For many, Kelly Rowland‘s career has been a frustrating one to observe.
Undeniably one of today’s stronger vocalists, a supposed lack of creative direction and all the logistical problems sharing a manager with Beyonce might bring are often cited as two reasons the gifted star was often overlooked at the beginning of her solo journey.
Now, she seeks to carve a new lane for herself via the show ‘Chasing Destiny‘, teaming up with her longtime friend and creative director Frank Gatson to build a group they’ll lead to Destiny’s Child-flavoured glory.
So, to honour of the journey Rowland will pull from to mentor her members, TGJ celebrates her criminally overlooked ‘Simply Deep.’
I wanna be
The everything you need
The every sight you see
The closest thing to epidemic
Slightly your disease
A love without a cure
No uncertainties for sure
The closest thing to alcohol
That calls you back for more
Perhaps the younger Urban Pop and Top 40 aware sister of releases spawned by Nelly Furtado and India Arie at the time, ‘Deep’ stands as Rowland’s highest-selling set thanks to the two million units it has sold since its release.
Surprising? Not at all.
For, while the albums that followed saw Kelly do little to push herself creatively, ‘Simply’ offered her fans a soulful body of work that strayed far from the “in your face” sounds fronted by Destiny’s Child, and settled in a cool, calm and romantic placed carried by lyrics, melodies and production which acknowledged her Pop, Rock, R&B and Jazz influences.
A house is not a home when I’m alone here
Summer turns to winter when you’re gone
And all I see are clouds outside my window
Everytime you walk out the door
In fact, though ‘Dilemma’ would become the LP’s breakout hit, it was the likes of ‘Obsession‘, the Dane Deviller-produced ‘Stole’ and ‘Haven’t Told You‘ that would push its sales over the 2 million units sold worldwide mark even after critics wrote it off as a commercial bomb when it opened with a modest 77,000 units in the November of 2002.
Real love isn’t digital, isn’t physical
It’s the one that can reach inside
And you don’t know why, but it makes you wholeSo if you want the one who reaches deep
Let him see the you that’s underneath
As Rowland prepares to steer the careers of a new generation of Pop hopefuls we hope her own career will deliver another album that flaunts her depth in the way ‘Deep’ did now fourteen years ago.
Love the album as much we do?
Its like we know so little about her and she been out with destiny child for years. I feel she isnt as big as she suppose to be because shes like the background girl in the forefront now, its so weird, she needs a documentary or something on vh1 about her life post destinys child with album another season of her girl group show a couple big endorsements to expose her as a solo star. She gives me beyonces friend ex destinys child star thats only a complement product to beyonce. She needs her own light now. It doesn’t have to be the most grand. Just a staple on a chapter of her life just to say in grown i love beyonce thats my sister but my career is fueled by kelly row and my manger man and the “row dogs”.
Actually that is NOT the problem. Kelly is an book any interview about her she is always open and speaks from her heart and mind. It isnr hard find out who kelly Rowland is find a interview, pick any! She is vey inviting.
Her issue is promotion! It’s simple she has never had a era where her songs were performed at all of the awards shows, where she did ground breaking interviews. Not even with her biggest hits like When ove takes over..huge hit right? It was even nominated for a grammy..what MAJOR award shows besides the “one” world music awards did she perform it on..
Same thing with Motivation..huge hit numinated for a grammy won a billboard award what MAJOR award show besides that “one” Bet award performance was it performed at?
When crazy in love had that success her band mate performed that song every where all over the world. At ever major shows..and sat down with major interviewer.
Kelly has had some huge hit records with no major promotion to feef off of it..a few daytime TV and late night shows..Nd thats all!
Which is why she is bigger across the pond because she made herself far more visible there.
Anyway this album was overlooked because people wanted to hear powerful anthems they dont view Kelly as a smooth, lyricals artist all though she very well is..But they expect music with bass and catchy lyrics and sasss..this album was amazing But dont expect any of these shallow people of today to apprecuate something as beautifully enchantedly made as this.
I dont know but I think this album was her best!
It sounds like a RnB version of Sade.
What f**** so up is that she alwas realy always talk about Beyonce in he Interviews. I mean we know thats your sister and stuff like that, but you can not sit in every Interview and talk about her. I think her team is not realy strong in promoting her albums.
Nice
Thanks for this write up. Spot-on with the frustration of following K’s career(and the rest, really). Kelly is a really good artiste. Can’t fault her on her songs- delivery, lyrics, production, melody. She’s GOOD. She just doesn’t get the recognition she deserves.
Also, another reason it was overlooked is because(as someone said above) people were expecting destiny’s child-like hits. I was thinking of this some days ago – her first solo should have had like five DC-type bangers (with dope videos where she dances- to carry her DC fans with her) then the rest of the songs would be to show her depth. That’s what her so-called team should have gone for, but I doubt they cared about her solo success. Tew bad. Kelly’s still winning.
And yes yes yes to lack of creative direction, which one’s team can help them with, but that team was under Matthew trifling knowles who only cared about his daughter’s solo success. Fact. Then K gets into an abusive relationship, which affects one’s psych. I think at a point she got tired(cos she was even the first to release an album- she was ready to work.). But she bounced back. Only wishing the best for you Kel xx
And yes yes yes to lack of creative direction, which one’s team can help them with, but that team was under Matthew trifling knowles who only cared about his daughter’s solo success. Fact. Then K gets into an abusive relationship, which affects one’s psych. I think at a point she got tired(cos she was even the first to release an album- she was ready to work.). But she bounced back. Also, lack of promotion. DUMB is a BANGER, but does it get rotation? Nah. Only wishing the best for you Kel xx