(One of this week's "Featured Artists")
Canadian R&B/Soul singer MELANIE FIONA is someone we have to keep our eyes open for. She became one of this week's "featured artists" because of her brilliant debut album...but before we get to that, I feel it is necessary to give you a short biography as to who this artist is and where she comes from. FIONA was born to Guyanese parents (who serve as a major inspiration to her) and was raised in inner-city Toronto. At a very young age, she started developing an ear for music. She quickly became influenced by major artists like Whitney Houston and others...come the year 2002, FIONA started becoming active in the music industry. Her first ever recorded release ("Somebody Come Get Me" under the name SYREN HALL) appeared on the compilation album Reggae Gold 2008 and it instantaneously became loved by many.
All this led to her being discovered by Steve Rifkind and her becoming one of Kanye West's protégés. FIONA has written for artists like Rihanna ("Dem Haters"/"A Girl Like Me"). Now, she is releasing her beautifully crafted album "The Bridge". One can't necessarily classify this album as just "R&B" because there's just so much that forms it. FIONA has a knack for incorporating Motown elements into her music, evident on the lead single track ("Give It To Me Right"), which features a sample of the 1968 Zombies' hit "Time of the Season". On the album, you will also hear reggae, hip-hop, R&B, and Spanish influences that bring to life the album as a whole.
FIONA worked with producers like Andrea Martin (Monica, Leona Lewis, Toni Braxton, etc.), Vada Nobles (Lauryn Hill, Hilary Duff, Rihanna, etc.), Future Cut (Nicole Scherzinger, Estelle, Kelis, etc.), and Stereotypes (Danity Kane, Nina Sky, Keyshia Cole, etc.) to create one of the better albums of this year. "The Bridge" has already been released in Canada and Europe and the response is great. The highlights for me come towards the very end of this album on tracks like "It Kills Me", the intense second single that has left a mark on my soul because of the emotional way FIONA performs it...and also on the smooth, guitar-driven track "Teach Him", which closes out the album in a way that leaves you highly anticipating the next chapter FIONA can come up with.
Having opened for Kanye West's European leg of the "Glow in the Dark" tour, FIONA has had a lot on her plate. But she doesn't want to slip out of the limelight to be forgotten...she is already planning (and has already started working) on her sophomore album due sometime next year. I guess we won't have to be waiting so long for that second "chapter" after all...I like that! This album definitely deserves to be checked out.
Songs that I Truly Enjoyed from the Album:
• Give It To Me Right
• Bang Bang
• Monday Morning
• Please Don't Go (Cry Baby)
• Ay Yo
• Walk On By
• You Stop My Heart
• Sad Songs
At the time of posting this review, there were no full-length music clips available.
MELANIE FIONA
"It Kills Me"
From the 2009 album "The Bridge"
Directed by Armen Djerrahian
(3.48)
COPYRIGHT PROTECTED.
Written by Felix-Lee "Campbells" Andrades, III
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