Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the passing of late R&B diva Aaliyah, Billboard.com asked 12 of today’s R&B’s leading ladies about the singer’s influence (on themselves and the industry).
While Ciara, Monica, and Keyshia Cole were just a few of the names listed who paid tribute to the ‘One In a Million’ singer, find out what they had to say and who else shared their thoughts after the jump:
Via Billboard:
Ciara
“She was true to who she was and she didn’t seem to care about it. The core of her art to me is heavily, heavily urban based. When an artist’s music is so urban based, sometimes people like to take risks with artists like that. When you think about it, it really is pop, it really is cultural and that’s the one thing that I thought was cool about her music. It never felt like she was trying to reach across or do anything more than just keep that cool, soulful, heavy urban core about it. It wasn’t like she was trying to be anything more than who she was. I really respect that and I appreciate that.”Dawn Richard
“She was to me more than an artist. I feel like she was a legend in her own right. What Timbaland, Missy [Elliott] and that whole crew did for music was just something that is highly missed right now. I loved her more not only as an artist but as a dancer. I felt like she was one of the few that when her videos or songs came on I would literally sit and watch the entire video to learn each step that she did because I felt like it was something that everybody wanted to learn. She just captured you.I felt like Aaliyah was her. It was as real as it could possibly be. I take that with me everytime I do anything because being in this industry, they don’t accept you and when you’re different they don’t always go for it and she just did not take that as an answer. Because of that, she was massive. She would have been still if she would have still been here.”
Estelle
“Her purity of voice was incredible. She didn’t try too hard or do any tricks. That’s something I liked about her.When she was singing, she let it fall out of her. With her it was addicting. Her vocals and style is what had her stand out above and beyond everyone. When I listen to her voice now, I think, ‘She was killing it. She was a beast.'”“She wasn’t trying hard to be anything more than what she was and she accepted how she delivered herself, her genuine self to people. I pray I have a mini percent of what she had and the fans that she had and has. They ain’t gone. They still there.I think Aaliyah made every girl write a ‘Four Page Letter.’ It was okay to write a bunch of words to a guy. Now, you’d be like, ‘You’d better not write him no four page letter or he’ll think you’re a stalker.’ But she was like ‘I’m writing you a four page letter, bastard.'”
“My manager’s best friend, Gina Smith, was on the plane with Aaliyah and passed away as well. The fact that it has been 10 years is wild to me. I feel Aaliyah’s presence and influence quite heavily. She accomplished so much at a young age and paved the way for artists like myself. If it were not for what she had trail blazed, I would probably not have been afforded certain opportunities. She really proved that ‘Age Aint Nothing But A Number,’ and that as young people, we are allowed to have personalities and opinions and voices and make an impact.Her vocal delivery was unique. The combination of her angelic vocals over harder-hitting production was so special. She set trends through fashion, music, and the atmosphere that she created. Even before Beyoncé, she had music, fashion, and acting on lock. She and her team (including Jomo Hankerson, who I work closely with) helped show us that there are no boundaries in entertainment.”
Kalenna
“My cousin was signed to Roc-A-Fella [when] her [Aaliyah] and Dame Dash was actually at the time dating. They were really close and everything. We would all used to come and hang out [at Roc-A-Fella]. She definitely gave me hope that, “Oh my God, I have a chance to be where she is. She’s really knocking down barriers right now. I have that opportunity.Aaliyah’s death, and even her presence, showed me as an artist to be humble because people that come across your path are going to remember you for years to come even if it was one time meeting. [She was] somebody so humble, so talented, and somebody who was so cutting edge, doing what we, artists right now in 2011, are doing.”
“The first time I met her, she was extremely quiet. You [weren’t] going to get a lot of words out of Aaliyah in a first meeting. It takes a lot of time for her to warm up to people overall because she had this shyness. I remember her being shocked at things I would say out loud, whether it was in interviews or when we were hanging out. She would always be gasping for air at some of the things that I would say out loud. Whenever I was around, if I saw something, whatever it was, she would just be in shock like, ‘I can’t believe you just said that out loud.’I think it’s good for people to know the side of her outside of the music and know that her music was a great reflection of her. Sometimes people are totally different than the image they represent, but what I love about her is that everything that you saw was really her. When the lights and the cameras were off, that same pleasant, mild mannered, sweet personality, that’s just how she was. She loved to laugh. Jokes with her and Missy [Elliott] were beyond what people imagine. Missy is definitely the ultimate jokester. I’ve never seen her in the type of turmoil and pain that she was in after Aaliyah passed because there’s no replacing the type of love and friendship that her and Missy had. It was the type of closeness where even when I see Missy today I always feel like something is missing from her and that is definitely Aaliyah.”
