aaliyahcashmere89 said:

alphastreet said:

A few weeks before her death I remember her on TRL and seeing so many fans with pictures of her and I was surprised people loved her like that giving her the janet jackson treatment, but I did know people who were r&b/hip hop lovers, black and non black that loved her for her singles and Romeo Must Die though not like a megastar. I think those who look at all the legacy stuff are her diehard fans and the kids who were very young when she died and discovered her that way. I saw both cause I was in my late teens when she passed and we had all grown up with Aaliyah, and my sister was in elementary school and her classmates were playing Aaliyah's music everyday for about a year and dancing around to it cause they clearly discovered it then.

Dead on. Her die hard fans were kids when she died and now she's become a ''Icon'' to them. She's there Janet Jackson

she is nothing like janet jackson.

I liked aaliyah too, I loved her music, thought she was beautiful, but no where near janet. She was a promising young rnb/pop singer but I think if she was alive she would have not been as big as she was after death. She would have been successful all the way up to 2003 and then her fate would be the same as it was for ciara and mya.

TotalAlisa said:

aaliyahcashmere89 said:

Dead on. Her die hard fans were kids when she died and now she's become a ''Icon'' to them. She's there Janet Jackson

she is nothing like janet jackson.

I liked aaliyah too, I loved her music, thought she was beautiful, but no where near janet. She was a promising young rnb/pop singer but I think if she was alive she would have not been as big as she was after death. She would have been successful all the way up to 2003 and then her fate would be the same as it was for ciara and mya.

She was out ten years before Ciara and Mya. She wouldn't fall of, she was also a promising actor, so that would keep herin the spotlight.

TotalAlisa said:

aaliyahcashmere89 said:

Dead on. Her die hard fans were kids when she died and now she's become a ''Icon'' to them. She's there Janet Jackson

she is nothing like janet jackson.

I liked aaliyah too, I loved her music, thought she was beautiful, but no where near janet. She was a promising young rnb/pop singer but I think if she was alive she would have not been as big as she was after death. She would have been successful all the way up to 2003 and then her fate would be the same as it was for ciara and mya.

Well I don't put her in the same boat as Janet either but many young people I know do. I think she would have moved on to acting and gave up music.

She reminds me of Janet, but she's not a biter IMO though a very good dancer with a sweet voice. I knew a LOT of people who loved both Janet AND Aaliyah at the same time before her death though they weren't calling her a legend either. A lot of Janet fans respected her, it wasn't like how they hate on Beyonce, Ciara and such at all in those days.

[Edited 7/23/11 15:11pm]

[Edited 7/23/11 15:12pm]

alphastreet said:

She reminds me of Janet, but she's not a biter IMO though a very good dancer with a sweet voice. I knew a LOT of people who loved both Janet AND Aaliyah at the same time before her death though they weren't calling her a legend either. A lot of Janet fans respected her, it wasn't like how they hate on Beyonce, Ciara and such at all in those days.

[Edited 7/23/11 15:11pm]

[Edited 7/23/11 15:12pm]

I don't think Aaliyah is a legend either but I do love her Aaliyah album and One in a Million was pretty good as well. I never listened to her whole first album with R.Kelly

LittleBLUECorvette said:

TotalAlisa said:

she is nothing like janet jackson.

I liked aaliyah too, I loved her music, thought she was beautiful, but no where near janet. She was a promising young rnb/pop singer but I think if she was alive she would have not been as big as she was after death. She would have been successful all the way up to 2003 and then her fate would be the same as it was for ciara and mya.

She was out ten years before Ciara and Mya. She wouldn't fall of, she was also a promising actor, so that would keep herin the spotlight.

I read an awesome interview she did at the beginning of her album era and she was very, very passionate about her acting career, talking about Queen of the Damned and the Matrix movies. And she had direction about what she wanted to do with her music. I haven't seen Romeo Must Die but have heard very good things about it, and from the clips I've caught, her acting looks really good and I also believe she would have done more of it if she wasn't having hits.

aaliyahcashmere89 said:

alphastreet said:

She reminds me of Janet, but she's not a biter IMO though a very good dancer with a sweet voice. I knew a LOT of people who loved both Janet AND Aaliyah at the same time before her death though they weren't calling her a legend either. A lot of Janet fans respected her, it wasn't like how they hate on Beyonce, Ciara and such at all in those days.

