Dusk411

Music Review: Ricky Martin & Christina Aguilera "Nobody Wants To Be Lonely" in Music JoeUser Forums

Nobody Wants To Be Lonely Album: Sound Loaded (Original version without Christina Aguilera) Year: 2001 "Why? Why? Why?" Ricky Martin sings, wistfully, in the original version of Nobody Wants to Be Lonely. However, for all his wistfulness and outpouring of romantic notions, the original version is sluggish. It drones note after note, with seemingly no end in sight. The radio version brings in Christina Aguilera to make it a hit. It's a "du

Music Review: Justin Timberlake "Senorita" in Music JoeUser Forums

Senorita Album: Justified Year: 2003 On “Senorita,” Justin Timberlake’s fourth single from “Justified,” he tries to evoke the intimate, live qualities of 70s R&B. However, he’s trying too hard to get away from Mickey Mouse Club image. A needless introduction by a backup singer opens the song, singing “he goes by the name of Justin/all the way/from Memphis, Tennessee…/he’s got a song to

Music Review: Lauryn Hill "The Sweetest Thing" in Music JoeUser Forums

The Sweetest Thing Album: Love Jones Soundtrack Year: 1997 Before Lauryn Hill officially went solo, she recorded The Sweetest Thing for the Love Jones soundtrack. Love Jones, a romantic drama which used jazz music and spoken word as its backdrop. In love, emotions are up and down and nothing seems to make

Music Review: Kelly Clarkson "Low" in Music JoeUser Forums

Low Album: Thankful Year: 2003 RCA continues Clarkson on the self-assured route. The uptempo Low is an angsty turn. Clarkson, apparently after having her heart broken, tells him that what he did was “low.” Low is a chance for RCA to plug into the Matrix market without actually hiring the Matrix. It’s for Clarkson’s benefit, though. She is spared a monotonous rhythm and instead given a fairly consistent rock-pop song. Ro

Music Review: Aaliyah "If Your Girl Only Knew" in Music JoeUser Forums

If Your Girl Only Knew Album: One In A Million Year: 1996 On Aaliyah's second album, "One In A Million," she began to work with newcomers Timbaland and Missy Elliott. With Timbaland and Elliott, her sound became experimental and sophisticated. Timbaland mixed drum and bass with R&B while Elliott did

Music Review: Jessica Simpson "With You" in Music JoeUser Forums

With You Album: In This Skin Year: 2003 “With You” finds Jessica Simpson mocking her image. The success of Newlyweds made her America’s Top Dumb Blonde. She’s on SNL, parodying Britney Spears. She’s starting a bath and beauty line called Dessert. She’s now the It Girl. However, sales of “In This Skin” were low and showed that Jessica Simpson, reality television star trumped Jessica Simpson, fledg

Reply to The Dean Scream in Politics JoeUser Forums

Yes, that's correct. It's the only way to gain attention in the media anyhow.

Reply to The Dean Scream in Politics JoeUser Forums

After hearing a Republican party worker claim that the media lies in their stories about Bush, it's not right, ie. However, that's when it's not favoring Bush. Great article about the liberal media bias myth!

Music Review: Christina Aguilera & Redman "Dirrty" in Music JoeUser Forums

Dirrty Album: Stripped Year: 2002 Aguilera's got some club in her. Dirrty is also her attempt to rid herself of the squeaky-clean Mousekeeter image forever. And that she does so in a mighty big splendor of nakedness and sex that pervades throughout the accompanying video. The over-the-top, hypersexualized video, in turn, drew attention away from the song, causing it to flop. The song itself is actually a lot better. However, it's not go

Music Review: Aaliyah "Back And Forth" in Music JoeUser Forums

Back And Forth Album: Age Ain't Nothin' But A Number Year: 1994 In 1994, the music industry was filled with young teenaged girls, each trying to find their own niche. Aaliyah, then 14, began with producer R. Kelly. Whereas, Brandy was marketed as the wholesome girl-next-door and Monica as the tough

Music Review: Christina Aguilera "Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)" in Music JoeUser Forums

Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You) Album: Christina Aguilera Year: 2000 With Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You), Aguilera's image changed slightly. She became known as a diva. Reports were in US Weekly was claiming she took back food and having hissy fits. She also sexed up her image. In the video her then-boyfriend pulls the zipper of her top down, revealing her bra. <b

Music Review: Jessica Simpson "The Sweetest Sin" in Music JoeUser Forums

The Sweetest Sin Album: In This Skin Year: 2003 Halfway through the Newlyweds season, Jessica Simpson’s and Nick Lachey’s reality show, her father, Joe says to the camera “Jessica has waited.... uh.... to sing about or have sex until she's married. And now she's married, and uh.... I think we're celebrating the fact that... she can do it 'til she's blue in the face, and uh, she can sing about it, too." Next shot shows

