Thank You - Jamelia > Reviews > J for Jazzy Jamelia

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Average
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money

Advantages:	Funky, Often Inspired, Brilliant Vocals
Disadvantages:	Some Tunes Let Jamelia's Talent Down

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

--------------Who Is Jamelia? --------------

Well she is the R n B singing sensation from my home town Brum. Which adds to her appeal for me! In the late 90’s she had a big hit with Money, and a critically acclaimed debut album Drama. She went away for a while to have a little baby and get married. Very sadly, the two got divorced because of some domestic violence. So Jamelia left, got back to recording and released the successful and extremely catchy ‘Superstar’ now her music career has been going from strength to strength, having many more hits, and singing ‘Stop’ on the soundtrack to Bridget Jones Diary: The Edge Of Reason one of the biggest hits, in 2004.

-------------- What Album Is This? --------------

This is Thank You, her second album. Which boasts the singles, Superstar, Thank You, DJ. See It In A Boy’s Eyes, Taxi, Dirty Dirty, Club Hopping, Cutie, Bounce, Bout, Off Da Endz, B.I.T.C.H, Life, and Antidote.

-------------- Superstar! --------------

This was her first single, in her new re-invention. It is supremely catchy and has a fantastic beat. It is more poppy than her usual stuff, but even in this there is a distinct R n B sound mixed in as well. Her vocals are stomping. It contains some really deep bass beats and a drippy guitar sound.

The video started off with Jamelia strutting her stuff down, a street with two hip backing dancers. Then she started dancing in a club, grabbing everyone’s attention. It is your usual R n B super sexy video, with many hot bodies, some simmering dance moves.

Highest Chart Position: Number 8. This doesn’t sound very good, but when you consider the amount of weeks, it was in the charts, and the way it climbed up from 25, it is a success in anybodies eyes.

Verdict: A really good start to the collection. Preparing everybody for an absolute scorcher of an album. A really catchy song that put Jamelia on the map 8/10.

If the whole album is like this, then it could really rock pretty hard.

-------------- Thank You! --------------

This is the second single, which Jamelia released. It originally entered the charts in 22nd of February. It is a slow ballad, with Jamelia sweetly singing, ‘For every last bruise you gave me, for every night I sat in tears’ one can only imagine that this song is about her experience with domestic violence. It is a really great pop song. Jamelia sings with heart and soul. The backing music is a flurry of orchestral sweetness, with flutes, pianos and synthesisers. When you listen to it, you really do get a sense of Jamelia’s pain, and then freedom.

The video had Jamelia dancing in front of many different CGI environments, one of them being a volcano. She just danced in the middle of the screen, as the different locations, added different atmospheres, which I think symbolised the darkness and oppression, and then the light and freedom.

Highest Cart Position: 4 this debuted in the U.K. charts on the 22nd of February, at number 21. But quickly, the next week even, shot up to number 4. Just behind Mysterious Girl, Obvious and Who’s David? Again another chart success for Jamelia.

Verdict: Maybe Thank You isn’t as instantly recognisable as Superstar, but the vocals are better, the production values are better, and the lyrics mean more. So I will award this tune with a 9/10.

It shaping up to be one hell of an album!

-------------- D.J.! --------------

This is a completely different song from the first two. It has a lot more of an eastern influence. It Is very dancie and easy to sing to. I was singing it for a long time after hearing it. My only gripe is that it is the kind of song you can’t chill out to. You have to be in a club, or have it really loud. The lyrics are often inspired, explaining one of Jamelia’s usual nights out. There is a strong bass line, some hard hitting synthesizer work. The vocals are brilliant, making a song, which could be a bit boring and flat, a really interesting and enjoyable one to listen to. ‘DJ give me a beat you can rock too, I want a joint you can drop to, the ceiling is breaking in, the speaker is rumbling.’ Really is an above average R n B dance affair. Making nicking a few things from Beyonce though.

The video, was simple a collection of highlights from Jamelia’s career in 2004. From a concert, behind the scenes, her brilliant night at the MOBO’s where she won three awards. It’s an average video highlighting a very unaverage year.

Highest Chart Position: This is Jamelia’s first single which, debuted, higher than 20, it first came to the charts at number 6. It wasn’t her biggest hit, but it did do very well. Also on this single had the absolutely brilliant ‘Stop!’ which did feature on Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason. It spent a good number of weeks in the charts as well.

Verdict: Not even scratching the quality of the first two single, this isn’t brilliant, but still it is exciting, very catchy and easy to dance to. Also the vocals are so brilliant that it could be anything and still sound brilliant. 6/10.

The album has taken a slight step back, but each song so far has been fairly good.

-------------- See It In A Boy’s Eyes --------------

This was the third single which Jamelia released. It was co penned by Chris Martin of Coldplay fame. It is haunting, well written, good vocally, and has high production values. But there is something that I can’t put my finger on, that nags me about this, it is seemingly perfect, but still I don’t particularly like it. Maybe the fact that is it perfect, is the thing that nagges me. I don’t now, but it is good never the less. With Jamelia’s vocals being brilliant. Not one of the best songs I have ever heard, but I have the feeling, it could be a grower.

