Only just heard the original Teena Marie version last week when I bought the album Naked To The World from Amazon. Was totally blown away. I used to love The Fugees and Fu-Gee-La but it's nothing compared to Ooh La La La. Teena Marie continues to amaze me.

fugees were always overated. They sampled more then hammer for fuck sake. But they were hailed as innovative etc.....

I've heard this "ooh la la la" before too.

If you want to help me with choosing some Teena material, read on:

I just have a few of her jams, here and there, plus the Starchild album.

I was thinking of getting Emerald City (1986) but looks like Naked To The World (1987) is the winner.

allmusic gave Emerald City 2 out of 5 stars, and Naked To The World 4.5 out of 5 stars!

CinisterCee said:

"Emerald City" is a classic album...
It features Mr. William "Bootsy" Collins on the title song....
Its a great album....GET IT!!!!
In fact, GET ALL OF EM'!!!

funkpill said:

Any of her later shit just plain bad?

thesexofit said:

And Hammer plays how many instruments, and can rap in how many languages?
Fugees deservs their props.

I like both, but I gotta go with Fu-Gee-La. I just remember feeling good during those years.

Soulchild82 said:

he can play his fists up ur ass


But reallt fu-gees wern't that great. "ready or not" was no masterpiece. How many times did we have to hear that song?

"killing me softly" aswell was ruined by wyclefs constant "one time".

thesexofit said:

Really cute

Anyway how many times did we have to hear U cant touch this or 2 legit to quit?

Clef and Jerry WOnder are talanted as is Lauryn and Pras. I've yet to see Hammer or 2 Big MC, or Oaktown 357 (remember themm?) score a film or do an unplugged show.

Teena Marie all the way!!!

I f*ckin' hate that b*tch Lauryn Hill.

Soulchild82 said:

ha 2 big mc, he was funny. "yo hammer, get busy" were the only words he ever said. Oaktown 357? Yeah they were cool, as was b angie b and special generation.

Anyway, I like pras. I got one of his albums (one with "Ghetto superstar" on it), I forget where it is now though.

No doubt all ae talented, but those songs drove me crazy.

yeah ur right hammer was a cat who got overexposed too. he opened the doors to positve rap cum poster boys like gerardo (rico suave) and marky mark. But I love those guys.

Oh shit! I forgot about B Angie B!

I remember she covered "Don't wanna lose your love", originally done by The Emotions.

Nick715 said:

Really? I never knew she dropped an album? She sang tht title song to kid and plays movie "class act". Thats all I knew? That and she annoys the fuck outta me on "too legit to quit".

Over an dover again "TOO LEGIIIIIT, TOO LEGIIIIIT, TOO LEGIIIIIT". Ahhhhh

Yep, there was a music video for it too. I wonder if her album is still in print?

Nick715 said:

hey I just checked amazon. they got it. Cool. I found it odd that hammers "funky headhunter" was not on his label bust it! yet Deion Sanders album was?

LOL. That takes me back!
[Edited 5/5/05 17:17pm]

CinisterCee said:

I read that allmusic review too, and like a lot of their reviews, it's way off the mark. Bare in mind when u read these reviews that they gave albums like The Spice Girls' debut 5 stars. Anyway, u should get Emerald City without hesitation, Lips to Find You, Once is Not Enough, You so Heavy and Shangr-La are probably the standout tracks. Naked to the World would be a close 2nd for me. On current listening my top 5 Teena Marie albums would be 1) Emerald City 2) Naked to the World 3) Starchild 4) Irons in the Fire 5) It Must Be Magic

kinaldo said:

Lady T wins!!!

BTW, I like the 12" version of Ooh La La.

funkpill said:

Co-sign. I've always wanted to hear a duet between her and P.

Emerald City is THE quintessential Teena Maria Cd. Every song was hot.

I've always considered it her Purple Rain.

I like 'Fu-Gee-La' but I love 'Ooo La La La'. In concert, Teena would mix it up...a little bit of both songs...Nice! FYI, Did you know that when 'Ooo La La La hit # 1 on the R&B charts, Rick told her that he didn't like the song. She said in an interview that Rick told her that she had written better songs than that and he couldn't believe that she had written something as simple as 'Ooo La La La' and it goes to # 1.


Speaking of Rick, Did you all ever noticed that when Rick was asked about Teena's successes, he would [most of the time] respond negatively about it, instead of being happy for her? I have read and heard him in many interviews over the years and I've noticed it more than once when he was asked about Teena's success. Just before he died, he was asked about her new album debuting in the Top 10 on Billboard's Top 200 and he gave a negative responds then, too. He didn't sound happy for her at all...I never understood that & I guess I never will. Oh, well, maybe it's just me...

Sarai said:

He sounds bitter. He was featured on that last album. I'll give him that it wasn't that great of an album, but at that point, what had he done lately! At least she was trying. I have an idea we will never see any new Rick James material. I think we are the point were he is totally forgotten. Hell, Chapelle is becoming the joke that he made Rick James out to be!

I have to agree, "La Dona" wasn't great. I would never compare it to her old stuff because it would never measure up, but it did have it's moments with 'I'm On Fire', 'My Body's Hungry' & 'Hit Me Where I Live'. I thought those songs were classic Teena. IMO, she had a better selection of songs on the original ["Black Rain"]. Like the original version of "High Yellow Girl" about her daughter was much better than the version that made it on to "La Dona". It sounded like it was rushed and threw together. The version on "Black Rain" was much more beautiful...There also was a song on the original where she changes her style of singing to sound just like Prince...It blew me away...You would have thought that Prince wrote it, too, if you heard it...After hearing that song, It's obvious that she's indeed a fan of Prince

BTW, Teena's gearing up for a 40-city-tour. Some dates are already on sale now through Ticketmaster http://www.ticketmaster.c...ist/735590

-Sorry, the photo isn't as nice & clear on here as it is in the magazine-

I read that Mathew Knowles [Beyonce's father] is going to release the new stuff by Rick James on Aug 2, 2005 on the label that he heads up.
[Edited 5/12/05 17:17pm]

Sarai said:

Matthews Knowles up to some good for once. Here's hoping!