From The Vault: Aaliyah Soars With ‘Journey To The Past’ Live

Published: Sunday 25th Sep 2016 by Sam

This week’s From The Vault ventures to the year 1997 with Aaliyah and her aptly titled ‘Journey To The Past.’ Specifically her live showing on The Rosie O’Donnell Show.

Lifted from the soundtrack to the movie ‘Anastasia,’ the track represented a marked departure from the singer’s slick and slinky strand of R&B.

A rousing Pop ballad, ‘Journey’ saw the late songbird do away with the seductive coos and instead showcase her vocal prowess. And to stellar effect.

She delivered a performance that was powerful, assured, and wilfully and skilfully controlled.

Almost two decades later, this particular showing continues to resonate with us.

Commercially the release never journeyed to the summit of any chart; it hit #28 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary tally, but missed the Hot 100 entirely and only managed a #22 peak in the UK.

Still, what the song lacked in success, it makes up for in enduring live performances like this. For such showings make us nostalgic about times of past; times when singers – regardless of the length of their range – still had to be able to sing.

Aaliyah wasn’t a Whitney or Mariah vocally, yet she consistently showed up and showed out with the skill-set she’d be blessed with; a practice many of today’s talent would be wise to draw from.

For now and forever, we’ll continue to salute this titan talent – one that managed to make a pronounced mark in a tragically short space of time.

Long live Aaliyah.

Tidbit: Did any one notice Tank in his backing singer role?

Your thoughts?

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  1. FC/JC September 25, 2016

    Beautiful girl, God rest her soul….

    • BIGGESTAALIYAHFAN September 25, 2016

      TGJ you forgot to mention she also performed at the Oscars, because it was nominated, and was the youngest to ever do so and still holds that title. That’s my girl!

  2. S****** Blonde September 25, 2016

    I loved her voice, so calm and seductive in a non aggressive way. Aaliyah was the epitome of a beautiful person, both inside and out.

  3. Kemar (@S_C_Jr on Twitter) September 25, 2016

    One of my favorite singers of all time! She had a cold during this performance, but she still sounded good. I wish she made more songs like this that showed off more of her range and her chest voice. I love her always.

  4. Mark111 September 25, 2016

    The falsettos are the end were so beautiful. So calm, but she killed it when she performed this at the Oscars. Still to this day the youngest female singer to hit that stage, 2nd youngest period to Michael Jackson.
    .
    This song didn’t do well because it wasn’t a Disney film it was Fox Studios. Although they finally had a film that LOOKED like a Disney film, they didn’t have the power to demand stations to play it. I think the only non Disney song from a movie that did well was Dreamwork’s When You Believe and that was only because you had the biggest two ballads divas on it. Anyway, this was the 90 of that soundtrack era, I think Xtina Mulan cover was the final nail for even Disney until Frozen, 10 years later. I remember Mya did the Atlantis soundtrack and it did nothing. ?

    • The kpop guy, Matt ~ September 25, 2016

      I see you reverted

    • Smoove Jones September 25, 2016

      Yeah Mya recorded Where the Dream Takes You. I liked hers and Aaliyah’s.

  5. steve September 25, 2016

    Will always be missed.

  6. The kpop guy, Matt ~ September 25, 2016

    어쩌다 이런 건지.. .

  7. cocobutta September 25, 2016

    Awww I was listening to “Street Thing” from 1st album earlier. Love me some Aaliyah

  8. Rebecca S for Queen Bey, Princess Rih, & R&B legend Monica September 25, 2016

    Such a beautiful aura. I really miss her pretty voice, tomboy swag, and beautiful face. She was definitely something special.

  9. Jamie September 25, 2016

    F*** it up Tank!!!???

  10. Royalkev September 25, 2016

    I love Aaliyah’s calm tone and how beautiful it sounded when she really sung out! She was so graceful and always strikingly gorgeous!

  11. ClassyGirlCrazyWorld September 25, 2016

    Such a beautiful girl, with the spirit and voice to match! Aaliyah was still a t*** during this performance and she was sick. I can only imagine how beautiful her voice would be today. Unlike others, she took her craft very seriously. Only other singer today who’s about her business is Beyoncé and they had nothing but love and respect for each other. We need more black queens man, Bey the only one holding it down today as far as taking her craft seriously. These girls today can barely hum on a track.

  12. robynwelo September 25, 2016

    [Spam: Removed]

  13. dee September 25, 2016

    Soars… How funny! Whitney soared. Mariah soared. Celine soared. Patti soared.

    • TaylorMade September 25, 2016

      Maybe you need to check your definition of soar, because it doesnt mean loud and powerful. Aaliyah had beautiful controlled,and powerful vocals. No they weren’t whitney pattie and whoever else you named. Gladly she was unique and still til this day 15 years later compared to so many dead and alive she is one of the most if not the most popular, celebrated, mentioned, and credited musican today. So many have dubbed her as an inspiration, influence and major contributor to music. Mentioned in so many songs from past and present musicans today from hip hop, rock, pop and of course rnb. Now check that.

      • dee September 26, 2016

        Only because she is dead! People want to overpraise you when you’re deceased but truth be told that her light was dimming before she died. Her last cd was double wood until she died. Now check that!

      • TaylorMade September 26, 2016

        I dont have to check anything, because ive already ready checked. Lol like i said dead and alive, Meaning out of all the celebs that have passed and their are some great ones. She is still the most celebrated and mentioned. Not just my opinion its facts. In not here to convince you of anything just stating truths. Hell you may not even dislike aaliyah you just had an opinion about TGJ saying “Aaliyah soars” so i decided to have an opinion on your opinion that you should CHECK THE DEFINITION OF SOAR or SOARING. thats all good day ni need to be bothered by it.

      • dee September 26, 2016

        Yes… I absolutely love Aaliyah with the ” One In a Million” cd being my favorite. But let’s disagree with what a voice soaring means.

      • TaylorMade September 26, 2016

        Haha Deal, 🙂 Nothing wrong with agreeing to disagree.

  14. Regina George September 25, 2016

    Epitome of beauty… NATURAL BEAUTY… Inside and out… Never heard one negative thing about her. My GOD we miss her sweet spirit and angelic voice. Love you forever babygirl

  15. Nowqd Reddibut it ash trjoan ivy blobukz Need UK timely Ukuno eremixi September 26, 2016

    Beautiful performance

  16. Yes September 26, 2016

    I love this post!!!!!! Love u forever Aaliyah

  17. Teflon Boy September 26, 2016

    She will always be one of the most timeless artists to me. They say ‘you don’t what you’ve got ’til it’s gone’ but in Aaliyah’s case we really did. Her soft and sweet sultry jazz-influenced voice and her next level artistry and image cast a spell on RnB that it will probably never wake up from. Plus, her physical beauty was more like the icing on top of everything else that became more and more revealed over time rather than the whole thing her appeal was fixed on. That we barely even knew what she really looked like til halfway through the One In A Million campaign is further evidence that in Aaliyah’s case it was her art what did the talking.

  18. Bitchpleaseeee September 26, 2016

    Awwwww baby girl, the youngest artist to ever performed at the Oscar ????????????

  19. Ciah’s Turtle September 26, 2016

    I used to love this song and the movie Anastasia. Come thru Tank on the backgrounds !

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