New topic
Printabletheghostoftonym said: i bought both of her first two albums (at the same time). i have not heard her new album. and i never said anything about her lyrics other than that they're too often pretentious. india's lyrics are probably better than alicia's (hardly bob dylan though...still pretty immature and simplistic, just more wordy and pretentious). but alicia's SONGS are a lot better than india's. i'd have thought someone on a prince board would have known a song can still be great even if it has overly simplistic lyrics (partyup? take me with u? musicology? shall i go on?). call the emotional stance of alicia's stuff high school all you want, it's not important; "pet sounds" was pretty high school too
and drop the superiority bullshit. i can pretty much guarantee you i know more "about music" than you'll ever know, and have heard more music than you've ever heard. trust me on this one. I think with that one comment in bold you've proven that your last paragraph is all fluff and no substance...much like Alicia's songs. Please, go learn what REAL music is and not what makes a good "song." How sad is that? [Edited 6/28/06 14:25pm] Living to die and I'll die to live again - 360 degrees - comprehend | |
- E-mail - orgNote -  Report post to moderator |
Who said India.Arie isnt popular? All of her albums are at least platinum and she is well recieved when she tours! [Edited 6/28/06 16:54pm] | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
minneapolisgenius said: theghostoftonym said: i bought both of her first two albums (at the same time). i have not heard her new album. and i never said anything about her lyrics other than that they're too often pretentious. india's lyrics are probably better than alicia's (hardly bob dylan though...still pretty immature and simplistic, just more wordy and pretentious). but alicia's SONGS are a lot better than india's. i'd have thought someone on a prince board would have known a song can still be great even if it has overly simplistic lyrics (partyup? take me with u? musicology? shall i go on?). call the emotional stance of alicia's stuff high school all you want, it's not important; "pet sounds" was pretty high school too and drop the superiority bullshit. i can pretty much guarantee you i know more "about music" than you'll ever know, and have heard more music than you've ever heard. trust me on this one.  Oh good Lord.Superiority vs Superiority! My Legacy
http://prince.org/msg/8/192731 | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
StoneCrib said: theghostoftonym said: i bought both of her first two albums (at the same time). i have not heard her new album. and i never said anything about her lyrics other than that they're too often pretentious. india's lyrics are probably better than alicia's (hardly bob dylan though...still pretty immature and simplistic, just more wordy and pretentious). but alicia's SONGS are a lot better than india's. i'd have thought someone on a prince board would have known a song can still be great even if it has overly simplistic lyrics (partyup? take me with u? musicology? shall i go on?). call the emotional stance of alicia's stuff high school all you want, it's not important; "pet sounds" was pretty high school too
and drop the superiority bullshit. i can pretty much guarantee you i know more "about music" than you'll ever know, and have heard more music than you've ever heard. trust me on this one. I think with that one comment in bold you've proven that your last paragraph is all fluff and no substance...much like Alicia's songs. just because it's dressed up in a lot of 12th grade poetry-club metaphors and vaguely afrocentric earth-woman hippie horseshit doesn't make it mature or complicated. strip the songs down to their bare bones and the difference in lyrical substance is hardly that big [Edited 6/28/06 14:29pm] | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Harlepolis said: namepeace said: About two-and-a-half decades ago, the media anointed another fair-skinned brother who could play a few chords the next big thing. And he was. Others didn't make it. That's the bizness.
