Lammastide said:

Alicia's got a good set of lungs, and I agree with Cinnie that she has a certain broad awareness of emotion. That ability to soar helps her. What I don't hear in her voice is precision, nuance or subtlety, either in vocal control or the emotion behind what she sings. When everything that comes out of your mouth sounds like part of some soul-emptying anthem, everything is effectively robbed of any singular importance.

[Edited 6/22/10 13:08pm]

I agree with this.

and she always sounds the same with that godawful tone

Harlepolis said:

SCNDLS said:

I can give you that. I put MJB in this category too. Ole Murray couldn't find a key with a locksmith but folks always give her props for her emotional delivery. I must admit MJB is very powerful live no matter how bad her vocals. But the hystrionics can get old after awhile.

At least Mary got grits and ham hocks to deliver you know? Sure, MANY off-key moments, but to me they're ginuine off-key moments(Teena Marie is also guilty of her share of off-key moments, and they too are ginuine).

With Alicia, everytime she attempts to wail, the image of a strangled cat in heat materialize right in front of my eyes,,,,,she could be singing about her mother being on her way to the electric chair, and I doubt that I'll FEEL what she's singing. Excessive, I know, but

Lammastide said:

Alicia's got a good set of lungs, and I agree with Cinnie that she has a certain broad awareness of emotion. That ability to soar helps her. What I don't hear in her voice is precision, nuance or subtlety, either in vocal control or the emotion behind what she sings. When everything that comes out of your mouth sounds like part of some soul-emptying anthem, everything is effectively robbed of any singular importance.

That's true too! Maybe it seems more balanced on her albums than on her singles, but who knows I never get the chance.

I liked her debut, but that was ten years ago

Harlepolis said:

SCNDLS said:

I can give you that. I put MJB in this category too. Ole Murray couldn't find a key with a locksmith but folks always give her props for her emotional delivery. I must admit MJB is very powerful live no matter how bad her vocals. But the hystrionics can get old after awhile.

At least Mary got grits and ham hocks to deliver you know? Sure, MANY off-key moments, but to me they're ginuine off-key moments(Teena Marie is also guilty of her share of off-key moments, and they too are ginuine).

With Alicia, everytime she attempts to wail, the image of a strangled cat in heat materialize right in front of my eyes,,,,,she could be singing about her mother being on her way to the electric chair, and I doubt that I'll FEEL what she's singing. Excessive, I know, but

[Edited 6/22/10 13:01pm]

Yall are as cruel as all get out. I would fear singing in front of any of you. Now...Mary J Blige gets into trouble when she USED to try to run her notes. Mary's voice has grown tremendously throughout the years. She sang that "trouble" song on the Larry King for Haiti telethon and it bought me to tears....

I also thought she did a fantastic job with Andrea Bocelli (spelling) singing Like a Bridge Over Troubled waters. Both sing different genres but both were equally effective. I liked!!!!!

Alicia Keys does NOT emote.

I think she's a good singer compared to pop stars, but she is not a great singer compared to other great singers

Reel said:

Harlepolis said:

At least Mary got grits and ham hocks to deliver you know? Sure, MANY off-key moments, but to me they're ginuine off-key moments(Teena Marie is also guilty of her share of off-key moments, and they too are ginuine).

With Alicia, everytime she attempts to wail, the image of a strangled cat in heat materialize right in front of my eyes,,,,,she could be singing about her mother being on her way to the electric chair, and I doubt that I'll FEEL what she's singing. Excessive, I know, but

[Edited 6/22/10 13:01pm]

Yall are as cruel as all get out. I would fear singing in front of any of you. Now...Mary J Blige gets into trouble when she USED to try to run her notes. Mary's voice has grown tremendously throughout the years. She sang that "trouble" song on the Larry King for Haiti telethon and it bought me to tears....

I also thought she did a fantastic job with Andrea Bocelli (spelling) singing Like a Bridge Over Troubled waters. Both sing different genres but both were equally effective. I liked!!!!!

My only issue with Mary's voice is when she started to think she's Chaka Khan(in her head) and made the mistake of the wailing trend that earhole raping trend started after she released her "No More Drama" album.

I'm happy that sistergirl gained a huge level of confidence in her voice, but damn, sometimes knowing your limits is all the WINNING you can achieve,,,and then some.

Like her duet with Lauryn Hill "I used to love him, but now I don't", no wailing and no boosting, but you sure as hell felt the pain.

Some of her fans go all the way out and say "she should get her heartbroken again" or worse "she should go back to using drugs" All I need from the dame is to take it easy,,,,and leave those cuetsy tutsy songs from her new album to the "flavor of the month" pin-up gals.

[Edited 6/22/10 14:02pm]

Lammastide said:

Harlepolis said:

At least Mary got grits and ham hocks to deliver you know? Sure, MANY off-key moments, but to me they're ginuine off-key moments(Teena Marie is also guilty of her share of off-key moments, and they too are ginuine).

