Welcome to the latest edition ‘That Grape Juice A&R‘, the ‘TGJ’ original feature which sees us switch critic for creative and weigh in on the directions of our staple acts.
Who we’ve set our Evan Lipschutz-sized sights on this time? Ciara.
Since ‘1,2 stepping’ onto the scene 12 years ago, the siren has etched her name in the history books thanks to a slew of chart smashes and memorable performances.
Now, as she commences work on her seventh studio album, the 30-year-old finds herself at a career crossroads.
Last year’s ‘Jackie’ didn’t resonate as hoped – critically or commercially – and ultimately saw the singer depart Epic Records.
In the time since, she’s made a number of notable changes in her team, upped her brand positioning, and is reportedly on the cusp of formalising a new deal.
So what time is better than the present to share our views of where she could (and perhaps should) veer with her next release.
Meet us below…
Using 11 reference tracks pulled from artists from all walks of life, here sits a tracklist compiled by TGJ that- for us- would make the perfect Ciara album…now.
Theme: Melodic, flavor-filled R&B with BIG choruses
1) Drake – Controlla [Listen]
2) Justin Bieber – Sorry [Listen]
3) Ciara – Body Party [Listen]
4) Rihanna – Kiss It Better [Listen]
5) Drake – One Dance [Listen]
6) Destiny’s Child – Lose My Breath [Listen]
7) Chris Brown – Turn Up The Music [Listen]
8) Nick Jonas & Tinashe – Jealous (Remix) [Listen]
9) Fifth Harmony – All In My Head (Flex) [Listen]
10) Danity Kane – Lemonade [Listen]
11) Beyonce – Dance For You [Listen]
**********************
Do you agree with our picks? What would yours be?
Hmmmmm….. BITXH!!!! I don’t see it! ?☕
I really wish Ciara the Best.
Still praying for you ?
Here is my A&R advice: Save everybody including yourself Ciara the money & just model. If you want to release music & EP’s for your fans that’s cool. However if they are releasing music in hopes she will be relevant again they can forget it. That ship sailed a loong time ago.
I somewhat agree, but I want her to be successful and tour, because she’s more than capable of doing so. If someone like Beyonce, who always talks about female empowerment, would do a track with her or invite her on tour as the opening, Ciara can still be saved.
Solid features, a label like Columbia to back her and manage her, and a couple of gems like Goodies, and she’s back in the game.
But Beyonce is salty, and so is Rihanna. DESPITE the fact that Beyonce said to 106 and Park that she found Ciara to be an innovator and is much inspired by her work in an interview from 2007.
How I know Beyonce is salty? She went to her cousin’s birthday party, which was linked with Ciara’s — they celebrated their birthdays at the same event, and while everyone posed for pics, Beyonce oddly didn’t pose for a pic with Ciara. But she happily posed with Lala, Kelly, etc.
Lol That cousin was not celebrating Beyonce’s cousin AND Ciara. That was Ciara’s party alone, that Russell threw for her. Why would Russell throw Ciara a surprise party AND Beyonce’s cousin? That would be weird seeing as how they never cross paths with Beyonce, so how strange would it be to throw her cousin a surprise party? As for a picture, well they probably did take a pic, and just not posted it. That is possible you know. But as for being salty? Beyonce was said to have been seen at Ciara’s wedding festivities by one of the guests. So if she is salty why would she attend any event celebrating Ciara? sips tea.
@Maurice, Beyonce did pose for pictures with Ciara
@cinamoongirl YUP that one pic with everybody had Ciara and Bey in it. So i’m sure they took a solo pic.
ok ok, let me tell you the deal.
Kelly actually said they had a joint bday party — Beyonce’s cousin celebrated with Ciara — I don’t know if they are friends or whatever.
Secondly, that pic of Ciara and Beyonce posing for a pic if PHOTOSHOPPED.
