Aaliyah

Aaliyah died in a plane crash in 2001 at the very peak of her success. I feel a little guilty for wondering if this tragedy hasn't colored her legacy, which is described as significant and influential, even game-changing pop-R&B in the 90s. Given all that, I was pretty shocked about how basic most of her music is.

Her debut album Age Ain't Nothing but Number comes out in 1994 and gets certified Gold. I don't see it. She writes none of the music or lyrics. The only thing remotely impressive about the album is that it was made by a child. "Back and Forth" is an OK song, but there's nothing spectacular about the beats, lyrics, or even her voice. She songs softly and subdued, often overshadowed by the rap verses on songs or even the backing vocals. Maybe it's just too silky for my tastes.

R. Kelly lurking in the background on the album cover is eerily symbolic. He met Aaliyah when she was 12 and became her mentor, song writer, producer, and...husband. She's 14 when they make the album. So gross.

The music gets immediately better with a more contemporary, edgy, and more adult sound on her 2nd album, with Missy Elliot and Timbaland, and also on her 3rd album, which is slightly more experimental. Aside from various posthumous compilations and occasional tracks, the third album was her last.

"One in a Million" may not make my wedding play list but it apparently made the Best Wedding Reception Music, Vol 1.And then that got in my digital library...somehow.

Then there's "Rock the Boat," but that's just sad to see her dancing in the islands knowing that she (and 8 others!) died on the way home.

I know her best for her this song from the movie Romeo Must Die, which I suppose is otherwise a pretty forgettable movie, but it was Aaliyah's acting debut, opposite Jet Li. I wasn't even into the movie or this video at the time, but the song ended up in my library and floated around favorably for years. So it might not her biggest hit, but it is to me. (Actually, she was the first artist to get to the top of the Billboard Top 100 solely on airplay.) Yes, it's that same "just OK" voice from the first album, but it is surrounded with better sounds (that squelchy keyboard bass!) that shine on it favorably.

I feel the loss of Aaliyah greatest when I see her acting. I am in agreement with her fans on that point, that she could have been a contender. Queen of the Damned was a deeply flawed movie, but she was unforgettable in it