With Alicia, everytime she attempts to wail, the image of a strangled cat in heat materialize right in front of my eyes,,,,,she could be singing about her mother being on her way to the electric chair, and I doubt that I'll FEEL what she's singing. Excessive, I know, but

You are being awfully kind here, sister. Teena Marie's entire career is off-key.

She has her share of vocall shortcomings(esp when you compare her to her peers at the time) but at leeeeast she can get the message across...

Prior to this song, I thought "Square Biz" and "Fire & Desire" were the only things worth checking out. Come to find out, the woman is nobody's joke when it comes to those ballads.

[Edited 6/22/10 14:09pm]

Harlepolis said:

Lammastide said:

You are being awfully kind here, sister. Teena Marie's entire career is off-key.

She has her share of vocall shortcomings(esp when you compare her to her peers at the time) but at leeeeast she can get the message across...

Prior to this song, I thought "Square Biz" and "Fire & Desire" were the only things worth checking out. Come to find out, the woman is nobody's joke when it comes to those ballads.

[Edited 6/22/10 14:09pm]

My forever fave is If I Were a Bell

midiscover said:

I don't get it

Good singer with a lot of passion ...

Well, Swizz Beatz said she could blow.....

bboy87 said:

Well, Swizz Beatz said she could blow.....

And mofos say I'm cruel

Harlepolis said:

Reel said:

Yall are as cruel as all get out. I would fear singing in front of any of you. Now...Mary J Blige gets into trouble when she USED to try to run her notes. Mary's voice has grown tremendously throughout the years. She sang that "trouble" song on the Larry King for Haiti telethon and it bought me to tears....

I also thought she did a fantastic job with Andrea Bocelli (spelling) singing Like a Bridge Over Troubled waters. Both sing different genres but both were equally effective. I liked!!!!!

My only issue with Mary's voice is when she started to think she's Chaka Khan(in her head) and made the mistake of the wailing trend that earhole raping trend started after she released her "No More Drama" album.

I'm happy that sistergirl gained a huge level of confidence in her voice, but damn, sometimes knowing your limits is all the WINNING you can achieve,,,and then some.

Like her duet with Lauryn Hill "I used to love him, but now I don't", no wailing and no boosting, but you sure as hell felt the pain.

Some of her fans go all the way out and say "she should get her heartbroken again" or worse "she should go back to using drugs" All I need from the dame is to take it easy,,,,and leave those cuetsy tutsy songs from her new album to the "flavor of the month" pin-up gals.

[Edited 6/22/10 14:02pm]

Well that heartbroken thing is probably not too far down the road. About 6 months ago there were reports that Mary decked her husband in the face because he was flirting with another woman at their party. Then there have been recent unsubstantiated reports that the two are divorcing. Well I hope that she stays drug free. Life can be a bitch. Mary know she aint had no business hitting no grown ass man to beat him into submission because he flirted with another woman. Just leave his broke ass alone.

bboy87 said:

Well, Swizz Beatz said she could blow.....

Blow what?

Reel said:

bboy87 said:

Well, Swizz Beatz said she could blow.....

Blow what?

His pipe.

This thread bout to go down....

hill that is.

In the technical sense, not really. Alicia's voice is not that great to me. Kind of on the thin side, she often sounds she's straining. I've never thought she was a particularly good vocalist, but she does put a lot of emotion into her songs, so that counts for something.

But she's def. not one of my fave vocalists. I like her music better than I like her voice.

Harlepolis said:

SCNDLS said:

I can give you that. I put MJB in this category too. Ole Murray couldn't find a key with a locksmith but folks always give her props for her emotional delivery. I must admit MJB is very powerful live no matter how bad her vocals. But the hystrionics can get old after awhile.

At least Mary got grits and ham hocks to deliver you know? Sure, MANY off-key moments, but to me they're ginuine off-key moments(Teena Marie is also guilty of her share of off-key moments, and they too are ginuine).

With Alicia, everytime she attempts to wail, the image of a strangled cat in heat materialize right in front of my eyes,,,,,she could be singing about her mother being on her way to the electric chair, and I doubt that I'll FEEL what she's singing. Excessive, I know, but

[Edited 6/22/10 13:01pm]

Mary is only capable of putting out good material, when she is depressed. She SUCKS, when she is happy..."Just Fine", was a mess....

DesireeNevermind said:

Reel said:

Blow what?

His pipe.

This thread bout to go down....

hill that is.

midiscover said:

I don't get it

first time i actually agree with u!

I think she's decent, but vocally overrated.

she has a hideous tone, and not only that but when she tries to hit big notes she strains them out.