Beyonce did not take one picture with Ciara. Not one. I believe it was on the Breakfast Club where Kelly Rowland stated that it was a joint birthday party.
what an amazing track list i agree #goodwork
Let’s be real, I like Ciara but she’s done. She’ll never have a huge comeback. She was just a thing for the mid-late 00s. Nothing more, nothing less. She can’t sing, her dancing style is played out & her music is just not sticking (no matter what genre). Her personal life seems to be going great, modeling career seems to be doing just fine. But, music… That’s a done deal. These kids ain’t here for her, at all. She’s basically a joke to them tbh… Her older fan base talks a good game but obviously don’t put their money where their mouth is come album or single release time. I wish her the best tho.
Wow so right ,Ciara time for comebacks is done too, now the competition is so hard,and lets face it is Beyonce and Rihanna’s POP WORLD now.
Ciara has the same problem kelly Rowland does releasing material and not bothering to push It to its full potential. She can dance, Hold a note but she doesn’t play to her strengths. Getting a gig like ANTM hosting would have been great for her plus releasing songs similar to body party or I bet. There is no reason why Ciara shouldn’t be up there with Rihanna or Beyonce smh!!!
THIS!!!! I couldn’t agree more. Body Party and I Bet are her sound. Stay in that lane!! Throw in tracks like “Read My Lips” and she’s golden. Just play up your strengths girl!
Lucky number seven! This is the big one, Ciara! Bring it all the way home and stroke gold with this next offering, hun!
Model sis
Whether she sells 10 copies or 10 million, Ciara will do what she wants! I will be copping the album and I know the music will SLAY. Ciara doesn’t have a bad album.
Yes! As much as I wasn’t prepared for her to go full pop with her last album and me not being into pop hardly. The Jackie album was solid, like her previous albums.
My POINT exactly! So for these naysayers to continue trying to count her out and she’s STILL getting her money and branding herself. It really shows how much a FORCE she is reckon with! Ciara needs to separate herself from the other artists and that’s the issue. People want her to be something she’s NOT and call themselves not supporting her because they’re too close minded. We should have all of the talented black entertainers thriving and SUPPORT them. Instead a few of these knuckleheads don’t get it. Ciara will always SLAY and they can stay upset.
To be HONEST she does not! She’s had inconsistent promotion and exposure. I have all of her albums and I never thought her music was horrible to begin with. The issue here is it’s TIME for her to get EXPOSURE and release potential hits of this next album.
Jackie was the album I listened the most to least year !
I Bet
One Woman Army
Dance Like We’re Making Love
Give Me Love
That’s How I’m Feeling
Are great songs
Too bad people don’t care anymore about her, she has never disappointed me
I agree I think she should network with dashion designers become a true fashionista and model. Then release music with high fashion videos almost like Cruella Deville
As for this tracklist… well if Ciara has shown you nothing else about herself over the years, she’s shown that she will make the type of music that SHE wants to make. So stop trying to get her to follow in other artists footsteps and making THEIR type of music. That may be some of these celebs nowadays, but that is NOT and I repeat NOT Ciara. I doubt Ciara making these types of songs would help her career anyways. I doubt these songs would even be successful if she recorded them. The thing with Ciara is that the music is there and its decent (she never makes FULLY good albums but there are a few hits on each one) its just NEVER promoted the proper way and then she goes silent leaving her fans in the dark, and a few months later announces that she’s working on a new album. Thats her issue. All she needs this album is to promote tf out of her music and put out at least 3-5 singles over the course of this era and then move on. With streaming now counting towards sales I’m sure with the right singles and right promotion she can at least get to gold. But hey if the music is tight like I know Ciara can do then I’m willing to purchase. Jackie was an EXCELLENT album and I’m expecting an even BIGGER AND BETTER album this era. Best of luck to you Ciara. ps, keep the basic instinct/ ciara type ratchet songs and stick with the fantasy ride/ and jackie pop gems. Or if you wanna go urban this route give me the evolution part 2 with goodies feel/ flavor. But like i said best of luck to you. I’d like to see you perform on at least one of the big award show stages this era for the first time (Vmas (2017 more than likely), amas, bbmas, etc…) sips tea.
