tags: Aaliyah, Age Ain't Nothing But a Number, album, babygirl, In No Particular Order, music, One In A Million, Tribute
Each year on the anniversary of the untimely death of R&B’s angel, Aaliyah, I sit back and recount all my favorite moments, songs and videos she graced us with. Even though it’s now a year shy of a decade since she was taken, I won’t go into too much detail about how amazing her artistry was (click here for last year’s post) but I thought it would be fitting to introduce a new series of post here on MESH. with her.
Every so often, I will feature “In No Particular Order”–the top five songs (in my opinion) of various artists. I feel there is no one better to start this off with than Aaliyah. Now keep in mind, most artists’ best material isn’t their released singles but yet the hidden or slightly buried gems on their albums. So as the title mentions, in no particular order, here are the top five Aaliyah tracks.
1. “Never Comin’ Back”–One In a Million
This smooth track might not come to mind when you mention Aaliyah’s name. Lifted from her sophomore album, the “live recording” inspired track is one of Aaliyah’s strongest and has an undeniable groove. The horns compliment her silky voice and effortless falsettos.
2. “It’s Whatever”–Aaliyah
Perhaps my favorite Aaliyah song, “It’s Whatever” is a sophisticated track that shows Aaliyah’s maturity, musical growth, and ability to create relative music. A song that proudly states it’s whatever because love is so strong, everything about the track works. The smooth instrumental, sensual melodies and familiar vibe all come together effortlessly on this standout from her last album.
3. “I Care 4 U”–Aaliyah
Much like “It’s Whatever” this track from Aaliyah’s last masterpiece also showcased a mature woman, confident in herself and her feelings of the world and others. “I Care 4 U” is infectious, with a nearly climatic build-up towards the end, it is vocally one of Aaliyah’s strongest efforts.
4. “Are You That Somebody”/ “One in a Million”–Dr. Doolittle Soundtrack/ One In a Million
I know what you’re thinking–hey, he’s cheating with this one. I couldn’t decide between which track ultimately is associated with Aaliyah’s name. You think of both when she is mentioned. “One in a Million” is the song credited for redefining R&B as Aaliyah’s angelic vocals were oddly matched with a gritty Timbaland beat. The magic was reproduced with her mega hit “Are You That Somebody” that solidified Aaliyah as an R&B staple. Plus, who could forget that video?
5. “At Your Best (You Are Loved)–Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number
This remake of the classic Isley Brothers tune was lifted from Aaliyah’s debut album. It’s funny to imagine such a soft–falsetto driven ballad amongst the track listing of much grittier material. “At Your Best” was the stage for Aaliyah’s vocal ability. Much like the original, this track and its remix remain as classics to this day.
Honorable Mentions: “Come Over” “4 Page Letter” “I Refuse” “If Ur Girl Only Knew”
I must admit, as an Aaliyah fan, this was incredibly hard to do. I know a lot of you are probably scratching your head at the list, but read the reasons why and give the tracks a listen. Aaliyah was a unique and raw talent. It’s hard to imagine what the industry would look like if she were still with us. Some debate she would have remain amongst the likes of present day Monica or Brandy, while others saw the maturity in her last album as an indicator that Aaliyah’s potential was sadly never reached. Either way, her beauty and elegance are always adored, cherished, and missed. R.I.P Babygirl.
Aaron
