Dawson's Ink

Welcome to WEEK ONE OF MARCH MADNESS!

It’s Monday, which means we’re focusing on ROUND ONE of the EAST bracket, or as we’ve dubbed it…

As Whitney welcomes you into her home, we do the same as we celebrate Women’s History Month through the artistry of the songstresses of R&B. For the rules/criteria, go HERE.

Today, eight singers who were either born or raised in the East go head to head. Trust, it was very difficult narrowing the field down to that number, as so many artists rep the East coast. However, I’m sure you’ll all find that we did well. The matchups are below, with the bracket being split in two.

The top looks like this: #1 vs. #8 and #4 vs. #5;
The bottom will play out this way: #2 vs. #7 and #3 vs. #6.

Please check out the profiles, the high notes and analysis, and then press play on each song, take your time and VOTE for who you think should advance to the next round.

Are you ready? LET’S GO!
————————————————–

Home: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Ranking: #1, EAST
Site: www.jillscott.com
High Notes: Singer/songwriter, poet, actress; 12 Grammy nominations, three wins; Seven albums in ten years; new album due Spring 2010

Analysis: This #1 ranking was based totally on voice, not on record sales. While MJB is definitely the queen, Jill’s bombast, coupled with her writing skills (although she does talk about food a lot) place her a slight cut above. All that said, Her advancement against Alice Smith seems imminent.

“A Long Walk” Jill Scott
Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds, Volume 1
(2000, Hidden Beach Recordings)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

VS.

Home: New York, NY/Washington, DC
Ranking: #8, EAST
Site: www.alicesmith.com
High Notes: For Lovers, Dreamers & Me (2006); song “Dream” was featured during closing credits of HBO’s Entourage, Season 4; new album coming Spring 2010

Analysis: The gorgeous voice of this 20-something will have her back in this tournament for years to come. Her new release is FIRE and will undoubtedly turn heads, and have people saying more often, Who is Alice Smith? Dope.

“Dream” Alice Smith
For Lovers, Dreamers & Me
(2006, BBE Recordings)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Home: Central Islip, New York
Ranking: #4, EAST
Site: www.thisischrisettemichele.com
High Notes: 2009 Grammy Award winner; father a deacon, mother a choir director; sophomore album Epiphany (2009, Island Def Jam) debuted at #1 on Billboard 200; has been compared to jazz singers Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald.

Analysis: It’s all about her voice, the uniqueness of it. The tonality. Some thought she was too young to be ranked so high. The reality is, if the artists above her weren’t such proven veterans, you could argue she could be in the top two. Huge first round matchup against Amel. Let’s see who’s got the goods.

“If I Have My Way” Chrisette Michele
I Am
(2007, Island Def Jam Music Group)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

VS.

Home: Greenwich Village, New York
Ranking: #5, EAST
Site: www.blisslife.com
High Notes: Founding member of R&B group Groove Theory along with Bryce Wilson; only child; guest singer on Sweetback’s debut album in 1996.

Analysis: Amel is one of those artists who, when you hear they’re dropping a new album, you drop what you’re doing and take notice. She’s been solo for ten years now, and with news of a Groove Theory reunion on tap, she’s proven she can always go back home. Can she get past Chrisette, though? That’s the question.

“For Real” Amel Larrieux
Bravebird
(2004, Blisslife Records)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

————————————————–

Home: Yonkers, New York
Ranking: #2, EAST
Site: www.mjblige.com
High Notes: Nine-time Grammy Award winner; founded The Mary J. Blige and Steve Stoute Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now (FFAWN) in 2008 in Yonkers, NY; will be playing the late Nina Simone in a biopic slated for release in 2012.

Analysis: What can you say about Mary J. that hasn’t been said, talked about, discussed and praised? She’s the true Queen of Hip Hop Soul and her discography is legendary. Against the upstart from Philly, though, the big guns had to be drawn. Will there be no “limit” to Mary’s reign?

“Love No Limit” Mary J. Blige
What’s The 411?
(1992, Uptown Records)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

VS.

Home: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Ranking: #7, EAST
Site: www.jazminesullivanmusic.com
High Notes: Credited as a songwriter for both Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson; middle child; appeared on Showtime At The Apollo at age 11; sang with Stevie Wonder at his grandson’s birthday party at the age of 13; has received seven Grammy nominations since 2008.

Analysis: One album, and already seven Grammy nominations. Won’t be long before she’s winning them by the truckload. Tough matchup for Jazzy in this one, so she had to bring out the big guns. Will MJB prove to be scared of lions, tigers and bears? Can’t wait to see.

“Lions, Tigers and Bears” Jazmine Sullivan
Fearless
(2008, J Records)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

————————————————–

Home: Washington, DC
Ranking: #3, EAST
Site: www.meshell.com
High Notes: Devil’s Halo (2009, Downtown) is her ninth studio album; she tried out, unsuccessfully, to be bassist for rock band Living Colour in 1992; suffers from photosensitive epilepsy, which can be triggered by flashes going off during her performances.

Analysis: When you think of Meshell, you think of funk. Plain and simple. Against a multiple Grammy winner, she comes strong with this hypnotic ballad. She wants to win. Will she? Or is a first round defeat standing right outside her door?

“Outside Your Door” Meshell Ndegeocello
Plantation Lullabies
(1993, Maverick Records)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

VS.

Home: New York, New York
Ranking: #6, EAST
Site: www.aliciakeys.com
High Notes: Appeared on The Cosby Show at the age of four; Thirteen-time Grammy Award winner; has sold over 30 million albums worldwide; made her film debut in 2007’s Smokin’ Aces; co-founder and global ambassador for the organization Keep A Child Alive.

Analysis: We know her. We love her. We wish she would do more. No one can deny the sublime talent of AKeys. We just wish she would blow us away. Well, this song did when it was first released, and is still a classic. Will we remember her “name” when it’s time for Round 2?

“You Don’t Know My Name” Alicia Keys
The Diary of Alicia Keys
(2003, J Records)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Popularity: 69% [?]