The Album I Can't Get Enough Of Right Now

Simply Just Faith

For the past couple of weeks this album has been a must listen for me everyday, including after work, after working out, or even before I got to bed. Faith Evans' debut album is just a epic. Her debut in my opinion is a the definition of a real R&B album. Faith was SANGING and you can feel the emotion in her vocals. Unlike R&B music today, vocals are not authentic anymore. To me, that's what is missing in R&B music real singing. It's coming back slowly with albums from Tamar Braxton, K. Michelle, Jaheim, Raheem DeVaughn. In addition, when I am on twitter my followers always ask me "why do you continue to listen to old R&B albums" and my answer is always "because these albums were REAL" Anyway back to Faye (Faith's nickname) debut.

Now giving a little bit of my introduction to Faith. I always knew Faith as "Biggie's wife" or the girl that sung background on Mary J. Blige's classic album My Life. Now Mary and Faith has always been compared because of the way Puffy marketed Faith. I feel that he tried to use the same marketing tool he did with Mary. But they were two completely different artist. That started a war because the Mary fans and Faith fans. (Yes I down with it because I am such a huge Mary fan) But to Mary fan, you have understand that Faith Evans is a big part of Mary's My Life album. Faith helped with the writing and sung background on songs like 

I Never Wanna Live Without You

Listen @ 4:32 you can hear Faith perfectly

Don't Go

You can hear Faith all over this song

Damn those songs sounded so good. Actually most of my favorite songs on this album Faith sing background on it, but I Never Wanna Live Without You is the best.

So when Faith's debut came out in 1995, my family was still on Mary's My Life, so nothing was talking us away from that album. As a result, the only songs I knew were You Used to Love Me, Soon As I Get Home, & Ain't Nobody. Obviously those were the hits from the album. Not knowing that even with those 3 songs, I haven't heard anything yet. 

You Used To Love Me

Soon As I Get Home

Ain't Nobody

Ahhh memories, that 90s hip-hop soul feels good...you gotta be jamming right now.

So, with my family being music lovers my mother and I found this record store near our house. They sell old records (including 45s and 33s), 8 tracks, and used CDs. Now while me and my mother was excited about all the records, I knew I wanted to get some CDs to listen to while I was riding back home to Maryland. So, as a result I got 3 used albums, Faith's Faith, En Vogue's Born To Sing, & Ralph Tresvant, Ralph Trevsant. I figured out of the 3 Faith's would be my least favorite, haha was I ever so wrong. I had a three hour drive and the album is a hour long, I listened to it 3 times. I never got a chance to listen to the other two because I fell so in love with this album. And I understood why people compare Faith & My Life, because each album had that same soul vibe. But Faith was SANGING, I said "damn I missed a lot", this album in my opinion deserves to be put on the same level as Mary J. Blige's My Life. From this album, I have some my favorite Faith songs of all time. Track 1, Faith Interlude pulls in you Faith's vibe because she is singing about the LORD. But from 7 to 15 makes this album a R&B classic. Track 7 is entitled, Come Over. Faith is SANGING the devil out of this song. Check it out

Come Over

  

Now you can't tell me Faye wasn't SANGING. 

One of my personal favorites from Faith is track 9 "All This Love" at about 3:10 Faith's vocals just takes me somewhere where I feel like I'm singing to that special someone and I singing "I just wanna give all this love back to you" Now vibe with Faith one this one

All This Love

Faye got you in her world yet??

Another banger is track 12, Give It To Me, this is a song that also classifies the term hip-hop soul perfectly. This beat is clearly for a rapper and the person that could do this beat justice would be Faith's slain ex-husband The Notorious B.I.G. But Faith is riding this beat with her soulful vocals and nobody else was needed on this. MC Faye on the mike LOL...

Give It To Me

Doesn't this song make you want to get into you car and roll the windows down and blast this on a nice day while you cruising the streets

Now to one all time favorite Faith song, is track 13, You Don't Understand. This song touches my soul. Question: Have you ever have someone you really like and you have a feeling they like you, and both of you don't know how to say it because you are both afraid. Basically if you are going through this experience, this is the song for you. SPEAK FOR ME FAITH!! "If you love me baby, just let your feelings show"

You Don't Understand

According to Chucky Thompson, the producer of this classic album as well as My Life, he said this song was about Biggie's and Faith's relationship. He said that while she was singing this in the studio she was crying. I guess the lyric "Give it One More Chance" Faith was giving us the hint. But nevertheless, this song speaks volumes! Most definitely a personal favorite.

Then track 14, Don't Be Afraid is another favorite of mine because I feel like it's part 2 of You Don't Understand. It's like these songs tell a story, with You Don't Understand, you and that special person is playing games and you have finally admitted to each other that you like it other. Then with Don't Be Afraid, you are in a relationship and you now realize that you love with each but you are scared to say it. In my opinion, these two songs describe the beginning of a serious relationship. 

