Guyanese songstress Melanie Fiona dropped her debut effort “The Bridge” a pop, funk, hip-hip soul, R&B filled release with a hint of reggae flavor adorned with both impressive vocal tone and gritty delivery.
After being struck out of obscurity by way of backing from Kanye West and Jay-Z, her first single ‘Give It To Me Right,’ was a precursor to her musical worth. Fiona doesn’t disappoint when it comes to her conviction, sending the listener on a roller-coaster ride of emotion that descends into admirable territory by the album’s end.
You can tell that the best of 60s and 70s soul music was on her mind when she recorded this album and that’s a good thing. For example, “Bang Bang,” offers and interesting stab at a soulful tune with just a hint of country roots as she sings “I’ll be locking and loading, I’ll be shooting forever, got my eye on the target.” But just as she paints a picture of a strong female who goes for what she wants, her coy side can be heard in tracks like “Please Don’t Cry Baby” which runs excitingly close to a sample of The Supremes 1964 hit ‘Come See About Me.’ What Fiona does so well is prove that despite sounding as if she were transplanted from the Motown era, individuality will land you in lane all your own.
If “The Bridge” has a running theme it’s “female empowerment” but not the overbearing kind littered with sad “I can do bad all by myself” songs. On “Monday Morning” the Toronto native gets uber self-assured as she informs her lover that she’s got things to do so if he doesn’t leave then she’s leaving him! But by the time you get to “Walk On By,” she has had more than enough of the bs that bad relationships bring. Misfires like “Ay Yo,’” and “Priceless” only arise due to lack of cohesion, because Fiona’s voice can pretty much make anything worthwhile.
“The Bridge,” fuses musical genres with R&B as its base in a way that’s not unlike Amy Winehouse (in her post drug addict days) but still unique. Fiona definitely has room to kick it up a notch and really step out of her box, because I get the sense that she’s holding back some of what she’s really capable of. But for a debut album, being willing to live so deep within your musical truth is always a good sign.
Like I said on one of the other Melanie Fiona posts. She is absolutely incredible. Her live perfomances are great too if u haven’t seen her perform live make sure y’all check her out, she is amazing vocalist. She is bringing quality music back, & anybody who says any different is hating hard. Respect great artistry this woman is talented & her songs are good enough to get nominated for this coming up Grammy’s in a couple mnths.
Some little girl in India is bald as ….
@ Joe….if you really enjoy lots of music you may want to look into purchasing the digital download of an album…I have well over 780+ whole albums and I tell you this I haven’t the space nor time to store all that mess. I keep all my “real cd’s stored and only purchase those cd’s from Certain artist. Everything else is downloaded I have a rhapsody,amazon, and Zune pass…whom ever is selling the item for the lowest price gets the the buy from me. I mean don’t a fair number of folks have an Ipod, Zune, Sansa or something with a car kit…why do you need a cd unless your collecting plastic and Art. I understand the whole reading the lyrics cover to cover as well, but you can download cover art and make yourself a *hard copy* if you’d like. Try it you might like it. PS I save little music to my laptop most is saved on TWO/ Separate
Removable Drives….plenty of space for a music geek. Hope this is helpful and buy Melanie Fiona’s CD and if you can find her Radio Show with Questlove in Philly (mid July)peep that too.
I like her. Bang Bang is different and catchy.
I HEARD HER WHOLE ALBUM ON HER MYSPACE PAGE….LOVE IT 2 DEATH!!!!!!!!!!! IT IS TRULY AN ALBUM U CAN LISTEN 2 FROM BEGINNING TO END!!!!! GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@ Tell it like it is…. FYI no there is not a bald Indian some where silly cause she is Indian her parents are Guyanese Indian. I wont waste time responding to Paula or Watcher cause that’s obviously hatred!!
Although it is a nice comparison because Amy Winehouse is talented… Unlike Amy Melanie eclectic music style is her roots the Island flava (from her family) & North American Soul (she’s Canadian).
Melly Mel keep doing u stay on that cause road cause you’ve already made it. From that day in “The Pub” I got goose bumps & now I get all teary eyed every time u sing!! Give it to dem ya my girl!! People BUY HER ALBUM you spend more on fast food in a day!!!!
Bless ♥
I went to 4 different stores before I got this album and I’m glad I went thru the trouble cause her CD is fire, I love it .”And it kills me to know hom much I love this song” LOL
She’s awesome. There arent a lot of female artist out now that can actually SING but this chick SINGS and does it well. Next to Bey she might be one of my new favorite artists
now, first off, im going to say this once she IS guyanese BUT she was born in Canada (to whomever the person said she wasn’t guyanese). Her family is actually from the same village as where my mother is from.
second of all, being that of guyanese descent, any of us who are true guyanese knows that our parents (those of us who were born here, canada or in guyana) know that all our parents really play is oldies (american and caribbean). i wasnt suprised when i heard all of the oldies inspirations and remakes because that type of music we are used to and to be hones i was so grateful when she did it.
but overrall, i enjoy it. my ringtone is actually “somebody come get me” and it probably will not change for a while.
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