Sapphire
 | By Teena Marie Cash Money, 2006, Audio CD Customer Rating: 78 reviews Recommend |
|---|
Sapphire is the release that ought to earn the indomitable Teena Marie her Oprah moment: If ever there was a disc with the potential to puff up the egos of 50-year-old women, this is it. Marie, 50 herself, sounds as vital and vixenish as she did in the '80s, when her anguished plea to be her man's "Lovergirl" was all over the airwaves (check first single "Ooo Wee," and "Make it Hot," a scorcher with ample reserves of bounce). What's more, Lady Tee leaps fearlessly into uncharted stylistic territory. Kurupt shows up early on track three ("Baby Who's Is It") to ease a transition into hip-hop, but five songs later she dispenses with the gravel-voiced help and goes it alone: "Love is a Gangsta" is her love letter to the raw and the real, and in it she makes the class move of name-checking a fellow 50-ish badass, Pam Grier. On a rambling disc that would do her one-time partner Rick James proud — there is an unignorable element of superfreakishness to Sapphire that owes itself both to Marie's dramatic phrasing and her distinctive production — she also reaches back to her old-school R&B roots, enlisting the ever-sexy Smokey Robinson for the swivelly "Cruise Control" (and the less likable opener "God Has Created"). "Resilient," the closer, could have been the title of this disc — it has all the trappings of autobiography — but instead of running off with it, Marie mikes up her daughter, Alia Rose, for a duet. Don't count on Marie stepping aside to get all middle-aged-mother anytime soon, though. By the sound of Sapphire, she's just getting started. — Tammy La Gorce
- God Has Created - Teena Marie, Smokey Robinson
- Cruise Control - Teena Marie, Smokey Robinson
- Baby Who's Is It - Kurupt, Teena Marie
- Make It Hot
- Ooh Wee - Kurupt, Teena Marie
- Sleeping with the Enemy
- A.P.B.
- Love Is a Gangsta
- Ladies Choice - Gail Gotti, Teena Marie,
- Somebody Just Like You - Gerald Albright, Teena Marie
- You Blow Me Away
- Simmer Down - Lady Levi, Teena Marie
- Romantica
- Way You Love Me
- Ecstasy
- Resilient (Sapphire) - Teena Marie, Alia Rose
Title: Sapphire
Sales Rank: 24348 in Music
Artist: Teena Marie
Label: Cash Money, 2006-05-09, Audio CD, 1 Disc
Package Dimensions: 5.55 x 4.97 x 0.54 inches, 0.18 pounds
- Teena Makes It A Hot One For All!
- When she is able to put it all together Lady T sure knows how to sustai a comeback! To keep the momentum from her previous La Dona this album came out a year and a half later,also on the Cash Money label. So naturally,as before there are a number of accomadations to rap.And the hip-hop production of the music is still extremely strong. But in every significant way… More reviews
- Classic Teena!!!!!!!!
- This is classic,vintage Teena with a twist!!! Resilient (Sapphire) featuring Teena's daughter(Alia Rose) is so beautiful. It was also befitting of what the Katrina victims went through,that particular song,although it brought tears to my eyes, was also very uplifting.Romatica is classic Teena,The Way You love Me,APB,Cruise Control,Baby Whose Is It,Ooo Wee with Kurupt,Love Is A Gangsta,Somebody Just Like You,is funny at the end,Simmer Down,Ecstacy… More reviews
- Great
- The CD that I received was in great condition. I received it in a timely manner as well. I will definately keep this company in mind when purchasing CD's in the future.… More reviews
- Sapphire
- Teena, WHAT can I say? This 50 year woman has never lost it. This Cd I feel another personal journey for her about love. The cut to listen to is "Love is a Gangsta" The lyrics tells what love will make you do. The track by DR DRE....... IS ALL THAT.... GO TEENA
Greg Lassiter… More reviews
- SAPPHIRE
- This album is very good. This album serves as more evidence that the passionate vocalist has never been in better form. Rick James would refer to Teena as 'his sapphire'. She dedicated this album to Rick James. This album deserves better promotion. … More reviews