[Edited 7/23/11 15:11pm]

[Edited 7/23/11 15:12pm]

I don't think Aaliyah is a legend either but I do love her Aaliyah album and One in a Million was pretty good as well. I never listened to her whole first album with R.Kelly

that's so funny, same here! I love those last two albums of hers and don't care for the first one aside from Back & Forth though I have it lying around somewhere cause I borrowed it off someone and never listened to it or couldn't sit through it despite liking R.Kelly's sound in the later half of the 90's

alphastreet said:

aaliyahcashmere89 said:

I don't think Aaliyah is a legend either but I do love her Aaliyah album and One in a Million was pretty good as well. I never listened to her whole first album with R.Kelly

that's so funny, same here! I love those last two albums of hers and don't care for the first one aside from Back & Forth though I have it lying around somewhere cause I borrowed it off someone and never listened to it or couldn't sit through it despite liking R.Kelly's sound in the later half of the 90's

Something about her first album is off but I can't put my finger on it and I luv R.kelly's sound too. Weird

yeah, R.Kelly was off...jerking

I knew when I saw this posted at thatgrapejuice, somebody would bring it over here…and as soon as it happened I started counting down until somebody came with a cynical, haughty, and unnecessary reaction against the show. What the fuck does her being - or not being - as big as Janet, Beyonce, Brandy or whoever have to do with anything? If they all died, they'd get tribute specials too. I get sick of how every time Aaliyah's name is mentioned in a longing, or affectionate, way...a few pretentious snobs and naysayers decide to play pissy music critic and talk about how she wasn't as big as baby Jesus. She obviously had/has a fan base, and a significant one at that, because 10 years later people still talk about her and bemoan her passing on a semi-regular basis. Clearly the impact she made was lasting, even if her last album was only platinum when she died and Destiny's Child's/Brandy's were double. The arrogance man, the arrogance.

BET airing a tribute special to Aaliyah has nothing to do with Left Eye, Luther, Lena Horne, James Brown, or whoever else's name was dropped in a sarcastic attempt to discredit her getting one themselves. And truth be told, if BET gave them each specials...it wouldn't surprise me if they *didn't* pull higher ratings than the one Aaliyah's will get. If Stevie Knicks and Katy Perry both died next week, who do you think MTV would be more likely to devote a tribute special to? And if by some fluke they both got specials...whose do you think would probably garner more viewers? Let's not act brand new. TV is about demographics (and revenue), and BET's viewing demographic caters to an age demo who (because of when they were born) are more familiar with, and better appreciate, Aaliyah and her music than Lena Horne's…which in no way discredits the latter.

Bottom line:

The night BET airs this Aaliyah tribute special, I bet that all of the other broadcast and cable networks will still be on the air...meaning that there will be other things to watch on TV if you feel a tribute to this woman's life and death is that damn unnecessary.

[Edited 7/23/11 15:36pm]

Don't get me wrong, I was not trying to be a musical snob or look down on her. I'm glad she's getting the tribute and she deserves it cause I enjoyed her very much too. And I already know the others would too if anything happened. I was just recalling what things were like with Aaliyah when she was alive and when it happened cause I was old enough to remember her and among my peer group because someone asked a question.

[Edited 7/23/11 15:31pm]

NaQu said:

I knew when I saw this posted at thatgrapejuice, somebody would bring it over here…and as soon as it happened I started counting down until somebody came with a cynical, haughty, and unnecessary reaction against the show. What the fuck does her being - or not being - as big as Janet, Beyonce, Brandy or whoever have to do with anything? If they all died, they'd get tribute specials too. I get sick of how every time Aaliyah's name is mentioned in a longing, or affectionate, way...a few pretentious snobs and naysayers decide to play pissy music critic and talk about how she wasn't as big as baby Jesus. She obviously had/has a fan base, and a significant one at that, because 10 years later people are still talk about her and bemoan her passing on a semi-regular basis. Clearly the impact she made was lasting, even if her last album was only platinum when she died and Destiny's Child's/Brandy's were double. The arrogance man, the arrogance.

