Beyonce – Back Up

The Darkchild produced ‘Back Up’ served as a bonus track on select versions Beyonce’s sophomore LP ‘B’Day’. One of the best club-destined cuts the singer has done to-date IMO, I was initially surprised why it was left off the album – after all, it was better than most of the album’s material. However considering its thumping bass-line, and ‘in your face’ lyrics, the song didn’t really fit the overall Tina Turner-esque sound of record. Still, one hell of song.

Listen: Back Up

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Whitney Houston – Love That Man

Despite achieving Platinum success, Mariah Carey’s 2002 Def Jam debut ‘Charmbracelet’ (ironically the start of her return to prominence) largely went ignored by the masses. Though released in the US (to little response), ‘Bringing On The Heartbreak’ never hit this side of the globe. Unfortunate as Mimi’s take on the Def Leppard original, is awesome. Well composed and inclusive of ‘The Voice’ we used to know and love, this is hands-down one of my favourite Mariah tracks from recent years.

Listen: Bringing On The Heartbreak

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Your thoughts: Hit(s) or Miss(es)?

a) Alicia Augello-Cook

“This record is going to be very different from my previous record ‘Back To Basics.’ I’m working with a lot of different people so it’s a little hard for me to really go for a specific theme this time around, but I can assure you that it’s going to be a very very interesting record. Am I nervous? Of course but I’m also very excited. I never like to play it safe so it’s always a little risky to release a record that doesn’t sound like everything else out there. I mean, I love Timbaland’s music for example but I would never work with people like that because everyone else is doing it already” {Source}

It’s great to see Christina not jumping on the Timbaland bandwagon. Granted he’s undeniably one today’s top hit makers, his ‘sound’ is becoming increasingly dated IMO. I’m kinda hoping Christina keeps pushing boundaries, yet also sticks with a tried and tested direction; as that ‘Back To Basics’ record, though not the pits, was certainly several steps back from the solidness that was ‘Stripped’.

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Having delivered a stellar album with ‘Welcome To The Dollhouse’, the ladies really do have many a-potential hit to chose from in terms of singles. I’m personally hoping ‘Sucka For Love’ and ‘Striptease’ receive the single treatment at some point. For what it’s worth, ‘Poetry’ has supposedly been lined up as the record’s 3rd single.