I love Lauryn Hill, TLC, Jill Scott, of course Erykah...why can't I dig MJB? Can't figure it out. Do you guys like her?

Hell yes.

Mary's the shit.

badujunkie said:

Why don't you like Mary J Blige?

Krytonite said:

that's what i don't know. it might be her voice sounds a little grating, or the hooks in her songs don't do it enough for me, or i haven't heard enough of her album tracks vs. singles. dunno.

sometimes i feel the same way.


on the one hand, sometimes i really like her a lot. i think she's got some great songs and is often a great singer.


on the other hand, i sometimes she really overdoes it vocally sometimes and that her reach is beyond her grasp, especially live.

badujunkie said:

Do you have any of her albums?

i like her

there's nothing to figure out....

If you don't know, why would you think any of us would?

badujunkie said:

Originally, I only liked her older stuff, like the tunes from "My life"...she turned me off a little bit though because she had a reputation for being so psycho...then she seemed to straighten up a bit, behave herself in public like she had some damn sense, and by chance I got a chance to see her perform in Hamburg. Vocally she was as loud as usual, though singing better, mature in her stage presence even for the fun hip hop uptempo stuff, but still knowlegable and cognizant. I really left that auditorium feeling like I had witnessed a very moving stage experience from a real "Queen". She was sooo Sheba-esque and in her "artist" zone that night, I became a big fan after that. The thing I realize with Mary is that her stage performances are hit and miss. But having caught her on a "good" night in Europe, and then absolutely loving the second half of her "Live in LA" DVD (she's on point for this show)---I'm satisfied with knowing that when she's good, she really is VERY VERY good...

Mary J. Blige is my fav singer of all times!!!

she's the reason why I sing
she's a trend setter
I love her for her sincerity,
her music brings tears to my eyes

this woman saved my life in '02
her song "Keep Your Head"
stopped me from killing myself

"the struggle" will always be present
but watching her transition from
"Queen Bitch" to "So Lady"
lets me know that anything is possible
and that you can't give up
most importantly while you run the race
"Keep you head to the sky..."

I like her. I love her intensity in her soulful voice. Very energetic and she doesn't even use Choreography that much.

Rinluv said:

I agree. Let me also say that i don't even care for todays r&b music either but Mary is an exception to the rule. she is honest, gutsy and can sing her ass off. when i see her perform on tv she blows me away everytime. i've seen her on stage by herself, no back up dancers or anything and had the energy of 100 people. truly amazing!

CalhounSq said:

TRON said:

Just "Mary" and I've only spun it like twice or some'n.

badujunkie said:

Well maybe she's just not for you, though i know it's frustrating when you want to get into an artist but you just can't for some unexplainable reason.

dancerella said:

exactly

i also have been to one of her shows with my friend where EVERYONE but me was sooooo into her, singing along with every word, crying, screaming, and i felt left out...

badujunkie said:

don't feel bad. she's alright, but she's not one of my fav. artists neither...
sometimes she annoys me when she sings because she sounds like she is trying to belt out something that isn't there....

most people feel she is the queen of hip hop soul, but i just look at her as just another singer on the pop tart charts...but thats just me
[Edited 1/26/06 17:43pm]

I've never liked her music from day one. First I didn't like it because she had those tired weak hip hop drum machines (which I hate). Then, I didn't like it because she became the "Rich Little of The Music Business". She not only remade old songs but it sounded like she used the original instrumentals for the music. Then she tried to make her voice sound exactly like the original artist (example: "Natural Woman" by Aretha Franklin, "Sweet Love" by Chaka Khan, and "I'm Going Down" by Rose Royce). If you didn't listen extremely close, you would mistake her versions for the original songs.
.
.
[Edited 1/26/06 18:06pm]

badujunkie said:

wow...mary must have taken note from all the folks complaining that she doesnt sing on key because she did a phenomenal job on Ellen today...

I have grown to like her.
I couldn't stand her when she first came out.
Her duet with George Michael (cover of Stevie Wonder's "As") really clinched the deal.

One thing though: she needs to hire a stylist. Anytime she's at an awards ceremony or something, she always looks "under-dressed".

sosgemini said:

DAMN!!! I wish I could have seen that What song(s) did she do?

vainandy said:

I know exactly what you mean.Her remakes are really terrible.Even Chaka Khan expressed her disappointment with Mary's version of "Sweet Thing"

Crappallonia said:

ummm...ner new song...cant remember the title.

Probably for the same reason many of us find Joss Stone annoying - I think on occasion that she tries too hard and her voice has too many sharp edges - (I know she is not in the same league though) - just my opinion though

sosgemini said:

"Be Without You"

badujunkie said:

I never could get into her music either .

DirtyChris said:

Thanks!!

nurse said:

ditto