R & B singer Aaliyah passed away eight years ago today in a plane crash at the age of 22, and I don’t think it’s much of a stretch to say that if she were still around today, the world of pop music would be a measurably different place. On her best songs—the baby-coo-sampling “Are U That Somebody,” the slinky “We Need A Resolution”—Aaliyah had a deceptively subtle presence, with her voice often barely-there, yet working with and against the music surrounding it to create often-stunning results. It’s hard not to wonder what might have been if she were still around today, especially when you give another listen to some of the tracks collected after the jump, which still sound like a barely there breath of fresh air.
Aaliyah - Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number
Aaliyah & Timbaland - We Need A Resolution
Aaliyah Memorial Fund [Official site]
I’ve always thought Ciara wouldn’t have really had a niche to fill if Aaliyah was still around. Both had a soft, pretty voice (though Ciara can be a little more strident with hers) and both really came onto the scene with powerful beats from hip-hop heavyweights (Timbo for Aaliyah, Lil Jon for Ciara).
Are U That Somebody, If Your Girl Only Knew, Come Back in One Piece, and Miss U are my jams. Also love her on Missy’s “stickin chickens.”
Also, all that effort Timbaland put in making Justin Timberlake a solo star might have been put elsewhere if Aaliyah’s plane had made it back safely.
@Job: Also, these were the best beats Timbaland ever made. She was clearly his muse.
I wonder, too, about what her impact might have been in Hollywood. She was really interested in making more movies, and I’d watch her in a heartbeat. She was such an enigma….
RIP
I’m glad you didn’t post the Rock The Boat video. Seeing that always makes me sad.
Also, Queen of the Damned: totally underrated.