Music Review: Kelly Clarkson "Before Your Love" in Music JoeUser Forums

Before Your Love Single: A Moment Like This/Before Your Love Year: 2002 In a mediocre romantic comedy, the man and woman reunite in a park, after a series of misunderstandings, which could’ve been easily solved if they had bothered to communicate properly. They then profess their undying love to each other. In the background, the music swells as the lovers hug and kiss, telling each other how wrong they have been. Cue end credits and the sappy sing

Music Review: Aaliyah "The Thing I Like" in Music JoeUser Forums

The Thing I Like Album: Low Down Dirty Shame Soundtrack Year: 1994 The Thing I Like starts out innocently. Aaliyah is singing about a guy who likes her and treats her well. It's sweet and pleasant, which it should be, for a song about a first relationship. Then R. Kelly pops in near the end,

Music Review: Britney Spears & Madonna "Me Against The Music" in Music JoeUser Forums

Me Against The Music Album: In The Zone Year: 2003 It must’ve been all those Red Bulls. Otherwise, any entertainer worth their salt would not release this song as their debut single while their career is in decline. But then again, Britney Spears never put enough worth into her salt for it to matter. Madonna’s an another issue. Her participation on the single is a calculated, but moronic public relations move. She needs to p

Music Review: Kelly Clarkson "A Moment Like This" in Music JoeUser Forums

A Moment Like This Year: 2002 Single: A Moment Like This/Before Your Love Throughout Kelly Clarkson’s run on American Idol, she impressed the audience and celebrity judges with her ability to sing pop classics well. In the final show, Clarkson was crowned the first American Idol and then sang an enco

Music Review: Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya & Pink "Lady Marmalade" in Music JoeUser Forums

Lady Marmalade Album: Moulin Rouge Soundtrack Year: 2001 Moulin Rouge, the 2001 musical about a courtesan Satine (Nicole Kidman) and the author she falls for (Ewan McGregor), had the obligatory song to sell with the movie. In this case, i

Music Review: Kelly Clarkson "Miss Independent" in Music JoeUser Forums

Miss Independent Album: Thankful Year: 2003 On the cover of her first album, Clarkson is photoshopped so much; she looks like a wax figure of herself. This is unfortunate. Clarkson’s first single cover was simplistic, but at least she looked human. Her run on American Idol mainly involved

Music Review: JC Chasez "Blowin' Me Up (With Her Love)" in Music JoeUser Forums

Blowin’ Me Up (With Her Love) Album: Drumline Soundtrack Year: 2003 Although both Justin and JC dominated vocals in N Sync songs, JC was the one with the most versatility. Unlike Justin, who seems to be caught in a single genre, JC is in a position to offer more than only Timbaland and Neptune songs. On his debut sin

Music Review: Christina Aguilera "The Voice Within" in Music JoeUser Forums

The Voice Within Album: Stripped Year: 2003 “Stripped” is a rare, cohesive pop album. The songs, in their order, match the energy of the last (i.e. the superb ballad Walk Away is then followed by rock influenced Fighter.) The Voice Within begins the closing of the album (after the Stripped, Part 2 interlude). The Voice Within is filler, amid a crop of choice bal

Music Review: Kelly Clarkson "The Trouble With Love Is" in Music JoeUser Forums

The Trouble With Love Is Album: Love Actually Soundtrack/Thankful Year: 2003 With the failure of Low, RCA decided to release yet another Kelly Clarkson ballad, The Trouble With Love Is. It’s much better than her previous ballads. It’s R&B lite instead of pure pop, allowing it not to be mire

Music Review: Christina Aguilera "I Turn To You" in Music JoeUser Forums

I Turn To You Album: Christina Aguilera Year: 2000 Diane Warren ballads are tough to pull off. It is a feat that many singers/entertainers cannot accomplish, especially in their first outing. On Christina Aguilera's first album, she had two Diane Warren songs. Unfortuna

Music Review: Christina Aguilera "What A Girl Wants" in Music JoeUser Forums

What A Girl Wants Album: Christina Aguilera Year: 1999 By 2000, Christina Aguilera had established herself as the rival to Britney Spears. However, subtle changes in her image began to occur. The clothes began to get a little bit skimpier, the tongue a bit sharper. Her reported divaness also began to get mentions in gossip columns. <br /

Music Review: Christina Aguilera "Genie In A Bottle" in Music JoeUser Forums

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The Bland Is Out There/Traveling to the Heart FAQ in Welcome JoeUser Forums

When I first began my blog in the early 2000s, I was a broke college student trying to keep my writing skills sharp between classes and maybe have an article to include in my resume. My mom would say to me every so often, "I'm suprised you never went into anything have to do with music." With The Bland Is Out There (aka Trave