Shontelle
“I could see so much of myself in her because she had this tomboy, tough-girl image but at the same time she was very soft and feminine. Her vocals were very light but at the same time her lyrics were so engaging. They always touch your soul. Aaliyah just had this magic combination, everything that most women aspire to be, that softness but still strength. The way that she lost her life, it was shocking. It almost feels like it would only be something like that that could take someone like Aaliyah away from us because she was so strong.”SWV
“We actually had a chance to hang out with Aaliyah after a show in Japan back in 1996. Aaliyah came to see one of our shows while out there promoting her album. She also came by to the hotel after the show to hang out. She was sweet, warm, very friendly, and just a down to earth person. Aaliyah was such an incredible talent. Her death was such a shock to all of us but we know her music will forever live on! Her voice is definitely missed!”“I think she was just finding herself when she died. She was just coming into her own. She wasn’t like this young girl anymore. She was a woman. She was finding herself and she died right when she was reaching the top. Aaliyah had this really soft voice. It was soft but strong. And she was beautiful. You just wanted to be her, she was so likeable. The guys probably wanted to be with her her and the girls wanted to be like her. I think “Rock The Boat” was very revolutionary for when it came out because that song was such a mood song, it was so real. It was like she was riding a rhythm and a beat. It was like an old school Motown song, you could break it down. I don’t think people make music like that anymore, it’s so inspiring.”
Keyshia Cole
“When I found out that she [had] past that night, I just cried [while] on the tour bus. That’s amazing for someone to have that affect on other people’s lives.I think why it affected me so much without me knowing her is because she seemed to have a beautiful soul. [There was] something about her spirit. She connected before reality TV, before any of that happened in our era. It was something about her that made you connect to her. She seemed like she had a beautiful soul.”“I loved seeing her on MTV Diary when she was playing around with her hair and makeup people. They were just having fun, laughing and trying on wigs. It showed she didn’t take herself too seriously, she had fun. Every girl in my school and every sexually confused young man knew the choreography to “Are You That Somebody” after like the third time they had seen the video. It went that hard. The long skirt with the two slits became the thing. “Are You That Somebody” is a big one for me, the whole era was amazing for me.”
Fans should be sure to catch BET’s ‘Aaliyah: One In A Million’: featuring an all-star cast of contributors, the show will air on tomorrow, August 25th at 8pm ET.
So AMPED up about the TRIBUTE for Aaliyah!!!!!!! YOU ARE TRULY MISS MAMI CONTINUE RESTING IN PEACE BABY GIRL
do u have to use such mediocre quality photos of Aaliyah when u get HQ’S of everyone else?????
and i read this on billboard i LOVED all of those quotes about Aaliyah its so sweet. she truly would have been A MEGA STAR had she not passed. no DOUBT. not to say she wasnt but she was just about to hit that WORLDWIDE ICON peak! so sad.
10 YEARS GONE…. it hurts like it was yesterday
Now without Aaliyah there would be no Cedric or the Cassies and Myas of the world. And y’all better not attempt to mention a certain person name cause I will turn this post upside down
im waiting for Beyonce to comment on Aaliyah
@beystanbish both aaliyah and bey bring different flava to MUSIC. so BOTH would have REIGNED SUPREME .. they would be the HEAD DIVAS IN CHARGE.
I tell ya Beystanbish keeps me rollin….
anyway 8.25.01 (I still remember it like it was yesterday,and I was in 3rd Grade.)
Aaliyah>>>> BLEACHonce and Caca
Now without Aaliyah there would be no Cedric or the Cassies and Myas of the world. And y’all better not attempt to mention a certain person name cause I will turn this post upside down
Please leave that NEGATIVE stuff off her page AALIYAH was not about that!!!!!
Aaliyah is and Always WILL BE The Queen & Still SLAYING !!!! RIP LIYAH !!!!! & The Only Reason Beyonce Is Ruling The Game Now Is Because Aaliyah Died
Time flies so fast, and even 10 years later, I still love Aaliyah. Just like Selena, and others, she passed way too soon.
R.I.P and I will be tuning into the special.
Follow me @music_me84. I follow back!
