“Like It Was Yesterday…”
AUDIO By J. Tinsley on August 25, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Personally, I hate constructing posts like these. But on the same accord, it brings me one of the greatest joys. Since the vast majority of us will never become close acquaintances to our favorite artists, let alone meet them, their music acts as our lone bond of friendship. I remember exactly what I was doing on August 25, 2001. A normal day it was, indeed. I had cut grass about two hours earlier and the rest of my day was dedicated to doing absolutely nothing. This was around the time AOL was the main source of internet entertainment and instant messenger seemed light years ahead of its time. Around six that evening, I received an IM from a friend asking if the ‘Aaliyah dying in a plane crash’ rumor was true.
I turned to BET. Nothing was there. I turned to MTV. Nothing was there either. Almost near the completion of typing my message, “hell naw, that’s some bullsh…,” the confirmation flashed across the screen. It was surreal, actually. Aaliyah was never my favorite artist, but I’d be a fool to say she wasn’t leagues beyond amazing. Like most other teenage boys at the time (and even to this day), I had the biggest crush on her. She was beautiful and seductive, but not whorish. Talented, but not cocky. Quiet, but full of potential. And in one fateful plane ride, it was over. It didn’t seem fair then, and it doesn’t seem fair eight years later. More than likely it never will, but that is the most disgustingly beautiful thing about life, you don’t know. You just don’t know.
As with most other celebrity passings, her death has increased the interest and value in her life tenfold. With production of a biopic on her life supposedly in motion, only time will tell if her silver screen representation will do justice what her physical managed to capture while here on Earth. Also, it is amazing to see the impact she had on the R&B landscape, specifically the female subgenre. Before Beyonc é and Alicia Keys became true household names, Aaliyah Dana Haughton held the top spot (with Mary J, too, of course). In death, she even helped influence the styles of artists like Ashanti, Ciara, Rihanna, Cassie and more.
In song, Tupac once asked the question, “How Long Will They Mourn Me?” and not even he knew the real answer. The solution is rather simple when you analyze it. They (the fans) will mourn you as long as your work continues to resonate with them. If Aaliyah’s creative resume’ is any proof, the answer could very well be until the end of time.
Download - Aaliyah - “One In A Million”
As if this tragedy wasn’t shell shocking enough, no one could have even remotely predicted what would happen only two weeks later.
Bonus — For today’s broadcast of his Afternoon Delight’s radio show, Jaycee put together a “One In A Million” dedication mix.
Are You That Somebody?
Erica Kane
We Need A Resolution
At Your Best (you are love)
Age Ain’t Nothin But A Number
If Your Girl Only Knew
More Than A Woman
Come Back In One Piece feat. DMX
Back And Forth
Try Again
Rock The Boat
Are You Ready?
Download — DJ Jaycee Afternoon Delight 8.25.09 (RIP Aaliyah Dana Haughton)
Posted in AUDIO, GENERAL, LOOSIES, MUSIC, VIDEO — Tags: Aaliyah, VIDEO
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15 Comments
More Than A Woman
she was obviously a trend setta.
all these RnB broads straight bitin her steez, but none can do it like she did.
R.I.P.
Was on here way to do big things……RIP Baby Girl!!
She is most def missed. Aaliyah had one of the smoothest voices…soothing too.
Damn, i remember when it was Aaliyah, Brandy & Monica - none of that extra booty shaking ‘look at me’, I dance better than I sing ish…just good vocals and young ladies acting/behaving like decent young ladies…wtf happened??
*sidenote - I just dl’ed this soul culture tribute mixtape and I’m having problems listening to it ‘cos I can’t hear no-one but Babygirl’s voice .
http://www.mediafire.com/?w2×2wvyjddm
Crazy to think she would have only been 30 this year. Who knows what kind of music she would have put together.
Anybody got any Mayer Hawthorne joints??? The ILLS?
scratch that..
The girl’s name Aaliyah \a(a)-li-yah\ is a variant of Aliyah (Hebrew), and the meaning of Aaliyah is “rising, ascending”.
The baby name Aaliyah sounds like Aaliya and Jaliyah. Other similar baby names are Daliyah, Allinah, Alizah, Alisah, Alikah, Alicah, Allidah, Alidah, Allisah, Alliah, Aliya, Aliah, Aalya, Amaliya, Dalyah, Daliya and Giliyah.
Aaliyah is an uncommon first name for women and an equally uncommon last name for both men and women (source: 1990 U.S. Census).
damn….I was barely in middle school at the time….now I’m a junior in college.
time flies by quick huh?
I had that crush on Aaliyah as well…she is still missed.
R.I.P
I miss her style. She helped make Timothy “Rockport” Mosely a superproducer…. He needs a new muse. Keri Hilson is sexy, but she ain’t cuttin’ it like Aaliyah did.
Rest in peace Aaliyah.
I remember where I was when I heard the news, I couldn’t believe it.
i remember where i was when i heard the news too.
one in a million is still a great album and it stayed in the deck (had the cd and dubbed it on tape) while i whipped around back in the mid 90s.
I remember that day. Heard about it from the girl I was buying my weed from @ The GreenHouse in Amsterdam…
Shorty was dope for sure.
Come to think of it I was copping some John Blaze when Kurt blew his brains out as well….Ahhh memories..lol