[Edited 6/22/10 19:10pm]

For years Alicia Keys has been denying rumors about being gay. So I guess she figures no better way than to deny such rumors than by being a husband stealer. And an "allegedly" knocked-up husband stealer at that. We all are human, but I lost a couple of nodules of respect of Ms. Keys behind that one. She had Swizz Beat's wife on the air trying to explain how jacked up the whole situation is "but that she's moving on, and hopes they will be happy together forever" or some crap like that. You could tell she was still pissed and rightfully so. Good thing she wasn't Mary Jay cause she would have clawed Alicia's eyes and scratchy strainy voicebox out.

DesireeNevermind said:

Reel said:

Blow what?

His pipe.

This thread bout to go down....

hill that is.

Reel said:

For years Alicia Keys has been denying rumors about being gay. So I guess she figures no better way than to deny such rumors than by being a husband stealer. And an "allegedly" knocked-up husband stealer at that. We all are human, but I lost a couple of nodules of respect of Ms. Keys behind that one. She had Swizz Beat's wife on the air trying to explain how jacked up the whole situation is "but that she's moving on, and hopes they will be happy together forever" or some crap like that. You could tell she was still pissed and rightfully so. Good thing she wasn't Mary Jay cause she would have clawed Alicia's eyes and scratchy strainy voicebox out.

Bottomline is none of us knows what happened. Simply put, there's two sides to every story. I'm not a fan of Alicia's, but I think that she's getting a bum rap in this situation. Mashonda says that her husband was stolen, while Swizz has maintained that their marriage/relationship was already over and that it just wasn't in writing yet when he hooked up with Alicia. But even if what Moshanda says is true, Alicia didn't make vows to her, Swizz did.

I think Mary would've clawed at her husband in this situation. Didn't she already do that a while back.?

Bottomline, that had nothing to do with the topic of this thread

Expressive vocalist, but also reed-thin.

midiscover said:

Bottomline, that had nothing to do with the topic of this thread

I didn't bring it up so...

[img:$uid]http://i39.tinypic.com/s4w8kl.jpg[/img:$uid]

Layzie said:

Reel said:

For years Alicia Keys has been denying rumors about being gay. So I guess she figures no better way than to deny such rumors than by being a husband stealer. And an "allegedly" knocked-up husband stealer at that. We all are human, but I lost a couple of nodules of respect of Ms. Keys behind that one. She had Swizz Beat's wife on the air trying to explain how jacked up the whole situation is "but that she's moving on, and hopes they will be happy together forever" or some crap like that. You could tell she was still pissed and rightfully so. Good thing she wasn't Mary Jay cause she would have clawed Alicia's eyes and scratchy strainy voicebox out.

Bottomline is none of us knows what happened. Simply put, there's two sides to every story. I'm not a fan of Alicia's, but I think that she's getting a bum rap in this situation. Mashonda says that her husband was stolen, while Swizz has maintained that their marriage/relationship was already over and that it just wasn't in writing yet when he hooked up with Alicia. But even if what Moshanda says is true, Alicia didn't make vows to her, Swizz did.

I think Mary would've clawed at her husband in this situation. Didn't she already do that a while back.?

Mary woulda clawed them both. Like Lenny said...."It aint over till it's over".

Layzie said:

midiscover said:

Bottomline, that had nothing to do with the topic of this thread

I didn't bring it up so...

[img:$uid]http://i39.tinypic.com/s4w8kl.jpg[/img:$uid]

Harlepolis said:

Reel said:

Yall are as cruel as all get out. I would fear singing in front of any of you. Now...Mary J Blige gets into trouble when she USED to try to run her notes. Mary's voice has grown tremendously throughout the years. She sang that "trouble" song on the Larry King for Haiti telethon and it bought me to tears....

I also thought she did a fantastic job with Andrea Bocelli (spelling) singing Like a Bridge Over Troubled waters. Both sing different genres but both were equally effective. I liked!!!!!

My only issue with Mary's voice is when she started to think she's Chaka Khan(in her head) and made the mistake of the wailing trend that earhole raping trend started after she released her "No More Drama" album.

I'm happy that sistergirl gained a huge level of confidence in her voice, but damn, sometimes knowing your limits is all the WINNING you can achieve,,,and then some.

Like her duet with Lauryn Hill "I used to love him, but now I don't", no wailing and no boosting, but you sure as hell felt the pain.

Some of her fans go all the way out and say "she should get her heartbroken again" or worse "she should go back to using drugs" All I need from the dame is to take it easy,,,,and leave those cuetsy tutsy songs from her new album to the "flavor of the month" pin-up gals.

[Edited 6/22/10 14:02pm]

I don't like the new Mary vocals either. The 1992-1999 Mary remains my favorite. It's like she's doing what Alicia is doing, wailing just to wail. I think Alicia would be alright if she didn't have to do that every other song. I actually think she has a good voice but like I said she tries too hard to be more than what she is. That's just me though.

She's listenable

midiscover said:

She has the same tone and sounds like a constipated cow.

I dare someone tell me otherwise

You are 100000% correct. She canNOT really sing that well. The singers of today just don't have any real talent