| Product: |
I Care 4 U - Aaliyah |
| Date: |
09.02.03 (1317 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Production, Vocals
Disadvantages: None
[Background]
I remember the day that I heard Aaliyah had passed away. It was August 27th 2001. I had just arrived home after a three-month trip to Boston, USA. I remember reading it on BBC1 Ceefax. I was utterly shocked-& upset. I was in total disbelief. I hadn't known much about Aaliyah for long before then. I had really only got to know her after downloading her massive hit single "Try Again". I saw the film "Romeo Must Die" and when her third album "Aaliyah" was released in July 2001, I bought it and really started to love her music. A postcard advertising the Aaliyah album was given out in music stores in Boston. As soon as I read the news on Ceefax, I went to find my postcard. "Aaliyah is coming - July 17 2001", it said. I couldn't believe that just a month earlier this young woman was "coming" - releasing her third album - and now she was dead.
After her death, I bought her other two albums "Age Ain't Nothing But A Number" and "One In A Million". However, I was left wanting more. Luckily for me, a posthumous album was inevitable. Interest in Aaliyah had grown substantial since she passed away - her three albums were not enough for her ever-growing fan base. It was rumoured that her first posthumous album would be released to coincide with her first anniversary, but it was eventually released in December 2002 in the USA and on 3rd January 2003 in the UK. This review is on the UK edition of the album. "I Care 4 U" is a collection 10 of Aaliyah's most loved songs in addition to 6 previously unreleased tracks. As I already own the US version, I bought the non-limited-edition-version that doesn't contain a free 7-track DVD.
[The Look]
As I bought the US version and the UK version, I have to say I prefer the look of the UK version. The front and back layout of the US version was reversed for the UK release.
We
were treated to a front cover with a beautiful picture of Aaliyah, while the flower-type-picture has been relegated to the back. The inlay card shows many great pictures of Aaliyah, in addition to information on each track.
[The Music]
01: Back and Forth
"So throw your hands in the air and wave them down like you just don't care"
Back and Forth was Aaliyah's very first single, released when she was just 13 years old. Amazingly, the song sounds as fresh as it did back then. It is all about going out partying and enjoying yourself. Aaliyah's vocals are mature far beyond her years on this track and are complemented excellently with a rap by R Kelly, who also wrote and produced this track.
10/10
02: Are You That Somebody
"Sometimes I'm goody-good, right now I'm naughty-naughty"
This is an amazing track. It was released as the theme to film "Dr. Doolittle" and this is the first time that it has appeared on one of Aaliyah's albums. It features Timbaland's famous dirty beats as well as the sound of a baby (!) Timbaland features as a rapper and guest vocalist on this track too. It's a shame that this track was not a bigger hit.
10/10
03: One In A Million
"You give me a really good feeling all day long"
One In A Million was one of the first tracks to come about as a result of Aaliyah's collaboration with Missy Elliott and Timbaland and was originally featured on Aaliyah's second album One In A Million. Aaliyah was a big fan of this song, as was Missy Elliott. However, I don't think this is one of the best tracks on the One In A Million album and its kind of disappointing that this is one of only two tracks lifted from that album for this collection. The beats, as groundbreaking as they were when this track was released, now sound very dated.
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6.5/10
04: I Care 4 U
"Hey sexy baby, there's no need to worry, no"
I fell in love with this song the first time I heard it. It's not a typical Aaliyah album track. Her ballads are few and far between, which is a pity as they suit her voice so well. It is also an untypical track for producer Timbaland and writer/producer Missy Elliott. The emotions in Aaliyah's voice really make this song so amazing - you can really understand what she's feeling when she is singing this song. This was the last single to be taken from the Aaliyah album, which unfortunately was not released in the UK.
10/10
05: More Than A Woman
"We can go to foreign lands, your hand in my hand"
This was the first single to be released in the UK after Aaliyah's death and went straight into the top of the charts in January 2002, giving Aaliyah her first UK number one single. Again, this is a very different song for Aaliyah - It is more up-tempo than most of her tracks and is also very commercial in nature. A great track to dance to.
10/10
06: Don't Know What To Tell Ya
"You want my intimacy? Well yo, I don't know what to tell ya"
This is the first of the unreleased tracks and I cannot understand how this did not make the cut for a previous album. I think that this track was originally meant for the Aaliyah album. Judging by the opinion of Aaliyah online street team, this track is very popular amongst the fans. I hope that this will be released as a single. This track is totally original. It has the great affect where the notes at the end of certain lines of the song are held and then dropped a few notes - this is also done by the musical accompaniment. I'm sure I didn't describe that very well, but whoever has heard this track will probably understand what I mean!!
10/10
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07: Try Again
"If at first you don't succeed, dust yourself off and try again"
This is an amazing track and regarded by many as being Aaliyah's best track. It was also the first single ever to go to number one in the US Billboard Hot 100 charts without a commercial release - it got there based on Airplay alone. Before her death, it was Aaliyah's most successful track in the UK. It was also the theme to Aaliyah's film debut "Rome Must Die". The production on this track is amazing: haunting stuttering beats, choppy beats and dirty beats are combined seamlessly and Aaliyah's voice is remarkable above them. Almost three years old now, this track still sounds completely fresh, innovative and astounding.
