Harlepolis said:

If I had read Rick's comments earlier I would have never been curious about Alicia.

As for the thread title. Neither. I'll be damn if I spend money on these chicks even if there weren't a recession going on.
[Edited 5/27/10 11:57am]

AshK said:

AshK I agree with you there, Alicia does in fact have a marketing ploy. She does not appear nearly as "accomplished" of an pianist as she is marketed to be. She has a lot of developing to do. I worry about her voice because the raspiness at such a young age is often not a great sign of things to come (Think Mavis Staples), I agree she has great potential though. Beyonce's music is not only "not showing any growth" it is showing signs of regression.

Reel said:

At least Mavis has the emotional depth to back it up, even if she lose her range completely, she can still maintain to breath some SOUL into her work.

Alicia, to quote our beloved orger Ms.Trina/TD3, "has the emotional depth of a cardboard". All the straining mess that comes outta her mouth makes me feel like she's struggling to get a humongous shit out of her anus, excuse the expression.
[Edited 5/27/10 12:44pm]

Harlepolis said:

Wow, that's deep. I don't recall reading about this. But if his allegations are true in that most of the songs on the album "Songs in A minor" are really in E and D thats a sad thing aimed at taking advantage of the fans who do not have a tuned ear. Ha! Thats some crazy shyd. "Hell we'll call it 'Songs in H Sharp' they'll be none the wiser". LOL.

Yo check out my thread on Rick James, I'll keep adding more and more videos daily.

Graycap23 said:

Definitely.

TD3 said:

Ok..Ok...maybe I went a little far there. Folks got to remember that Alica Keys represented "Hope" and I guess sometimes folks (myself included) are hanging on to the hope that real R&B / Soul artists will return to us once again. No offense to any Caucasian folks but Pink and Crystina Aguilara and Joss Stone are making out like bandits sounding very soulful and being very talented vocally, and the folks who "started it all" are going down with the damned titanic because they choose to market superficial talentless artists because sex sells more than raw talent. I guess I just have hope for Alica, but you're right she should have never been mentioend with Patrice Rushen.

Reel said:

Her title was really in reference 2 her name: Alicia than the actual "key" of the songs.....but I get Rick's point.

Death by hanging, death by firing squad. I like that pick better.

Harlepolis said:

Alica does hella strain when she sings. It's a raspy straining sound. Not a beautiful vocal sound. Maybe she should sing songs in a lower register so that she doesn't have to "sing out" or strain as much. That happens to me too if I sing in a key that doesn't compliment my voice.

ratchetchan said:

Ha, well I'm not sure about the songwriting thing because the songs that she shows pride in writing really sucks in my opinion. All of them except "Survivor", now that was a tune that I really liked. I prefer Alicia's writing to Beyonce but sometimes Alicia's songs sound a bit "piece meal".

Oh yeah, Stevie Wonder "appears" to really be a fan of Alica Keys. I've seen them play together quite a few times. He looks happy when they are playing together.

Reel said:

At least Beyoncé has some personality in her writing. All of Alicia's lyrics sound so damn BASIC. And sonically, Beyoncé absolutely MURDERS her. Which is embarrassing for Alicia, considering that Beyoncé doesn't play an instrument... except her voice... wait, that explains a lot.

Alicia Keys.

Also, Alicia's Keys - the best software piano emulation for under 100e.

Reel said:

I don't know about great potential but she could definitely improve lol. I do think she's better than some of the current young performers but compared to the greats she's a nonentity. I think the problem is that mediocre performers are showered with so much praise for weak material, I agree with Harlepolis, someone needs to get those ego's in check and maybe that will give them some motivation to be better artists.

ratchetchan said:

What- hood rat contradictory "diva" personality?

Beyonce's music is as basic as it gets. She hasn't produced a single thing that has anything resembling substance, because her character is so marginal. That might be ok if she had some sort of persona or angle, but that would actually require some thought.

Moonbeam said:

See thats why I say that Beyonce can sing, but her good looks and awesome body has been a HUGE contributing factor for her enormous success. I'm a straight female and even I have'ta say....dag Beyonce has a damned good body that is sexy as all get out. And she's a good looking woman too (but so is Alicia Keys). As far as her dancing moves are concerned, I don't think she a great dancer. She often does "jerky" moves, and skanky moves (Think Pink Panther Video). Her talent rests on her vocal ability as far as I'm concerned, but again, that 1st alto voice doesn't always sit will with some people and can have a bit of a "nails screaching on the chalkboard effect).

KEYS

Moonbeam said:

Yes, if that's what your dumb pussy wants to call it.
LOL @ "substance". Pick up a book before you fuck MY quote button again. You clearly don't know what substance IS.
ROFL @ "her character is so marginal" like you know the bitch and like she would EVER deign to know YEW. SILENCE.
There's a clear angle to just about ALL of Beyoncé's songs and her work in general, you're just to stupid to catch it. It IS to LAUGH.

Harlepolis said:

damn, Rick brought my favorite line of candy in it!

ratchetchan said:

Yes because Beyonce is a paragon of intellect, as is writing in an orange font.

Moonbeam said:

I don't remember saying that she was a paragon of intellect, nor did I say that TYPING in an orange font is either. However, you're clearly not much of an intellectual to be fonting, seeing how you posed that ad hominem, straw man argument. *CACKLE*

ratchetchan said:

Oftentimes in 1st alto is assigned to any indivdual who sings at the higher alto register. I sang in a choirs for many years, and we had the following vocal classifications:
1st Soprano (Think Mini Ripperton's Loving You the highest note that she hits)
Soprano (Think Denise Williams)
1st Alto (Think Beyonce)
Alto (Alicia Keys
Tenor (Generally assigned to many male vocalists) Michael Jackson being an exception. Prince could sing a variety of registers.
Bass (Barry White)
Baritone (Paul Robison).

Now there are even "tighter" vocal classifications that are above my scope particularly in classical music. Take 6 those guys had unbelievably tight harmonies, that I really still cant quite figure out.

RnBAmbassador said:

ratchetchan said:

Just as you assumed that somehow her music was too intellectual for the likes of me to understand. Honestly, I can perhaps understand someone enjoying her music on a purely superficial level, but to claim that any of it has any sort of depth or intellect is too much.

midiscover said:

just say it.....we know what yo ass is thinkin'...



there. I put it out there for you

bboy87 said:

Hey, as long as Janet aint whipping no 40-something year old titties out again, I'm cool with her. Vocally, both Alica - Straining Raspy Keys and Screechy Nails on a Chalkboard 1st Alto Beyonce can run circles around Janet. But Janet was an awesome entertainer and had some pretty damn catchy tunes.
[Edited 5/28/10 20:46pm]