The late singer Aaliyah was a talent destined for greatness, and with mega-producer Timbaland behind her, in the short time that the two made music, they had a massive impact on the sound of R’n’B going into the turn of the millennium. Aaliyah was the predecessor to Beyoncé and was one of the most prominent solo R’n’B singers at the turn of the millennium, along with the likes of Mary J Blige and Mariah Carey.
A true trendsetter, Aaliyah, with her emotional, heartfelt lyrics and angelic harmonies, set a precedent for upcoming singers. With Timbaland’s Arabian samples and quirky futuristic production, the tag team’s musical influence shifted popular culture and would become the sound of 2000s R’n’B.
As well as being in a very public relationship with the now disgraced singer R Kelly, Aaliyah actually got married to the singer. Seemingly on a high, Aaliyah’s R’n’B reign was suddenly cut short when the singer passed away in what today is still classed as a disastrous tragedy.
In 2001 the singer flew in a Cessna 202 to the Bahamas to record a music video for her single ‘Rock The Boat’. However, the artist attempted to take a flight back to the US in a smaller Cessna 404, with the luggage exceeding the plane’s weight limit. Struggling to handle the load, the 404 simply crashed and caught fire after only ascending 200ft into the air.
One of the most renowned songs she made before her passing with Timbaland was ‘Try Again’. The track was featured on her third and final album Aaliyah which is often referred to as ‘The Red Album’. Recorded in Sony Studios in New York, the track was first released on the soundtrack for the motion picture Romeo Must Die, a film in which Aaliyah starred. However, the gained traction moreso from the 2001 album than it did from the soundtrack.
The futuristic track peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and was also nominated for a Grammy in the ‘Best Female R&B Vocal Performance’ category. The track has an electric aline-like bassline that continues throughout the track, yet the track is extremely progressive, with the official release being over six minutes.
You can hear the instrumental in the video below and also see a clip of the singer performing it live.