The video took place in an Army training camp. Where Jamelia is training, it is ghostly as there is sexual tension between her and another army man, it’s all very clichéd and pop starish, but I’ve seen worth did you watch Pop Idol: The Christmas single. Although I love Susanne Manning.

Highest Chart Position: 4, Again, this started out in the early 20, this one 21, then it shot up to number 4 behind Burn, Tipsy and Lola’s theme, this was one of Jamelia’s biggest hits. It reached number 4 on 18th July 2004.

Verdict: There something I don’t like about See It In A boy’s Eyes, it’s maybe a little too non descript for me, I only like songs, with strong, recognisable. 4/10, Not one of her greatest.

The album is lagging a bit, but the quality of the first three tunes counter balance, this one that really has nothing new to offer.

-------------- Taxi! --------------

It starts off on a high note, really easy to bounce to. Having deep voiced male making cool noises in the back. Jamelia is surprisingly a really good singer for these kind of really clubby tunes. I really love this one, that hardly contains any real instruments, but a really cool, all consuming beat, which sounds like it comes from a synthzier. Jamelia’s vocals are really good, very well suited to the song. The chorus is considerable better than the verses though. It may be the easiest to dance to on the whole album. For Taxi she has put aside her urban R n B roots. It’s a lot more of a club tune.

The quality of lyrics are good, very fitting to the hot, upbeat tune. They are about, Jamelia picking up a hot date; she is calling for a taxi, to take him home. The lyrics are very sexy featuring, ‘Don’t you want to see up my dress, I make the best breakfast in bed!’

Is It A Potential Hit? Yes defiantly, and I predict that it’ll be her next single. It has the potential to be a number one, if it is publicized properly.

Verdict: A really good, dancy, tune. This has really, good, driving beats and some brilliant vocal work from Jamelia. 7/10 a really good, original dance club hit.

Back to the good stuff again! Go Jamelia

-------------- Dirty, Dirty! --------------

It starts off with a really edgy hip, beat and Jamelia scream Ah yes. It is really fast, but maybe not the most original of songs. Jamelia, really doesn’t sing in this as much as the other songs. She does however prove that she is a fairly good rapper, throwing out the venomous, fast paced, with good ferocity. It’s about Jamelia, warning a man, that she can be all cute and sweet but she doesn’t hesitate to be ‘Dirty, dirty’ It’s quite a different sound to her previous singles, it really is focused on rapping, that anything. It’s not brilliant.

The lyrics are unoriginal, but are fitting as the other songs. Dirty, Dirty is hardly as shocking, as it may well of been once. She needs to prove herself again as she did with Thank You and Superstar, she really can write some raw, but funky lyrics, if she puts her mind to it, she has already proved that.

Is It A Potential Hit? No, most probably not, as there is nothing to distinguish this from any other, female rapper, screaming angry lyrics out. If people like it, then it will could be a hit, but I just can’t see it.

Verdict: A rappy, gritty, tune, but hardly original or inspired. 4/10. Could be improved on greatly.

Again the pace of the album is stopped by another unoriginal song.

-------------- Club Hopping! --------------

Starts off again brilliant, with a real head nodding tune. Then a male rapper comes in talking about Jamelia. Then she comes in, sounding brilliant. The chorus is excellent, kind of reminiscent of Christina Milian with a bit of Brandy. It is really easy to dance to, probably the second easiest to dance to. Some really good lyrics help the proceedings as well.

The lyrics are good, with Jamelia again describing a wild night out. ‘Hand popping, do a little bit of that show stopping’ is one of the highlights, allowing for an instantly recognisable tune. Yes really enjoyable lyrics for a really enjoyable track.

Is It A Potential Hit? Yes it defiantly is, it is really easy to listen to and dance to, the words are easy to sing with and bop your head to. Jamelia’s vocals are really good, the driving beat is continuing so that it becomes recognisable and it just really is a very good, upbeat dancy tune. 8/10.

Verdict: A real return to form, with this, I really enjoyed it. Especially the unbeatable tune!

Again another brilliant track, which beats Dirty, Dirty hands down.

-------------- Cutie --------------

The title doesn’t instantly conjure up thoughts of brilliance, but when it opens, with an old fashioned fair ground tune. Then a really, modern R n B beat buts in. The vocals come, in, brilliantly counterbalancing the manic beats, as they are slow, sweet and cool. All this adds up to a kind of musical montage of different influences in the music world. R n B, Old pop, 80’s pop, manic futuristic influences, Rap, and street. All these make for a frantic look through the music world, which some may not like, but I really enjoy. It really does mix a bit of everything.

The Lyrics are hardly distinguishable through the frantic crazy beats. But they are obviously about Jamelia telling a man, why she finds him attractive. They are good, but hardly original. They do allow her to put in good vocals though.

Is It A Potential Hit? Yes most probably, but not a number one. It is cool enough, for people with street credit, but also poppy and dancy enough, to your average part animal. It also doesn’t contain parental advisory, so children could buy it also.