BET airing a tribute special to Aaliyah has nothing to do with Left Eye, Luther, Lena Horne, James Brown, or whoever else's name was dropped in an attempt to discredit her getting one themselves. And truth be told, if BET gave them each specials...it wouldn't surprise me if they *didn't* pull higher ratings the one Aaliyah's will get. If Stevie Knicks and Katy Perry both died next week, who do you think MTV would be more likely to devote a tribute special to? And if by some fluke they both got specials...whose do you think would probably garner more viewers? Let's not act brand new. TV is about demographics (and revenue), and BET's viewing demographic caters to an age demo who (because of when they were born) are more familiar with, and better appreciate, Aaliyah and her music than Lena Horne's…which in no way discredits the latter.

Bottom line:

The night BET airs this Aaliyah tribute special, I bet that all of the other broadcast and cable networks will still be on the air...meaning that there will be other things to watch on TV if you feel a tribute to this woman's life and death is that damn unnecessary.

I think some people are just saying that yes she was a good artist and yes she was on the come up but there were more important and talented artist than her that BET didn't fully give a proper tribute. Aaliyah was never super famous or super popular or super talented. Her death has brought her more fame than she ever got in life. Which brings some people to say,'' Why is she getting a tribute?''.

alphastreet said:

yeah, R.Kelly was off...jerking

lol Stop it. To honest they would have made pretty babies. Their both good looking people

She was one of the first to use the Timbaland sound on a mainstream level if you think about it, now that you mention it. Timbaland himself spoke praises of her.

aaliyahcashmere89 said:

alphastreet said:

yeah, R.Kelly was off...jerking

lol Stop it. To honest they would have made pretty babies. Their both good looking people

LMAO I agree with that last part, I thought I was the only one who thought he was hot....though he's still a creep, his music was great and the stuff I liked in the 90's and early 00's still gives me chills, but I'm not what you call a fan either

[Edited 7/23/11 15:42pm]

alphastreet said:

aaliyahcashmere89 said:

lol Stop it. To honest they would have made pretty babies. Their both good looking people

LMAO I agree with that last part, I thought I was the only one who thought he was hot....though he's still a creep, his music was great and the stuff I liked in the 90's and early 00's still gives me chills

I still like his music. The Love Letter is a great album and the older he gets the better looking he gets. I know why so many young girls like him.

aaliyahcashmere89 said:

alphastreet said:

LMAO I agree with that last part, I thought I was the only one who thought he was hot....though he's still a creep, his music was great and the stuff I liked in the 90's and early 00's still gives me chills

I still like his music. The Love Letter is a great album and the older he gets the better looking he gets. I know why so many young girls like him.

I heard a little bit of the current stuff and was feeling it Maybe I'll check out the rest....I tend to like older guys too but didn't really look at him right now, I'll have to check it out...lol I was watching Trapped in the Closet a few weeks ago though and laughing my ass off, and didn't want to admit how hot he looked in bed, but he did But um, if you're being sarcastic, I swear girl you're gonna get it

I hope his throat is okay, I heard about his surgery on TV a few days ago and was shocked though I know he'll be fine.

I just have a problem with men/patriarchy objectifying women and the women always getting blamed cause of double standards not going away. However, I also do know the girl was Sparkle's cousin, there was no date on the tape and she wasn't honest about her age so he should have had better judgment. But what's with all the child porn he had? That's what got me....

[Edited 7/23/11 15:53pm]

alphastreet said:

aaliyahcashmere89 said:

I still like his music. The Love Letter is a great album and the older he gets the better looking he gets. I know why so many young girls like him.

I heard a little bit of the current stuff and was feeling it Maybe I'll check out the rest....I tend to like older guys too but didn't really look at him right now, I'll have to check it out...lol I was watching Trapped in the Closet a few weeks ago though and laughing my ass off, and didn't want to admit how hot he looked in bed, but he did But um, if you're being sarcastic, I swear girl you're gonna get it

I hope his throat is okay, I heard about his surgery on TV a few days ago and was shocked though I know he'll be fine.

