The Class of 1999 is Back!! Justin Timberlake & Destiny’s Child’s New Singles : Single Review

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Destinys Child Nuclear, Destinys Child Nuclear Review, Justin Timberlake Suit and Tie, Nuclear Review, Nuclear Single Review, Suit and Tie Review, Suit and Tie Single Review

Britney is currently murdering the radio with Will.I.Am, while Christina Aguilera’s “Lotus” album is growing on me more everyday. Now with recent single releases from Destiny’s Child and Justin Timberlake it feels like the 1999 MTV “TRL” Era artists are all coming back. How do they fair? Let’s get into it.

Destiny’s Child “Nuclear”.

We know now that Kelly and Michelle will be joining Beyonce during her Superbowl Halftime Performance February 4th. And earlier last week the internet was abuzz about a reunion Destiny’s Child single dropping. The song, “Nuclear”, came out this past Friday and I’m unimpressed. First of all, it feels and sounds just like a “Destiny Fulfilled” leftover from 2004. Definitely not a NEW song as the reports led us to believe(Hell, the artwork for the single are from the “Destiny Fulfilled” Promo Shots for peets sake!). It’s a very breezy, chill R&B song with a really nice track and nice vocal layering. However it’s just… blah! My thought (and this is based on a few things I heard online) is that Matthew Knowles put this unreleased song and the “Love Songs” compilation album out to fulfill a contract. It just surprises me that Beyonce would take to social media to promote it like it was a big deal when it’s clearly just filler material. The song is okay, but it’s nothing to get worked up over, and like Makael and Skorpion said on their recent upload “DO NOT” sing this at the Superbowl. “DO NOT!”

Grade: C

Justin Timberlake “Suit and Tie” (Featuring Jay-Z).

You guys know how I feel about Timberlake. Last week there was a hint that new music would be coming from the former N Sync’er and I was totally not excited. It’s great that he’s coming out with new music FINALLY after almost 7 years, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that he turned his back on his music fans and is only now coming back after all his other outings failed. Like the boyfriend (Scrappy) who leaves a girl (Erika) who really loves him for another girl (Diamond), and when that girl dumps him he goes back to the first girl. I feel like Erika and I don’t want to take him back, but I have to say “Suit and Tie” is really good. Above all, the production on the track is great. It’s very soulful old school R&B type feel, but it has some uniqueness about it. Love the sort of ‘chopped and screwed’ beginning part and how it bleeds into the actual song, and I just love the laid back approach to the song. I don’t really like what Timberlake is doing to his voice, he always uses that forced falsetto but this time it gives me Robin Thicke-Tee’s more than anything and it’s not a great look. But the song is catchy, fun and just overall really decent.

Grade: B +

You can bet that Beyonce’s upcoming single will be FIRE to compensate for the lackluster-ness of “Nuclear”, and I recently heard her album will be out in April. Timberlake is giving the expectation of a Spring release for his upcoming Third album as well. Britney Spears is also supposed to be coming out with new music of her own this year, so the Gang is all back. Ofcourse all of these artists are a bit “vintage” to the younger generation… but if the music is on point that shouldn’t be a problem for them.

>Top 25 All-Time Favourite Artists (14-11)

>Without purposely ranking them like this, this next seems to be a celebration of of artists who were a major part of a incredible groups, but also were able to emerge and have incredible solo careers as well.

11. No Doubt & Gwen Stefani

In the late 90’s No Doubt had their big breakthrough in the now classic album “Tragic Kingdom”. The Orange County based ska/pop/rock group exploded on MTV and have since stayed a constant staple on U.S. Pop radio. Their big hits like “Underneath it All” “Just a Girl” “Spiderwebs” and their timeless classic “Don’t Speak” can be heard daily on Pop, Alternative and Rock stations. The bands work was incredible, but it wasn’t just the music that made America fall in love with the group. Their front woman Gwen Stefani can take a lot of the credit for making the group so marketable, a gorgeous, smart, fun and stylish blonde. And much respect for Stefani who decided to make a fun Pop Dance album in 2004 while the group was on hiatus which became a huge success, leading to a second album and two national solo tours. She has now said she is done with the solo thing and the group is back in the studio hoping to deliver some incredible new music (crossing our fingers) together in 2010.