Aaliyah fan since “At Your Best” dropped back in ’94!!! None of these new age chicks will ever have anything on Aaliyah. EVER. Her style, grace, and poise was a throwback to what it truly meant to be Hollywood, in the best sense possible. Her influence is everywhere from singers to rappers to dancers and young black actresses. 10 years later we her still talk about her because yes, she was that f***** major. You little kids don’t even know the power of Aaliyah. She was taking over, and if still here, she would be running this s***. TRUST. It still pains me 10 years later that we were robbed of what was to come. I was excited. Damn shame. I love you Baby Girl.
HEY STANS (CIARA BEYONCE RIHANNA GAGA AND WHOEVER ELSE) TAKE THAT BACK TO UR FAVES PAGE WE ARE HERE TO REMEMBER AALIYAH AND NOT WHO IS BETTER THAN NEXT!!!!!!!!
MAKES ME WANT TO CRY!!!!! I AM AN ULTIMATE AALIYAH STAN!!!!
CANT WAIT TO SEE THE SHOW
There will never be another Aaliyah. She was a trailblazer and an icon without trying to be. Never once did she declare herself an icon or make it her goal to be one. She simply brought her A game to the table and handled her business. If she had never died, where would your favs be?
R.I.P. babygurl. You are ONE IN A MILLION.
I can’t believe that as of tomorrow it will be 10 years. I remember it happening as if it were yesterday. I had never experienced an artist that I loved passing away. It’s amazing how many of the artists above had almost the exact same thing to say about Aaliyah. And the truth is that I believe all of her fans feel those same exact things. She was the embodiment of class, beauty and innovation. For me she’s the only one who could be Janet’s successor when the time came, because all of what she embodied is how I have always seen Janet: sweet, a little shy, fun-loving, innovative, beautiful…not to mention the whole triple threat thing. It’s unfortunate that her life ended just as it was beginning to blossom, but I appreciate and am thankful for the love that she shared through her music and creativity.
Wow that beyonce stan is disgusting! Ppl just can’t let things go! We here to remember her and stop shading ppl beyonce would have most prob steal from aaliyah and then when she is caught! She was suddenly INSPIRED lol I know I shaded but I just can’t with that bey stan acting like bey is God gorl bye
I loved Aaliyah, I still jam to her albums. Been a fan since the beginning. Don’t start a stan war, Beyonce, Monica, Usher was OUT alreay when Aaliyah was out.
I dont actually remember her death at all i was only three when that happen so….!
10 yrs. wow time does go fast after all !
@No no no
Sit down
Eeryone brings something different to the table. Destiny Child NEVER done the same type of music Aaliyah done. I considered Aaliyah like a Urban R&B/Rock
Wow this girl was just WOW I had no idea she was 22 when she died damn I remember trying to dance like her in TRY AGAIN I remember singing ROCK THE BoAT when I was a little girl having no idea what it meant lmao R.I.P aaliyah
@jamir21
Wow, you were 3? I was 18 when she passed. Anyways, I loved her. Back then I played her, TLC and Destiny Child out. lol
@SLEAZY- Me too. I sang Rock the Boat when I was little.. 10 years old when it came out. When I grew up I was like….ohhhhhhhhhhhhh. LOL. I’m excited for this tribute.
I agree with everybody statement EXCEPT Shontelle….. Why did she feel da need to include herself??? 🙄
Anywayz I really miss her presence in the Music Industry….. 😥
Lol @ waiting 4 beyonce to say something…that selfish heffa refuses to give n e body credit smh but n e way i grew up listenin 2 aaliyah she waz definitely unique i loved her dancing…
Aaliyah was 23 yrs old wen she passed…..
Omw Can’t shontelle just say she saw a lil of herself there No harm done If she was speaking Musically it would have been a diff story ppl always tend to make Lil things Huge thing grow up ppl smh you are honestly a air head of you have a prob with that
“Every girl in my school and every sexually confused young man knew the choreography to “Are You That Somebody” after like the third time they had seen the video.” – Melody Thornton.
Sexually confused? I’m pretty sure there are MEN in the video doing that dance too. Sit b****, nobody cares for your opinion anyway.
MOVING ON… R.I.P Baby Girl, a legend at such a young age. Nobody has yet matched the beauty of the simplicity of your music.
MY TOP TEN AALIYAH FAVORITE SONGS
10) BACK AND FORTH
9) ROCK THE BOAT
8) AGE AIN’T NUTHIN BUT A NUMBER
7) WE NEED A RESOLUTION
6) TRY AGAIN
5) MORE THAN A WOMAN
4) IF YOUR GIRL ONLY KNEW
3) FOUR PAGE LETTER
2) ONE IN A MILLION
1) THE ONE I GAVE MY HEART TO
Ppl are here are so f***** patheic and sad…..
Why is QUEENBEY’S name always on the tips of yall fingers???