If India Arie was light skinded would she be more popular One way to look @ it and MANY would agree I guess. But I think Its deeper than the "high yella/mullato vs darkie" bullshit IMO. Biz is ONLY a reason out of countless ones. I agree. I can think of a lot of black artists of varying hues who didn't hit it big for various reasons. - Their sound was deemed too "black" for white radio. - Their sound was deemed too "white" black radio. - They weren't thin enough (ask Janet about this one). - They didn't have an MC soloing on their record. - Their fanbase was too old or too small to get on the radio. - based on what we're seeing out of NY and elsewhere, maybe the right people weren't getting paid. All of those dovetail into the bizness. Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016
Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
I don't feel this one is a situation where skin tone has anything to do with it. I think Alicia is more "accessible" musically than India.This is the same thing that happened when Omar came out and din't do huge sales and Jamiroquai came out and blew doors off in England. I didn't even really notice race.It was simply aa matter of styles.I listen to a lot of both artists,but I do realize more casual music fans will find jamiroquai attractive before they will Omar.One is simply more "pop" in their approach and sound.Skin has nothing to do with it. "I'm a pig..so,magic elixir I swill" | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
I may get raked through the coal for this, but you will be hard-pressed to find a dark-skinned black woman with average talent be successful. Ashanti, Aaliyah, etc would not have had the level of success they had/have if they were dark-skinned with African features. Fantasia could never get away with whispering through her songs and doing the two-step like Ashanti and have the same type of success that Ashanti had.
Lauryn Hill was successful because she's highly talented. She didn't get over on her looks. Her talent could not be denied. Sheryl Lee Ralph kind of touch on this when she was interviewed about the Dream Girls movie. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
PurpleCharm said: I may get raked through the coal for this, but you will be hard-pressed to find a dark-skinned black woman with average talent be successful. Ashanti, Aaliyah, etc would not have had the level of success they had/have if they were dark-skinned with African features. Fantasia could never get away with whispering through her songs and doing the two-step like Ashanti and have the same type of success that Ashanti had.
True, but Fantasia's not pretty My Legacy
http://prince.org/msg/8/192731 | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
lilgish said: There's a few new light skin jump offs Corinne Bailey Rae and Susan Cagle that I see getting promo, I hear those albums are good. India Arie does the same kinda music.
 
Why isn't India Arie as big as Alicia Keys? They make the same boring ass music. I think India has better songs. Is there another reason besides skin color that India isnt a major star? Damn, u get corinne in America now? Her music puts me to sleep. Sorta like Norah Jones "coffee table" music. But a tleast she ain't exploiting or being exploited being black. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
NDRU said: PurpleCharm said: I may get raked through the coal for this, but you will be hard-pressed to find a dark-skinned black woman with average talent be successful. Ashanti, Aaliyah, etc would not have had the level of success they had/have if they were dark-skinned with African features. Fantasia could never get away with whispering through her songs and doing the two-step like Ashanti and have the same type of success that Ashanti had.
True, but Fantasia's not pretty Beauty is subjective. Name me a dark-skinned female singer that you consider attractive, has extremely average talent and has/had a very successful music career. [Edited 6/28/06 15:42pm] | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
PurpleCharm said: NDRU said: True, but Fantasia's not pretty Beauty is subjective. Name me a dark-skinned female singer that you consider attractive, has extremely average talent and has/had a very successful music career. [Edited 6/28/06 15:42pm] Janet Jackson But I wasn't trying to argue with your point so much as to point out Fantasia vs Ashanti maybe isn't the best comparison. My Legacy
http://prince.org/msg/8/192731 | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
NDRU said: PurpleCharm said: Beauty is subjective. Name me a dark-skinned female singer that you consider attractive, has extremely average talent and has/had a very successful music career. [Edited 6/28/06 15:42pm] Janet Jackson But I wasn't trying to argue with your point so much as to point out Fantasia vs Ashanti maybe isn't the best comparison. Oh ok. Janet...dark-skinned???  | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
PurpleCharm said: NDRU said: Janet Jackson But I wasn't trying to argue with your point so much as to point out Fantasia vs Ashanti maybe isn't the best comparison. Oh ok. Janet...dark-skinned??? Naturally I'd even say Michael is, but who can tell with made up celebs. More importantly, where do you draw the line? I feel kind of ridiculous trying to classify people like that. My Legacy
http://prince.org/msg/8/192731 | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
NDRU said: PurpleCharm said: Oh ok. Janet...dark-skinned??? Naturally I'd even say Michael is, but who can tell with made up celebs. More importantly, where do you draw the line? I feel kind of ridiculous trying to classify people like that. Of course it is all relative. Next to a light-skinned black person, I may be considered brown-skinned, but next to a dark-skinned black person, I may be considered light-skinned. I dont' think anyone would dispute that Fantasia, India.Aire, Lauryn Hill and the chick in my profile are dark-skinned. [Edited 6/28/06 16:22pm] | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
theghostoftonym said:[quote] Graycap23 said: i bought both of her first two albums (at the same time). i have not heard her new album. and i never said anything about her lyrics other than that they're too often pretentious. india's lyrics are probably better than alicia's (hardly bob dylan though...still pretty immature and simplistic, just more wordy and pretentious). but alicia's SONGS are a lot better than india's. [Edited 6/28/06 14:19pm] I'm not a huge fan of either of them (altough I do like India singing better) but, this may be because pretty much of everything that Alicia has done that has been popular has been rehash of older R&B/soul songs. Hell her last hit sounded like a reworked version of the theme song to "Good Times".  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'll play it first and tell you what it is later. -Miles Davis- | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
lilgish said: Is there another reason besides skin color that India isnt a major star?
