Aaliyah was one of many best pop stars of the 1990s and early 2000s. Although she died in a aircraft crash practically 20 years in the past, she continues to exert a profound affect on R&B music. Nonetheless, essentially the most influential artists aren’t all the time essentially the most commercially profitable.
Aaliyah had a number of hits over the course of her three albums. Nonetheless, not all of her hits had been enormous. This raises an fascinating query: Did Aaliyah ever have a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100?
Aaliyah and Timbaland: a legendary musical duo
Although Aaliyah grew to become some of the beloved R&B singers of her period, she had merely one number-one hit on the Billboard Sizzling 100: “Attempt Once more.” The track was from the soundtrack of the movie Romeo Should Die. Whereas the movie typically isn’t thought to be a basic, “Attempt Once more” most actually is.
“Attempt Once more” is one among a number of nice collaborations between Aaliyah and Timbaland. The duo stand as one of many nice singer/producer pairings, up there with the Ronettes and Phil Spector. Aaliyah mentioned she had a lot of chemistry with Timbaland once they labored collectively. Aaliyah felt she was in a position to specific herself authentically round Timbaland.
Aaliyah advised Billboard when she and Timbaland would “come collectively to work, it simply occurs. There isn’t any one factor that influences us; it simply comes from inside. I by no means need one specific factor to affect me to [the point] the place I do one thing that’s not me. I’m adamant about staying true to myself.”
Aaliyah mentioned she wasn’t too influenced by anybody factor. Her followers consider she lived as much as these phrases. A part of the rationale Aaliyah is revered is as a result of some audiences really feel Aaliyah made music that was very completely different from the music of her day.
What made ‘Attempt Once more’ so particular
Collectively, Aaliyah and Timbaland gave the world “Attempt Once more,” a futuristic track a couple of relationship. Aaliyah mentioned the track is about her turning down a man and questioning if he nonetheless has any curiosity in her. Within the track, she says if she’s worthwhile, the man ought to “attempt once more.”
“Attempt Once more” broke floor in a number of methods. To start with, its music video helped to present Aaliyah a brand new, extra sexual picture. Had she lived longer, she may have explored her extra grownup persona somewhat extra.
Second of all, “Attempt Once more” grew to become the primary track to hit number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 fully due to radio play. Earlier number-one hits reached the summit of the chart at the least partially due to single gross sales in shops. The 2 songs which acquired closest to the number-one spot with out the help of bodily single gross sales had been Smash Mouth’s “All Star” and Savage Backyard’s “I Knew I Cherished You.”
Nonetheless, “Attempt Once more” grew to become a number-one hit though Virgin Data by no means launched retail singles of the track. That’s superb. “Attempt Once more” signaled the start of a brand new period of music the place single gross sales didn’t matter as a lot as they as soon as did.
Moreover, “Attempt Once more” was arguably influential. A few of Aaliyah’s followers really feel a number of hits which got here after “Attempt Once more” characteristic parts of the monitor’s digital manufacturing. We are able to solely speculate if Britney Spears’ “Gimme Extra,” Woman Gaga’s “Paparazzi,” or the Black Eyed Peas’ “Increase Increase Pow” would exist with out “Attempt Once more.”
Additionally see: Did Donna Summer Ever Have a Number-One Hit?
