Customer Reviews

Complicated

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Okay" is the club anthem for the ladies with several hot remixes. The song is also the first single from Nivea's sophomore album Complicated. Complicated hits stores on May 3rd. The CD is hot and it Nivea opens up on the CD with some very personal lyrics. Songs like "No More" and "It's All Good," are really good but the pain in the lyrics makes the listener realize that everything isn't always as it seems. The CD opens with the interlude "Rain." The interlude itself is like a short poem in which Nivea explains that you have to go through the rain and the pain to get to the good things. This interlude is followed by the beautiful title track "Complicated." Nivea is at a really happy point in her life. She is married and expecting her first child. This song basically is about how love doesn't have to be complicated.

The song "No More" is one that is sure to keep people talking. Nivea, who just turned 23 years old, really comes across as a young Mary J. Blige in this song. You can hear the pain in her voice as she sings the painful lyrics. She discusses the frustration with having worked so hard but not being able to help her family financially. The lyric, "I almost had a spouse until he put me out," is sure to have people buzzing about her one time relationship with Lil Wayne although Nivea doesn't name names. Another personal song on the CD is the last track "It's All Good," where Nivea talks about shady people including managers who steal. The main message of the song is how Nivea perserves despite the drama.

Songs "I Can't Mess With You," and "Indian Girl" are sure to be popular tracks. The production on songs "Parking Lot" and "Quickie" are okay but they are not stand out tracks. The Red Cup "Okay" remix is slow and laid back and a hot track on the album.

Nivea has a really beautiful voice and at sometimes she also reminds me of Mariah Carey circa the Butterfly and Rainbow albums. Nivea and her labelmate R. Kelly reunite on the song "Gangsta Girl." Yes, R. Kelly did appear on the Big Tymers song "Gangsta Girl," but this is a totally different song.

Lil Jon and The Youngbloodz appear on the single "Okay." New female rapper Rasheeda is featured on the song "Quickie." Nivea's new husband rapper/singer/producer The Dream is featured on the songs "I Can't Mess With You," and the "Okay" remix.

The CD is bound to be a summertime favorite. It's a really great effort by Nivea and her production team.

Nivea's signature cd will undoubtedly be this one. This cd is destined for greatness with hits on it including the of course overplayed "okay" but not limited to just that, "complicated" the newest single is hott (relatable), "okay remix" real hottness (who knew the second time around would be just as hott as the first). "Parking Lot" my girl likes this song, it could get radio play."I can't mess with you" samples I believe the Supremes "You are everything", but she pulls it off just right. Surprisingly, "Indian Dance" has a catchy beat + nicely harmonized verses but the chorus is just too annoying to replay. "Quickie" is nice though, what a man wants to hear from any sexy lady. "Breathe (let it go)" slow, mellow song...its aight in my playbook.

Mediocre/Filler Songs: "Its all good", "So far", "Gangster Girl", "No More"

Ok, I really do like Nivea but it just seems like something is missing on this album. Something like that song she got with R. Kelly on the TP.3 album. On that song her voice is beautiful and its just something about Nivea singin' on an R. Kelly songs that brings the true songstress out of her. I don't really feel that on this album. My favorite 2 tracks are "Complicated", and "Parking Lot", but overall the album really is just alright. I'm patiently waiting for her to do something spectacular that will make her blow up, but until then I'll just be confused as to why she is not utilizing more seasoned producers in the industry. If its on sale it might be worth it, if its full price I wouldn't.

ATL shortie Nivea was just one among many young, fresh faced r&b songbirds when she debuted with her self-titled album in 2002. Propelled by the fiery single 'Dont Mess With My Man', it was a substantial hit album for her first time out. For the three years that Nivea was out of the spotlight, she seemingly vanished, and if the gritty, mid-tempo 'No More' is any indication, those three years were rife with personal turmoil and a fair share of drama. It is a new day for Nivea, motherhood being her biggest accomplishment, but her album is also a transformation of sorts. Exuding a new found confidence, as well as fresh material, Complicated is what many sophmore albums should be, a revelation of growth both artistically and mentally.

