SOME of the Replies this thread gets makes me realize how much humanity stinks. And that's just in this side of this board.

[Edited 7/23/11 21:22pm]

aaliyah died before al those other people yall named, its the 10th anniversary of her death thats why they are doing the tribute. also like somebody else said a james brown or luther,lena horne tribute on bet wouldnt get high ratings. the way she died is also a factor, she was a very young woman who died tragically, people were in shock by her death. im sure folks were sad by the deaths of james,luther,lena, it wasnt a big shock because these people were much older and lived full lives and were battling health problems for some time before they passed.it shouldnt be some kinda comparison about who was more important,aaliyah's fanbase are more the bet demographic.

What's the problem with Aaliyah being honored? No one's saying she is this amazing talent, but she did have some talent and obviously her music and death touched many people, which is why she's still being talked about to this day. I think she was really growing as an artist with her last album . Her last album was quite good and it was a darker and more mature direction for her. Aaliyah had so much potential, but she still managed to have an impact while she was here.

She had her own style and sound and she was a big deal especially for those of us who grew up in the 90's.

As others have said, she is relevant to BET's demographic. She's an icon to many of the younger black generation. Many grew up listening to her music and were touched by her death. Even some performers today such as Ciara have cited her as an influence.

I see nothing wrong wtih BET honoring Aaliyah. I will be watching.

Actually, Ciara didn't know who she was and made an ass out of herself cause she looked like she was imitating her, or her people made her look that way. Let's hope she played catch up though. And yeah, 90's kids who grew up with her were affected as I said earlier, I fit that demographic.

Those are very insensitive comments about Amy and she just passed. I'm not a huge fan though I appreciate her talent from afar cause I do like what I've heard so far when checking her out a year ago. We all know forms of black music/soul music are in her music, but gosh! I realized yesterday too how many black fans she has and how much she has touched them with her music.

[Edited 7/24/11 6:12am]

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 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]

Sorry, but it's not like Aaliyah's name is on the tip of everyone's tongue and her "brand" is a hot commodity right now. She's been gone for 10 years now, and while she was an okay, yet talented artist, she never was at the very top of pop culture. You're comparing Katy Perry to Aaliyah in a way, and that doesn't fly because if Perry died next week, that would be something HUGE. She's still on the tips of people's tongues and doing things now. Like I said before, Aaliyah's been dead for 10 years, and she hasn't been a big seller in death either. If she had a bunch of posthumous records and fans were always bringing her name up when talking about some of the all-time greats, then I can understand a 10-year anniversary being warranted, because she would be currently popular. But clearly, this isn't the case with her! So, if you're going to do this for someone who's not a universally beloved person, you might as well do it with someone who's tad bit more deserving, IMO.

BET doesn't cater to the universal crowd, it's for North American audiences primarily. It caters to youth, r&b/urban audiences and the black community though I definitely know it does NOT cater to all black people and know many who stopped watching years ago. Dammit Viacom! Anyways, this is the group it catered to the most then if not now, so it makes sense why they are doing a special on her, and I remember them being all over her for ages when she died.

[Edited 7/24/11 7:24am]

TotalAlisa said:

kenny88 said:

BklynBabe said: 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.

And don't forget the MAIN person she ripped, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

alexnvrmnd777 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 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]

Sorry, but it's not like Aaliyah's name is on the tip of everyone's tongue and her "brand" is a hot commodity right now. She's been gone for 10 years now, and while she was an okay, yet talented artist, she never was at the very top of pop culture. You're comparing Katy Perry to Aaliyah in a way, and that doesn't fly because if Perry died next week, that would be something HUGE. She's still on the tips of people's tongues and doing things now. Like I said before, Aaliyah's been dead for 10 years, and she hasn't been a big seller in death either. If she had a bunch of posthumous records and fans were always bringing her name up when talking about some of the all-time greats, then I can understand a 10-year anniversary being warranted, because she would be currently popular. But clearly, this isn't the case with her! So, if you're going to do this for someone who's not a universally beloved person, you might as well do it with someone who's tad bit more deserving, IMO.

Well the thing is that artists death's are all different in the effect they have, mainly because of what they are doing at the time, or HOW it happens, that always plays a major part. The thing that made Aaliyahs big was the fact that she was so young, and a "rising" artist in music and acting, it was also big because Aaliyah was a kid when she started people jumped on that and felt like they were growing with her, also, her death was sudden and a tragic accident. Aaliyah wasnt a a person that was living on the edge and then topped off, and YES she was magnified in death to higher levels because of this, but death's are all different.

