Think about it: thanks to the chart-topping success of songs like “Jumpin’ Jumpin’,” “Bootylicious,” “Soldier” and “Independent Women (Pt.2),” the quartet/trio known as Destiny’s Child is primarily remembered for—and defined by—- bombastic, booty-shaking and pro-woman pop and R&B grooves. Although their vocals were delivered with power and precision, it was easy to write them off… Continue reading Destiny’s Child’s “Love Songs,” ST Review/Preview Link
Tag: “Melody Charles”
Teena Marie’s “Beautiful,” The ST CD Review/Preview Link
Genuine, generous and gifted with a down-to-the-bone level of soul: before there was a Duffy, an Adele or an Amy Winehouse, there was the incomparable Christine Marie Brockert, a.k.a. Teena Marie. A porcelain-complexioned, green-eyed wisp of a woman that drew shock, then lifelong street cred, for her undeniably urban aesthetic, Ms. Marie’s sumptuous soprano and… Continue reading Teena Marie’s “Beautiful,” The ST CD Review/Preview Link
Keyshia Cole’s “Woman To Woman”: ST CD Review/Preview Link
For Keyshia Cole (Gibson), there’s a delicate balance that must be maintained: being in love and happy as a wife and mother, yet not forgetting the tortured tales of love gone wrong (and the ‘Mommie Dearest’-esque mayhem) that catapulted her to a larger audience in the first place. After cleaning house personally and professionally, Keyshia… Continue reading Keyshia Cole’s “Woman To Woman”: ST CD Review/Preview Link
Alicia Keys’ “Girl On Fire” ST Review & Preview Link
Thanks to those estrogen-fueled anthems, a soaring soprano and that around-the-way attractiveness and accessibility, Alicia Keys has firmly entrenched herself as a force to be reckoned with as far as longevity and artistic flair. For three consecutive releases, the native New Yorker resisted the temptation to sex it up and dumb it down, churning out… Continue reading Alicia Keys’ “Girl On Fire” ST Review & Preview Link
Yolanda Rabun’s “Christmastime” ST Link/CD Review
An actress, attorney and vocal powerhouse, Yolanda Rabun is a triple threat who succeeds mightily in whatever she sets her mind to. After building an enviable professional resume thanks to working with the likes of Jennifer Holiday and the late Isaac Hayes, Ms. Rabun created considerable buzz for her own skills with her 2011 release,… Continue reading Yolanda Rabun’s “Christmastime” ST Link/CD Review