By 1994, the Queen of Grown 'n' Sexy was jonesing to get back in the game. Her comeback single, Body and Soul, peaked at four on Black radio. We were waiting for her!
Second single I Apologize gave Anita her third Female R&B Vocal Grammy; this time she beat Mariah, Brandy, and Mary J. for the honor.
Karyn White and Anita **** all over Ashanti, Bey, and most of the soulless singers that have "passed" as R&B for the past two decades.
If bitches don't give Karyn's "Romantic" and Anita's "Body and Soul" loads of 8-10 ratings then I will lose all faith in ATRL.
Paula's performance of "Vibeology" was so horrific. It's a shame that she followed two lovely singles like "Rush Rush" and "Blowing Kisses in the Wind" with such tripe.
Her first album had put her on the map, and she wanted to maintain the connection she established with urban audiences. The first single she released in the Nineties went top 20 on the Hot 100, but became her second number one on R&B radio: Running Back to You.
Such a ****ING BOP.
I want a gif/avatar made of every single dancer please! Particularly the second guy up! When lifts his leg ...
Vanessa wanted the title track from the album as the lead single, but she compromised with the label, who fought for the upbeat smash. The Comfort Zone was released as the second single, and 'urban' audiences loved it.
But Vanessa, her husband/manager, and the label saw her as someone who could crossover to a worldwide audience. In the early 90s, ballads were the thing - and Vanessa snagged herself a hotly contested one. Save The Best for Last was released in late 1991, and would become the song of winter 1992. It would have won Vanessa her first Grammy, if a Dolly Parton cover had not snuck into the eligibility period.
As a very young boy, I related to it - I knew it would be the story of my life.
Unfortunately, its success had a crippling effect on Vanessa's career - the sassy, fierce queen was dead. In her place was a mature Mother.
Take, for instance, her duet with Brian McKnight - Love Is:
Why the **** was this the lead single from the Beverly Hills 90210 soundtrack? Why was this song on the soundtrack at all? The kids at West Beverly High didn't want a BOP? I know Donna Martin was still a virgin at this time, but - come the **** on?
Or this, the lead single off her next album, The Sweetest Days:
This is some "spinster looking back at her party days" ********.
The most egregious offender was the pop version of Pocahontas' Colors of the Wind.
It did go top ten, and give Vanessa a Grammy nomination - but enough is enough.
By this time, Vanessa had established an acting career, getting key parts in hits like Eraser and Soul Food.
When she finally got her groove back, she released a song that followed in the tradition of mid-90s R&b bops: obvious samples are obvious. Happiness pretty much repeats the main hook of Nu Shooz'z I Can't Wait, like a typical Puff Daddy production.
Darkchild did put a remix that heavily referenced Rufus and Chaka Khan's Ain't Nobody! To no avail, though, as sadly, radio was done with her.
Happiness is truly the bop version of Army of Me. Just realized that!
Running Back to You
The Comfort Zone
Save The Best For Last
Love Is
The Sweetest Days
Colors of The Wind
Happiness