 So are you saying that if she was light skinded, the public would have loveded her more?
tA  Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
NDRU said: PurpleCharm said: Oh ok. Janet...dark-skinned??? Naturally I'd even say Michael is, but who can tell with made up celebs. More importantly, where do you draw the line? I feel kind of ridiculous trying to classify people like that. Even naturally, I can't even consider Janet dark-skinned. At the very most she was like a darkish caramel complexion. But, as someone said everything is relative..  | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
PurpleCharm said: NDRU said: Naturally I'd even say Michael is, but who can tell with made up celebs. More importantly, where do you draw the line? I feel kind of ridiculous trying to classify people like that. Of course it is all relative. Next to a light-skinned black person, I may considered brown-skinned, but next to a dark-skinned black person, I may be considered light-skinned. I dont' think anyone would dispute that Fantasia, India.Aire, Lauryn Hill and the chick in my profile are dark-skinned. Well, the woman in your profile might just be able to whisper her way through some songs and be a star... My Legacy
http://prince.org/msg/8/192731 | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
NDRU said: PurpleCharm said: Of course it is all relative. Next to a light-skinned black person, I may considered brown-skinned, but next to a dark-skinned black person, I may be considered light-skinned. I dont' think anyone would dispute that Fantasia, India.Aire, Lauryn Hill and the chick in my profile are dark-skinned. Well, the woman in your profile might just be able to whisper her way through some songs and be a star... | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Pic of Janet with her brothers in all her natural glory. Her complexion is not much different from what it is now. Infact Janet doesn't look all that different from now inspite of the nose jobs and Lipo. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
whatsgoingon said:
Pic of Janet with her brothers in all her natural glory. Her complexion is not much different from what it is now. Infact Janet doesn't look all that different from now inspite of the nose jobs and Lipo. All the brothers look like they're trying to ignore her... It's a Very Jackson Outting...
Janet (in Penny voice): "Look! A seagull!" Jackie: "Ain't no seagull. We're on a lake, you little -- (hey, now... Who is *that* ovuh there? Hey, momma...)" Mike: "I love Dunk and all, but she is tryin' my last nerve with that bird-watchin... (I wonder if little J. Allen Rippy returned my phone call. He's neat...)" Marlon: "I told you we shouldn'a brought her along. But you know Randy was afraid we'd pick on *him* if she didn't come along..." Tito: "Randy, if you don't back up off'a me, you're going swimmin'... Ya lucky you talked Janet into coming... We wuz gonna make it Wedgie Day for you..." | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
ThreadBare said: whatsgoingon said:
Pic of Janet with her brothers in all her natural glory. Her complexion is not much different from what it is now. Infact Janet doesn't look all that different from now inspite of the nose jobs and Lipo. All the brothers look like they're trying to ignore her... It's a Very Jackson Outting...