Damn right! I love people like you that actually KNOW stuff! Ciara has a few people that envy her for NO reason. It’s okay to not like her records but to discredit her it’s like REALLY? Yet she got people that actually IS here for her and go support. She should NEVER do what other artist are doing because she’s her own artist so what PART of that do these naysayers don’t understand? They clearly don’t get it when it boils down to Ciara. They’re too busy focusing on her career instead of anticipating new music!
Oh yeah and for those saying she should do herself and everyone else a favor and just model, don’t y’all realize by now that thats NOT happening. While she’s a model too and would slay taking that head on and letting music go, she NEVER going to do that. She loves music too much and is too skilled dancing wise to just give all of that up. If she ever gets the right dance music down she could make some KILLER and i mean KILLER videos. But she’d rather do videos for songs like I Bet:/ but I will say Dance Like We’re Making Love was a step in the right direction song wise and visual wise but yeah you know the story… no promotion, goes silent after… leaves label, fires manager, leaves fans in the dark. Typical Ciara though. She really needs to work on keeping her fans updated with the current status of certain situations next era. That is all.
Totally agree with you. I want more music from her and that’s why I can’t wait until C7 comes around.
Updates would be excellent!
Ciara needs to keep her fans updated frequently and her team needs to STEP up and get her out there. The last few eras we saw average results and that’s why I need for her to get it RIGHT and focus on creating a cohesive body of solid work for the seventh album. This next era needs to SLAY.
I think Ciara has what it takes, she just needs the right label behind her and great support of management. I think people who don’t like her always say she can’t sing but I disagree she has a beautiful voice. I’ve listen to some artists and their voices are not that great but people still buy their music. Music today sucks period! Anyway I am rooting for Ciara and once her C7 comes out I will be purchasing. Go Ciara!
Yes, your team is EVERYTHING. She doesn’t have that. She was with a record label who picks and chooses their artist literally.. And if you don’t read the fine print, they’ll probably still pick and choose what dollar to give you.
Good thing you guys ARENT A&Rs. These choices are terrible for her. She won’t sell records regardless so she might as well cater to her core fan base. No pop b*******. Nobody wants that from her.
No need for name calling!
Guysss….. I really don’t like to be negative but c’mon we have to accept the reality… Ciara, musically is a no go…. I feel like her albums are thrown together and suck… Like she’s had 4 consecutive projects that have flopped.. FOUR. And I get it today no one is buying music, but she’s not being streamed either!! No one gets excited for a Ciara project. She’s become a socialite/model. If she wants to make a solid project she should take a 2-3 year break from music and really work toward a solid body of work
That’s kind of the issue with many artist. They takes breaks and many of those breaks 9 times out of 10 actually break them.. She needs to get out here MORE. She not out here tough with her music. Other Artist FORCE their music on people, why can’t she? And her music is actually good.
Shes delusional in thinking she’s a pop star that’s the problem. That’s not her audience.
Meanwhile Keri doesn’t have an audience at all!
Ciara can literally resurrect Tupac, Biggie, Micheal, Aaliyah, and have a dance off with Jesus atop an aurora borealis.. to today’s hottest club trends and trap beats all produced by Mike Will and Metro Boom, and then have Beyonce on the deluxe edition with a bonus track called “Black Girl Magic” and still not move units cause people just don’t want her to be great. Of course I’ll buy it, but people are just really fake when it comes to Ciara. She’s in a bizarre place right now. I’m always gonna support, but I just don’t wanna get my hopes up.