Get a f***** life!!!!
SORRY SIR ! I’ NOT GOING TO READ ALL THAT !
RIP AALIYAH !
@KIM already set the trend for this post !
*leaves* !
And Aaliyah was 22 years old.
@TIMMI Melody said that damn since when does music define you sexuality? Smh
@MIND BLOWIN-
U didnt like ‘At Your Best’???
(Its my favorite Aaliyah song)
@AALIYAH WAS TRULY ONE IN A MILLION (QUEENBEY)
Hold up, you clearly missed something. @BEYSTANBISH went there first, she didn’t state Bey’s name but it was as good as…
@POP Set TREND For This Post ????
My Top 10 List:
1. At Your Best
2. Can I come Over
3. One In a Million
4. I Care 4 U
5. Miss You
6. I Refuse
7. Four Page Letter
8. More Than A Women
9. Rock the Boat
10. Hot Like Fire
@Aaliyah was truly one in a million (queenbey)
DANG IT YESSSSSSSSSSSSS I DID SHE HAD SO MANY THAT ONE KIND OF SLIP MY MIND THANKS FOR REMINDING ME; HOLD UP LET ME PLACE THAT SONG AT……………..
NUMBER 6 AND TAKE OFF WE NEED A RESOLUTION AND MOVE TRY AGAIN AT #7 OKAY I THINK THATS A GOOD LIST………… ARE U THAT SOMEBODY NEEDS TO BE ON THERE TOO!!! DAAAANNNNNNNNGGGGGGGG IM GOING TO REDO MY LIST 🙂
Aaliyah was truly one in a million (queenbey)
August 24, 2011 at 8:36 pm
Aaliyah was 23 yrs old wen she passed…..
———————————————————————–
She was 22.
Aaliyah was 22 yrs old wen she passed….
She was really young… 😥
Im not participating in any stan wars on this post…..
Have some RESPECT ppl…..
wow aaliyah has nothin to do with beyonce I’m baffled how ppl make the connection .. Destinys child is responsible for beyonce and suvivor was released BEFORE aaliyah died and sold over 600000 copies the first week and stayed number one for 4 straight weeks so I dnt get where the aaliyah argument comes in at all I love aaliyah but if she was alive I do believe she would be in the same lane today as monica and brandy still havin some success but not a megastar .. again I love aaliyah but we tend to make gods out of ppl when they pass
AALIYAH BEST DANCE ROUTINE LIST
10) BACK AND FORTH (IF U DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO DANCE THIS STEP MADE U LOOK GOOD IN THE CLUB 🙂
9) 4 PAGE LETTER
8) WE NEED A RESOLUTION
7) HOT LIKE FIRE ( THE ONLY DANCE ROUTINE I HAVE DOWN PACKED 🙂
6) IF YOUR GIRL ONLY KNEW
5) MORE THAN A WOMAN
4) ONE IN A MILLION
3) TRY AGAIN
2)ROCK THE BOAT
1) ARE U THAT SOMEBODY
@kim:
“The Only Reason Beyonce Is Ruling The Game Now Is Because Aaliyah Died ” ! <– 🙄 !
BEYONCE WAS RULING THE GAME WHILE JANET herself " who was more accomplished than Aaliyah in that period of time " WAS THERE ! so i' m sure Aaliyah presence was NOT a threat ! Aaliyah was talented ! but there's ROOM FOR EVERYONE ! NOT ONLY FOR ONE !
some ppl just love to create theories and they even believe they are true !
CONCLUSION :
1-BOTH women are SUPER TALENTED !
2-THERE'S ROOM FOR EVERYONE
3-THERE'S NO #1 ARTIST ! IT CHANGES WITH TIMES ! but legends stay legends and should stay RESPECTED !
R.I.P AALIYAH BABY GURL !
*I'M OUT* !
I like ‘Are You That Somebody’ but I dnt listen to it as much as I listen to my top 10 list…..