I just have a problem with men/patriarchy objectifying women and treating them as objects and the women always getting blamed cause of double standards not going away. However, I also do know the girl was Sparkle's cousin, there was no date on the tape and she wasn't honest about her age so he should have had better judgment. But what's with all the child porn he had? That's what got me....

[Edited 7/23/11 15:48pm]

I heard about the child porn thing but I did't know if it was true or not. It didn't really bother me that he dated 15,16,17 year old girls too much because when I was that age I dated guys older than me as well so I can't be fake and look down on something I did when I was a teen. But the kiddie porn thing . . . I hope not.

The consent age in most places is 16 and though in my teens I dated people around my age, in my later teens, I kept being drawn to older celebrities and people and the oldest guy I dated was 7 years older than me, but that recently in my 20's. However when I was 14-16 I knew so many girls trying to act older that could totally pass for being older in their 20's and some did get away with dating those over the legal age though not as old as R.Kelly. It could be that she wanted it too, but I also think that being who he is, he should have been using his head and not his dick cause look where it got him.

I thought his place was raided and they found porn and child porn and it couldn't be used in court or something from what I recall. Maybe I'm missing something?

alphastreet said:

The consent age in most places is 16 and though in my teens I dated people around my age, in my later teens, I kept being drawn to older celebrities and people and the oldest guy I dated was 7 years older than me, but that recently in my 20's. However when I was 14-16 I knew so many girls trying to act older that could totally pass for being older in their 20's and some did get away with dating those over the legal age though not as old as R.Kelly. It could be that she wanted it too, but I also think that being who he is, he should have been using his head and not his dick cause look where it got him.

I thought his place was raided and they found porn and child porn and it couldn't be used in court or something from what I recall. Maybe I'm missing something?

Yeah he shouldn't have taped it and to pee on her was over the top. I'm gonna look up the child porn thing.

aaliyahcashmere89 said:

NaQu said:

I knew when I saw this posted at thatgrapejuice, somebody would bring it over here…and as soon as it happened I started counting down until somebody came with a cynical, haughty, and unnecessary reaction against the show. What the fuck does her being - or not being - as big as Janet, Beyonce, Brandy or whoever have to do with anything? If they all died, they'd get tribute specials too. I get sick of how every time Aaliyah's name is mentioned in a longing, or affectionate, way...a few pretentious snobs and naysayers decide to play pissy music critic and talk about how she wasn't as big as baby Jesus. She obviously had/has a fan base, and a significant one at that, because 10 years later people are still talk about her and bemoan her passing on a semi-regular basis. Clearly the impact she made was lasting, even if her last album was only platinum when she died and Destiny's Child's/Brandy's were double. The arrogance man, the arrogance.

BET airing a tribute special to Aaliyah has nothing to do with Left Eye, Luther, Lena Horne, James Brown, or whoever else's name was dropped in an attempt to discredit her getting one themselves. And truth be told, if BET gave them each specials...it wouldn't surprise me if they *didn't* pull higher ratings the one Aaliyah's will get. If Stevie Knicks and Katy Perry both died next week, who do you think MTV would be more likely to devote a tribute special to? And if by some fluke they both got specials...whose do you think would probably garner more viewers? Let's not act brand new. TV is about demographics (and revenue), and BET's viewing demographic caters to an age demo who (because of when they were born) are more familiar with, and better appreciate, Aaliyah and her music than Lena Horne's…which in no way discredits the latter.

Bottom line:

The night BET airs this Aaliyah tribute special, I bet that all of the other broadcast and cable networks will still be on the air...meaning that there will be other things to watch on TV if you feel a tribute to this woman's life and death is that damn unnecessary.

I think some people are just saying that yes she was a good artist and yes she was on the come up but there were more important and talented artist than her that BET didn't fully give a proper tribute. Aaliyah was never super famous or super popular or super talented. Her death has brought her more fame than she ever got in life. Which brings some people to say,'' Why is she getting a tribute?''.

