Mikaila

Mikaila

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 6, 2001)
• Original Release Date: March 6, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Island
• ASIN: B00005A8IM
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,327 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
If Britney Spears built a vocal style on Janet Jackson's mannerisms, former Spears opening act Mikaila further thins the formula with a debut album fully cloned from the Britster's musical model. From hip-hop-lite workouts to cheeseball ballads, the teen-queen wannabe spews melisma and kittenish moans all over a dozen songs--most so cliché-packed they sound as though they'd been scribbled by the singer herself during study hall rather than custom-built by pros. Till the clocks run out of time, the stars refuse to shine, the rivers all run dry, and the sun falls from the sky, she's all yours, she vows. With the teen-pop boom waning, that's a lot longer than this career thing looks to last. Hope Mikaila didn't sell her textbooks. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sexy mixture of urban pop, June 28, 2001

By A Customer

When I first heard Mikaila's debut single SO IN LOVE WITH TWO, I was blown away. Such a hard hitting, funky pop/R&B mixture, it was a such a shame it wasn't as well publicisized or as successful as say the likes of Britney Spears, whom Mikaila shares similar sounds to, or Christina Aguilera, whom Mikaila could challenge with impressive vocals for a 14 year old. Mikaila's debut album, simply titled MIKAILA, is a funky and sexy mixture of urban spliced pop, upbeat dance and a little emotion charged ballads, to ease this impressive CD along.

1)SO IN LOVE WITH TWO - Debut single, featuring hard hitting drum beats and an addictive chorus, it is helped along by Mikaila's seemingly sweet voice. Also co-written by her.

2)STRAIGHT TO MY FACE - Another upbeat urban pop mix, letting us listeners know Mikaila wants answers and wants them now. Fast paced verses and chorus move this funky track along nicely, after a slow start.

3)FOREVER, FOR ALWAYS, FOR YOU - From the title you can guess it's a ballad, and a rather sweet one at that. If anyone has heard Emma Bunton's tune A WORLD WITHOUT YOU (From her A GIRL LIKE ME album), this track is similar.

4)PLAYGROUND - Picking up the pace, this sensual pop beat has rather mature lyrics and the suggestions she's making, whilst not inappropriate, it would seem to fit an older pop queen (ie Britney), but she pulls it off, gracefully and sexually. A hot track.

5)TALKIN' ABOUT ME - This dance number, where Mikaila hopes the boy she fancies is talkin' bout her (hence the title), is laced with a spanish feel. Another top track.

6)IT'S ALL UP TO YOU - Said to be the next released single, this is a softer sound, and a little more poppish than previous album ballad - TRACK 3 - and more enjoyable.

7)PERFECT WORLD - After starting off with a little rain and thunder intro, this fnky urban pop mixture hits full gear, complete with spicy flamenco guitars ripping up the flavour of this cool tune.

8)MY DREAM IS GONE - This tune would come close to my fave on this album. After starting with a misleading piano intro, it doesn't take long before it picks up for a hot, funky and addictive dance tune. The chorus is instantly addictive and reminds me a little of Tonya Mitchell's BROKEN PROMISES track. Absolute must listen to this track.

9)MY HEAVEN - Another sweet ballad, probably the best so far. More like Mandy's I WANNA BE WITH YOU, than Jessica Simpson extreme.

10)EMOTIONAL - Something like this would fit perfectly on Mandy's IWANNA BE WITH YOU album or Britney's BABY ONE MORE TIME. Mikails goes all out pop with this upbeat fast, and feel good tune. The chorus is another addictive riff.

11)BECAUSE OF YOU - Mid-tempo kinda upbeat ballad, in the smae line of Britney's SOMETIMES. As ballads go this is very enjoyable, as a pop dance tune, it's very mellow. A good track to chill out to.

12)MY HEART CAN'T LET YOU GO - It's an absolute giveaway this title. Mikaila's gets all grown up and purs her heart out in this emotional ballad co-written by her.

The Australian version which I am reviewing also feature two bonus tracks. 13)YOU TELL ME - An absolute fave, more R&B than any of the others and produced by Stargate, it's gotta little spanish feel that resembles Backstreet Boys' THE CALL, or the Darkchild remix of Jennifer Lopez's IF YOU HAD MY LOVE. A must listen to track, as well the ballad 14)THE ART OF LETTING GO - Another ballad, that probably wasn't the best way to finish the album, although it does prove how mature she is as an artist.

Overall a funky album that is laced with pop and R&B and should appeal to all listeners who like such material as NSync (NO STRINGS ATTACHED), Christina Aguilera (CHRISTINA AGUILERA), Britney Spears (BABY ONE MORE TIME + OOPS I DID IT AGAIN), Mandy Moore (I WANNA BE WITH YOU), Backstreet Boys (BLACK AND BLUE) and Tonya Mitchell (I REPRESENT).

