'Why Wasn't This a Huge Hit?' (Vol. 1)

mark Fri, Apr 27, 2007 at 12:52 AM EST

Lina is till my favorite new artist. I love both albums. Great stage show she can really sing! I saw her live here in California on a show with Stevie Wonder it was amazing! The radio stations here are playing some new songs she sings. I can't wait for the next album. It's alright was the cut at UCLA !

Laurence Thu, Mar 1, 2007 at 12:39 PM EST

Nelly just plain rocks!

BTW, I just found a neat Nelly site with all her story detailed. Lots of interesting and unrevealed things in there.

www.nellyfurtado.official.ws

Sabrina Wed, Dec 20, 2006 at 06:37 PM EST

Can someone explain to me how the name Jehovah fits into the song? I can't make out what she is saying in that line of the song. Does anyone here know and is she affiliated with Jehovas Witnesses?

Fatima Tue, Nov 14, 2006 at 04:42 PM EST

please, leela jame's lead single "music" was so pretentious and ignorant that I had a hard time liking her from then on. naming your debut "a change is gonna come"? you ain't no musical messiah.

this very magazine gave her a b-. lina is WAY better.

Phil Tue, Nov 14, 2006 at 04:10 PM EST

Scott, hate to break it to ya, but Nelly Furtado's "Maneater" has stopped being pushed by Geffen here in the U.S. in favor of her new single, "Say It Right". "Maneater" was even better than "Promiscuous" in my opinion, but apparently only peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at #16 a few weeks ago, mostly due to digital sales, since most radio stations never gave the song a fair shot at airplay. "Say It Right" isn't exactly my fave song off the "Loose" album, but maybe it'll grow on me, although the video is kinda boring.

Look for the new track Timbaland Feat. Justin Timberlake & Nelly Furtado "Give It To Me" sometime after the new year!

And y'all are STILL talking bout Lina?? SHEESH. Should have mentioned this yesterday, for everyone here SWEARING by Lina's albums? You all should also have the beautiful Leela James "A Change Is Gonna Come" disc in your collections as well! She also has a track called "It's Alright", but I love "Good Time"!!!

Geoffrey Tue, Nov 14, 2006 at 03:16 PM EST

I got Lina's first album when her song "I'm Not The Enemy" played during the end credits of that lousy Ashley Judd/Morgan Freeman movie, High Crimes. My favorite track off the album was Step Up, and I always wished she had gotten more exposure. Whenever I play her songs at parties or before shows, people always ask me who it is.

Scott Tue, Nov 14, 2006 at 11:47 AM EST

As long as we're adding songs to the list of "why wasn't this a hit?", I would like to include Nelly Furtado's "Maneater". It is a scorcher of a song and is my favorite songs released this year. Maneater was was in the top 5 on itunes (which means people were buying it) and was a huge hit in the rest of the world, but, American radio seems have pretty much ignored it. I think corporate radio is to blame for most of the problem and not just with this song.

Mike in Moncton Tue, Nov 14, 2006 at 11:21 AM EST

If American radio was good, Paul Stanley's solo album would be huge right now and "Lift Me" would be on top of the rock tracks chart.

But...rock is dead anyway, and radio killed it.

Shelby Tue, Nov 14, 2006 at 08:11 AM EST

Because American radio is utter crap and has been for the past 4-5 years at least. How they can play Gwen, Jessica, and Fergie's (among others) new songs which are horrific, and none of Madonna's latest songs is proof onto itself!!!

mexipino Tue, Nov 14, 2006 at 12:24 AM EST

A!!! All the way! Even my mother likes this track and singer. Lina brought the "jazz" thing back way before Xtina. (Blu Cantrell did too)

They play her ever blue moon on VH1 Soul but its like searching for real singers at an American Idol Audtion.

Ed Tue, Nov 14, 2006 at 12:08 AM EST

Michael, when is Popwatcher going to comment on the Sex and the City movie that is almost in the works?!

I'm f*ucking having a Samantha orgasm just knowing that they might bring them back! I even have to cosmos blanceing on my heels as my legs stick straight up.

Roman Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 10:36 PM EST

Nice song; I've never heard it before. As to why it wasn't a hit, I'll go with A. American Radio Sucks Somethin' Hella Awful. A candidate for the next column: pre-Breakaway Kelly Clarkson's "Low". Terrific song, tepid reception.

Joe Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 08:56 PM EST

Yet another fan of Lina's who was surprised to stumble across this mention. I am so glad others like the song. I bought that CD the week it came out (it was 2001? Damn.) and blew it up in my car radio. I loved it. And I also remember that article someone mentioned in which Lina somewhat attacked Blu Cantrell. Seems that Lina's CD was finished first and was shelved for a minute and then released AFTER Blu's Hit 'Em Up Style was released as a hit single. And so everyone was comparing her to Blu when in reality Blu didn't even have a whole CD complete yet. Lina deserved better. The CD was great and her subsequent Cd, on Michael Jordan's Hidden Beach (home of Jilly from Philly for those of you keeping record) was just as hot. Thanks for the new feature, Slezak. Next, I suggest anything by Ledisi.

aramis Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 08:21 PM EST

Slezak! Why is that (oh!) you always seem to be (my!) thinking exactly what I've been thinking (god!) for a long time!

