The Memory of Aaliyah
Spirit, talent, mystery, modesty and all round goodness are some of the many qualities that have differentiated Aaliyah from many of the substandard acts of the early nineties. Starting out at only 15 years old, Aaliyah was evidently more than a woman in more ways than one. Her wisdom, poise and determination were inspirational to young girls everywhere. This was a young lady whose professionalism has become admirable, she greeted everyone with a genuine smile and there were certainly no traces of a diva in the making anywhere in sight. Beauty on the inside and out came easy to Aaliyah.
Aaliyah first came to the attention of music listeners on both sides of the Atlantic with the release of her exceptional debut single ‘Back & Forth’, which was produced by R. Kelly who was soon hailing her as his protégé. She managed to effortlessly sing over hardcore beats with her soft syrupy vocals and was never afraid to try anything. This was soon to be the key to her success. Neither Monica nor Brandy could touch the innovative and ever-changing musical style of this super lady!
Back then, it would be fair to say that Aaliyah was seen as a bit of a tomboy, a supposed bad girl with baggy jeans, hooded tops and a pair of shades that seemed permanently glued to her face. Tracks like ‘Back and Forth’, ‘At Your Best (You Are Love)’, ‘Down With The Clique’ and ‘The Thing I Like’ instantly boosted Aaliyah’s non-existent profile. ‘Age Ain’t Nuthin But A Number’ was the title of the debut album, which incorporated a melange of street beats and the most delicate vocals. Reminiscent of the ultra-magnetic tones of a latter day Minnie Ripperton or even Gladys Knight (who used to be married to Aaliyah’s uncle incidentally). This multi-gifted offering earned Aaliyah two gold-certified singles ‘Back and Forth’ and ‘At Your Best (You Are Love)’.
1996 saw the release of Aaliyah’s sophomore offering ‘One In A Million’ – illustrating a more mature and sophisticated side to Aaliyah’s style. Aaliyah’s sound became surprisingly more rugged as she hooked up with a relatively unknown producer by the name of Timbaland. This was to be the start of an unbreakable partnership that would prove invaluable for Aaliyah’s musical development and Timbaland’s emerging career as a top-notch producer. The most notable transition as a product of this partnership was Aaliyah’s appearance on the Dr Doolittle soundtrack with the highly addictive beat stomping modern day classic ‘Are You That Somebody?’ The reaction both in clubland and on the radio had fans and radio jocks gasping at the sheer complexity of her dance moves, vocals and pure attitude.
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