Don't Be Afraid

In my opinion, You Don't Understand & Don't Be Afraid were Faith's feelings about her and Biggie's relationship. 

Ending the album with track 15, a bonus track, Reasons. Even though, it's a bonus track I am happy it made the album because it fits perfectly. 

Reasons

Sounds soulful don't you agree???

To conclude, I know even after almost 20 years people will still continue to compare Faith's Faith & Mary's My Life. I understand that both albums have the same type of vibe but they are totally two different albums and they tell a different story. And I am a big Mary J. Blige fan, but I feel that Faith's Faith should be in the same CLASSIC category as Mary's My Life. To me this a classic R&B debut, if you love R&B this album must be in your collection. 

WHAT ARE YOU FAVORITES FROM THIS CLASSIC?

Compare & Contrast Thursdays

The Supremes vs. En Vogue vs. Destiny's Child

GIRLS GROUPS FROM THEN TO NOW

                                       

Today at work I was listening to En Vogue's Too Gone Too Long, then Destiny's Child's Free, then the playlist ended with the Supremes' I Hear a Symphony. With that, I figured for this compare and contrast Thursday I had to the girl groups from then to now.

The Supremes are considered to be best girl group of all time. They have 12 number one singles that include Baby Love, Where Did Our Love Go, and Love Child. They were the blueprint for many girls groups that came after them. The Supremes brought class and elegence, even through live performances they were classy. The group member included Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard. After Ballard was fired Cindy Birdsong of the Blueblues joined. Then after Diana Ross went solo Jean Terrell become the lead singer. By 1977, the group disbanded.

When I was young, my mother always played Motown around the house. During those times, she would explained to me the Motown Sound that included top-tapping, hand clapping, and tambourine. As a result, when I heard Where Did Our Love Go, I understood what she meant, because the start of the song is just hand-clapping. However, my family loved more the soulful artists such as Sam Cooke, James Brown, and Tyrone Davis. As a result, I started listening to more of the Supremes in my teenage years. As stated before, the Supremes pave the way for groups like En Vogue & Destiny's Child.

Speaking of En Vogue, these four women understood the meaning of singing, they can circles around many girl groups today. En Vogue consist of Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron, Dawn Robinson, and Maxine Jones. During the early 1990s, En Vogue filled that void of girl groups because during the time male groups were popular. En Vogue reminded me of the Supremes but in a 90s kind of way. This was a group that my whole family liked because they crossed all ages groups.

At 5 years old was the I first noticed En Vogue. During this time, the Desert Storm was going on. As a result, many televisions shows such as A Different World had a episode talking about the war. So this one particular episode, Darryl Bell announced that this episode will be talking about the war, then the next thing I knew these four girls came on and sung the National Anthem. Though Whitney's version was historic, En Vogue blew me away, from the beginning of Maxine's tone to the Terry's last high note. With me falling in love with music, I started to ask a lot about them. So, my mother explained who En Vogue was and they I started listening to their music, 'til this day' En Vogue is a must on my daily playlist. Songs like Hold On, You Don't Have to Worry and Never Gonna Get It(My Lovin) makes me dance now. As previously stated En Vogue made popular male groups take notice because they can SANG, dance, and look good while doing it.

Meanwhile, Destiny's Child members had to be about 9 or 10 when En Vogue became famous. During this time, Destiny's Child was called Girl Tyme with 6 members, but their manager Matthew Knowles decreased the group to 4. The girls included: his daughter Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland, Latavia Roberson, and LeToya Luckett. Finally, the group line-up included Beyonce, Kelly, and Michelle Williams until the group disbanded in 2005.

Destiny's Child debuted in 1997, with the hit No, No, No Part 2. During this time, Janet was my top artist, so I remember on Planet Groove with Rachel when Janet's video came on No, No, No by Destiny's Child would come on after. So, I never play attention until one day I decided to actually listen to the song and I actually liked it. About a month later, there next single With Me was released. I noticed that the girls sung the lyrics fast, which became a formula for the girls. The hits continued like Bills, Bills, Bills, Say My Name, Survivor, and the women's anthem Independent Woman Pt 1. These women became the world-best selling group of all time. However, in their acceptance speech they explained if it wasn't for groups like The Supremes & En Vogue, the group couldn't have existed. They gave the women before them respect.

SIMILARITES OF THE GROUPS

• They each had their own style for the their time period
• They all could sing
• They danced
• They were all beautiful in their own right
• They all had group changes
• They all have their place in history

DIFFERENCES OF THE GROUPS

• The Supremes have 12 number one hits on the HOT 100. While Destiny's Child have 4, and surprising En Vogue has none.
• En Vogue is the only group that has disbanded
• En Vogue had hits with everyone signing lead. Destiny's Child hits were normally sung my Beyonce or Kelly. The Supremes hits were sung by Diana Ross or Jean Terrell
• Destiny's Child is the only group that actually wrote and produced the songs.