wow aaliyah has nothin to do with beyonce I’m baffled how ppl make the connection .. Destinys child is responsible for beyonce and suvivor was released BEFORE aaliyah died and sold over 600000 copies the first week and stayed number one for 4 straight weeks so I dnt get where the aaliyah argument comes in at all I love aaliyah but if she was alive I do believe she would be in the same lane today as monica and brandy still havin some success but not a megastar .. again I love aaliyah but we tend to make gods out of ppl when they pass
@CRAVE12
Your Opinion but AGAIN we are here to remember AALIYAH take that STAN stuff somewhere else
THANK YOU
@crave12 ur 200 percent right .. She was an straight urban artist and was comfortable in that role I think aaliyah and ciaras careers are more tied together than beyonces .. Ciara came in and grabbed up that urban princess crown.. I think aaliyah would prob be killing the acting game (she may even have stuck to acting) but would prob be struggling to reinvent herself musically cuz the kind of music she was about back then is struggling today
@mindblowin…. I love aaliyah and I love beyonce so I can say xactly what I think and feel about both of them and was respondin to the ppl who make the connection like the ones one this post .. If u hav a problem with that well I actually I dnt really care if u do THANK YOU
@kim:
“The Only Reason Beyonce Is Ruling The Game Now Is Because Aaliyah Died ” ! <– !
BEYONCE WAS RULING THE GAME WHILE JANET herself " who was more accomplished than Aaliyah in that period of time " WAS THERE ! so i' m sure Aaliyah presence was NOT a threat ! Aaliyah was talented ! but there's ROOM FOR EVERYONE ! NOT ONLY FOR ONE !
some ppl just love to create theories and they even believe they are true !
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
AGAIN SO WHAT WE ARE HERE TO RMEMBER AALIYAH!!!!!!! YA'LL WILL DO ANYTHING TO THROW UR FAVES ABOVE SOMEONE ELSE!!!!!!! CAN WE AS WOMEN GET ALONG ON HERE AND REMEMBER AALIYAH???IF ANYONE WANTS TO FIGHT ABOUT WHO IS BETTER AND THROW OUT STATS PLEASE TAKE THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE
THANK YOU
Aaliyah was is still is my fav. Her music was ahead of its time. She’s truly missed is music. R.I.P Baby Girl.
For everyone saying “when is Beyonce going to say something”? Beyonce and Aaliyah was friends. They hung out because they dated friends. Go listen to Jay-Z “Miss You remix” then read(google) the Vibe magazine with Aaliyah on the cover, and everything Jay say in the song Beyonce say in the interview. People stay finding a reason to drag Beyonce’s name(no I am not a Beyonce stan).
::roll::
Fail 🙁
Lets try this
🙄
Lets stay on topic! Who cares about where she would be now? Lets focus on the tribute!
@QUEENBEY- Your fave songs are mine as well
good forbid wen mention a female entertainer and not mention beyonce but yea bey and aaliyah are apples and oranges but I miss aaliyahs voice it was like an angel .. But I do agree with a few ppl above I feel she might be struggling musically if she were out today but I loved her as an actress and think that’s where she prob would of had complete stabiliy in the industry
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH PYTFROMAL…………
SMH at a certain JOKE trying to bring Two unrelated names….one of which isn’t even the same damn genre of artist that Aaliyah was…..I’ll keep it cute for the rest of the post…..
mindblowin…. I love aaliyah and I love beyonce so I can say xactly what I think and feel about both of them and was respondin to the ppl who make the connection like the ones one this post .. If u hav a problem with that well I actually I dnt really care if u do THANK YOU
U Are So Welcome Sweetie
@PYTFORMAL-
yay 😆
What is Ur favorite Aaliyah video??
WOW, 10 years???? It seems like just yesterday summer was ending for me, i had just turned 11 & was going into the 6th grade…. Time really does fly, before you know it, it’ll be 20 years.
Ciara is clearly praising aaliyah for not doing the things ciara did.
Oh f***.
Anybody wanna tell me why this turned into a war?
This is my favorite aaliyah song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErMSF2YUiO0
OF ALL TIME. Like of f****** all time, no other f****** song comes close to it for me. It gets me EVERYTIME I listen to it. It’s f****** orgasmic tbh. 😆
No but really im serious.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5AAcgtMjUI
hush and watch !
WHY EVERYTHING IS STAN WAR ON THIS SITE ! CAN’T WE ALL AGREE ON ONE POINT ?!
Aaliyah was super-talented and there’s room for every artist !
so now hush h*** and move on !
this post will be filled with dumb f**** like this clown @lacefronce !
➡ !
i disagree with crave12, I actually do think she would be a megastar today if not in music, than definitely in film.
i miss Aaliyah, her music ,her everything was so surreal.
i hope THIS tribute will be good come on BET dont f*** up and do Aaliyah like yall did MJ,James Brown,Martin Luther King,and Prince tjributes.
@ the lames tryn to start a stan war … stfu and sit the f*** down who knows where Aaliyah would be at today her music was soul,rnb,and urban WITH mainstream appeal, the girl was starring in BIG BUDGET Movies with out even tryn she would maybe would have been an A list star and a huge POP star when i say “pop” i mean “Popular” Pay R E S P E C T peace R.I.P Aaliyah
These were really sweet. JoJo, Dawn & Monica’s was my favorite. Just goes to show how many people love & were affected by her death even though that didn’t know her.
