This week’s special edition of Best You Never Heard sees Sam and Trent go head-to-head with little known gems by divas Beyonce and Mariah Carey. Who’ll get your pick?
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Beyonce – ‘He Still Loves Me (ft. Walter Williams)’
While Beyonce’s starring role in ‘The Fighting Temptations’ did little to silence critique of her acting ability, the project served up an undeniably stellar soundtrack. Boasting many an inspirational number, the 2003 set’s standout is, for yours truly, ‘He Still Loves Me’.
Lead by Beyonce ( and featuring Walter Williams), the moving mid-tempo tells of the daily difficulties we deal with in our life journeys; asserting that, through it all, ‘He’ still loves us.
With its combination of soaring vocals and engaging lyrics (which can’t but move your spirit), the song serves as great crossover Gospel. Yet moreover a refreshing change of pace for Beyonce – one it’d be great to see her revisit at some point down the line. {SAM}
LISTEN:
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Mariah Carey – ‘Do You Think Of Me’
There is an old adage that states “nothing is better than classic Mariah” and this record affirms it. Released as a B-side to her enormously successful single ‘Dreamlover’, ‘Do You Think Of Me’ displays the diva at her very best.
Boasting haunting horns and a simple guitar-assisted melody, the song demonstrates Carey’s mastery of her uniquely textured voice as she weaves through the octaves, building from a series to breathy coos to awesome belts of unbridled desire. By easily transitioning through the registers of her voice along intricate vocal runs, this record shows why Carey is in a league of her own.
Undoubtedly, Carey’s label decided to keep this track off of her ‘Music Box’ LP in an effort to preserve her then well-constructed innocent image. Indeed, as the songbird’s vocal performance in the song may indicate, there was an artist whose sexuality was waiting to break free long before her eventual metamorphosis on ‘Butterfly’. {TRENT}
LISTEN:
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Beyonce – ‘If’
Beyonce’s singing is often criticised for being more impressive than expressive. However, the entertainer effortlessly silenced all of those claims with the powerful ‘If’ from the deluxe edition of her ‘B’Day’ LP – arguably her best album to date.
Ironically singing to an emotionally devoid lover who refuses to fight for her affections, Beyonce brings the lyrics of the song to life, aggressively belting with incredible timing and stamina. In fact, her vocal performance is so believable that it is hard not to share her anguish and pain.
Many people focus of Beyonce’s skill has a performer but overlook her incredible skill as a vocalist. She may not have the expansive vocal range of Christina Aguilera but Beyonce can deliver complex vocal runs and acrobatics in a way that her many of her contemporaries dare not attempt. {TRENT}
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Mariah Carey – ‘Mine Again’
Blockbuster. Indeed, many would agree that this is what Mariah Carey’s 2005 LP ‘The Emancipation of Mimi’ served as. Of course, that and so much more. Beyond facilitating a much-needed commercial comeback for the diva, the opus was a resounding success with critics and also at retail outlets (10x Platinum worldwide). A brand of success artists –both of the new and seasoned variety-can only dream of.
Therefore, in selecting a song to wipe the floor with the competition this week, it was immediately apparent that the ‘Emancipation’ is where I’d be heading. For beyond its smash singles such as ‘We Belong Together’, the LP delivered stellar album cuts such as my eventual pick – ‘Mine Again’.
Produced by Carey and James Poyser, the ballad is simply summed up as ‘stellar’. Encompassing elements of retro Soul and quiet storm, the song sees Carey unleash her trademark power runs – sonically taking the song to levels only she can. Amazing track. {SAM}
LISTEN:
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