I'm often accused of "living in the past," but I don’t see it that way. I'm nostalgic.
I often long for the days of old when life seemed much simpler. When all I had to worry about was homework and my boyfriend du jour.
So forgive me if during the days of bills, work, and more bills, I want to take an occasional trip back in time ... and I usually do it through music.
Motown. Billie Holiday. Jodeci. -- Any music of way back when music was music instead of an marketing tool.
Now I can add another album for future throwback sessions -- Day 26.
The TV-made group released their self-titled debut on March 25th, just one week after their Making The Band predecessors (and label-mates) Danity Kane.
With Danity Kane at number one already, Day 26 fans had to know the battle for the top spot would be brutal.
Two weeks after DK’s release (and 1 week after Day 26 debuted) DK was still at the top slot and Day 26 isn't even on the radar. Though their single "Got Me Going" was receiving some radio play, the group was barely making the top 40 at Billboard at the end of March.
Nearly a month later, Day 26 is on top. Top 10 in Billboard Albums, Top 10 in R&B Albums and best of all, they’re finally beating Danity Kane. Not that this is a competition, but I like to believe R&B trumps Pop any day, and Day 26 is making that a reality by resurrecting real, CLASSIC R&B. The boys are bad.
Picture a super group of varied talent ...
- A younger Wanya from Boyz II Men, or maybe a singer that could be called a mix between Johnny Gill (New Edition) and KC (Jodeci);
- Add two brothaz with the soft vocals of 112;
- Plus a soft but powerful voice like Jo-Jo and then
- Round the group out with a “thick” brotha that can bring it on stage (like Jazz from Dru Hill).
Let's not forget the fact that these men have harmonies like Boyz II Men, New Edition, Shai, Jagged Edge and many of the groups we love from the 90s, and you have what we now know as Day 26.
With Diddy (formerly known as Puffy) having been at the helm of the New Jack Swing movement at Uptown Records and then bringing us groups like Total and 112, you had to know he was going to keep trying until he got it right. His rep was on the line.
I admit that I wasn't a DK fan at first. I didn't watch much of the 2nd season where Diddy finally made the girl group.
Even when I was in NYC and saw them step out of their limo at the 2006 MTV VMAs, I was still like "Who are they?"; but thanks to the advances in reality television I got to know them and sort of like them and I grew to LOVE the guys ... Brian, Mike, Willie, Q and Robert.
Now that I've told you about the group, let me telling you about the album bearing their name.
Remember back in the 90s when guy groups were everywhere? When we had Shai, Jodeci, Silk, Troop, Surface, Boyz II Men, New Edition, etc. competing for our attention (and money)?
When lyrics meant something and vocals were not computer-enhanced and groups would rather dance and perform and then distract us with flash and ass?
Yeah -- those days are back -- if Diddy has his way.
A lot of albums these days get lost in the shuffle of the music business money-making machine
I remember someone GIVING me India.Arie's first album (Acoustic Soul) saying they'd never heard of her and it was probably "trash." Little did they know the girl would later get 5 Grammy nods.
In a recording market where crossover potential is key and listeners favor hot beats over lyrics with a message, and music with emotion, I don't expect Day 26 to fill their need. But, they definitely filled mine.
Taking me back to those musical days when I made tapes or CDs to play on the bus ride home or later in life to "entertain a male visitor"; and back to those days when boys wrote me poetry to impress me ... (whereas now I'm supposed to impress THEM with how "low" I can get). I relived those days through this album.
The main theme in Day 26 (the album) is love. Brand new love, silly love, losing love, and even making love. It speaks to where their heads are at right now. With Q falling for (and now dating) a Danity Kane member, Brian being married, Willie being in a long-term relationship, and Mike and Robert navigating the dating scene, all of their experiences come out this project..
America watched the group create the album on the last season of Making The Band. Diddy enlisted what he called a "Dream Team" of writers, musicians and producers. One of the main writers is also a Bad Boy artist -- Mario Winans (son of Vicki Winans), whose been writing for Bad Boy since 1998.
One of the main producers on the album was Bryan-Michael Cox, who has become the go-to hitmaker in recent years. His HIT LIST is too long to even mention .. just know the boy is BAD and PAID.
Add to this team, the baddest business man in the music game (with the exception of Russell Simmons) and you have the beginning of greatness.
This album has everything you want ...
Want something like the old days?
Try the soft and fuzzy “Crazy Love” (one of my favorites) or the perfectly composed “Co-Star.”
Want something to “set the mood”?
Listen to “Don’t Fight The Feeling”, “What It Feels Like” or “Come In (My Doors Open).”
Want something that sounds like nothing you’ve heard in recent years?
Try “I’m The Reason” or “If It Wasn’t For You.”
If you’re trying to send a message to the one you lost, play “Since You’ve Been Gone.”
Or if you want to send a message to the one you like, check out what I predict will be the new male anthem “Are We In This Together.”
These 12 tracks give the listener a buffet of hot beats, impressive lyrics and powerful vocals.
As an added bonus you can even hear how far the group has come since they were first signed. One of the hidden tracks is “Exclusive,” the group’s first real single. The vocals on that song are nothing compared to what they brought on this album.
So what if they were formed in front of America. Every American Idol had the same experience.
So what if people consider this Diddy’s answer to his failed attempt at bringing back New Edition.
So what if they only spent one week at number one. The answer to all those naysayers is THEY MADE IT.
A hit show, a hit album, and now, they’re spreading the love through a nationwide tour.
The new princes of Bad Boy are here. And from the looks of things, they aren’t going anywhere.
Real R&B is back and it lives through Day 26.
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