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Move over Britney! Mikaila is here!, March 19, 2001

By	"jshippo2001" (California) - See all my reviews

Mikaila has a great voice and some killer songs. If she gets more promotion, she will blow up!

1) So In Love With Two - The first single. It's a great song with cool lyrics. Mikaila's vocals aren't the best on this track, but still pretty good. 8/10

2) Straight To My Face - Wow. What an awesome song! The lyrics are harsh at some points, but she sure gets her point across. I hope this will be a single. 10/10

3) Forever, For Always, For You - Yep, you guessed it! It's a slow song! She has great vocals, but unfortunately the song is on the boring side. 7/10

4) Playground - My fave on the CD! R&B meets Pop with great lyrics and vocals. Another potential single. The highlight of the CD (even if it is a bit too mature). 10/10

5) Talkin' Bout Me - Nothing spectacular, but it still manages to be one of the best on the album. A great chorus! 10/10

6) It's All Up To You - Another slow song and the album's second single. 8/10

7) Perfect World - Another highlight! Mikaila sings about if it were a perfect world boys would be truthfull to girls and really care about them. Once again, harsh but to the point. 10/10

8) My Dream Is Gone - Still not sure what to make of this. Its not horrible, but it hasn't grown on me either. 6/10

9) My Heaven - Another slow song, but this one is really good. Once again, great vocals on Mikaila's part. 10/10

10) Emotional - My second favorite on the album. It is very poppy, sounds like a mix between Mandy Moore and Britney Spears. Still manages to be fun and carefree, and I hope it's released as a single. 10/10

11) Because Of You - Same comment and rating for My Dream Is Gone.

12) My Heart Can't Let You Go - A very beautiful ballad with perfect vocals and instrumentals. Another major highlight of the album, it really lets Mikaila's voice shine. 10/10

So, in closing, Mikaila is a very talented new artist who needs lots of support. I really hope she can make it to the top! Pick this CD up if you like songs by Britney Spears, 3LW and Christina Aguilera.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars She Should Truly Be A Superstar, August 27, 2005

By	Georganne Wood - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's hard to imagine that Mikaila actually recorded this album when she was 13, first of all because of her gorgeous, rich voice, and secondly because of her bluntly sexual lyrics. (i.e. Playground, My Dream Is Gone) Nevertheless, she can sing like no other 13 year old, and her songs are all catchy and great.

1. So in Love With Two - Mikaila's first single is a winner. With a good beat, a catchy chorus, decent lyrics, and a great voice to go along with those, I promise you you'll play this one over and over again. 10/10
2. Straight to My Face - It's hard to beat the intro to this song. It's got a good pop tune and a perfect beat. 9/10
3. Forever, For Always, For You - Mikaila's first ballad is slow and beautiful. It's one of my favorite songs because of its amazing vocals and touching lyrics. It would fit right into Christina Aguilera's debut CD. 10/10
4. Playground - Mikaila's infamous song has a great beat, and an instantly catchy chorus. If you don't like hearing a 13 year old singing provactive lyrics, I don't suggest you listen to this one. 9/10
5. Talkin' Bout Me - I love the Latin intro here, but it quickly loses that Spanish-pop sound and goes into a full blown R&B song. Probably the worst song on the album, which is good, because it's not that bad. 7/10
6. It's All Up to You - Another ballad. Like Forever, For Always, For You it has touching lyrics and slow, beautiful tune. 9/10
7. Perfect World - A sassy pop song with a touch of R&B. It's simple yet catchy chorus mixes perfectly with the backround music. 9/10
8. My Dream Is Gone - Everything about this song is perfect. The beautiful piano intro, the pop beat, the vocals, the upbeat, catchy chorus, great. 10/10
9. My Heaven - You guessed it, another ballad. Not as good as the first ballads, but still really nice. 8/10
10. Emotional - An upbeat pop song. This is the track that made me buy Mikaila's album. I personally think this should've been the second single, rather than Straight to My Face. It's so good that the American Juniors re-made it. 10/10
11. Because of You - A calm, laid-back track. Mikaila's voice doesn't shine so much on this one, but it has a nice sound to it. 8/10
12. My Heart Can't Let Go - The perfect close to a great album. Her voice is beautiful with the Spanish guitar in the backround. Simply great. 10/10

Mikaila deserves to be huge by now. It's too bad she was brushed off as just another wannabe pop act. Her voice is very individual, with a richness that's rare in this kind of music. Overall album grade: 9/10