I think I said it before in another thread on Bilal; sometimes that brotha scares me when he's onstage...but that's what draws me into him

Another "org-fave" I just don't dig.

BSK3601 said:

Exactly. Just what entertainment needs. A shot in the arm from the boring ass walking back and forth with the cooler-than-thou expressions for no reason. Nobody with talent cuts loose these days. That's why the old school tours sell out and most of these new performers can't pack a large club. Entertainers are supposed to entertain; even if it makes them look avant-garde.
Everybody's afraid of not looking "cool".
All the songs are tracked because no one wants to sound like they ever make mistakes.
All the moves are choreographed because no one trusts natural movements anymore.
Its sickening. Good to see something that looks REAL for a change.

Ottensen said:

His duet on Musiq's last disc spooks me. I hit "skip" whenever I hear it start.

Going on Leno is hardly "corny;"

you want people to hear your music, you play gigs, especially the ones witnessed by millions every night. You saw Bilal's "best shot;" his performances make you think he's possessed. He's not going to get on stage, stand in place, smile broadly for the camera, snap his fingers and croon a la Sinatra. I've seen him twice and he's harldy mild mannered; he reminds me of my choir director in the family church down south - totally enraptured with his music/worship.



Bilal's not crazy and he's certainly not insane. He's an artist.

BSK3601 said:

Exactly. Just what entertainment needs. A shot in the arm from the boring ass walking back and forth with the cooler-than-thou expressions for no reason. Nobody with talent cuts loose these days. That's why the old school tours sell out and most of these new performers can't pack a large club. Entertainers are supposed to entertain; even if it makes them look avant-garde.
Everybody's afraid of not looking "cool".
All the songs are tracked because no one wants to sound like they ever make mistakes.
All the moves are choreographed because no one trusts natural movements anymore.
Its sickening. Good to see something that looks REAL for a change.

Well, I'm a corny mutherfucker then cos if Jay Leno ever called me up to do a gig on his show, so that other corny people can buy my corny album, shieettt, I'll be dancing my corny ass to the bank to balance a checkbook hardly corny.



I didn't say you said he was crazy! That is just the overall impression the thread has made on me - folks are like: "WTF!?" and "How did he get a record contract!" and "dat nigguh's crazy!" But like I said earlier, you either dig him or you don't. I can't make my brother like honeydew melon and I can't make you like Bilal Oliver.

i know his style isn't for everyone, just the musically adventurous. i will also say that his latest (widely bootlegged) album has some banging ass tracks on it and he's definitely still trying to take it somewhere else, too bad it may never see the light of day.




[Edited 7/23/06 2:09am]

chuckaducci said:

Did you even read my response??

Guests on Leno are not corny, they're smart. But his show IS corny

& I DO like Bilal But that was not (in my opinion) a performance that would make Leno's audience buy his record...

That's all man

BlaqueKnight said:

I can appreciate that but an emotion-filled performance of "When Will You Call" would have hit me harder (b/c I love the song) & maybe sold some wrekkids! I mean if you're gonna do something as corny as go on Leno, at least give it your best shot so you see it manifest in the bank

I don't know Bilal's music. The clip was kinda funny, I guess, but it didn't make me want to hear anything he's got to offer. Not for me, I guess and I can dig avant garde (or "avant garde").

CalhounSq said:

Yeah, I read your response. You said that Leno is corny, his show is corny, the audience is corny - and started this whole shebang by stating that going on The Tonight Show was corny itself!


You're right, that performance may not be what helps Bilal sell records - again, we've been saying that that clip is pure, unadulterated Bilal; he performs as if he's possessed and it's not something that goes over easy. But I'm sure there are some corny folks who watch The Tonight Show and are also wanting to experience something different, saw this performance and became a fan.


I love how people think he's out of his mind because of his performances. An artist totally enveloped in his craft, yeah, he's got to be out of his mind.

LMAO (as usual) @ Calhoun!!!

i remember when all the hype was surrounding Bilal before his album had come out. he performed at Paisely Park, many reviews and articles hyping him up, he'd just played done a concert really close to my city which i'd would've driven to see without hearing a song just based on the hype alone. then his album gets pushed back, which made me even more excited to hear what the cat was bringing and then i see this Leno performance and was like this dude is the shit!!! i'd never seen nothing like it. i was actually frightened 'cuz he was looked as if he literally lost his mind on stage and i loved that!! very animated.

then his album drops and i hear banging tracks like For you, Sometimes, Reminisce and felt we finally have found a saviour of soul music. then the muthafucka goes MIA.

i know his style isn't for everyone, just the musically adventurous. i will also say that his latest (widely bootlegged) album has some banging ass tracks on it and he's definitely still trying to take it somewhere else, too bad it may never see the light of day.



if you feel like an adventure, click.


edit.
[Edited 7/23/06 2:09am]

LMAO (as usual) @ Calhoun!!!

i remember when all the hype was surrounding Bilal before his album had come out. he performed at Paisely Park, many reviews and articles hyping him up, he'd just played done a concert really close to my city which i'd would've driven to see without hearing a song just based on the hype alone. then his album gets pushed back, which made me even more excited to hear what the cat was bringing and then i see this Leno performance and was like this dude is the shit!!! i'd never seen nothing like it. i was actually frightened 'cuz he was looked as if he literally lost his mind on stage and i loved that!! very animated.

then his album drops and i hear banging tracks like For you, Sometimes, Reminisce and felt we finally have found a saviour of soul music. then the muthafucka goes MIA.

i know his style isn't for everyone, just the musically adventurous. i will also say that his latest (widely bootlegged) album has some banging ass tracks on it and he's definitely still trying to take it somewhere else, too bad it may never see the light of day.



if you feel like an adventure, click.


edit.
[Edited 7/23/06 2:09am]

sinisterpentatonic said:

Bilal has mad skillz....his voice is just amazing

damn after watching the whole performance, it makes me want to see him live for myself....
[Edited 7/23/06 13:51pm]

Wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but umm see... only George Clinton can get away with this type of performance. And the monkey mating calls, chicken wing flappin', and butt popping near the end were just flickted as all get out.