Freddie Mercury died in 1991 and in the Uk and the rest of the world, but america, shit shut down, tributes etc...in the USA no one batted an eye for the most part, if they did it wasnt for long, mainly because Queen, though one of the biggest selling bands ever, was not big in the usa, their FAME in the USA was limited to 1977-1981 pretty much. But his death was an Aids, and expected

Michael Hutchence of INXS died in 1997, one of the biggest bands and personas of the 80's, but INXS hadnt scored a big hit in the USA since 1991, so again, no one cared here except the loyal fans, now in australia and the UK it was big, his death was ruled suicide, but wasnt, so it got lost in the shuffle of tragic, or self brought.

John Lennon was huge, on his way back up the charts, turning 40 and one of the biggest musicians and still was on everyones radar, shot and killed. Now this was major, but it didnt transform John into an iconic figure he was there prior and it just grew more with it.

Selena. Now this is tough for people to grasp but she was HUGE before, yes it was magnified for that "english" album, but Selena was selling tons of records before her murder.

Now what people dont wanna grasp is that Aaliyah, though a great artist that was growing, her music sales were dropping, her third album, which by far her best, was slowing down big time at the time of her death, the first single was big, but the album was not catching like One in A Million did, she was OUTGROWING her base, she was older and so were they. Her death magnified and put her into a whole new category, its sad, and death is death, but its often a selling point too.

I'm glad Aaliyah's getting a tribute and she deserves one.

I mean, this girl sold millions of records while still being a FULL time high school student (while getting straight A's I might add) that's gotta count, for something. And she was very talented. She may not have been the best singer or dancer, but she had a great balance of both and was respected by her peers and legends (Janet and Stevie wonder spoke highly of her BEFORE she died) and she was part of the reason why Missy and Tim are here today. Give the girl, some credit. Alot of people try so hard to tear down that girls legacy and what she has done.. She may not have been a mega star (who cares?) Aaliyah was huge in the urban community and BET IS for urban artists. but she was popular in her own right and always scored platinum albums and hits. Brandy was a bigger star, but it was obvious with each album she put out she was declining in fame. Aaliyah on the other hand, improved with sales each time she put out an album. Lets not be delusional and bias.

and I love how people say she "would have been a flop like Mya" if she was still here, with no proof or evidence

Mya could have been a huge star anyway, but she just didnt have the work ethic. She was lazy.

[Edited 7/28/11 21:27pm]

LittleBLUECorvette said:

daPrettyman said:

I guess BET thinks that Aaliyah fits their demo more. IDK

Unless Barry Hankerson is paying for this so he can sell her back catalog.

[Edited 7/22/11 18:22pm]

Don't forget Barry White, Rick James & Teena Marie.

You are not kidding!

Here is a youtube link to the Teena Marie tribute to Tupac and Aaliyah. Some crazy name checking. Really is a beautiful song.

allsmutaside said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Don't forget Barry White, Rick James & Teena Marie.

You are not kidding!

Here is a youtube link to the Teena Marie tribute to Tupac and Aaliyah. Some crazy name checking. Really is a beautiful song.

Ooops! Here is the link.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...rayY-AFyZg

BET will air Aaliyah: One in A Million on Thursday, August 25 at 8/7 central.

Identity said:

[img:$uid]http://i.imgur.com/B6qMx.jpg?684[/img:$uid]

July 22, 2011

Link

BET announced in a tweet Wednesday night that a tribute to the beloved Detroit star Aailyah is in the works and will air next month.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Aaliyah's death; the rising R&B singer-movie star was killed in a plane crash on August 25, 2001 in the Bahamas after a music video shoot.

At the time of her death, Aaliyah had just released her third album and had completed production on Queen of the Damned, based on the Anne Rice novel.

I love her music, so much! Her self-titled album (aka red album) should have gotten so much more love than it ended up getting. She died and people lost all interest in her. To them your another brand and commodity, when you go, it's on to the next one.

Actually, they were all over her for about a year after her death, mostly the younger ones who discovered her after she died. People my age liked her from middle school through end of high school/early college years when she was alive, it was a loss for us and I'm pretty sure she's still respected, though I also know she was in a category with Brandy and Monica cause of all the similar ages, and remember Brandy being the biggest star.

[Edited 8/10/11 19:24pm]

SCNDLS 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.

And don't forget the MAIN person she ripped, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

Thank you so much, people kill me with the Amy grandiose mess. I love how real she was in her lyrics but everything else about her is overhyped to the maximum. I really hate how society works. SMH

I'll be watching this Aaliyah tribute. I enjoyed her music and was a fan also. Monica was always bigger than Aaliyah, just for the record.

yes yes, both Brandy and Monica, I hear you

aaliyah >> janet

aaliyah >> beyonce

and @ the end of the day

aaliyah >>

[Edited 8/11/11 0:15am]

no fucking shade but i rather have a tribute 4 aaliyah than left eye, james brown or whoever the hell yall mentioned

left eye wasnt all dat great

mediocre at da most

aaliyah had actual talent wit singin dancin and actin

nobody was fuckin wit ha