Complicated begins with the pensive opener 'Rain', a spoken word tribute explaining the rain's true purpose as seen through Nivea's eyes. Her honeyed soprano flows haromoniously in the background. The title track, 'Complicated', is a sparse, quiet storm ballad, where Nivea opens her heart and confesses that love brought her from the darkness and pain and into a feeling joy and rebirth. It is one of the albums best tracks, and is a song that grows to hold more meaning each time it is heard.

'Parking Lot' is a mid-tempo hip-hop jam that harkens back to the street corner soul of the new jack swing movement. Nivea's girl-from-around-the-way lyrics are both sensual and genuine.

Of course there is the standout-and outstanding-first single 'Okay', a whimsical slice of r&b crunk that sounds oddly enough like a down south hip-hop carnival complete with a merry-go-round melody and enough bass to keep bodies moving all night. 'Quickie' uses middle-eastern influences to great affect with a grinding beat and Nivea's delicious vocals fusing together with Rasheeda's down south swagger. Dancehall riddims pulse from the track 'Indian Dance', a call-and-response club banger where Nivea promises to have you 'singin' like dem Indians...'

Even though R. Kelly returns with his somewhat overdone flamenco bit on 'Gangsta Girl', it is nonetheless a stellar dance track set to a frenetic beat and complimented by Nivea's sly come-hithers and fiery confidence. As mentioned before, 'No More' is a gritty slice of soul where Nivea stretches her honey kissed vocals into a passionate tale of her hardships and the power she had to overcome them. It also places a greater emphasis on the power of lyrics. Nivea has most certainly grown into an accomplished, honest, and genuine songwriter, using her own experiences to craft a mosaic of different moods and moments.

As far as remixes go, Nivea knows how they need to be done. 'Okay' is completely turned around for its remix. The old school, g-funk beat is cool and lush, and ATL shorties vocals are brimming with confidence and soul.

Sophmore slump? Not here. 'Complicated' is a well thought out, deeply personal, and altogether entertaining album. Here's hoping that we won't have to wait another three years for this ATL honey to grace us with her flourishing talents. As the closing track clearly states, 'it's all good.'

THIS ABLBUM SUPRISED ME BECAUSE SHE REALLY MATURED ON THIS ALBUM WITH BECOMING A MOM AND A WIFE SHE HAS SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT CAUSE SHE FINALLY ALL GROWN UP!!

I CAN GUARANTEE ITS SHOWS HER GROWN AND SAFISTICATED SIDE I LOVE IT AND CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THIS ALBUM ITS HOT!!!

MY FAVORITE SONGS ON THIS ALBUM IS:

1.COMPLICATED-IN THIS SONG SHE EXPRESS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE IN LOVE WIT HER HUSBAND/MAN

2.PARKING LOT-IT A SONG THAT MOST CAN RELATE TO YOU GOT THAT ONE PERSON THAT PUTS IT DOWN BETTER THAN YO MAN/GIRL AND YOU CANT WAIT TO PUT IT DOWN AGAIN! THIS IS THE SONG THAT IS ALL ABOUT IT! WHY NOT GET FRIES TO GO WITH THAT SHAKE..lol

3.CAN'T MESS WITH YOU-SO SO TRUE EVERYTIME YA'LL BREAK UP AND YOU TURN AROUND HE IN YOUR FACE TRYIN TO GET YOU BACK THIS IS THE SONG SAYING "DON'T DO IT GIRL, DON'T DO IT!"

4.OKAY(REMIX)-SUPER SAFISTICATED AND LAID BACK

Nivea is a beautiful young lady who as an artist deserves more credit than she is given. It's ashame that by now, not everyone in the world knows who she is. I place Nivea higher than I place Britney Spears (who shouldn't be as popular as she is). Nivea is so underrated that it scares me.

Complicated has the best material I've heard in a long time. You can fall in love with almost every track on it. If Nivea continues to make more albums like this, everyone will know who she is.

1. Rain (Interlude) - Just an interlude to start the album off with a statement from Nivea about her definition of rain relating to love and life.

