The Best You Never Heard: Sugababes, Michelle Williams, Monica & Amerie

After almost a year-long hiatus, The Best You Never Heard returns this week featuring lesser known cuts by the Sugababes, Michelle Williams, Monica and Amerie. Do you have any suggestions for future instalments? Drop me an email at sam@thatgrapejuice.net

Lifted from Michelle Williams’ ‘Unexpected’ album from 2008, ‘Thank You’ continues to stand as one of my all-time favourites from the Destiny’s Child star. Though the bulk of the album had a vested interest in the Dance genre, it was this smooth, melodic, cleverly written R&B mid-tempo which struck a cord with me most (a sign, perhaps?). Michelle’s voice compliments the production beautifully and the song’s unique take on oft-engaged topic of ‘thank you for making me who I am’ was refreshing. Songs in the vein of this are what I’d personally love to hear from Michelle. You?

Monica released her ‘Makings of Me’ album back in 2006, only for it to sell triple copper (you get the point) after the tanking of first single ‘Everytime The Beat Drops’. Unfortunately, this meant gems such as ‘Hell No’ went largely unnoticed. Produced by Brian-Michael Cox and featuring Twista, the song goes hard. In classic B.Cox fashion, the cut is a mid-tempo with that ‘knock’. What’s more, Monica, as with most of her offerings, sings the so much conviction that you FEEL what she’s singing – something oh-so-missing in many of today’s hits.

The seemingly ever-underrated Amerie delivered IMO one the best and most consistent R&B efforts with her non-US released 3rd LP ‘Because I Love It’. Of the many stand-out tracks featured on the set, ‘Crazy Wonderful’ rears it’s single-worthy head that much higher than the rest. A whimsical slice of 80’s New-Wave greatness.