Let's all take a moment to celebrate the 80's. Wear your sweatpants inside out, put on your best shoulder-padded jacket, and pump up the volume of your hair. Sadly, we've lost Laura Branigan. She passed in her sleep peacefully. The four-time Grammy Award nominated songstress brought us such iconic hits as 'Gloria', 'Self Control', and 'How Am I Supposed To Live Without You'. I expect to see at least one person out there with big shoulder pads in homage. Listen for a bit of Laura in my next set...
If you thought Christina or Lil' Kim played up the ghetto fabulous image, have I got news for you! Teena Marie has the market cornered on GFab, (my new word for ghetto fabulosity). Apparently someone told her she was SO absolutely GFab that she's allowed to (ab)use Ebonics heavily on her new album 'La Doña'.
There is absolutely no denying that Teena Marie still has everything we've all come to know and love about her voice. Flawless is barely an apropos description of her sound. For more than 25 years she's been performing and is still able to maintain that powerful soprano wail.
Powerful indeed. After a painful breakup between Motown and Miss Marie in 1982, the industry now observes 'The Teena Marie Law' which states that an artist cannot be kept under contract to a label without the label producing an album of their work.
That was then, this is now. Teena Marie is right back with us on Cash Money Records. Bringing together the voices of such luminaries as Gerald Levert, M.C. Lyte, Common, and the late Rick James, in true GFab style (I refuse to let that word go...) she definitely reigns as 'La Doña'.
Blues, Jazz, Rap, R&B, smooth lows and energetic highs, this album has it all. Kicking off with 'I'm Still In Love', which makes for a fantastic first single, you're off into the world of Teena Marie. It's a place full of sweet vocals and hooks that get stuck in your head.
While this Seventy-Seven minute album (this girl knows how to fill a CD) is brimming with great music, a few tracks stand out above the rest. 'Baby I'm Your Fiend' is a jazzy ballad that tells the truft (I'm GFab too) on relationship thangs. 'Recycle Hate To Love' carries a message that should be obvious to most, but as she describes, few actually get it.
'I Got You' brings the late Rick James into the mix. A bouncin' groove plays out Teena and Rick's vocal history perfectly. Their chemistry on the mic shines brightly. And in a sweetly naughty blues track 'Hit Me Where I Live' stands out as my favorite. 'On the Venus rocks, Just me, the master, And my box' Brilliant. You GO girl!
GFab wit'chall in 4/4,
Peter Mavrik
petermavrik@hotmail.com