I still can’t believe it’s been 10 years. I was 14 and I was watching MTV and it flashed across the bottom of the screen. Me and my best friend just broke down. Aaliyah was like the first celebrity death that really affected me. I cried like I knew her. It was just so shocking.
I’m really excited about the tribute even though I know I am gonna cry again.
I miss her so much. I feel as though i don’t even want to deal with tomorrow because it’s going to be so emotionally trying for me and my friends. we are all Aaliyah fans. I just miss her presence.
Though I agree, this post should be strictly about Aaliyah and not other artists or comparisons, I do feel the need to voice my opinion.
Destiny’s Child was already incredibly successful while Aaliyah was still alive. As far as who would be on top, I think that both Aaliyah and Beyonce would hold the crown. Both women bring something totally different to the table, but have that mainstream appeal in order to reign supreme. It’s like Beyonce and Gaga, no one can deny GaGa’s success, innovation, or work ethic and she is just as relevant as Beyonce, but Beyonce reigns supreme because she has been doing it longer, she’s the true veteran. I believe that’s how Beyonce and Aaliyah would be as far as today is concerned. Like Aaliyah always said, there is room for everyone.
As far as where Aaliyah would be now, I don’t think she would be struggling at all. I see that some of you are comparing her to Brandy and Monica, but you have to remember Monica and Brandy had reached their peaks when they released their sophomore albums; around that time Aaliyah had already (RE-built) her fan base with ‘One In A Million’ (I say re built because a lot of her fan base abandoned her or stopped supporting her after the whole R. Kelly situation) and was moving from an urban artist to mainstream. Aaliyah and Brandy/Monica’s careers are totally different. Aaliyah’s career continued to grow and blossom, when Aaliyah released her third album she already surpassed the popularity of Brandy and Monica, this being that both Brandy and Monica’s albums had barely went platinum when they were released on 02′ 03′. Aaliyah would’ve kept up with her urban R&B roots but she would’ve had those heavy pop hits to keep her amidst the top (i.e. Try Again, Are You That Somebody). She knew what to do with her career and how to switch it up without completely abandoning her roots. If you are actually one of those people who’ve listened to her third album from top to bottom, there is so many different genres of music on there, but she stays true to her roots with songs like ‘Rock The Boat’ ‘Never No More’ ‘Those Were The Days’ and ‘It’s Whatever’. She definitely knew what she was doing and their is no doubt in my mind she would’ve taken all the correct steps throughout her career that would’ve kept her on top.
Another thing I want to address is the Janet Jackson comparisons. I don’t really see how people compare Aaliyah to Janet. Janet is an incredible performer and does dance number out of this world, vocally she isn’t as strong as Aaliyah was. Take that how you want, Aaliyah wasn’t the vocal powerhouse a lot of people make her out to be either but I definitely believe she deserves more credit than that because lets be honest, she was not a whisperer in the studio or on stage. I don’t see Janet belting out a ‘One I Gave My Heart Too’ ‘Miss You’ or ‘I Care 4 U’. That same argument goes for Ciara.
Take it how you want, I just felt the need to voice my opinion on the situation.
Anyway R.I.P. Babygirl, you will FOREVER be missed.
Why did they get shontelle !?
She is a flop
@str8facts
That sure was a long statement!!!! 4 page letter must have been ur FAVORITE SONG
anywho
AALIYAH IS TRULY ONE IN A MILLION
@MADONNA LOVER- U are too much….lol
Sorely missed, R.I.P. Aaliyah, true legend!
@mindblowin and I BET you took your sweet time reading the entire thing, it’s the thought that counts 🙂 i’ll take that as a compliment.
its sad people just cant stay on topic and have some respect
it disgust how some of queens would say pity s*** to make another artist look better smdh
RIP AALIYAH 1979-2001
@mindblowin
HAAA!!! OH MY F*** I LAUGHED SO HARD!!!!
Looks like they shortened @Va… post too
4 page letters. 😆
@queenbey 😆
MINDBLOWIN…….
August 24, 2011 at 9:51 pm
@str8facts
That sure was a long statement!!!! 4 page letter must have been ur FAVORITE SONG
anywho
AALIYAH IS TRULY ONE IN A MILLION
———–
LMAO!!!!
