more noises... Well, you're right. But that's the beauty of it: trying to find some sense on the chaos. And definitely dubstep is as chaotic as it gets, which I think is the main ingredient for rave parties and the like.

Dubstep has been accused to promote the consumption of drugs and I sincerely think that's bullish. I mean, I have went to a lot of raves and even though I've seen people getting high and stuff, I think the most powerful drug is the music itself, so I've never needed a mind-altering substance to put me in the mood. Especially with this type of music.

I don't wanna bore you with the story of dubstep. Suffice to say, Dubstep and pop now seem to be having a symbiotic relation not seen on the past. Well... Circa 2007, an almost demented Britney Spears released what for me is the best album of her career, and one of the gems included in this was the supreme "Freakshow", which would not sound as your standard 2013 dubstep, but definitely includes a wobbly bass line, being that one of the main hallmarks of this rhythm.



And of course, her 2011 single "Hold It Against Me" has a great dubstep breakdown, which really astound me the first time I heard it and it remained my favorite part of the song.



That song has been regarded as the one that introduces dubstep into pop music on such mainstream way, but let's not forget that another artist who took an awesome song (by Avicii, nonetheless), and turn it into a pesudo rap-dance-house-electronica with a dubstep breakdown, and became a monster hit. Of course we're talking about "Good Feeling", a rip-off of "Levels" by Avicii, which also uses a "Something's Got a Hold On Me" sample by Etta James.



Undoubtedly, the most famous dubstep musician is Skrillex. The Grammy-award winner released his first album as Skrillex on 2010, and then became a household figure with "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" and the album by the same name. Dating Ellie Goulding didn't hurt, either, although nowadays he has more fame than her. Anyways, Skrillex has made a cult around him that is spreading faster than AH1N1 virus and remixing songs for such artists as Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Katy Perry, among others. His latest effort, "Bangarang", also made him win a Grammy for Best Dance Recording and Best Dance album, so definitely big things are coming on his way.









There's more to say of this awesome movement, but I prefer the music (and video) do the talking: if you're into pop (and assuming you're reading this blog for that solely reason) you will enjoy the next selection of pop-meets-dubstep music I gather for your amusement. And of course, if you know more music, please let me know in the comments. That will be highly appreciated. Enjoy!






















Bonus! The title of this post comes from a Simpsons episode which I think would be fitting to the first paragraph to this entry. So enjoy this remix of the whole thing. No dubstep, but equally worth it!

Artist of the Week: Toni Braxton

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When I first heard that Ms. Toni Braxton was retiring from music, I was just heartbroken. How could that be? Refraining from a title of one of her songs, "How could an angel break my heart?" That was just heart-wrenching, soul-crushing and devastating, to say the least (?). Truthfully, she was one of the main stars of the 90's era, a voice so recognizable and exquisite, a real gem of the R&B of that decade.

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So for the past two weeks I have been paying homage to this R&B royalty, because it's really amazing what she had accomplished with her music. And although all of her money problems and severe health issues, she is still standing like a true warrior and giving her best at what she does.

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Coming from a musical family (The Braxtons, which now are starring on an infamous TV reality show) to stardom as a soloist, Toni is a force to be reckoned. And although her latest efforts (both Libra and Pulse) haven't had the same success has her first albums, that doesn't mean she has lowered her quality on them. Alas, the world of music is a conjunction of good tunes, killer looks AND great promotion, something she had lacked on her recent efforts.

On a similar fashion as Mariah Carey, she started as a baladeer with glimpses of pop music intertwined on her first album, conveniently titled Toni Braxton, a trend that was followed on her most succesful effort, commercially and critically speaking, Secrets. But then things changed and she started to sound more urban and contemporary, losing some of her clothes on the process but never her musical integrity, and that's a positive thing.







To spice things up, Toni decided to make record on a more urban style, and embarked on a  journey enlisting some of the heavy weights on hip hop at the time. It's funny to see all those great divas hanging out with all those gangstas that only talk about bitches and hoes and money and buzz, but I guess they were more polite and behaved around them.







But enough of the chit-chatter, let's just enlist my favorite songs from Toni on alphabetical order. Hopefully we coincide on some of the tunes, and if not, please let me know in the comments below:

"Another Sad Love Song" - This was Toni's first top ten hit on Billboard and the song that established her as a musical Prodigy. The song and video are so elegant and provocative at the same time. This is one of the finest examples of the 90's R&B and one of her signature songs.



"Come On Over Here" - A track from the Secrets album, this mid-tempo song reflects a more mature singer that is comfortable with who she is and aware of what she wants. Seriously, this song falls in my category of "Baby-Making Songs" for a reason. It's so groovy. A perfect fit for the mood of this particular album .



"Gimme Some" - This is a track for The Heat and, boy, it's so sultry and steamy as a hot day here on Monterrey, but you know, with lesser icky feeling. Featuring a rap of the late Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, the innuendo of the song is not so much as other songs from her. She is so straight forward about it, that I cannot see any heterosexual man refusing to this offer. Great song.



