This year i discovered more about Kelis! and damn she has quite a few good albums. I was suprised she is way better than other r&b outlets frm the early 00s like Alicia Keys and is more in the vein of Erykah Badu.

With that said Milkshake is a dumb song... just and a lot of people only know that song and think of her as a one hit wonder... in the same lane as My Neck My Back

Kaleidoscope, Tasty, Flesh Tone etc. Are all pretty damn good albums!

Do you think Milkshake ruined what good have been a decent mainstream career for her?

Maybe in the same way Robin Thicke might have ruined his chance of being taken seriously as a musician, with Blurred Lines.

I still listen to Kelis' Wanderland to this day btw.

She had more hits than Milkshake...at least in Europe. I think she's a bit too "cool" to be mainstream. Don't know how else to put it, she's like Solange, the critics love her, but she doesn't make music for the masses like Beyonce or others and I love her for that.

I had no idea she actually released anything decent. I liked that song you posted. I wonder what she was thinking when she made Milkshake

Considering that Milkshake was off her 3rd CD and not at the start of her career I'd say no. She's now up to 5 CD's and working on the 6th! She's worked with good producers and actually has show the ability to cross into different styles without coming across as forced. Milkshake is just an example of her versatility and appeal.

She's also known for Bossy. Milkshake was more commercial, but Bossy had the party people. You could hear Bossy coming out of all the cars. It was a banger. Bossy was a ringtone, club anthem. Kelis is too urban, edgy, to be some earthy neo soul type. She's also known for Caught Out There (I Hate You So Much Right Now), and for singing the hook on ODB's Baby I Got Your Money. Her voice really isn't the strongest, but she's had some nice production to help out.

*oops w/ my edits, lol*

[Edited 9/8/13 9:54am]

[Edited 9/8/13 10:58am]

I still think 'Wanderland' is her best album. Kaleidoscope her second best. Classics.

I don't think "Milkshake" ruined Kelis' chance of a good career at all...in fact, that was around the time when she was quite popular. If anything, I always thought that when she came out with "Bossy" that it took her down a notch. Not that "Bossy" wasn't a bad song nor was it an unsuccessful single.

Well, i forget Bossy was a decently big hit although more so on the r&b charts. I just hear a lot of people who feel she was like a Khia type artist and think that is a bit unfair seeing all the versaile material that she actually made.

Gunsnhalen said:

Well, i forget Bossy was a decently big hit although more so on the r&b charts. I just hear a lot of people who feel she was like a Khia type artist and think that is a bit unfair seeing all the versaile material that she actually made.

Comparing Kelis to Khia is ridiculous. Khia's one hit based solely on shock value and being overt. Milkshake is tongue in cheek nothing like My Neck, My Back. Kelis isn't exactly singing "her pussy brings ther boys to the yard". Also what is this fan obsession with an artist being "mainstream" on this site. That's hardly a barometer of talent, personality or a maesure of a "good" career. Kelis seems to be doing rather well for herself. Not every artist wants to be "mainstream".

HonestMan13 said:

Gunsnhalen said:

Well, i forget Bossy was a decently big hit although more so on the r&b charts. I just hear a lot of people who feel she was like a Khia type artist and think that is a bit unfair seeing all the versaile material that she actually made.

Comparing Kelis to Khia is ridiculous. Khia's one hit based solely on shock value and being overt. Milkshake is tongue in cheek nothing like My Neck, My Back. Kelis isn't exactly singing "her pussy brings ther boys to the yard". Also what is this fan obsession with an artist being "mainstream" on this site. That's hardly a barometer of talent, personality or a maesure of a "good" career. Kelis seems to be doing rather well for herself. Not every artist wants to be "mainstream".

Calm them titties before they fall off

Most artists i listen to aren't and have never been mainstream. But that is beside the point... the point is that she seemed to have potential bringing in an Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys type crossover appeal for a little bit. I am sorry i even asked the question since you seem so bothered.

No, not at all If anything, it got the ball rolling. She had a lot of other potential hit singles on that album but was screwed by the label. After Milkshake came out, Arista Records folded and Kelis was tranferred to Jive, who did not promote her other singles. It's a shame. I think Kelis could have been huge with that album but she was very unlucky.

Gunsnhalen said:

HonestMan13 said:

Comparing Kelis to Khia is ridiculous. Khia's one hit based solely on shock value and being overt. Milkshake is tongue in cheek nothing like My Neck, My Back. Kelis isn't exactly singing "her pussy brings ther boys to the yard". Also what is this fan obsession with an artist being "mainstream" on this site. That's hardly a barometer of talent, personality or a maesure of a "good" career. Kelis seems to be doing rather well for herself. Not every artist wants to be "mainstream".

Calm them titties before they fall off

Most artists i listen to aren't and have never been mainstream. But that is beside the point... the point is that she seemed to have potential bringing in an Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys type crossover appeal for a little bit. I am sorry i even asked the question since you seem so bothered.

It's okay that you start threads based on the severely limited music views of your friends. Like minds I guess.

I don't think it ruined her career at all, but she's not the type of artist that is going to do what the "record label" wants her to do. She's always done it her own way and mixes a lot of genres in her music which is why I love her, yes she doesn't have the best voice - but she's original and cool!

I dig Kelis and her eclectic music! I love her style and kick ass attitude

Gunsnhalen said:

rlittler81 said:

HonestMan13 said:

It is very frustrating when you mention Kelis and "Milkshake" is the only thing everyone else knows. But it was the only song that really crossed over.

I think it is a really fun song, but she just doesn't sing much in it, and that's my problem with it.

It's more like a wack rap. But Kelis is an amazing emotive singer.

On the other hand, I kind of never expected "Milkshake" to blow up either, because she is usually busy playing in the left-field, yknow?

In a weird way, it kind of allowed her to continue her career, because it proved that her alternative style can work in a big way.

I wasn't completely smitten with "Milkshake" when I first heard it, but today, I love it! It's still probably my least favorite Kelis song though. But her albums and 95% of her songs from "Kaleidoscope" (my 2nd FAVORITE album of ALL TIME) to "Flesh Tone" (one of my absolute favs) are just supreme... the best! I love Janelle Monae and what she's doing today as well, but after all is said and done, Kelis is my favorite female artist of all time. I adore her. I really mean that.

'Milkshake' is a good song and did not ruin her chances of having a good career - 'TASTY' was really successful in Europe and had quite a few hits.

Similar 'Kelis was ere' had a few worldwide hits like 'Lil Star'

I hate the direction she has taken in recent years though - Acapela - sucked.

I still can't believe this didn't make the charts in the states like it did in the rest of the world - it's got radio hit written all over it:

No.

If anyone judges an artist off of 1 song, good or bad they are NOT very bright.

Remember Styx Kilroy was here album with the song Mr. Roboto? Although, Mr. Roboto was a hit, that song kind of killed their careers and brought the band down.

Shard said:

After Milkshake came out, Arista Records folded and Kelis was tranferred to Jive, who did not promote her other singles. It's a shame. I think Kelis could have been huge with that album but she was very unlucky.

Oh man, I forgot about that! That's true! I thought Jive was going to handle it better. It had "Bossy" featuring Too $hort.

[Edited 9/9/13 21:03pm]

Before "Milkshake", the song that supposedly stunted her was "Caught Out There".

tatocorcu said:

Please don't laugh at me, but why did she want to,'warm it up'? Do you have warm milkshakes in America?

that is a great question, lol

Warm milkshake