After a brief rest on the bench, our Best You Never Heard feature returns this week with little known gems by Mya, Sugababes, Ciara and Smokie Norful.
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Mya – I Am
Mya’s last major label effort ‘Liberation ‘ironically remains caged after label mishaps and the poor performance of its singles forced it to be shelved. While what we did sample of the album was kinda hit and miss, the record did boast potential in the form of tracks such as the Kwame produced ‘I Am’. The gutsy up-tempo, saw the singer raunch it all the way up, in what is a very pro-female anthem. A great song!
Listen:
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Sugababes – No More You
Despite the Sugababes’ most recent LP ‘Sweet 7’ being anything but ‘sweet’ (see: it’s dismal chart performance), the album did serve up a few gems – ‘No More You’ being one of its best. The haunting production courtesy of Stargate really compliments the song’s lyrics (which were penned by Ne-Yo); lyrics which Jade, Amelle, and Heidi do an awesome job of delivering – truly capturing the essence of the song. There’s no doubt this could easily be a hit for the ladies should they release it, or any other act for that matter.
Listen:
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Ciara – Tell Me What Your Name Is
Song leaks and bad strategy brought Ciara’s ‘Fantasy Ride’ to an abrupt halt last year. However, despite its shortcomings, the project did yield winners such as the Dr Luke produced ‘Tell Me What Your Name Is’. A well-produced, breezy mid-tempo, with much in the way of playful sensuality. One of Ms. Harris’ best offerings to-date.
Listen:
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Smokie Norful – Run To You (Cover)
Gospel heavyweight Smokey Norful put his own spin on Whitney Houston’s classic ‘Run To You’ in 2006. Norful’s interpretation not only does the original justice, its tweaked lyrics open the song up to a whole new audience, while capturing an audience already familiar with the original. A skilled vocalist, whose tone favours John Legend, yet whose power is incomparable to contemporary secular acts, Norful turned in an amazing performance with this one.
Listen:
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I like this feature. There are a lot of slept on songs that are great but weren’t necessarily singles.
Good job!
Mmmm, <3 the Ciara joint, Fantasy Ride WAS the business: "I'm On" and "I Don't Remember" are THE gems form the album. And if "Go Girl" had a decent 2nd half, it woulda been her best effort.
As for the sugababes… not a fan of the cut… their "You on a Good Day", "Every Heart Broken" and "Can We Call a Truce" on the other hand – masterful.
i love tell me what your name is def should have been a single that whole era was a mess
Smokie Norful is the only decent thing here. That sugababes track is just a stargate by numbers song with no passion to it. The only Ciara track i like is Cool On You which wasn’t released and reminds me of old school janet jackson and when bad vocals are put to good use. The rest are rubbish
Smokie Norful’s voice is not reminiscent of John Legend’s at all. Smokie’s voice is much clearer and his runs cleaner. John Legend wishes he could sing like Smokie!
I AGREE WITH RYAN
AND SMOKIE KILLED
She should have released “What your name is”…poor Cici
NO WONDER THEY WERE NOT RELEASED THEY ALL WERE LAME :/
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I agree, “Tell Me What Your Name Is,” was a hot track, still is. I never realized Dr. Luke produced it, wow different sound for him.
Almost wish she sent that song to radio (Urban) at least rather than “Like A Surgeon”
Smokie Norful can’t miss imo, he’s a hell of a vocalist.
I was a big fan of Liberation. It was a solid straight up R&B album.
I Am is sooooo good! Total power track. I dig it.
I also LOVED All In The Name of Love, Nothin’ At All and Life’s Too Short.
Mya’s underrated. Still, I love her.
Why in the world wasn’t that Ciara song a single?
The Sugababe’s song was my least favourite on the album. Little Miss Perfect was better
I love that Ciara joint though, one of the standouts on the album
I always LOVED TMWYNI by Cici ! I wished it was released.
Smoki Norful just amazing he really touched me!!
YESSS SMokIE!! Love that song
& CIARA my god l almost forgot this gem, one of the best tracks on Fantasy
No More You was instantly my favorite song on their new album first time I heard it. Shame it won’t get the shine it deserves that or Little Miss Perfect. Only other song I listened to is Ciara and its just aight to me but it reminds me of other songs. Not single worthy.
Minister Smokie is my pastor. Love him
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