myTop 3 Favourite Gwen Stefani/No Doubt albums: 1. Rock Steady (2001), 2. Tragic Kingdom (1995), 3. Love Angel Music Baby (2004)

12. Janet Jackson/ Michael Jackson & Jackson 5 (tie)

May he rest in peace, all of the various and never ending specials about Michael Jackson can’t really describe the impact he had on the 80’s. And I imagine the same can be said about the impact of the Jackson 5 in the 70’s. I just remember seeing his concerts on TV and all the people who had to be wheeled out on stretchers because they were so overwhelmed with the guy. And I also remember how whenever Michael Jackson had a new video coming out… All the family would gather around and watch it like it was the Oscars or something. I remember all the 80’s Douchebags with one glove or the “Beat It” jacket. And than I remember how quickly everybody turned on poor MJ when a scandal hit. However, before the possible pedophilia was exposed he already created a great catalogue of music for himself. And let’s not forget the scandal can’t erase the fact that he’s still regarded as The best Music Video artist ever. And his death this past summer is somewhat bittersweet. We lost a legend, but now people appreciate his legacy a lot more and his groundbreaking music.

By the time that the scandal hit, it was already time for Miss Jackson to take over as the most popular Jackson. Janet, while sort of a puppet, is a performance artist point blank. And you can criticize her minimal vocal skills, or alleged Co-writing skills, or her plastic personality, or that she has a pattern of blatantly lying to the media. One thing you can’t talk bad about is her on stage. Compared to concerts by her brother, I won’t hesitate in saying she’s a way better performer than he is. And probably one of the best performers of the past 30 years. It’s no secret that she often lipsyncs, but she Attacks the stage like nobody’s business. And (up until the last two albums) she was a very consistent album artist… you were almost guaranteed an excellent album if her name was attached.

myTop 3 Favourite Janet Jackson albums: 1. The Velvet Rope (1997), 2. Rhythm Nation (1989), 3. Control (1986)

myTop 3 Favourite Michael Jackson albums: 1. Off the Wall (1979), 2. Thriller (1982), 3. HIStory (1995)

13. Beyoncé & Destiny’s Child

I’m not going to go on and on about Beyoncé (because I could… easily), what I will say is I didn’t think an artist like her was possible anymore. So accustomed to having a female artist who could either Dance and entertain but couldn’t sing and wouldn’t sing live. Or the powerhouse singers whose performances consisted mainly of dramatic gowns and alot of standing. In comes Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child. It wasn’t until maybe 2001 where the true artist in Knowles truly started to emerge and on her debut solo album she easily shot to the top of the list in the industry. And incredibly gifted vocalist, who also is an incredible performer who sings Live (in stiletto heels no less) and engages the crowd. And she continually, in all areas, improves album after album. A True Legend in the making. Okay that’s all I’m going to say =)

myTop 3 Beyoncé/Destiny’s Child albums: 1. B’Day (2006), 2. The Writings on the Wall (1999), 3. Destiny Fulfilled (2004)

14. Raphael Saaqiq & Tony! Toni! Toné!

Saadiq is one of the most underrated Geniuses out there today. Beginning with the New-Jack swingers Tony! Toni! Toné! of the early 90’s. They were never the majorly successful mainstream group, or flavor of the moment either. They did provide a consistent string of solid and truly soulful hit singles, creating new sounds all with clear influences from the 50’s 60’s and 70’s and using live instrumentation. At the top of this decade Saadiq formed the short lived Lucy Pearl with En Vogue’s Dawn Robinson and Tribe Called Quest’s Ali Shaheed Muhammed. Though they only had one album, it was as flawless earthy and soulful as previous Tony! Toni! Toné! albums. His first solo album “Instant Vintage” is one of my all time favorites and his productions for other artists (Badu, Joss Stone, Dangelo, Whitney, Total) include a lot of my all time favorite songs.

myTop 3 Favourite Raphael Saadiq/Tony! Toni! Toné! albums: 1. Instant Vintage (2002), 2. Lucy Pearl (2000), 3. Sons of Soul (1993)