The Best You Never Heard: Mya, Sugababes, Ciara & Smokie Norful

Published: Wednesday 14th Apr 2010 by Sam

After a brief rest on the bench, our Best You Never Heard feature returns this week with little known gems by Mya, Sugababes, Ciara and Smokie Norful.

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Mya – I Am

Mya’s last major label effort ‘Liberation ‘ironically remains caged after label mishaps and the poor performance of its singles forced it to be shelved. While what we did sample of the album was kinda hit and miss, the record did boast potential in the form of tracks such as the Kwame produced ‘I Am’. The gutsy up-tempo, saw the singer raunch it all the way up, in what is a very pro-female anthem. A great song!

Listen:

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Sugababes – No More You

Despite the Sugababes’ most recent LP ‘Sweet 7’ being anything but ‘sweet’ (see: it’s dismal chart performance), the album did serve up a few gems – ‘No More You’ being one of its best. The haunting production courtesy of Stargate really compliments the song’s lyrics (which were penned by Ne-Yo); lyrics which Jade, Amelle, and Heidi do an awesome job of delivering – truly capturing the essence of the song. There’s no doubt this could easily be a hit for the ladies should they release it, or any other act for that matter.

Listen:

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Ciara – Tell Me What Your Name Is

Song leaks and bad strategy brought Ciara’s ‘Fantasy Ride’ to an abrupt halt last year. However, despite its shortcomings, the project did yield winners such as the Dr Luke produced ‘Tell Me What Your Name Is’. A well-produced, breezy mid-tempo, with much in the way of playful sensuality.  One of Ms. Harris’ best offerings to-date.

Listen:

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Smokie Norful – Run To You (Cover)

Gospel heavyweight Smokey Norful put his own spin on Whitney Houston’s classic ‘Run To You’ in 2006. Norful’s interpretation not only does the original justice, its tweaked lyrics open the song up to a whole new audience, while capturing an audience already familiar with the original. A skilled vocalist, whose tone favours John Legend, yet whose power is incomparable to contemporary secular acts, Norful turned in an amazing performance with this one.

Listen:

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Hit(s) or Miss(es)?

Comments 19

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  1. Nah April 14, 2010

    I like this feature. There are a lot of slept on songs that are great but weren’t necessarily singles.

    Good job!

  2. William April 14, 2010

    Mmmm, <3 the Ciara joint, Fantasy Ride WAS the business: "I'm On" and "I Don't Remember" are THE gems form the album. And if "Go Girl" had a decent 2nd half, it woulda been her best effort.

    As for the sugababes… not a fan of the cut… their "You on a Good Day", "Every Heart Broken" and "Can We Call a Truce" on the other hand – masterful.

  3. g3 April 14, 2010

    i love tell me what your name is def should have been a single that whole era was a mess

  4. Dev April 14, 2010

    Smokie Norful is the only decent thing here. That sugababes track is just a stargate by numbers song with no passion to it. The only Ciara track i like is Cool On You which wasn’t released and reminds me of old school janet jackson and when bad vocals are put to good use. The rest are rubbish

  5. Ryan April 14, 2010

    Smokie Norful’s voice is not reminiscent of John Legend’s at all. Smokie’s voice is much clearer and his runs cleaner. John Legend wishes he could sing like Smokie!

  6. hihihihi April 14, 2010

    I AGREE WITH RYAN

    AND SMOKIE KILLED

  7. DizzyGuy1985 April 14, 2010

    She should have released “What your name is”…poor Cici

  8. jonstrax April 14, 2010

    NO WONDER THEY WERE NOT RELEASED THEY ALL WERE LAME :/

    http://WWW.FRESHURBANENT.CO.UK <<< CHECK OUT MY NEW ENTERTAINMENT SITE
    COMMENTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

  9. LAMEZ April 14, 2010

    I agree, “Tell Me What Your Name Is,” was a hot track, still is. I never realized Dr. Luke produced it, wow different sound for him.

    Almost wish she sent that song to radio (Urban) at least rather than “Like A Surgeon”

  10. Dilla April 14, 2010

    Smokie Norful can’t miss imo, he’s a hell of a vocalist.

  11. Jacob April 14, 2010

    I was a big fan of Liberation. It was a solid straight up R&B album.

    I Am is sooooo good! Total power track. I dig it.
    I also LOVED All In The Name of Love, Nothin’ At All and Life’s Too Short.

    Mya’s underrated. Still, I love her.

  12. LovinMyBreezy April 14, 2010

    Why in the world wasn’t that Ciara song a single?

  13. Kyus93 April 14, 2010

    The Sugababe’s song was my least favourite on the album. Little Miss Perfect was better
    I love that Ciara joint though, one of the standouts on the album

  14. rightround(U.S.A pride!) April 14, 2010

    I always LOVED TMWYNI by Cici ! I wished it was released.

  15. Meechy05 April 14, 2010

    Smoki Norful just amazing he really touched me!!

  16. James April 14, 2010

    YESSS SMokIE!! Love that song

    & CIARA my god l almost forgot this gem, one of the best tracks on Fantasy

  17. cafflo April 14, 2010

    No More You was instantly my favorite song on their new album first time I heard it. Shame it won’t get the shine it deserves that or Little Miss Perfect. Only other song I listened to is Ciara and its just aight to me but it reminds me of other songs. Not single worthy.

  18. pjayy April 15, 2010

    Minister Smokie is my pastor. Love him

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