Customer Reviews

The Bridge

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I had been anticipating this album since the early summer release of the lead single, GIVE IT TO ME RIGHT and due to the push back of her release date (what is this the 4th?) I got scared that IDJ would do to Melanie what they did to Amerie and only release it overseas so I bought a copy from Amazon UK at a reasonable price.

It is a shame that Melanie hasn't gotten much shine on any morning shows or late night talk shows BUT what she has gotten is a chance to tour with Kanye this summer and has posted a few stunning live performance on YOU TUBE which gives listeners a chance to hear her stunning range.

The producers went for a certain throwback sound in producing this thematic album. The songs work well with her voice but my fear is that those who don't sample the tracks first may be deceived because the two singles released aren't representative of the whole album. Most of the tunes sound very much like nu-school Motown/Supremes tracks which lends cohesion but given the failure of a similarly presented album by Solange Knowles in the US, I'm not sure how well received Melanie Fiona's debut will be.

Having had the chance to listen to it a few times I think it's a good debut - it displays her vocal range and has a few memorable tracks, namely: GIVE IT TO ME RIGHT, G.A.M. (GROWN ASS MAN - only released on the import version), IT KILLS ME, BANG BANG, PRICELESS, MONDAY MORNING & YOU STOP MY HEART.

I love the hell out of this cd. Melanie has a voice out of this world and the songs were not the typical everyday songs that you hear on the radio.. It's nice to see real talent sing real songs.
This cd makes you nod your head and pat the steering wheel. Great cd!!!!!! The people who may not like are the ones who only get into "ass dropping on the dancefloor" music, or may think "Pop dat Coochie" was robbed of a Grammy. LOL.
Get real! This is real talent at its finest. "Learn it, love it, live it!"

It took me a few listens for me to get into the album. It was not something I loved on first listen. Partially due to the fact that the two leading singles are not representative of the sound of the album. Do not expect to hear a contemporary R&B album. Listening to the other tracks was reminiscent of Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" album. However, Melanie doesn't quite master it as well as Amy was able to. Her voice is not the strongest but has to be one of the most pleasant ones currently out there today. My favorites track on the album "You Stop My Heart" meshes the backing vocals with her voice brilliantly. It's almost as though you're listening to an R&B lullaby. I believe this album has something for everyone and could be enjoyed by all ages. The Bridge has that sort of classic sound that will appeal to an older crowd, yet is still modern enough to be enjoyed by the top 40 listeners.

I just listened to Jazmine Sullivan's album and then I listened to Melonie's, and though I like Jazmine's music, in my opinion Melonie Fiona's, lbs for lbs, is the better of the two. The throw-back sounds are captivating and she seems to be better in touch with who she is as an artist. I love the hit " It Kills Me", and haven't loved a song that much in awhile. Kudos to the throw-back sound of Jazmine Sullivan's "I Broke The Windows Out Your Car", but Melonie has on her CD songs that could be hit after hit after hit if vigorously promoted. Good luck to all that have broken into the game. Peace!

I heard about Melanie Fiona around the same time that I heard about V.V. Brown, and they have similar styles when it comes to their approach to music (that modernized throwback to the world of Motown). Personally, V.V. Brown is superior, but there is a lot to really love about Melanie Fiona's debut album, `The Bridge'.

For me, the best on the album is when Fiona sinks her teeth into the flow and vibe of the classics she is honoring. Songs like `Give it To Me Right' and the illustrious `Please Don't Go (Cry Baby)' are sure fire highlights. I love the way she completely sinks into the borrowed arrangement to The Zombies' recognizable `Time of the Season' (such a brilliant song), completely flipping it around and making it something new, fresh and exciting. The Motown feel really suits Fiona well, and so `Please Don't Go', which capitalizes on that spunky nature of the time and era, and Melanie's stellar vocal stylings prove to be infectious and a total blessing. I get similar chills when listening to `Johnny', a song that jumps off the page at you with a welcomed intensity.

1) Give it To Me Right
2) Johnny
3) Please Don't Go (Cry Baby)

Is it just me or does `Priceless' sound just like a Leona Lewis song? I love it, but I remember when I heard it for the first time I thought it was `Happy' at first. It's a great R&B/Pop song that hits all the marks right; perfect for radio.