I love Aaliyah. She was sweet and nice and she will be dearly missed. But Brandy was and is more talented than both Monica and Aaliyah…..!!!!!!!
@mindblowin and I BET you took your sweet time reading the entire thing, it’s the thought that counts i’ll take that as a compliment
KANYE WEST SHRUG
UH HUH I DID
NOT READ THAT “ENTIRE THING”
ANYWHO
AALIYAH IS ONE IN A MILLION
@Misfit and Madonnalover
Im trying to keep it ladylike and keep telling them not to come on here with all that NONSENSE!!! Like we are trying to pay TRIBUTE to a WOMAN who left this EARTH too SOON BC GOD HAD OTHER PLANS FOR HER.
But instead we have these ppl on here (WHICH ARE MAINLY FEMALES) bringing up this and that about where they think she would be at as far as her career. LIKE IM SO OVER THAT!!!
The point is this: SHE’S NOT HERE!!!!
SO WHO GIVES A RAT @SS ABOUT WHAT SOME OF U THINK ABOUT WHERE U THINK SHE WOULD BE AT IF SHE WAS ALIVE!!!!
YOU WANT SOME FACT WELL HERE U GO:
HER MUSIC BACK THEN IS BETTER THAN ANY MUSIC OUT NOW!!!!!!
HER STAGE PRESENCE IS BETTER THAN ANYONE OUT NOW!!!!!!
HER DANCING SKILLS ARE BETTER THAN ANYONE OUT NOW!!!!!
HER ACTING SKILLS IS BETTER THAN ANYONE OUT NOW!!!!!!!!!
HER REALNESS AS A PERSON IS BETTER THAN ANYONE OUT NOW!!!!!!!!
SHE WAS A HUMBLE & SWEET PERSON WHO LOVED HER FAMILY FRIENDS AND FANS AND SHE IS TRULY MISS BY THOSE WHO KNEW HER PERSONALLY AND WHO WATCHED HER AS AN ENTERTAINER!!!!!!!!
GOT THAT??? GOOD!!!!!
LIKE I SAID
AALIYAH IS ONE IN A MILLION
@str8facts yeah ur right in a lot of ways but I feel like its not about what they did in the past its about where music is today .. Aaliyah could be big today is she completely reinvented herself cuz urban music jus isn’t a major market today and aaliayh was very authentic and dnt think she would of wanted to change the way monica and brandy are who they are … So while aaliyah is talented I do think it would of been an uphill battle for her or she prob would jus be goin after an oscar and stayin with acting
@mindblowin u dnt run this post if ppl wana hav friendly talks about an artist they like and where she would be today they can this is forum .. If u dnt wana hear it the internet is big place go start ur own blog with ur rules .. Most of the ppl sayin things start or end with I love aaliyah or clearly are speakin from a place of liking her but being honest jesus I hate when ppl try and righteous on blogs ppl can say what the f*** they want
@mindblowinn u dnt run this post if ppl wana hav friendly talks about an artist they like and where she would be today they can this is forum .. If u dnt wana hear it the internet is big place go start ur own blog with ur rules .. Most of the ppl sayin things start or end with I love aaliyah or clearly are speakin from a place of liking her but being honest jesus I hate when ppl try and righteous on blogs ppl can say what the f*** they want
@mindblowin u dnt run this post if ppl wana hav friendly talks about an artist they like and where she would be today they can this is forum .. If u dnt wana hear it the internet is big place go start ur own blog with ur rules .. Most of the ppl sayin things start or end with I love aaliyah or clearly are speakin from a place of liking her but being honest jesus I hate when ppl try and righteous on blogs ppl can say what the f*** they want
I was in fourth grade when she passed….WOW I can’t believe it’s been ten years.
Aaliyah had everything. The voice, the looks, the videos, the good music….and then she had it all taken away from her too soon. Thank you aaliyah for leaving your legacy! RIP
WHAT TOUR BUS WAS KEYSHIA ON I 2001????
Check it out the teaser for the UpComing Aaliyah’s SHOW Tribute 10 Years
Event of the Year in Europe!! !! :: http://youtu.be/uuyMc0Nm6Vc :: in Belgium !! !!
CANT WAIT!!!
<3 Aaliyah. <3
OMG! Still cant believe already ten years!! !! <3 We Miss U!!
I was just waiting on some silly stan or pressed hater to bring ‘you know whos’ name up. Every single day…every single post. This had nothing to do with HER, but as usual you attention seeking trolls can’t help yourselves. Idiots on the Internet, I swear. Grow the hell up.
RIP Aaliyah. These were some sweet comments. I hope the tribute will be good.
I miss Aailyah. Her music was great. She paved the way for solo artists like Beyonce, Ashanti, and a lot of others.
Thank you for the tribute to this unique and amazing tallant. There will NEVER be another babygirl. R.I.P x
#LoveAaliyah
Very easy artist to relate to.
My 1st personally bought CD was Aaliyah’s 1st album
#street thing & back n forth was tracks i overly played
One In A Million my fav album
@CORY, IKN? THE QUESTION AGAIN ANYBODY PLEASE…………..WHAT TOUR BUS WAS KYESHIA COLE ON IN 2001????????????????????????
TYPO I MEANT IKN RIGHT???
thanks @Cory,that had me scratching my head too!
Boo Boo u chaninging ur name and writing the same ish is so um LAME!!!!
Yep u right the net is big and I can start my own BLOG but like u said I CAN THROW MY OPINION UP IF I WANT TOO!!! IM NOT TRYING TO RUN ISH AS U CAN SEE A LOT OF PPL ON HERE DON’T WANT TO HEAR YOU ALL STAT LIST OR WHAT U THINK ABOUT WHERE HER CAREER WOULD HAVE BEEN!!!!
THEY CAME HERE TO REMEMBER AALIYAH AND SAYING I LOVE HER AND I MISS HER BUT SHE WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN THIS OR SHE WOULD HAVE STRUGGLED HERE OR SHE WOULD HAVE SUCCEED HERE…….. ARE U REALLY PAYING TRIBUTE??? YEA THATS WHAT I THOUGHT U ARE NOT!!!!
ANYWHO
AALIYAH IS ONE IN A MILLION AND TODAY MARKS HER 10TH ANNIVERSARY………. REST ON BABY GIRL U ARE TRULY MISSED
I actually can’t pick a favourite from hers. ‘The One I Gave My Heart To’, ‘One In A Million’, ‘4 Page Letter’, ‘If Your Girl Only Knew’, ‘At Your Best’, ‘I Care 4 U’ are my most played Aaliyah songs for sure. She will be missed forever and she gave R’n’B so much.
Rest In Peace Aaliyah.
@RosaRubbel
The One I Gave My Heart To is my favorite song of hers and the video was PRICELESS!!! She showed so much PASSION in that video!!!
MISS HER SO MUCH 🙁
I miss her SOOOO much.I wish she was her and she was killed in such a tragic way.She was about to take over and that’s the sad part.The elements that she used in the ‘Aaliyah’ album were mindblowing.Even trip hop!!The videos, the performances, everything about her.A sweet person, an amazing artist, a great vocalist (such a clear falsetto) and one of the slickest dancers ever!!
I still listen to her music and I respect her legacy a lot.She is truly missed.R.I.P.
‘sexually confused young man’ Melody >>> R U FOR REAL??????
Aaliyah will be missed…what monica said was my fav, seems her and aaliyah was beginning to have a blossoming friendship
I was one of the biggest Aaliyah fans.
@QUEENBEY, we have one thing in common, (At Your Best) is my fav. Aaliyah song 2.
my favorite Aaliyah videos
5. four page letter …i love the scene where she and the dude dance in a circle of fire
4. we need a resoloution …she was hot with that big ass snake
3. rock the boat..dances was hot and she looked so damn hot
2. are you that somebody…she danced her ass off
1. more than a woman…she was a beast with the moves in this one and l like the futuristic feel of the video
R.I.P LIYAH…………Two of my favs of hers was Four page letter and One in a Million
Such a beautiful, beautiful woman, and like so many of these women mentioned in their tributes, a beautiful soul also. Her talent was undeniable!!
‘Try Again’ will always be my jam.
Miss u, Aaliyah. <3
My top 10:
1. We Need a Resolution
2. I Care 4 U
3. 4 Page Letter
4. Rock the Boat
5. At Your Best
6. One in A Million
7. Are You That Somebody?
8. I Don’t Wanna Be
9. Come Over
10. Don’t Know What Tell Ya
I find it to be pathetic that all of you would come onto a site that is remembering one artist and you want to compare and contrast her to other artists…Get a life and take your two cents somewhere else…Aaliyah will always be one of the greatest artists alive SO GET OVER IT!!!!!! RIP AALIYAH YOUR ALWAYS MISSED AND THOUGHT ABOUT!!!!!
Awww Aaliyah so talented.
Listening to ‘I Care 4 U’ now. Such a beautiful, beautiful song.
she is trully miss and love rip aaliyah love always very classy lady
Lol @ Melody Thorton: “…every sexually confused young man…” Lol