Man listen... I ride for the That Grape Juice but sometimes y'all opinions aren't objective or they can be a bit foggy. I support Ciara but it's clear and has always been clear why she fell short. I kills me how you praise her in spite of shortcomings but go in on Rihanna. Again, I love Ciara and would love to work with her but the reasons why Ci struggles more than Rih is clear. Both have their own set of talents but what rih has always had was a clear handle on her and her lane. Ci lacked that. This video marked an era of transition. Rihann went through the samething; however, she handled it differently and that's why Rihanna is standing as one of the top today. I remember play by play what Ciara did that caused her slip. At first ppl called her too Hollywood for not doing music and hanging With Kim K. in LA. Then when she returned to recording she wanted to show growth and change.. I remember when she say she had a meeting with Beyonce... Then that's when her style switched and ppl called her out for creating an alter ego Super C (ppl said she was biting the Beyonce thing) and doing the leotards like Bey. All which was fine... Bc it was a trend and if Ciara would've committed to her change and sold where she was going, she would have shed the old fans and gained new ones. She was on her way to a more commercial sound and becoming the young Janet she should be but... She showed the world she was unsure with these t.m.i interviews...

Pause: Anytime an artist makes a sound and image shift they will go through a low moment. She should've road that thing out. Give it time. Especially if that was what she felt whole with. No different than Beyonce shifting from Crazy in Love/ B. Day to Sasha... Ppl weren't happy with the pop change but Bey committed and convinced your ass that what she's doing was "it". Rihanna did the same. She made us accept her as a factor in pop but the world is still waiting to fully accept her as an icon. And Rihanna won't do it looking shaky either. Out don't worry... Rihanna can fuck up times 20 and we won't she her sweat. Ciara needs that! Rih maynot invest practice into her gifts like the others (i see change now though) but there is nooooo...denying that woman has the "it' factor. She's unique in "feeling", vocal tone, and stage presence = what she projects while on stage. Ciara needs to firm out her niche. She needs to find a lane and work it till it makes sense. If it's the great dancer/ singer...young Janet but with her own twist...work that...perfect it! Can't be second guessing 10years in. Note to Ciars...Stop leading with ballads! We want te see yiu performa. I enjoy your mids and slows but that's second to what we want to see... Ykubhave etched yourself into the brain of the world as a dancer first...then singer. Figure that out!! Lead with what makes you, you. What really took Ciara over was that drama with Keri Hilson.....lawd..!! Nothing is worst than singers trying to beef with each others like rappers. Her and Keri had this public rivalry that Keri ended up beating her at...because Keri like Rihanana had a solid idenity. You can see when ppl know who they are. It projects. Ciara was still guessing. Now ciara seemed to have arrived in her own being and is moving with confidence. She seems to be doing things in spite of. That's attractive. She now has smudges that ppl can relate to. Now she has something to put into her music and stage performances... That is what she lacked before. An identity she connects with and can share with others. No matter how hard a person works...if they don't believe it...nobody else will. Ciara was good at doing what was hot...not at doing HER. As an artist..a large part of your art is DOING YOU but mixing it with good business sense.

Let's hope shew solid now.