Whoever hasn't gotten a tribute special has nothing to do with Aaliyah. Don't negate her being recognized just because someone else wasn't. As far as her not being this or that while she was alive...as I said before, whatever she was must have made significant enough of an impact, because in the 10 years since her death, her name has remained prominent in the urban/pop music world, continues to be a hot discussion topic. I can name a dozen other performers who've died, and who I barely hear anyone talk about. If BET didn't think Aaliyah was a topic of interest, they wouldn't be giving her a special.

Like it or not, understand it or not, Aaliyah (like James Dean...who, himself, only starred in three films and wasn't the *most* accomplished and perhaps wasn't even the *most* popular actor of his day) has become an icon of her genre/generation. And, yes, a lot of the mystique came with death, but so what? It is what it is. Her death didn't kill her public interest, so going back and trying to tabulate the # of albums she sold in comparison to this one or that one when she was alive in an attempt to discount it is silly and proves nothing.

NaQu said:

aaliyahcashmere89 said:

I think some people are just saying that yes she was a good artist and yes she was on the come up but there were more important and talented artist than her that BET didn't fully give a proper tribute. Aaliyah was never super famous or super popular or super talented. Her death has brought her more fame than she ever got in life. Which brings some people to say,'' Why is she getting a tribute?''.

Whoever hasn't gotten a tribute special has nothing to do with Aaliyah. Don't negate her being recognized just because someone else wasn't. As far as her not being this or that while she was alive...as I said before, whatever she was must have made significant enough of an impact, because in the 10 years since her death, her name has remained prominent in the urban/pop music world, continues to be a hot discussion topic. I can name a dozen other performers who've died, and who I barely hear anyone talk about. If BET didn't think Aaliyah was a topic of interest, they wouldn't be giving her a special.

Like it or not, understand it or not, Aaliyah (like James Dean...who, himself, only starred in three films and wasn't the *most* accomplished and perhaps wasn't even the *most* popular actor of his day) has become an icon of her genre/generation. And, yes, a lot of the mystique came with death, but so what? It is what it is. Her death didn't kill her public interest, so going back and trying to tabulate the # of albums she sold in comparison to this one or that one when she was alive in an attempt to discount it is silly and proves nothing.

She's still talked about because of her death. Thats why people still care. She was a young, pretty, singer who died in a plane crash before her career really blew up. She's the black female version of Buddy Holly. No one called Aaliyah an Icon before she died, so why call her one now? What did she do that would make her an Icon? Icons are John Lennon, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Whitney Houston. People who had a body of work and left a mark on music. I guess Rihanna s an ''Icon'' to huh?

Also James Deam is overrated as well but all 3 of his films are classic and he was a good actor. He would have been the best if he had lived

aaliyahcashmere89 said:

NaQu said:

Whoever hasn't gotten a tribute special has nothing to do with Aaliyah. Don't negate her being recognized just because someone else wasn't. As far as her not being this or that while she was alive...as I said before, whatever she was must have made significant enough of an impact, because in the 10 years since her death, her name has remained prominent in the urban/pop music world, continues to be a hot discussion topic. I can name a dozen other performers who've died, and who I barely hear anyone talk about. If BET didn't think Aaliyah was a topic of interest, they wouldn't be giving her a special.

Like it or not, understand it or not, Aaliyah (like James Dean...who, himself, only starred in three films and wasn't the *most* accomplished and perhaps wasn't even the *most* popular actor of his day) has become an icon of her genre/generation. And, yes, a lot of the mystique came with death, but so what? It is what it is. Her death didn't kill her public interest, so going back and trying to tabulate the # of albums she sold in comparison to this one or that one when she was alive in an attempt to discount it is silly and proves nothing.

She's still talked about because of her death. Thats why people still care. She was a young, pretty, singer who died in a plane crash before her career really blew up. She's the black female version of Buddy Holly. No one called Aaliyah an Icon before she died, so why call her one now? What did she do that would make her an Icon? Icons are John Lennon, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Whitney Houston. People who had a body of work and left a mark on music. I guess Rihanna s an ''Icon'' to huh?