I thought I was the only Lina fan in the world, it seems.

I'd go with answer (A). American Radio sucks something BLOODY awful.

Keep spreading the good word, Slezak.

jamal Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 08:00 PM EST

D! the song sux!

BilliamE Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 07:57 PM EST

I've never heard her music before, but I'm liking what I hear. I'll have to do a little personal investigating as to whether I should buy her music.

Might I suggest that everyone check out Corinne Bailey Rae because her music is soulful, jazzy and bluesy, kind-of what I imagine Lina's music to be like...

Fatima Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 05:16 PM EST

Michael get out of my head!!!!!!!!

i really can't handle the uninformed Lina hate in the comment section. "minne mouse singing?" listen to her freaking albums. I've been wearing out my "Stanger On Earth" and "Inner Beauty Movement" albums over the years and I'd have to say Lina is one of the most slept on artists out there right now. And I really started to hate Christina A when she was acting like she was the first to combine modern R&B with 20's and 40's sounds. Lina was using the wild horn even before Rich Harrison popularized it.

I recommend people download "I'm Not The Enemy", "My Fix", as well as "Peace And Love". Although there ain't a damn thing wrong with "it's alright"

bitchyrichy Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 04:23 PM EST

Its Alright is a good song, but Lina had better ones on the album, including Watch Your Mouth. That song puts Christina Aguilera's Ain't No Other Man to shame. Serious shame.

And, Come to Mama off her second album was even better.

Bernard Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 04:20 PM EST

A. American radio IS horrible and -- especially "urban radio" -- wouldn't have room for anything like this hot song.

My nomination for the next "Why Wasn't This Song a Hit?": 2006's "Love Show" by Skye Edwards

Jillness Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 04:03 PM EST

A!
American Radio is HORRIBLE. It was bad enough before the FCC allowed corporations to own even MORE media outlets, but now it is completely hopeless.

Now, radio stations simply push the musicians that benefit their parent company. We need it to go back to where DJs and listeners actually had an impact on what was played, when they discovered lesser known acts and introduced them to a larger audience.

Phil Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 03:26 PM EST

This came out during the ever burgeoning Neo-Soul movement, but this song and its singer were eclipsed by the more popular soundings of Jill Scott (whoohooo for Philly!!!) and err, Blu Cantrell! Yes, Michael seemed to leave out the fact that this lil' ditty found a difficult time on both the radio (American or otherwise) and MTV/BET because at the time Blu was breaking big with her smash "Hit Em Up Style". There were numerous comparions at the time, and I believe that somewhere there was even some hateful interview, where Lina verbally attacks a reporter for comparing her to Blu. I mean, Blu hasn't gone on to have many further successes other than "Breathe" with Sean Paul, but at the time, she was ruling the charts & kept Lina licking her boots!

Terrell Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 03:09 PM EST

I agree with you 100% This came on BET's 106 and Park (like TRL on MTV) one time, when they first debuted it. If i hadn't heard this then, I would have never heard the song! It is actually my favorite song.....period. It prompted me to get her CD "Stranger on Earth" which was also amazing. American radio does indeed suck something awful!

dma69 Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 02:52 PM EST

A. American radio sucks somethin' awful.

But then again, radio has been sucking for a long time now. Why else would the Scissor Sisters put out a great record but no airplay, yet talentless Jessica Simpson gets more airplay than she deserves?

kim Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 02:50 PM EST

Could be the redundant chorus... could be the "jaunty" (i.e., bad) rhymes...or it could be, as the title suggests, that it's JUST alright.

Miles Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 02:03 PM EST

The horn's not the problem. it's the only good thing in the song... if you're gonna have horn, you gotta have a sultry voice to go with it, this was strictly minnie mouse singing.

Denise Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 02:00 PM EST

That "fresh-baked baby" comment REALLY creeped me out until I thought "bun in the oven". Gives a very disturbing mental image unless you connect those very important dots,Slezak!

jaclynn Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 01:49 PM EST

ah! teen girl squad!
yes, the radio does suck, but this song isn't all that great either. =(

mikey k Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 01:44 PM EST

I'd have to go with the title and just say that "It's alright." Nothing special.

jai Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 01:41 PM EST

It sounds like a Macy Gray track so maybe it came out in her shadow. It sounds like it was timed wrong. I could see this song being huge in '99.

Ed Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 01:40 PM EST

Slezak, really, 2001?

Why isn't Xtina's new song "Hurt" a big hit?! She needs to bring back the power/monster balled.

brandonk Mon, Nov 13, 2006 at 01:29 PM EST

"Wiggity wack?"
"No, just regular type."