I mean….. …. smh…… she literally has it all. Its crazy. I don’t get it. I have many stances on it ………. But I’m with you, on one point. I’m going to always support her.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been a STAN since Goodies of 2004. I have every album, and I was at the Jackie Tour opening night in Chicago. Ciara is literally a HUGE inspiration behind why I chose to dance professionally and become an instructor after high school. SHE did that. I’m just tired of people having opinions who don’t know what the inside of a record store even looks like. People who don’t even BUY music legally, like to call her a flop and say her music is no good.. but don’t even let her songs play for more than the 1st few lines of a verse then scream “NEXT”.. You’ll NEVER be able to satisfy an audience that doesn’t at least ATTEMPT to see you’re strengths. Ever since the Fantasy Ride fiasco.. people basically created a band wagon hate group for her, that just HASNT dissolved. Ciara is VERY talented. Is she the best dancer to ever do it? No, but she shits on MOST girls in the field! Can she sing? Yes, Better than most people in their showers, and better than ME.. but she’s nobody’s vocalist so I don’t HOLD her to that standard. That’s me being objective. Now, regardless of ANYTHING else. Ciara can entertain the F*** out of a crowd, and make BRILLIANT music videos centered around dance and dance culture. The Jackie tour LITERALLY sold OUT and was standing room only in every city. Idc if it was the House of Blues and not an arena. Thousands upon thousands of people came together JUST to see HER! I’d almost rather she just take the Ashanti/Erykah Badu route and just go independent and release mixtapes with dance videos on the side personally gift-wrapped for her fans.. and still tour at intimate venues than to constantly be a running joke for the ungrateful. She doesn’t deserve that kinda treatment. Especially being such a kind and honest soul. Just sayin.. I still f*** with Ciara. She did something for me that no other artist could. She showed me I could easily more than I was, but simply doing me, and taking the risk, even if I wasn’t supported initially. Don’t mean to sound corny or cliche, but she really did inspire me.. so I’ll always have a deep rooted emotional connection to her body of work and also support whatever else she does. She has something more than just my money for record sales. She has my respect! She coulda quit a long time ago based on the way people clown her.. but she didn’t. She’s doing her, and following her purpose accordingly. THAT’S a real bad b****.
#Facts
Ciara is busy taking selfies and parading on social media.smsh??
Uri,
The jackie tour was not sold out. I was in one stop. It was empty in a raggedy torn down venue in the hood. She quit while the power was back working. She lied and didnt come back. Someone in the audience yelled beyonce would never do this..its the truth! Ciara is lazy and a faux artist. She only cares about fame. She smirks when the paps notice her. If it were not for Russell nobody would check for her. She got a huge chance to perform at the dome at essence! She has not booked ANY major slots in 10 years! She was lazy! The set list was horrible..vocals were horrible..dancing was stale..same old tired janet outfit!!!!!! I was a hugr fan!!! If she cared she would sacrifice!! New stage productions, new choreographer, vocal lessons, and new ideas! But nah
I see you’re blinded by the FACTS. Whether Russell would’ve been in her life or not. The FACT of the matter IS she remains that artist that people love and support. The ones including MYSELF have witnessed her career flourish and yes she’s had her ups and downs BUT what gets me is that people who don’t want to see her thrive are the BITTER folk. I mean Ciara pretty much went against the ODDS and continued to be a humble and ambitious person. Regardless she will continue to do her thing. You can say whatever but Ciara will always have BITTER people that are pressed.
I’m sorry your personal experience was that lack luster. I saw her opening night in Chicago, as well as again in Atlanta, and baaaabyyyyyy both shows were LIT! She was in rare form, and committed. Chicago was an outer body experience… it was her 1st time touring in 6years… and very emotional. She cried twice because she didn’t expect that much love. The roar of the crowed was so powerful. And the venue was nice.. but HELLA packed. If you went to the bathroom, you could kiss your spot goodbye. While I don’t agree with many of your points, I defend your right to voice them. I already said everything I had to say above, and I stand by it.
Yes!! I like the track selection. But I have to agree with what many have said on here and I never thought about it until it was mentioned but my girl is going to do what she wants to do.. lol. None of her albums are anything alike tbh.. so again, I’m anticipating this one. I just pray with this new album comes a team who is going to push her out here. Especially into today’s climate of music, an album can not sell its self. I think they made that mistake with her on her past eras.
