Aaliyah Movie Soundtrack Songs
Mahmod Ohner
American singer Aaliyah has released three studio albums, two compilation albums, and 31 singles. Aaliyah was born in Brooklyn, New York City and was raised in Detroit, Michigan.[1][2][3] At age 10, she appeared on Star Search and performed in concert alongside Gladys Knight.[1][4] At age 12, Aaliyah signed a deal with Jive Records and Blackground Records.[5][6] During that time, she met R. Kelly through her uncle Barry Hankerson; eventually, he became her mentor, sole lead songwriter, and producer for her debut album.[7][8] Released in 1994, Aaliyah's debut album, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number, was certified double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and sold three million copies in the United States.[9][10] Months after the release of her album, Aaliyah ended her contract with Jive and signed with Atlantic Records due to allegations of an illegal marriage with Kelly.[11]
In 1996, Aaliyah worked with unknown record producers Timbaland and Missy Elliott for her second album, One in a Million.[3] The album was a commercial success selling three million copies in the United States and over eight million worldwide.[10][12] While working in between albums, she contributed to several movie soundtracks before starring in her debut feature film, Romeo Must Die, in 2000.[13][14] Aaliyah executive produced the film's soundtrack and contributed four songs, including "Try Again".[13] "Try Again" topped the Billboard Hot 100 solely on radio airplay, making Aaliyah the first artist in Billboard history to achieve this feat.[15] Aaliyah earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocalist for the song.[16]
After completing Romeo Must Die, Aaliyah shot her second film Queen of the Damned and released her third and final album, Aaliyah, in 2001.[13] A little over a month after her album's release, Aaliyah died in a plane crash in the Bahamas after filming the music video for her single "Rock the Boat".[17][18] In the wake of her death, Aaliyah has achieved commercial success with several posthumous releases.
As of December 2008, Aaliyah has sold 8.1 million albums in the United States and an estimated 24 to 32 million albums worldwide.[19][20][21][22] On the Billboard Hot 100, Aaliyah has spent 289 weeks on the chart;[23] while her three studio albums and two compilation albums have spent 202 weeks on the Billboard 200 Chart.[24]
The second album from the late R&B and hip-hop artist, who died in a plane accident on August 25, 2001 when she was 22 years old, was first released in 1996 by Blackground Records, the label founded by her uncle Barry Hankerson.
Before the latest release, the only record from Aaliyah available digitally was her debut album Age Ain't Nothing But A Number. Some songs from the soundtrack of Romeo Must Die, the movie in which Aaliyah made her film debut, and compilation albums have also been available on selected music platforms.
In addition to the release of Aaliyah's full music catalogue over the coming months, Blackground Records and EMPIRE plan to release records from Timbaland & Magoo, Toni Braxton and JoJo on digital platforms, along with the full soundtracks for the films Romeo Must Die and Exit Wounds.
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From The Little Mermaid to Toy Story, the 90s were a golden era for animated films. Many of these now classic films boasted amazing soundtracks, but one childhood favorite, Fox Animation Studio's Anastasia, which told the imagined story of the lost princess of the Romanov family, boasted something extra: a signature song by the iconic late R&B singer Aaliyah. Her version of "Journey to the Past," sung in the film by Liz Callaway, would go on to be nominated for an Academy Award. In comparison to the rest of Aaliyah's catalog, the song has been mostly forgotten. Now as a new musical based on the film prepares to open on Broadway, audiences are remembering Aaliyah's contribution to the film, while the movie's creators reminisce about what it was like to work with the unforgettable musician.
Although Callaway's performance became the emotional center of the film, Robert Kraft, who was the head of Fox Music, Fox's music distribution arm, hoped to add some star power to market the film to a wide audience. Previous animated hits had scored hit singles by having major stars sing a movie's tunes over the end credits. Most notably, Celine Dion broke out as a star in America with her cover of "Beauty and the Beast." Kraft wanted Aaliyah for the lead song, and brought in Guy Roche, who had produced songs for both Dion and Cher.
