A tribute to Aaliyah, a multi-talented actress and beloved pop and R
& B music icon, who passed away on August 25, 2001, yet her music
will live on forever.
Approximately ten years ago this month, the pop and R & B
music world lost one of its most gifted and beloved female vocalists,
Aaliyah. Throughout her career, she earned several multi-platinum
albums, #1 radio singles, awards, and showcased her acting ability,
starring in films.Aaliyah's Achievements in Music
Aaliyah's first record Age Ain't Nothing but a Number was released in June of 1994 via the label Jive Records, and according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), it sold in excess of two million units. Equally successful were her follow-up albums One in a Million and her self-titled CD (released in July of 2001), which have also been certified double-platinum by the RIAA."Try Again": Aaliyah's Most Successful Single
Her most successful radio single to date is "Try Again," which was the lead-off song in the Romeo Must Die soundtrack. It peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts for the week ending June 12, 2000.Aaliyah's "Miss You"
One of the most captivating and soothing ballads Aaliyah had ever recorded was "I Miss You" from her I Care 4 U record, which was released posthumously. A music video was filmed for the tune in an effort to pay tribute to the late songstress, which featured many of Aaliyah's peers and friends singing along to its bittersweet lyrics.Acclaimed rapper DMX made the opening remarks in the video expressing his genuine love and admiration for the singer, and simultanesouly praised her for "being an angel on earth." Several noteworthy musicians that made cameos in the video include Missy Elliott, Toni Braxton, Jamie Foxx, Ananda Lewis, Lil' Kim, Quincy Jones and Queen Latifah, among others.
Written with bittersweet lyrics, this song seemed to strike a chord with the worldwide audience and move them, since it went on to peak at #1 on the Billboard Hot R & B Charts for the week ending January 25, 2003, and maintained that spot for three consecutive weeks; moreover, "I Miss You" reached #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 Charts.
Aaliyah: The Actress
Aaliyah's talents were not limited to singing. She starred opposite martial artist Jet Li in the motion picture Romeo Must Die, and played the lead role of Queen Akasha in the horror film Queen of the Damned.Conclusion
Alas, Aaliyah died tragically in a plane crash in the Bahamas on August 25, 2001; however, her musical legacy will live on forever. She was able to accomplish many milestones in her short life, both in music and in acting, thus making her an inspiration to us all.Aaliyah will go down as one of the greatest and kindest artists that contemporary pop and R & B music have ever known. It is safe to say that all of her fans and listeners truly "miss" her!