Verdict: Fairly good, frantic, potential hit, that contains as always brilliant vocals, but just isn’t very inspired or original 6/10, again good, but not brilliant.

Not a step back, but not up there with the better songs on Thank You. It is however quite good fun to listen to.

-------------- Bounce! --------------

‘Let me see you bounce, bounce’ is what Bounce opens with, then a long beat showcase comes on. Then Jamelia starts singing, and it is obvious that this isn’t going to be as clubby as thought. It has hints of both R n B and ballads. But mainly is pop. The vocals are slow and sensual, there are some good backing singers, and Jamelia puts in a good rap, towards the middle. The beat is fast paced, and allows it to be a lot easier to dance to.

The lyrics for Bounce are very good, being easy to sing to, and they are very sexy and allow the tune to be easy to listen to and lets Jamelia add a lot of layers to her voice. They are quite original, but far from sublime.

Is It A Potential Hit? No I don’t think so. It is a bit samey the vocals, tune and lyrics are good, but nothing about it is very much different than any other song out on the market at the moment.

Verdict: A good, but not great track, which is easy to dance to, but hardly brilliant and it won’t be released as a single ever. 5/10

Again a slight step back, making this just filler really.

-------------- Bout! --------------

This starts with a fan fare, and a female, American rapper, singing with it. Jamelia doesn’t start singing till quite far into the song, Jamelia’s vocals are very layered; she really can be very powerful when she wants to be. This single has really good production values, with massive beats, and very professional backing singers, that perfectly compliment her singing style. The beat that takes over the song is brilliant; it is a bit like a 50 cent song, with a little more pop as an influence. The female, rapper is very good, her name is Rah Digga . I like this one as it is easy to just nod your head to. The production values are massive, which really help the pace of the song and album in general.

The lyrics are good with Jamelia screaming ‘B to O to U to T’ they are about female empowerment and how they don’t need men, but there is this one that Jamelia feels she needs. At the beginning it starts off as a love song, with her describing what attracts her to him, but then lust kicks in and she becomes more furious, saying that she needs him. Then she starts to interrogate him, about past beaus and his adults. The lyrics allow for a stomping track.

Is It A Potential Hit? Yes defiantly, I can’t stress the production values. The lyrics are hot, the rapping and vocals are fantastic, and the beat makes it almost impossible, not to dance to.

Verdict: A very good, head bopping track, with stomping vocals, lyrics and the backing singers are really brilliant. 8/10

Another return to form.

-------------- Off Da Endz! --------------

This is a completely manic and frantic song, it is to fast to be anything special, it is meant to be a dancy one, which it is, but the whole song is really confused, it takes one avenue, but then forgets that and becomes something else. That could be good, but the avenues they explore, they don’t explore well you know. It’s just to juggled up, even Jamelia doesn’t sound that great! It’s to annoyingly frantic to be anything good.

The lyrics are idiotic ‘this guy is off the endz, baby boy even made me forget my friends’ what they hell is that rubbish about? This song doesn’t know what it wants to be; neither do the lyrics, switching from one subject to another. Stupid.

Is It A Potential: God I hope not, or Britain, really is coming to something!

Verdict: Absolute, utter rubbish, most defiantly the worst track on the album. Only saved about Jamelia’s vocals. 2/10 Idiot rubbish.

-------------- B.I.T.C.H! --------------

I actually really like this, it is quite clever. Turning B.I.T.C.H into Beautiful, Intelligent, Talented, Cool, Honey. It is a lot more chilled out that Off Da Endz, I quite like it, but it isn’t really anything special.

-------------- Life --------------

Now this is more like it. It is soulful, sexy, smooth, contains brilliant vocals, great, beats, good backing music, which sound like a synthesizer. It is about a man leaving Jamelia and then her flipping out. It has a good sense of attitude. Then there is some brilliant gospel, vibes. It is a good track with many different influences. Better than most of the tracks on the album, and considering it’s a bonus one, that isn’t bad

Lyrics are good on this, they are about a scorned women, who is left, and feels humiliated, has a certain great attitude to it.

8/10. Very Good song, which shouldn’t have been a bonus track.
-------------- Antidote --------------

I really like this, maybe the most on the whole album. It is cool, soulful, catchy, contains brilliant lyrics, very good vocal work and backing music. Sounds exactly like a Brandy track (and I love Brandy!) it’s the same kind of ballady, r n b style track. It’s really sweet and the harmonies are brilliant.

-------------- Overall Verdict --------------

Overall verdict: Okay so this album is a huge mixed bag, it has some massive highs, in D.J, Antidote, Superstar, Thank you and Bout and a massive low from Off Da Endz. It can at times be exception and at other just filler. I do suggest you buy it as the pros far out way the cons, but I just can’t help feeling slightly disappointed.

Thank you for reading and hopefully rating! I hope you enjoy reading as much as I liked writing it! It’s much appreciated, Take care ) Jay

At Amazon You Can Buy Thank You For £7.99
ISIN: B00066KWNI