2. Complicated (10/10) - I love this song. It's mellow and has a good vibe to it. Her vocals are definitely on point on this track. I'm 100% positive the song is about her husband (The Dream. It has to do with people trying to be all in her relationship. It's nice to see a softer side to Nivea.

3. Okay (featuring Lil' Jon & Youngbloodz) (10/10) - A crunk, dirty-south track. It's definitely a club banger.

4. Parking Lot (10/10) - A nice song about a parking lot. LOL, what else can I say? I think that the song is about cheating on her man. The words she say make it seem like she's having an affair. "My man's at the house so, meet me at the McDonald's parking lot".

5. Fulton County Correctional Call (Interlude) - Kind pointless, but it's an interlude where some guy calls from jail. She doesn't answer. End of story. Actually, it isn't pointless because it kind of introduces the next song.

6. I Can't Mess With You (featuring The Dream) (9/10) - A pretty nice song with Nivea and her husband The Dream. It's basically about Nivea not being able to mess around with "her man" because she is still in love with him and is trying to get over him.

7. Breathe (Let It Go) (10/10) - Nivea's vocals on this track are angelic. She sounds so sweet and innocent, yet with an attitude. It's basically about being under stress and not being able to do anything but breathe in and out.

8. Quickie (featuring Rasheeda) (10/10) - I love this song. It's real risque. You can tell Nivea is a wild chick who doesn't mind having quickies. Can't be mad at that!

9. Indian Dance (10/10) - A lot of people don't like this track but I think it's sexy. I could see the video for this song now. Nivea keeps that freaky vibe going with this track. "Boy I'll you singing like them Indians (eyy ya ya ya ya ya ya!)". LO L. This has to be one of my favorite songs on the album.

10. No More (7/10) - A decent song. She says 'no more' too much though to the point where it gets annoying.

11. Gangsta Girl (featuring R.Kelly) (10/10) - Just the fact that it's an R.Kelly track makes the song already. His beats are always fresh and have that Middle-Eastern vibe to them. This song isn't any different.

12. Okay [Remix] (featuring The Dream) (10/10) - Just as good, if not better, than the original with a slower vibe. This song is something you can just ride to in your car pumpin' it.

13. So Far (10/10) - A nice, slower song about feeling so far way from "her other".

14. It's All Good (8/10) - It's a good song. Enough said.

15. My Fault (6/10) - A pretty nice song. Isn't the greatest, but it's worth listening to. Not a good way to go out on an album.

Overall Grade : B+

Nivea shows no growth from this album and the last. I mean, she's a grown woman, why isn't she writing songs that sound her age. The lyrics are ones to laugh at. Nivea please get it together--you have talent; learn how to use it!! There are a couple of good songs dont get me wrong (thats why I gave it 3 stars instead of one) but its not worth the money you'd pay for it. Borrow this from a friend if you're not sure.

Nivea's back better than ever. If you haven't brought it yet go get it! It is very good cd.

Nivea never lets me down..She has such an amazing voice..Too bad she doesn't get the credit that she deserves..I loved her 1st album & I love this one..The one song I can't seem to stop playing is "Complicated"..That song is soo beautiful..I didn't think she would come back, but I'm soo glad she did..I hope this album goes far please buy it support Ms.Nivea.

This album is a slight improvement over Nivea's debut, her vocal performance is strong on a few tracks but overall mediocre lyrics and recycled beats created too may filler-ish type tracks and nothing really memorable to help Nivea carve out a niche in the r&b/hip/pop female division.

I agree with a previous poster that R. Kelly seems to give Nivea his throw-away tracks and hope that she can improve her writing skills and/or work with writers & producers who can come up with songs that can better showcase her voice and catchier hooks/beats to capture listeners attention.

The tracks that I liked solely for the musical arrangements & beats are: INDIAN DANCE; PARKING LOT & OKAY.

IT'S ALL GOOD is a nice up-beat track that makes the best presentation of her vocals; GANGSTA GIRL - I really like this track, especially the guitar riffs & SO FAR - her airy, light vocal performance really sounds great on this track.