MY FAVORITE OF THE THREE

My favorite of the three is En Vogue. I didn't grow up on the Supremes, but I knew their music. As far as Destiny's Child, I was a teenage by the time they came out so I learning about music, to me they didn't appeal to all age groups. For example, my grandmother only knows Destiny's Child because of Beyonce. In addition, majority of the world knows the Supremes because of Diana Ross. When you think of En Vogue you don't think about one person, you know them as a group. As a result, when one of the group members tries to go solo it doesn't work because everyone wants En Vogue not one of them. Beyonce is doing great without Destiny's Child, she knows her history but she doesn't need the group. Like Beyonce, when Diana Ross went solo she did great without the Supremes. Dawn tried from En Vogue, her career never continued. But what I loved about En Vogue was those girls had the best harmony and could sing acapella. When I heard them sing their acceptance speech, hands down they were the best in my eyes. But I am not taking anything from Destiny's Child or the Supremes because they are both great groups. To conclude my mother told me this about En Vogue that I liked, En Vogue could be relevant back in the 60s and they can be relevant now. Well said Mom.

THREE PERSONAL FAVORITES FROM THE GIRL GROUPS

The Supremes-You Keep Me Hanging On
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKQbcJyVKR0&feature=related

En Vogue-Free Your Mind
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-Ri0Tk8WQI

Destiny's Child-Independent Woman Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8amAj9Tvaeg

2 REASONS WHY I THINK EN VOGUE IS THE BEST

NATIONAL ANTHEM LIVE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8amAj9Tvaeg

Acceptance Speech Acapella
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sHU2Ee8LOg&feature=related


WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GIRL GROUP???

Comment!!!!

Compare & Contrast Thursdays

TEDDY PENDERGRASS VS. TREY SONGZ

Maintaining my bringing old and new together, I figured picking artists from different times, that make the same type of music. Since everyone likes the "quiet storm" these two artists, were great to start with: 

 

I'm going to start with two songs get you into the mood. 

Come Go With Me-Teddy Pendergrass

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDkcpQJZbik

Holla If You Need Me-Trey Songz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXznvgBz4Ks

Okay now, with these two songs, you better be in the mood. LOL

But first I have to give you a little background on these two. Teddy Pendergrass began his career as a lead vocalist for Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes, with songs like "Wake Up Everybody" & "If You Don't Know Me By Now". But tension between Harold Melvin & Teddy forced Pendergrass to go solo. This is when Teddy became a sex symbol in his own right, with songs like "Close The Door" and "Love TKO", and the sex anthem "Turn Off The Lights". It was when he got into this tragic accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. After, he still made music, but never had the hits like "Close The Door". Unfortunately, Teddy Pendergrass died in 2010, however Teddy inspired other artists like Trey Songz, Tyrese, and Johnny Gill.

Speaking of Trey Songz, he started off as wanting to be a rapper, but realize that singing would get him further(CLEARLY). Trey's professional career started in 2005, with songs like "I Gotta Make It" and "Gotta Go". But Songz's second album gave us a teaser on songs like "Sex For Yo Stereo" and "Role Play". But off that album the hits were "Can't Help But Wait" and "Wonder Woman". It took Trey's third album Ready, from him to have Pendergrass's swag, with songs like "One Love", "I Invented Sex" and "Neighbors Know My Name". Now, Trey is on his fourth album, he continues to bring the bedrooms joints like "Lovefaces" and "Doorbell". You can definitely see that Trey is taking where Teddy Pendergrass left off. 

COMPARING TEDDY & TREY:

• Both make songs for the bedroom
• Both cater to the women
• General audience are women
• Both have voices
• Both artists can make good songs besides talking about sex

MY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TEDDY & TREY

1. I think Teddy is much better of a live singer than Trey. I have been a Trey Songz concert, but looking at youtube videos of Teddy live. I'm going to have to go with Teddy with the live performance. To me Trey, strains too much, but other than that he's okay
2. I feel that Trey Songz is more in your face with his sexual songs. Meanwhile Teddy Pendergrass is more relaxed. Trey Songz is more raunchy as in sweating out a girls perm. But Teddy is like let's bring this day to a pleasant end. From that you knew what Teddy was saying. Not taking away from Trey's style, but Teddy is more smooth.
3. Even though both of them can sing. I feel that Teddy Pendergrass has more soul. Trey Songz can sing but he don't get me much of a soulful voice.

Now these are just my opinions. I like Teddy Pendergrass and Trey Songz. But from this post, you can see that I like Teddy better because of the soul that he has. However, Trey Songz is a great artist and he makes great music. 

Two lives performances from Teddy & Trey

Close The Door-Teddy Pendergrass

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54-9Jvq1Li4

Love Faces- Trey Songz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I61NeJN367M

Pick Yours!!!