10/10
08: All I Need
"I'm hoping that you stay right here with me"
This is another unreleased track, which again is different than Aaliyah's usual tracks. It's my opinion that the production on this track was done after Aaliyah passed. Her voice also sounds quite young, so I think it is a song that was recorded maybe quite some time ago. Aaliyah's vocals are quite good, but not her best ever. Saying that, it's a very catchy track and one that I listen to all the time.
8/10
09: Miss You
"We were close friends, also lovers, did everything for one another"
Miss You is Aaliyah's new single and is her biggest single in the US since Try Again. Another track that I'm very surprised didn't make the cut on a previous album. I would also imaging this track being recorded for one of Aaliyah's first two albums. It has an excellent chorus and a very catchy chorus. It's quite a pleasant song and features a backing track of a bird! Hopefully this will also be a big hit here too.
10/10
10: Don't Worry
"Two people that were
just so in lov
e"
Another un
released track with excellent production by Teddy Bishop. In my opinion, this could be a contender for single, if more than two tracks are released. I think that Aaliyah's vocals are great on this track.
8.5/10
11: Come Over
"I know it's late but you are on my mind"
This is one of my favourites of the unreleased tracks. It has an excellent melody and great chorus. The only fault I have with this track is that it is quite under produced and I think that Aaliyah would not have been 100% happy with it. However, it is an excellent opportunity for us to here a rawer sound from Aaliyah. The US version of this album stated that this track featured Tank, but I can't hear where! However, the name Tank has been omitted from the UK version.
9/10
12: Erica Kane
"She's Erika, Erica, Erica, Erica"
I didn't like this track much when I heard it first, but I've began to really like it. Ok, so the chorus is a bit, well, crap, but the production is excellent and the verses are brilliant. The track is a bitching session, where Aaliyah is describing some woman called Erika Kane. For some strange reason, I think that if this track was released when Aaliyah was still alive that the chorus would have been re-recorded with more words that "She's" and "Erika"!!!
9/10
13: At You Best
"You may not be in the mood to learn what you think you know"
This is by far my favourite track from the "Age Ain't Nothing But A Number" album. It begins with an amazing unaccompanied section, which shows strength in Aaliyah's voice that is usually hidden behind futuristic beats. The production is laid back throughout - Aaliyah's voice is the most important aspect of this track. Despite the fact that this is a cover version, At
You Best (You Are L
ove) - as it was known the first
time she released it - will always be Aaliyah's song. It is so hard to believe that it is a 13-year-old child singing. I would love if this track was re-released as a single - it would be an excellent tribute to Aaliyah
10/10
14: Got To Give It Up (Remix)
"No more standing upside the wall"
The original version of this track was featured on the One In A Million album. Although I really enjoyed the original, this is an excellent update for 2003 and I think that the production on this remix suits the lyrics of the song better. This was the final track on the US version of this album and I think that it should have been put to the end of this version too - ending the album on a really upbeat track would have been perfect.
10/10
15: We Need A Resolution feat. Timbaland
"Am I supposed to change, are you supposed to change?"
I was quite disappointed with We Need A Resolution the first time I heard it, but it has grown on me so much that I now consider it to be one of my favourite songs of all time - by any artist. Although he has been featured on many of Aaliyah's tracks, this was the first time that Timbaland got official billing. Aaliyah's vocals are excellent on this track and the chorus is outstanding. The production is exceptional - a highlight for Timbaland. When Aaliyah died, this was a track that I listened to many times.
10/10
16: Rock The Boat
"Work the middle, work the middle, change positions"
This was the last single to be released in the UK from the Aaliyah album. It has an amazing feeling - the way it is produced gives the feeling of actually being on a swaying boat. The lyrics are very suggestive and it was quite brave to release this as a single! If this song had never been written, Aaliyah might still be alive, as she
died when returning fro
m filming the video for this. But I
suppose all things happen for a reason.
9/10
[The Verdict]
I was delighted to see that the UK version of this album featured two extra tracks, especially the amazing We Need A Resolution. This is an excellent album and an excellent tribute to Aaliyah. However, I believe that Aaliyah had enough outstanding tracks from her three albums and many soundtrack contributions for a greatest hits only compilation to have been released. And from what I hear, there are enough unreleased tracks for a totally unreleased album. Despite this, we must be grateful that there was any Aaliyah material released after she passed away. If what Missy Elliott says is true, we can expect an album of uncompleted tracks (that will be turned into collaborations) released sometime in the future.
But for now, I would recommend that anybody with an interest in high quality vocalists or soul, hip-hop or R&B music to go out and buy this album!! If not as a tribute to Aaliyah, as a tribute to your ears instead!!!
[Please leave me a comment after you have rated this!!]
Babygirl - RIP.
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