When Aaliyah passed away in 2001, there was a lot of unreleased music, and of course, producers that supported her had to figure out how can they support someone that fit their ideal image of a musical artist.
These are some artists that have a similar sound to Aaliyah and a similar feeling. They remind me of her, and it feels like a extension of what her music would've sounded like in those days (2002 and beyond, but mainly 2002-2009) if she didn't tragically pass away.
Jhene - My Name is Jhene (2004)
The production of this album reminds me of 3LW and even Brandy, so that's wonderful. I have a few criticisms, though.
I feel frightened by this album because it takes obvious inspiration from Aaliyah's works. It feels uncomfortable, almost as if she is wearing her skin. She desperately wanted to be and be perceived like her, and she gets what she wants. I feel awful for Aaliyah-chan and I'm not able to even speak to her, let alone know what she would truly think about a piece of "art" like this..
It's very uncomfortable to listen to. They take parts of lyrics from Aaliyah's works word for word, there are very similar motifs and instruments, and it's creepy how they steal parts of Aaliyah's original catalogue that brang comfort to me over the years and copy and paste it into Jhene's debut album. It feels slimey.
Honestly, it feels disgusting to me that this is her introduction to the music industry's audience, a heavily inspired Aaliyah work of art with no credit to the damn woman.
I guess the reason why you don't hear a lot of big names from Aaliyah's era say that they miss her music, because "she's still here with us".
Is this not the exact same outfit..?
To be honest, the reason why I even bothered to listen to this album is because I need a new feminine dark-skin rolemodel that's not Aaliyah in my life, someone who's alive. This album felt incredibly uncomfortable for the most part, though. My mind can't help but catastrophize.
Aaliyah's music feels overly sexualized and I wish so much that we had more music were we saw her as a person and not as a sex symbol.
It's just extremely unsettling to me. No wonder people say the music industry is corrupt. I rather listen to Ashanti's debut album lol. or 3LW's "street" accent than Jhene's street accent on this album haha
I wonder if the creators of this album were new to music because I hear a similarity between songs I've heard before from around that time. It's strange how the 2000s felt like a continuation from the 1990s instead of immediately having a "this is a whole new thing" vibe.
This seems like one terrifying way to "live onto" someone else. If I died and someone did this to me, I would try to kill myself. That's how scary it is to me. I'm sick of these disturbing shape shifters that rather be someone completely different, and get what they want (KIND OF) than face inwards and be theirselves. It's very strange and disturbing. Why did she have enablers? It's not only that. Just downright creepy. Why does it feel like a reprise of Aaliyah's sound and not her original thing? Does she want to be laughed at? loll
I admit track 7 has somewhat beautiful lyrics.. and the songs are danceable. ₍ᐢ. ̫.ᐢ₎
I feel embarrassed to admit I am inspired by the production of this album, because I also like to produce music. I admit that her face is aesthetically pleasing as well but there is something unsettling about it. Jhene Aiko feels like a product of yearning, but misunderstanding. I understand she may want to be asian inspired but..
the name "Aiko" feels like it was used for aesthetics only rather than reflecting that in their music. Melody Wu is the exact opposite of this, lol.
Track 11 is pretty and reminds me of my emotions towards my crush.
I guess I am guilty of romanticizing the early 2000's, I guess. I just like how the music molded the environment, and my father said that the best years for the United States, especially in entertainment were 2002 and 2004.
Anyway, it is a shame that this album is unreleased, because a lot of hard work seemed to be put into it. They are probably ashamed of their creepy nonsensical psychotic obsession of Aaliyah.
Next artist...!
Amerie
I think Amerie is very pretty and her music is pure-hearted and good intentions. Strange production, though.
Her album, All I have, feels to me like a wonderful emotion of a paradise mirror world if Aaliyah had a happy ending. Why is death such a common theme in Aaliyah-inspired music, though? That, and distrust. So many things to be sad about in this world.
Unrelated but it also gives me a Hawaiian vibe.
In conclusion
you know what I'd like to see in the music world, nowadays..? Trustworthy music that I don't have to feel on guard on. I already feel tense almost everyday when my brother is home, all my mother does is ask me to do stuff or something. So yeah.
Something I noticed, especially within Disney is the theme of Indian fetishization. That was very popular in the early 2000's. So Aaliyah's music had trendy aspects of it mixed in with futuristic elements, for.. some reason? I just hope this supported her vision of a artist, and she wasn't scared to sing along to her music, truly. What a disturbing tragedy.
This seems to be a depiction of cultural appreciation, not fetishization from Japan around the same era these songs were released.
Anyway, thanks for reading this. Enjoy the soundssssss
- Zuo
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