"He Wasn't Man Enough" - Lucky me, she just released this song at the time I was so into American music. That year (2000) was one of the best of my life. With a music video that starts so cheesy but evolved into a hip-hop drama starring Robin Givens, of Mike Tyson fame. Definitely one of her signature Works and one of the best songs from this lady. At this point in life, it hasn't lost any of its magic touch, and that's an achievement.



"Hit The Freeway" - This Pharrell - Neptunes effort from the More Than a Woman album encounters Ms. Braxton on a tricky situation with one of her lovers, where she's giving him the finger and taking him out of her life. Why this song had no success, is still a puzzle for me. But it's a really well-made song, and Toni is more in point tan ever. Of course, a little rap in the beggining and that was it. A real gem.



"I Belong To You" - Although her first album is full on ballads, this is easily one of the most uptempo songs from that record, and definitely one of the most alluring. Not a ready-for-the-dancefloor tune, but one that has to be danced slowly with your current lover. I imagine that and gives me chills.



"Let Me Show You The Way (Out)" - Definitely Toni has a preference for songs talking about heartbreaks and deceitful men in her life. But preferably on a rhythmic note. This is by far one of my fave faves from her, it has it all: Groove, great lyrics, and the always great voice of this diva. Using a great sample of "The Impressions", this is definitely a worthy single. Too bad she didn't choose it, but nevertheless the song has a place in my heart forever.



"Lookin' At Me" - As mad as I was for the Pulse album underperforming on the charts, I was blown away on how good the songs off that record were. This song is definitely worthy of a spin, and she sound so confident once again, and her voice amazingly hasn't changed a bit throughout the years.



"Make My Heart" - I'm so furious that this song didn't get the attention it deserves, because, frankly, it is amazing. The 80's vibe of it, courtesy of Evely Champagne, and an equally amazeballs video, depicting all of the 80's cliches in a manner so amusing... I mean, this song was meant to be a great hit, but instead remained as a definitely astonishing and larger than life tune. So maybe in a near future she will sing this song in a concert that I will attend, and that would make my life complete.



"My Ring" - This is not a track that you could find on an album of Toni. It's more like a B-Side that somehow manages to be a great song and then got retitled on the Pulse record as "The Wave". But I enjoy more this version. The theme is about a woman bragging about her new man and of course, her new ring. What else?



"Sposed To Be" - This track from Libra is really another "Baby-Making" song. This type of R&B it's really a trademark for her, and she delivers as a pro.



"Take This Ring" - And of course, we come to the Rich Harrison song, with that Motown vibe that made such hits as "1 Thing" by Amerie or "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé. This is definitely single material, and I'm blown away by the fact that she (or the label, go figure) skipped it. And yet, this song is so infectious and groovy I tend to listen to it like 3 or 4 times each time I'm in the mood for it. I mean, the chorus is just magnificient and makes me wanna move in so many ways, ha! With a sample from "The Meters" and the usage of trumpets and horns, this is guaranteed shaking-and sweating whenever you listen to it.



"Un-Break My Heart" - Officially the first song I heard from her and, boy, never looked back. Making up a word is one thing, but turning into a beautiful concept and traslate all the emotions and feelings that come with it, it's so fantastic. I don't have many words to describe this song (awe-inspiring comes to mind), but it's beyond that. With so many artists covering this song as well as in English as in Spanish, this song became a success for her in so many countries where R&B is not that powerful and thanks to it, she become a full time diva and a superstar in her own right. Eleven weeks at the Billboard Top 100 are a true proof of that. And the song sounds as fresh as the first time, a true test of whether a song is good, great or a classic. This one sure falls in the last category.



Aside No. 1: On the video the actor and model Tyson Beckford made a glorious appearance. I mean glorious! He also appeared on Britney's "Toxic", so there's that.
Aside No. 2: Dont' you think Toni looks so resembling of Halle Berry on this picture?I think she does!

 

"You're Makin' Me High" - A Babyface production, this mid-tempo sure is another entry to my "Baby-Making" songs. And this is because it's so mesmerizing. And enticing. Play this song and I'm sure you will be making love through the whole thing (no pun intended). The video is so fun and boy, those guys are... well. I'm not so keen about the hair-do she's sporting (it looks like a bad wig), but definitely this is a signature song for her and a really splendid one. Play this once and sure you're going to keep it on repeat. A funny thing I just found out: this song was sampled on a Method Man and Redman collabo for a soundtrack of "How High", because, you know, getting high is something those two do on a regular basis. But you don't need weed or anything else to enjoy this fine piece of music.



Summarizing: I think we need more Toni on our lives, and I'm so sad that she's retiring, but I'm confident enough she has plenty of music to give it all to us on a medium term. Meanwhile, we must take a listen to all of her albums to notice how terrific she is and the influence she has had on the R&B world as we know it today.

Via

I will be glad to listen from you, so if you like this post (or not), please let me know on the commentaries. Hope you have enjoyed this post, and you consider giving Toni Braxton a spin on your music player!