Blog Archives

Demi Lovato: Heart Attack

2/25/2013

Single Review.
Like most Lovatics (Demi Lovato’s fanbase), I was looking forward to the release of the 1st single from her upcoming album, “Heart Attack.” I was especially curious after I listened to an interview in which the X-Factor U.S. judge and former Disney darling said she was “done with EDM (electronic dance music)” after recording a somewhat conforming album, “Unbroken,” and missed “hearing real instruments on the radio...I want my lyrics to mature and my sound to mature just like I have." “Heart Attack” unfortunately fails to be reflection of Lovato’s new approach. One thing I’ve always said in praise of Lovato is that with each album, growth is seen and she’s a budding artist to watch. The single sounds like its taking a few steps back with EDM effects and shockingly childish writing: “You make me wanna act like a girl; paint my nails and wear perfume. For you make me so nervous that I just can't hold your hand.” The theme of the song is that she’s reluctant to fall in love for fear of a broken heart, so she internalizes her excitement, even though she’s breaking her personal rules. It seems like there would be a more thoughtful, mature way to illustrate this concept. I want to rewrite the song for her. You can listen to “Heart Attack” below.

0 Comments

Vontae`: Broken Boundaries of Existence

2/25/2013

0 Comments

Click to view YouTube page

Here at J.Says Online, we're happy to accept and critique independent music and Vontae` is the latest artist to submit material. From Lexington Park, Maryland, VonTae` is a R&B/Pop artist who claims Usher, Beyonce` & Luther Vandross among his influences. His current EP, "Broken Boundaries of Existence," features songs about romance and enjoying life. After listening to the project, I concluded that the singer-songwriter isn't quite ready for the main-stage, but has potential. Most of the lyrics are relatable, but sometimes are over-simplified. Considering the poetic title of the EP, the simplification is especially noticeable. Vocally, pitch-control is an issue, however, with the right consistent coaching, improvement can be reached. Vontae's biggest strength is that his sound is definitive; it's clear he knows his direction and how he wants to market himself. Time and effort is going to make him better. You can hear "Broken" in full and judge for yourself here. If you would like a review to be done for your independent music, hit the Contact/Info tab and fill out the form. Be sure to include your name, email, genre & audio and/or video links (preferably from SoundCloud or YouTube).

0 Comments

A Tribute To Whitney: One Year Later

2/11/2013

8 Comments

"It's Not Right, But it's Okay," 1999

By Jamaal D. Pittman, contributing writer

If you were around during the 80s and 90s, you would be hard-pressed to name a Whitney Houston hit that wasn’t associated with a life memory. She not only possessed a once-in-a-lifetime voice, but her songs are unforgettable and a part of the soundtrack of our lives. Whitney was exceptionally beautiful, poised and confident; part of a generation of pure talent who didn’t need flashy lights and intricate choreography to keep you transfixed. Her mezzo-soprano voice, impeccable stage presence and strong catalog of hits did all of her heavy lifting. If there was ever a gold standard for what a diva was supposed to be, Whitney Houston was it.

I wasn’t just your average fan. Long before Eminem coined the moniker, I was a Whitney “stan” and proud of it. From the time I was in middle school, I was a walking human encyclopedia of all things Whitney. I could easily rattle off her Billboard chart history and list of awards. I knew the lyrics of little-known album cuts like “Love is a Contact Sport” and “Thinking About You” just as well as classics like “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” and “I Will Always Love You.” It was nothing for me to throw in random Whitney-isms while singing along to other people’s songs, complete with her signature register changes, lightning-fast runs and “My Lord’s.” I even portrayed her on the hit web-series Got 2B Real. Musically speaking, she was and continues to be my everything. In this contest, there is no second-place prize.

"It's Not Right, But it's Okay," 1999

Her legacy is undeniable. Every female singer who hit the scene after her was labeled the “next Whitney Houston,” and as much as it was an honor in a sense, these bold proclamations also annoyed and perplexed me. Sure, on one hand the comparisons reminded us that she was the benchmark, but on the other, they seemed to take her inimitable gifts for granted, suggesting that it wouldn’t take much for another of her kind to emerge. The irony of this—and one of the things that made her so special—is the fact that she was never trying to be the next anyone. She simply wanted to sing and touch people’s lives with her music and she did it better than anyone who ever stood behind a microphone.

So, the devastation I felt on the night she passed was undeniable and inescapable. Looking at the scrolling news tickers on the cable news networks, I couldn’t accept the finality of the end date affixed to the timeline of her incredible life. The fact that the words “Whitney Houston” and “dead” appeared side-by-side seemed like a cruel joke, especially as she had just wrapped production on the film Sparkle and was gearing up for a major comeback.
Her death absolutely gutted me. A full year later, it still hurts. In a 1988 hit, she asked us a hauntingly enigmatic question: Where do broken hearts go? Just about every day since February 11, 2012, I’ve wished like hell that I had the answer. But I am certain of a few things: She is missed. She is loved. And she will never be forgotten as one of the greatest singers the world has ever known.

May she rest in peace.

8 Comments

Whitney's Funk

2/11/2013

1 Comment

When it comes to Whitney's music, most refer to her classic and effortlessly sung ballads. I do as well, but my all-time personal favorites, the ones attached to cherished moments and feelings in my life, are the ones that brought the funk and edge. Yes, Whitney has funk and edge in her catalog. Below are 9 of my hand-picked cuts and why I adore them so much. As I felt with the passing of Michael Jackson, I felt I lost a piece of my childhood when Whitney died. It all seems like a bad dream that shouldn't be a reality. I always shake my head when thought that she's gone comes to me. It just doesn't seem right. When I saw Yolanda Adams performing "Count On Me" with CeCe Winans at the Grammy's tribute special, "We Will Always Love You" in 2012, it really hit home. Just to hear someone else in her place for that duet...it broke my heart, to say the least. It's all still so hard to accept and I don't know if I ever will. Please continue to keep her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers, as well as all of our other beloved entertainers who have to cope with everyday-life struggles under the lights.

Queen of the Night-When I was little, I thought I was grown and a talented diva. The ultimate sass anthem, this was my proclamation. My favorite line is "Well, I ain't nobody's angel; what can I say? Well, I'm just that way."

I'm Your Baby Tonight-My favorite song ever, period, the end, no questions asked. Likely because this was my 1st vivid memory of her.

1 Comment

You Should Hear This: Lianne La Havas

2/5/2013

1 Comment

Click to visit official site

I fell in love with 23-year-old Lianne La Havas' "Lost & Found" on the first listen & I am so eager to hear her previous work. Captivating, affecting and well-written, "Lost & Found" paints the picture of what it's like when a love is both your savior and greatest enemy. You can find the track on La Havas' 2012 album, "Is Your Love Big Enough?," released by Warner Brothers U.K. and ITunes U.S. She also has 3 previous E.P.'s. Of Greek & Jamaican descent, the folk/soul singer-songwriter was raised by accomplished musicians and plays both guitar and piano herself. She has a beautiful vocal tone and I think you'll be just as taken with her as I am.

See Lianne LIVE tonight on Jay Leno!
(NBC, 11:35 EST)

1 Comment

Demi Lovato: Heart Attack

Vontae`: Broken Boundaries of Existence

A Tribute To Whitney: One Year Later

Whitney's Funk

You Should Hear This: Lianne La Havas

Entertainment

Archives

Tags/Categories