Once Aaliyah was chosen for the song, the group decided the song needed some tweaking. "We wanted the pop version of the song to be personalized and tailored to Aaliyah's unique vocal style, even if that meant making some changes in the music and lyrics," Ahrens explains. She changed a few lyrics to better suit Aaliyah's style, and then Roche played Ahrens and Flaherty a new arrangement that had a contemporary pop sound. "We liked it a lot and gave the go ahead," Ahrens says.
Roche and Aaliyah recorded the song in Toronto, away from Ahrens and Flaherty, to accommodate the singer's busy schedule. "Her career was on the up," Roche recalls. "It felt like, every time we met she had just gotten off a plane, [gone] straight into the studio, got right into work mode, and delivered the song beautifully, between interruptions for interviews. Then [it was] on to the next plane."
Despite her hectic lifestyle, Aaliyah always managed to deliver in the recording booth. "Aaliyah was the most wonderful to work with, always focused, very patient, always positive," Roche remembers. "She gave meaning to every line of the song in her performance, every take, which makes me think she must have been a good actress." Roche viewed Aaliyah as a "workhorse" that was always thoughtful and patient in delivering input. "She would go right behind the mic and get to work. Her opinion mattered to me very much, but she would formulate it only after all creative minds in the control room ran out of suggestions."
Although the song lost to Titanic's "My Heart Will Go On," the performance remains a special moment in a astronomical career cut tragically short. "[Aaliyah] was such a unique performer," Ahrens says. "It makes us happy [and] sad to hear her version now and know that her talent was ended so soon."
It's hard to believe that it's been 15 years since Aaliyah passed away, particularly since her work continues to resonate with so many people worldwide. The singer had an undeniable talent for creating music that was both timeless and lyrically strong. Which is why it's such a difficult task to pick out one Aaliyah song as the best. But in my opinion, the best Aaliyah song is "Try Again," because of its inspirational lyrics and flawless sound. Recorded for the soundtrack to Romeo Must Die, in which Aaliyah starred opposite Jet Li, "Try Again" has an unforgettable music video and an empowering message. With an intro by Timbaland, there's a lot to love about the single, and it's hardly surprising its still at the top of so many people's playlists.
Having made the transition from music to acting, Aaliyah had such a bright future ahead of her, especially since her performances in Romeo Must Die and Queen of the Damned had been so well-received. But first and foremost, Aaliyah was an award-winning musician, and the fact that her songs have stood the test of time proves just how talented she was. In many ways, "Try Again" doesn't sound like a song released in 2000, and could easily belong to the contemporary era. It's unsurprising that "Try Again" was nominated for a Grammy in 2001, and won two MTV Music Video Awards in 2000.
"Try Again" is so understated. Despite having such a recognizable dance routine and music video (which has been referenced in shows like The Mindy Project), the song itself is never over the top. The production is simple and pared back, giving listeners the chance to really hear Aaliyah's vocals. Timbaland complements Aaliyah's voice, and helps make the song catchy without it getting repetitive. But the main reason that "Try Again" is the best Aaliyah song is that the lyrics are so relatable.
Lyrically, the song is an anthem about never giving up, whether it be in relationships or life. The main message of the chorus is totally inspirational, with Aaliyah singing, "If at first you don't succeed, Dust yourself off, and try again." It's the perfect song to listen to when you feel like there's no hope left or you're not quite sure what to do next. Without being pushy, "Try Again" is a reminder that however many times you get knocked down, it's time to get back up again.
The verses of "Try Again" focus on a relationship, and are all about how to approach something new and unexpected. Aaliyah sings, "You know our chemistry, it's off the chain. It's perfect now, but will it change?" Instead of a typical pop song expecting a relationship to be the perfect love story, Aaliyah interrogates those initial romantic feelings you get in a relationship, and is realistic about them. This makes the song so empowering, and a total feminist anthem. Aaliyah refuses to give any guarantees or play an expected romantic role. When she sings, "This ain't a yes, this ain't a no. Just do your thang, and we'll see how it goes," it perfectly sums up the way a strong woman can approach a relationship -- by not getting carried away, as fairy tale narratives or stereotypical pop songs might suggest.