Why Wasn't This a Huge Hit?: Res' 'They Say Vision'

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Ray Sat, Mar 1, 2008 at 03:02 AM EST

Love this song! I remember seeing the video on VH-1, and believe it or not it actually got some airplay here in Oklahoma City. I also think her CD is an amazing listen, and if you're fortunate enough to get an import copy you'll get a bonus track ("Toxic You"). I also love the rocking hidden track at the very end of the CD ("Say It Anyway").

nbovtwlah qcnbmo Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 09:18 PM EST

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kelly Fri, Nov 16, 2007 at 02:50 PM EST

seriously! love her.

Troubledmind Wed, Nov 14, 2007 at 01:46 PM EST

M'Slez-e, you've done it again! I.Love.Me.Some.Res! I had that song on every mix-cd, workout playlist and funeral dirge soundtrack that I DJ'd in my imaginary fantasy world. Like Res, I want that pill. I really, really want it. But, alas, reality sticks to me like Strawberry Bubblelicious to my Keds. They say vision, indeed. Thanks for the memory!

djm Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 05:37 PM EST

I worked in a coffee shop that had a form of muzak back then and they kept playing both the original and dance mix versions of this song. I thought for sure it was Stevie nicks and ended up downloading any Stevie song I didn't know tryin gto find this. One day I went to the Billboard website and downloaded the top 5 dance tracks and thankfully this was one of the them and I finally figured out who she was. I bought her cd and I have to say I agree with everyone here - she is amazing and I too am shocked that she isn't huge. My other favorite song on the cd is Tsunami - it's AMAZING. Thanks Slezak!

Jes Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 02:21 PM EST

Thanks for the reminder of a great song that should have made it bigger. I've always loved this song

cheriekeane Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 01:38 PM EST

To Anna and Rich (previous posters):

Like I said in my first post, I didn't hear Res on rock radio either, and I listen to rock radio here in L.A. all the time (KROQ, Indie 103.1,).

Let's face it: some unconventional artists, no matter how talented, will always fall through the cracks in the current segmented media environment.

All radio is trying to do is keep their numbers for "time spent listening" as high as possible. They do this by giving you the same product over and over in a very narrowly defined niche. Which is why I can't listen to any radio station for more than 10 minutes because I like variety.

I feel bad for people like Res (and Kenna) who don't fit the mold, but I think the best way to support them is to go to see them live or buy their CDs.

dsven Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 01:35 PM EST

Never heard it before...but what a great song. She's got the total package with talent and looks. I guess the elusive factor missing was timing. This could easily be a hit today, though other than the fact she is brown-skinned there really is nothing R&B/Urban about it.

Anna Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 10:57 AM EST

While I agree with you all about how narrow R&B radio is, why isn't anyone complaining about the fact that she got no airplay on pop or rock radio either? I'd heard of her but had never heard any of her music since I didn't have cable when her cd came out. I listen to all forms of radio and never heard anything of hers.

GOB Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 10:27 AM EST

Hey EP, a meeting of the minds with Annie and Mike sounds like good times to me. Too bad I live in Fargo.

denny Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 10:23 AM EST

I have been obsessed with this song since it came out, and always longed to hear it on the radio. So glad you posted this, Slezak! It's nice to know others love this song, even if most of America never really got the chance to hear it.

Bernard Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 10:07 AM EST

Res was "unconventional" back in 2001, but her label and VH1 pushed that song and video to the limit! Not only that, but various powers that were even secured her a short-lived Pepsi commercial gig. "They Say Vision" was always a phenonenal song, but I'd pick "Ice King" over "Golden Boy" any day.

Shawn Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 09:52 AM EST

I loved VH1 Soul. Used to watch it all the time. My cable company now doesn't offer it anymore, though. The thing I loved about that station is the less mainstream videos they played, like Res. Those videos made me go out and by her album and every now and then I'll hear one of her songs playing somewhere. I've been waiting for her to release some new stuff because her first album was great.