She needs to execute and stay consistent.
Yes! I agree.
Ciara can make a comeback. She just needs to be consistent with promotion.
I am always excited for a new Ciara album, because she has the ability to renew herself in an ever surprising way. That being said, to me her most progressive, honest, enjoyable and, overall, best album is Basic Instinct. I wish she’ll use a similar direction for her next effort!
It’s okay for these people that don’t believe in her because when she drops this new album they will be SWARMING in and acting as if they loved her. Seriously there are a few undercover Ciara fans but I’ll get to the nitty gritty of her career. Despite the hurdles she went through and since Ciara is an artist that is able to continue her brand WITHOUT putting herself in a box gets a few people’s feather’s ruffled. So for those that think she needs to give up on music and stick to modeling well guess what? That will NEVER happen because to be HONEST Ciara is one of those black talented entertainers that a few people discredit and overlook. They’ll support Beyoncé, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and whoever else that has gotten mainstream attention but Ciara it’s like a bias towards her.
Folks………don’t act like Ciara didn’t accomplish anything in her career. She has a good catalogue for her twelve year career. The thing IS Ciara needs the A-LIST management that will propel her BIGGER and get her more EXPOSURE. Also the question IS? Have people bought Ciara’s albums besides her fans? I will stick up for Ciara on this blog and it’s at a point where Ciara can do something productive and STILL these naysayers want to bird- chirp about her career. Y’all use that “socialite” b******* just to excuse the FACT that y’all are NOT here for her. Yet she continues to make progress and in the minds of the one dimensional committee Ciara is a “flop” or failure”. And it gets Ciara fan’s irritated because WE actually go out and support Ciara. I don’t give a hoot about her albums sales. It’s the music that MATTERS. Hell she needs to start TRENDS and stick to what’s best for her. Why should she follow what everyone else it doing? Let Ciara do her and we’ll see what this new album will bring. #C-SQUAD
No lies told…
#realtalk #truth
I really don’t agree with much of the suggested tracks. Here is my take:
1. “Rock The Boat” – Aaliyah
2. “I Get Lonely” – Janet Jackson
3. “Damn Baby” – Janet Jackson
4. “Burnin’ Up” – Jesse J
5. “DUI” – Ciara
6. “You Got Me” – Dumb Blonde
7. “Sorry” – Ciara
8. “Blackout” – Mashonda (for fun)
9. “Hold On” – Lion Babe
10. “Same Ol’ Mistakes” – Rihanna
Ultimately, Ciara is going to do what she wants to do. I have to give it up to her and her perseverance. She keeps coming out, though her attempts aren’t that of a megastar release, she stays true to herself. I do feel that’s a fluid statement in some regards because it’s time she blow up.
In a perfect world, she would get with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and though they are semi-outdated, they will give her the hits she needs. Look what they continuously do for Janet Jackson (CiCi’s idol). Her go-to producers have done a great job keeping her sound but they haven’t been able to help her evolve the way she should.
I will start this off with congratulations to ciara in her recent wedding and I wish her a life time of love. Now ciara has several hurdles to get over to has a successful era which she has not had since 06-07. Ciara first two album were simple and easy to digest for listeners her image matched the music. She was the around the way girl that danced.now since the 1st two albums has revamp her image for a fashionista but her music although she has expanded her sound ie fantasy Ride Ciara and Jackie her as a artist has not evolved which makes her appear to be a very shallow artist. I hope this time around she has a team behind her that can add to and support her vision and also add depth to her artistry.
I totally agree. Now that she’s 30 and a mom and a wife, she has to get deeper into the music. She can still have club bangers, but she’ll also need songs that speak about her vulnerabilities and go beyond the surface regarding her recent life changes. That would make the work completely honest. Lemonade is so successful bc it’s honest. So is Anti. Ci will need to show some growt and I think that has been something missing in her sound for years now (on a consistently)
Have you seen the IG vid she posted when she and Russell were playing soccer and she made the goal? Afterward she was saying “dem boys don’t like that, they don’t like that…” That one line could be used to make a fire ass song. A song that talks empowers women, about how sometimes men don’t want to see us win and succeeds, but ladies need to be bosses, envision what they want and go after it, and slay the game anyway. It should include how sometimes you ex don’t wanna see you move on, be happy, and successful. Yeah, dem boys don’t like that. It should be a song that puts fuckbois on notice.