Janet (in Penny voice): "Look! A seagull!" Jackie: "Ain't no seagull. We're on a lake, you little -- (hey, now... Who is *that* ovuh there? Hey, momma...)" Mike: "I love Dunk and all, but she is tryin' my last nerve with that bird-watchin... (I wonder if little J. Allen Rippy returned my phone call. He's neat...)" Marlon: "I told you we shouldn'a brought her along. But you know Randy was afraid we'd pick on *him* if she didn't come along..." Tito: "Randy, if you don't back up off'a me, you're going swimmin'... Ya lucky you talked Janet into coming... We wuz gonna make it Wedgie Day for you..."  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'll play it first and tell you what it is later. -Miles Davis- | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Honestly in UK, i dont think radio and music stations see her as black. They justs see her music. America gotta turn it all into light skinned-dark skinned LOL. I can see why, UK barely has any black artists, but i dont think its an issue at all over here. If she were white, it'll be the same. MTV base dont play her it seems (thats basically the rnb version of mtv), so..... | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
theghostoftonym said: StoneCrib said: I think with that one comment in bold you've proven that your last paragraph is all fluff and no substance...much like Alicia's songs. just because it's dressed up in a lot of 12th grade poetry-club metaphors and vaguely afrocentric earth-woman hippie horseshit doesn't make it mature or complicated. strip the songs down to their bare bones and the difference in lyrical substance is hardly that big [Edited 6/28/06 14:29pm] Wow. So you're saying India's song "The Truth" is basically the same as Alicia's song "Girlfriend" LOL! Good luck in life! Living to die and I'll die to live again - 360 degrees - comprehend | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Janet (in Penny voice): "Look! A seagull!"
LMAO! Funniest line in the whole skit! Living to die and I'll die to live again - 360 degrees - comprehend | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
India has better vocals.
Plus she doesn't steal songs from older artists to pretend she wrote them herself. Still, all of India's songs include sounds of a freakin' acoustic guitar - one of two instruments I would wipe out of this world If I could (the other one is accordion [Edited 6/28/06 17:32pm] I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at the dirt. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
rushing07 said: India has better vocals.
Plus she doesn't steal songs from older artists to pretend she wrote them herself. Still, all of India's songs include sounds of a freakin' acoustic guitar - one of two instruments I would wipe out of this world If I could (the other one is accordion
Now that's just a plain shame. typos are also a plain shame edit [Edited 6/28/06 18:00pm] "I saw a woman with major Hammer pants on the subway a few weeks ago and totally thought of you." - sextonseven | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
It seems as if India Arie is borrowing a page from Sinead 'O Connor. Seems like she's going out of her way to be unglamorous, i.e., the bald head, "original" outfits, et. al. She doesn't fit in with what most of popular culture deems conventionally attractive. Seems to be trying too far to go in the opposite direction. In a sense, that would be just as calculated as if it were some very attractive singer/starlet using her looks to get ahead. I kind of wonder if that's affecting how people respond to her music. From what I've read as far as reviews go, there seems to be a backlash against her "preachiness" on just about every song.
Still, I don't see the Chris Browns of the world being asked to perform with Stevie Wonder, Prince and Chaka Khan. Says something about the respect from her musical peers. And that's a good thing. My author page: https://www.amazon.com/au...eretttruth | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
VinnyM27 said: What...Are you kidding? .....
I don't think it's her skin color that makes her unpopular but her music, which is enjoyable but Top 40 isn't going to embrace her for three albums...let alone two! Ok, so why is she so unpopular on the org? Home of top 40 haters... Case in point... Alicia Keys (ain't doin a damn thing) 1 thread 90 replies 1,557 views http://www.prince.org/msg/8/193076 India Arie (new album) 2 threads 121 views http://www.prince.org/msg/8/193610 http://www.prince.org/msg/8/193739 She's just performed with PRINCE and there's not one, count em, one thread about them. If Alicica performed with him there with would be tons of locked thread titles "Prince performs with Alicia, Tamar is Jealous?" "Will Prince and Alicia make a song" "Prince and Alicia Keys at the afterparty, Where's Mani?" I started the Why is Prince hyping this Tamar chick thread (sorry Tamar, ur good) and dismissed the whole skin color issue. But if she looked like Vanity with her talent would we like her more... | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
theAudience said: lilgish said: Is there another reason besides skin color that India isnt a major star?
So are you saying that if she was light skinded, the public would have loveded her more?
tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431  Ya know I'm just trying to start a little controversy. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |