Beautiful. Talented. Personable.
While the above are all words oft used to describe Epic diva Ciara, the last few years have proven that not even these desirable qualities have been enough to secure the success and notoriety she has struggled to achieve on a number of occasions.
For, despite the critical acclaim her first four LP’s have garnered over the years, her latest studio effort- ‘Basic Instinct‘ left many fans wondering if she would ever be able to match or better the commercial heights the likes of Rihanna seem to remain atop of.
Now That Grape Juice weighs in.
Answering the question:
Just how do you solve a problem like Ciara’s career?
What Ms. Harris needs- we posit- is a clearly defined artistic context.
For while Ke$ha is the fun loving and care free Electro-Pop maestra and Beyonce a politically correct Pop’n’B firework, it is quite difficult to discern just who Ciara is a character.
Is she still the Urban Pop belle we were introduced to with ‘Goodies‘ or a Beverly Hills It Girl more interested in ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians‘ than expanding her own creative pallet.
Our creative recommendation?
The Sonic Supermodel.
Far be it from us to suggest people use their looks to their advantage. However, if the likes of Cheryl Cole can amass entire careers solely centered around their aesthetic, why can’t a performer as gifted as Ciara do the same?
In her videos, the world needs to see Harris’ beauty flaunted in a number of varying scenarios.
Voguing across the desert to the beat of DJ White Shadow love song dressed like she walked straight out of Jackson’s ‘Remember The Time‘.
Or, playing the jilted lover in a Haussman-esque period clip, belting out a well flavored Pop ballad in a desolate Parisian apartment.
In essence, we feel Harris has too much potential too give ‘urban’ audiences her undivided attention. Sonically and aesthetically, she must capitalize on her assets to deliver material that will give the world no choice but to pay attention to her cause.
When it comes to the charts, scoring #1 singles should be the last thing on her mind, especially when the last year has seen many artists release top selling albums without the aid of #1 on the Hot 100, or any other singles chart for that matter.
If Epic succeeds in creating a thematically consistent album, supported by a lengthy promotional campaign and evenly spaced singles, success on the Billboard 200 should be inevitable and should give some some indication as to how the project should be handled overseas.
In conclusion, That Grape Juice hopes this new album will see the world not only grow to love Ciara but mark the start of an era which sees the starlet break ground on a number of fronts.
What do you think?