4) Priceless

I love the slick vibe to `Monday Morning'. Melanie allows her soft yet commanding vocals to caress each word, so much so that you will be begging her to stay come Monday morning! The influences behind the song `Sad Songs' are, well, undeniable, but like `Give it To Me Right', Fiona is able to completely flip it, making a recognizable beat her own, giving it new life and drawing us to her rendition. I go back and forth with `It Kills Me'. I really like it, but I can't decide if I love it. I get a Keyshia Cole vibe when listening to it, and I love me some Keyshia, so I don't see that as a `bad' thing, but it lacks a real `pop' to it. Her vocals (especially that "oou, oou, oooou" part) are outstanding here, and they elevate the song for me, even though it comes off as rather generic in structure and lyrical content.

5) Sad Songs
6) Monday Morning
7) It Kills Me

`Bang Bang' has influences ranging from Whitney Houston to Aretha Franklin to The B-52's, yet it doesn't come over as well as Fiona's other efforts. I like it, but I don't love it (and compared to what she did with `Please Don't Go' and `Johnny' it just pales). I love the Spanish guitar work on `Teach Him', but sadly that is really the only thing I like about that song. Sure, it's pretty (and it's far from `bad') but it's totally forgettable, and one of the worst ways to close out an album. `You Stop My Heart' is very mellow yet very charming, and even if I really wanted them to step it up in places, I can't really finger down a fault. It doesn't jump out at me when I think of the `best on the album', but I never skip it. `Ay Yo' carries a slick beat that feels modern and relevant, but it just doesn't `go there' where it could have. It just feels rather redundant and semi-boring after a while.

Gulp.

8) You Stop My Heart
9) Ay Yo
10) Bang Bang
11) Teach Him

And then we have `Walk on By'. Melanie Fiona has a beautiful voice, but she butchers this with strange affectations on words that only prove distracting and annoying (ah). Even outside the strange vocals though, the song is rather repetitious and forgettable.

12) Walk on By

So, in the end I give this debut a B-. It has some stellar moments and some not-so-stellar ones, but overall it is a very worthy purchase and shows a lot of potential. I personally cannot wait to see what this girl goes next. I love her style, and I'm sure you will too!

I wished I had bought only the song "It kills me". I should have downloaded the MP3 single. I did not like any of the other songs on the cd.

Now this is my type of album! A young, beautiful, vocally talented woman singing songs that are both empowering and expressive of many emotions the modern woman goes through. Melanie Fiona's album might now be for everyone, as not all people really dig the sound of old motown mixed with modern elements but omgosh I love it and I'm only 20 :-) Truly this album is AMAZING and I like how it starts out with the empowering female anthems of "Give It to Me Right," "Bang, Bang" and "Monday Morning" and then the middle of the album is a transition period as it seems the strong woman in the beginning is seemingly injured by love and the end of the album is tapered with the emotive struggles of wanting to leave and stay in an unhealthy relationship. The album closers of "It Kills Me" and "Teach Him" are just beautiful and are probably the most beautiful songs on the album. It's funny 'cause will I don't agree that a woman should waste her time trying to teach a no-good man the basics of how to treat he right, the song is so captivatingly beautiful with its simplicity and deep acoustic sound that it is an addictive listen. Fans of "It Kills Me" Will throughly enjoy "Teach Him" but may be surprised by the vibe of the album as a whole because while it is R&B, it's not "Beyonce or Ciara hip/hop R&B" it's more "Modern Motown/Deborah Cox R&B"...hope this helps those interested in buying the album :-)

Almost every song is from a different era. She's going to go very far, she has a nice stong voice. The first time I heard "Give it to me Right", I knew i would like her, and I do. "It Kills Me" is still my Favorite song. I really enjoyed this CD!

Album has a wonderful R&B vocal sound mixed with a Motown feel. LOVE Give It To Me Right, it's what made me buy the album. Expand your Listening Horizons and give Melanie Fiona a try!

love every song, my fav is 'It kills me' nice beat, and she is sanging. Glad she got a grammy nom for this song, but she is up against some tuff females, I want to hear more from this artist. I know she is new, but i am falling for her music.