Now yall know that I love Ciara. I do. But I’m upset with her. For the past like three eras she’s given me great records WITH NO VISUALS. It is torture to listen to a Ciara song and flat out wonder what the video would look like. It kills me cuz I’m like I know good and well that there should’ve been a video for EVERY song on her second self titled. That album is probably her best yet next to the evolution. But she gave no visuals nor promotion and she makes it hard to defend her. Stop saying stupid s*** like we just want her to do what WE want her to do. People want her to win but she’s being f****** hard headed and it’s annoying. You don’t see drake making country do you? Do WHY tf does she insist on not staying in her lane? I bet went platinum. Body party went platinum. THAT’S her lane. She’s capable of a hit and I know yall love Ciara too but stop being delusional.
I wish her the best on her next album and it should be called promise2 or hard part2 or Ms.Harris or goodies part2
Oh Cici…
Cici needs to just make music about her goodies again and how everybody wants them.
Ciara shouldn’t be trying to get all creative or soulful or whatever she was doing on the last album because that ain’t her. We wanna hear Cici singing about her goodies or how us guys should “jump up on it.” I wanna hear ciara saying how she can “ride it” and “handle her business like a big girl should”
So a little recap:
Album 1 – Floppies
Album 2 – Ci-error: Evolution of Flops
Album 3 – Flop Fantasy
Album 4 – Basic Flop
Album 5 – Ci-Error
Album 6 – Wackie
And album 7? Hmm…what’s a good name. “Flop Number 7: I’m In Flop Mode”
I wish her the best…get it girl…or at least try.
I’m sorry but I haven’t really liked a ciara song or album in years. Basic Instinct had some nice songs on it because of dream and tricky’s production. Lol. “Ciara” was a horrible album, it sounded like a bunch of edm crap and the r&b songs were not very good. Jackie was sort of an improvement but all the songs didn’t really go together. She either needs to make more melodic pop-ish r&b like dance like we’re making love or fly, or just go back to her old straight r&b sound from 2006 like Promise. I miss when she used to talk-rap like on the song “love you better”, it sounded really s***. She don’t do that anymore. I just don’t want another album like “Ciara.” Everybody always says how bad fantasy ride was but I say no, that wasn’t even bad! Ciara is her worst album!
Ciara’s albums in order from best to worst:
The Evolution
Goodies
Fantasy Ride
Basic Instinct
Jackie
Ciara
Hope she can put together a great album/record but with her limited vocal ability there’s only so much she can do, it’s sad but true. It’s like aaliyah, with that limited of a vocal there’s many records she wouldn’t be able to pull off – she doesn’t have the voice. So nothing soulful ciara, don’t try to do something that isn’t in your range. We want catchy fun r&b s** jams from ciara. We can get soulful stuff with big vocals from other people. No hate, but some ciara fans just need to wake up and realize that it’s partly because of her limited vocal ability that she can’t produce great songs. It’s not because she doesn’t get good songs from her producers, it’s just that she can’t craft great big songs. Dream and Tricky gave her some of their best beats/melodies but they didn’t really stand out from each other because of her limited vocals. I think ciara is done though.
See that right lil Aaliyah comment got me a lil bent out of shape. If I was to entertain that out of pocket comment that Babygirl had a limited range then I could still tell you that she still had an experimental sound and crossed into many genres on her last album. These included Latin pop,alternative,urban pop, soulful R&B etc. so saying that Aaliyah was limited in genres and options is simply inaccurate. Also her voice was in no way limited. She was a WAY more powerful and full singer live in comparison to her studio tracks because of style choices.