Also James Deam is overrated as well but all 3 of his films are classic and he was a good actor. He would have been the best if he had lived

…and, again, I can name plenty of entertainers who've died who I almost never hear anyone discuss. Have MC Trouble, Tony Thompson, Kenny Greene, Dino from H-Town, Freaky Tah, Damian Dame, Big L., Sean/Gerald Levert generated as much posthumous interest as Aaliyah has?

If Rihanna died tomorow, her popularity would absolutely transfer over to iconic status. She'd be immortalized. That's what tends to happen when people pass away in their prime. Hell, if she manages to retain her commercial popularity for another five years, she'll become iconic without having to die. I don't have any use for her, but hell I can even admit that Britney Spears is an icon -- because of how much interest she generates and for how long she's been able to command public attention.

In order to become an icon, one doesn't have to reinvent the wheel, break through an iron gate, or have some obscene list of achievements that outshines all their contemporaries. Icons are honed by how long they retain public interest and continue to be a relevant general topic. Aaliyah's name hasn't stopped relevant since she died. She continues to be referenced (and a hot topic) on urban pop music blogs and message boards. I still hear "Back and Forth," "Are You That Somebody" and "Try Again" occasionally played on contemporary R&B and top 40 stations. Every time anyone who ever worked with her (R. Kelly, Timbaland, Missy, etc., etc.) is profiled, her name is brought up. BET's giving her a commemorative special. A biopic is said to be in the works. And furthermore, you and I have spent the last hour arguing over her. I don't know about you, but I don't debate over things that I deem irrelevant or insignificant.

As I've said repeatedly, Aaliyah's impact has continued to exist a decade after her death. That can't be said for everyone. She's an icon, period. Doesn't matter how or why. She is.

BklynBabe said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

TotalAlisa said:

she is nothing like janet jackson.

I liked aaliyah too, I loved her music, thought she was beautiful, but no where near janet. She was a promising young rnb/pop singer but I think if she was alive she would have not been as big as she was after death. She would have been successful all the way up to 2003 and then her fate would be the same as it was for ciara and mya.

She was out ten years before Ciara and Mya. She wouldn't fall of, she was also a promising actor, so that would keep herin the spotlight.

wasn't brandy out before ciara and mya and she fell off. so aaliyah would not be immune to it either. I doubt she would have gone down the same sell out road as beyonce. Because i think aaliyah would stay true to herself.

rnb/hip hop isn't as popular anymore, during the 90s you could have an rnb song hit number 1 hot 100, now that would be so impossible.

kenny88 said:

BklynBabe said:

She was a sweet intelligent girl with a ton of talent! I am still sad she's gone. And if druggie Amy Winehouse will be getting tributes and recognition, then there is no reason BET can't choose to honor a special young lady that ANY person could look to as a role model....

Amy was a rare talent, not just a druggie. She's a woman who sang from the gut and composed quality songs. Amy wasn't passed around by producers and rappers like some others and I'll leave it at that.

she was a white woman that sings like a black woman. So people want to consider that a rare talent. But its NOT.

She bit off the Motown 60-70s rnb sound. Amy IMO sounded like Lauren Hill. She is NO more important than Aaliyah.

TotalAlisa said:

kenny88 said:

TotalAlisa said:

she was a white woman that sings like a black woman. So people want to consider that a rare talent. But its NOT.

She bit off the Motown 60-70s rnb sound. Amy IMO sounded like Lauren Hill. She is NO more important than Aaliyah.

How does one "sound like a black woman"? What a ridiculous thing to say. FYI, she's rare because she actually sang, wrote her own songs and played instruments. You don't see that often these days. She's far more important and that's not even debatable.

you can go to any music festival or boardwalk and see people singing and playing instruments.

YES There is such a thing as singing black. This was a style of singing that started in the black american church in gospel music. Its using heavy melisma, vocal runs even the tone. It has become so POPULAR that everyone is singing in this style, GLOBALLY.

Her album is called "Back to Black" Hummm I wonder what she means by that.

She is no more important than aaliyah. I stand by what i say.

[Edited 7/23/11 21:23pm]