Winn Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 09:42 AM EST

Interestingly for all the truth spoken here about the narrow and confining restrictions of R & B radio, I first discovered Res through the Golden Boys video on VH1 Soul, their urban and r & b channel. Perhaps it didn't go over too well there, although I seem to remember it receiving quite a bit of airplay. Anyway, I'm glad to know she's still recording and challenging barriers for female artists of color; she quickly impressed me as just as independent and unconventional as she is talented.

anon Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 09:18 AM EST

They Say Vision
Golden Boys
700 Mile Situation
Tsunami
Ice King

Where is my Res Cd?

anon Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 09:18 AM EST

They Say Vision
Golden Boys
700 Mile Situation
Tsunami
Ice King

Where is my Res Cd?

Kizzy Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 08:06 AM EST

I love her cd. To this day, I still play it almost as regularly as new stuff. I have been looking out for some new music from her. Thanks for the heads up!!

yes! Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 04:15 AM EST

Thank you thank you thank you! For posting about Res -- I too had almost forgot about her, even though I was obsessed with her album for a good solid 2 years -- as soon as I played that video I remembered all the words -- how does that happen? Anyway, I hope to see more of her in the future and would love to see a renewed interest in her music!

yes! Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 04:15 AM EST

Thank you thank you thank you! For posting about Res -- I too had almost forgot about her, even though I was obsessed with her album for a good solid 2 years -- as soon as I played that video I remembered all the words -- how does that happen? Anyway, I hope to see more of her in the future and would love to see a renewed interest in her music!

Rich Tue, Nov 13, 2007 at 12:38 AM EST

Cheriekeane nailed it. Urban radio is SO narrowly formatted these days (along with, well, every radio format really). And black artists who are a bit more "adventurous" find it incredibly tough to secure a foothold. It wasn't just Res... Me'shell Ndege'ocello & early Kelis had the same problem. Kenna is probably the best example now.... Everybody who sees him thinks he's a star, but radio won't touch him.
Seriously, Slezak... Do a hyperlink to Kenna's "Freetime" video next! I'll get you started...

Why Wasn't This A Huge Hit? Part II

http://youtube.com/watch?v=UgWmIEBZ-5I

--Rich

ResLover Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 11:07 PM EST

I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Res!!! Every track from her album is amazing! She's one of a kind!

Q viva Res!

EP Sato Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 10:48 PM EST

Gotta go OT for a second.

Anyone else notice that Annie Barrett and Mike Slezak seem to be good buddies? I really dig their friendship/rivalry (the popwatch section has snippets of both), and it's starting to really make me ache for Idolatry and more of their chats.

Anyone else think it would be fun to grab some cocktails with these two and wax poetic pop culture? I'm convinced that such an encounter would be legendary.

monica Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 10:37 PM EST

i just wanted to say that i love faces & names' signature cheese burger.

cheriekeane Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 10:30 PM EST

I saw Reese at the Key Club in L.A. in 2003. She was a great performer. Her music is definitely not typical of what Black Females are 'expected' to produce. She reminds me of Nona Hendryx from back in the 1970s -- sort of rock-flavored soul.

Her label must have had a nightmare trying to get airplay on Black Radio: "She's not Mary J., Mariah, or Whitney, so how can I sell her to the Black audience?"

It's sad but true (and I'm a Black Female myself). NONE of my friends listen to or purchase rock music. They only listen to soul, jazz and R&B (my over 35 friends don't even like rap music).

Res also didn't get any airplay on rock radio stations probably because programmers felt they couldn't sell Res to their listeners either.

Res opened for John Mayer in late 2002, but I don't think they complment eachother on tour.

She and Kenna should hook up and tour small clubs because their musical styles are similar.

Goldeneyez Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 09:34 PM EST

Slezak, you never cease to impress! I have been praying that she will make another album someday, because her voice and music are wonderful. I've always loved these two songs, and "Ice King", "Tsunami", "700 Mile Situation", and "Let Love" from her first album are also stand-out tracks. I hope someone gives her a chance to make another album - she's just the right blend of rock, soul, and pop that we need to revive the generally sorry state of music these days...

Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 08:30 PM EST

They Say Vision & Golden Boy were two of my faves back in 2001/2002. Res was definitely slept on. To my personal enjoyment, she's popped up on a couple Talib Kweli tracks over the past few years so she hasn't been ENTIRELY off the map.

Stef327 Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 08:22 PM EST

Thanks so much for helping me find her. I could not remember her name or the name of these songs I absolutely loved. She sort of suffered the same fate of my other favorite , Dionne Farris, by not getting enough airplay on black radio because they did not know how to classify her. Thank goodness for MySpace and iTunes so I no longer have to wait for the Kiss's and Power-FMs to tell me if she is OK to play.

Fatima Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 07:02 PM EST

I should add that another fantastic Res song that wasn't a single is "I've Known The Garden" Everyone should track that down!

Fatima Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 06:59 PM EST

Lina AND Res? Slezak, did you still my iPod? Cause I want it back.

Ted Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 05:59 PM EST

Res is one of my faves! I saw the Golden Boys vid on MTV and went out and bought How I Do. It's a fantastic album and I'm surprised she didnt garner more of a following. She had a lot of label problems but its good to know she's been keeping busy (touring with Gnarls Barkley, putting up MySpace songs). Hope more people check her out cuz of this!

saybo Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 04:53 PM EST

I had forgotten this song, but I totally remember the heavy rotation it got on TV. Do you think this is a case where her beauty made people want to watch the video, but the song on it's own didn't stand up for radio-listeners?

shonuff Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 04:50 PM EST

you can add they say vision to a host of other amazing r&b songs that just didn't take off as radio transitioned into a children's club in the earlier part of the decade. there was jaguar wright's ain't nobody playin, deborah cox's absolutely not (though that became a now-legendary club hit), the entire anastacia experience, kelis & puffy's lets get ill, kina's girl from the gutter, both of lina's albums (which we've seen here before)and a slew of others. a shame really, since the creativity and general pop sensibility they've all shown was ignored for more generic pap.

Matthew Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 04:48 PM EST

I was expecting this to be either a song I'd never heard of or a song that came out years ago and one that I absolutely hated. But "They Say Vision" is an amazing song. I can see maybe why "Golden Boy" wasnt such a huge hit, but 'Vision' definitely had the potential to be something big. Hearing this song reminded me about the early-2000 vh1, where things involving "fit clubs" and people like "flava flav" were non-existant on that channel.

Gringo Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 04:42 PM EST

this has been a favourite of mine for years. i have always wondered the same thing. the remixes are hot, especially Robbie Rivera's Vocal Mix Part Two.

Court Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 04:41 PM EST

I LOVE her! A friend of mine and I are totally obsessed with her and we don't understand why nobody else knows about her. She's great!

Katie Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 04:27 PM EST

I can't believe someone else knows this song!! I, too, discovered it on TV back in the day, although it was on MTV - so yeah, if it was getting such heavy rotation on two networks I don't understand why it wasn't a hit. I instantly fell in love with it, and still listen to it on a regular basis; I just don't know why no one else followed suit! But I think the fact that there is someone else out there who feels the same about this song could be considered success enough for Res, who sadly is virtually unknown to...well, everyone. Thanks for giving this a shout out!

Saph Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 04:25 PM EST

I totally agree with you! She is such a talent. She's playing in NYC at SOB's on the 15th and I can't wait to see her live.

Phil Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 04:22 PM EST

Haha Michael, I went to elementary school with Res, which is short for Sherrise (I know I did NOT spell that right) at Waldron Mercy Academy!! She was a year ahead of me, & was also in the same class at Rob McElheney from ITS ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA. (Theres a Wiki fact I doubt anyone else has ever mentioned!!) I haven't seen her in the last couple years, but the last time i did see her was right after her album dropped, and I had to tell her some unfortunate news about a friend of ours that we went to school with had passed away a month prior. She was out touring & promoting the album & had to hear about it through e-mails but could never get all the pieces to the story, since it was very tragic. I had hoped that "They Say Vision" would have become a bigger hit, especially with all the great club mixes they released for it, but I also think MCA released the song in 2002, NOT 2001. And shortly there-after MCA disolved into another Universal owned label.