Search - Teena Marie :: La Dona

Teena Marie Is Back

M. J. Moore | Chicago, Illinois United States | 05/24/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Teena Marie hits the scenes again. After more than ten years since her last release and after 25 years since her debut on the scene, one of the first Blue Eyed, White souls comes again at us. I am still surprised by how ghetto and hip Teena is. She is so wild and gangsta-like but at the same time lady and respectful like. The 48 year old has not made hardly any noise in the last decade or so but coming back has been hot. Before Pink, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake and some of our other soulful singers came on the scene for the current generation, Teena was the White lady holding it down like no other with soul. I am not familiar with much of her older music just because I am so young but I have heard my Mother listening to and kinda fawning over her. Maybe due to radio's heavy rotation of the song here in Chicago as well as just something about her compelling me to buy the CD, I decided to cop this CD.LA DONA- One of the best and most meaningful intros about Teena returning to the scenes to reclaim her throne or her place in music. The inclusion of her daughter is real special and hot.STILL IN LOVE- First single off the effort which has made some noise at radio and on the charts in the top 30 of the R&B Charts, this was not a song I really felt at first just because her vocals sound kinda tired here and it sounds too too old school for me. But after radio unrelentingly playing the cut, I was hooked more. Produced by Teena and Mannie Fresh, the song is pretty good as many people already know. A-HONEY CALL- Produced by Teena Marie and Pamela Williams, this neo-jazzy but also R&B song talks about that "honey call" is a nice song that reminds me of the few Teena cuts I have heard played. The song is old-school but fresh and new at the same time. Probably one of the best cuts. It is a mid-tempo by the way. ABABY I'M yOUR FIEND- Produced by Teena Marie and James Allen, this is another hot track slowed down a little more than the former cut. It is one of the better tracks with its jazzy element to it. It is more jazzy than many of the others but also newer sounding. Teena's voice fits this music pretty well and it is just refreshing to hear this unstructured, unpolished kinda R&B songs. It talks about feenin' for someone. AMY BODY'S HUNGRY- Produced by Teena and Doug Grisby, this song where the title says it all is Quiet Storm, slow, simmering track is another signature (my opinion of signature) Teena song. It reminds me of that late night vibe and it is pretty hot. The song is just that laidback, making love kinda tune. AA ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME- I think this is the 2nd single off the CD, featuring Gerald Levert and produced by Teena and James Allen, this cut is pretty good. It has that old mixed with the new kinda vibe to it again. Gearald and Teena mix well especially at the climax. This is a nice radio-friendly cut. If they played STILL IN LOVE, they can play this as well. This song is pretty hot. AOFF THE CHAIN- Featuring Baby "Birdman" and produced by Teena, Doug Grisby and Mooks, although this song has Baby on it and has the title about things being off da chain which means hot, the song still is Teena. Maybe some of the lyrics do sound a little different than what to expect from someone her age but Teena sounds pretty good doing it. The song is a little too weird for me. The chorus is strange and the verses are as well. It is not really matched to Teena's vocals as well. There is nothing really hot about the song except for Baby's rap. BMAKAVELLI NEVER LIED- Produced by Teena and James Allen, this song which talks about Tupac's alter ego I think is pretty hot. It is a slower jam with a little beat to it that talks about authentic people never lying and is just a song that provokes thought. Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan and Jesus Christ are mentioned as never lying. ARECYCLE HATE TO LOVE- This is the first song that sounds like something FULLY modern or newer because most of the cuts have that old-school or jazzy vibe to it but this one which fits Teena's vocals well featuring Lady Levi, Alia Rose and produced by Teena Marie and Doug Grisby, the song is thought-provoking about recycling hate and changing it to love. The song is hot but I dont know how much Lady Levi adds to this Reggae and also Latin-like song. Teena's high vocals fit this song well. ATHE MACKIN' GAME- Feautring M.C. Lyte and Medusa and produced by Teena, James Allen and Doug Grisby, this cut which looks at the macking game sounds hot. It can even and should be considered as a single. This is another song that sounds modern but also has Teena being herself. The raps are good on this song and it is just a hot track. Probably one of the best cuts. A+I LOVE HIM TOO- Featuring De De O'Neal who I have never heard of before and produced by Teena and Doug Grisby, I get confused by the two because they kinda sound alike. This Quiet Storm, slow groove is Teena back into her element or what I would assume is hers because of how most of the songs sound. This cut really goes nowhere but it does set it down straight about loving whoever both of them. A-I GOT yOU- Produced by Teena and Doug Grisby and featuring Teena's longtime musical companion, this song is a nice mix of the old and the new with its older sounding element but I also like the singy songy chorus and add-in of the background vocals. It talks about just simply having someone. AHIT ME WHERE I LIVE- Produced by Teena, Doug Grisby and James Allen, this cut is a little faster paces jazz cut is pretty good. It is fresh and pretty hot. Teena sounds good singing this. A-HIGH YELLOW GIRL- Featuring her daughter Alia Rose and produced by Teena and James Allen, this is a tribute to her daughter. Her daughter sounds good here. The only problem is that they stress her high yellow, "mellow yellow' skin complexion saying that entirely too much but it is a good track nonetheless with its jazzy kinda bluesy vibe to it. A-BLACK RAIN- Produced by James Allen, this jazzy song which talks about black rain is really nothing special to me. It is maybe the weakest track just because I am not used to this kinda music. B-I'M ON FIRE- A good close-out tune about Teena being on fire and for the most part, she pretty much is. It is just the music and Teena's voice. Produced by Teena and Doug Grisby, it kinda makes one wish that Teena would have done more songs like this where it is just her voice and the music. It is a nice tune. Music and voice. AOverall, the CD is pretty good. Teena does talk alot at the beginning of the songs and you can tell that this lady is urban, she is hip. The CD does not sound as Hip-Hoppish as some people try to make it. Save a couple tracks, it sounds like something Teena could have done in the 80s. The production is not so polished and structured and traditional as most other R&B songs or music for that matter. I wondered how that would sound but because I am not used to it, I did not really feel it. However, Teena has introduced me to a kinda music that I have never heard before and probably would not hear for a while. It is a CD that I listen to just because I like Teena but the music I am not really used to. Teena does not try to sound young or stay young in any way so the older fans and even younger people can feel it. Teena's vocals are still pretty fresh and hot. Her high soprano fits many of the songs well. It is only the vibrato and some of the sharp higher notes that are weak or makes her sound older or off but other than that, she is still on-point with her vocals."

"I'M STILL IN LOVE" WITH TEENA MARIE~ WOW!!!!

Bradly Briggs | TOLUCA LAKE, CALIFORNIA | 05/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the music world one of the most under-appreciated yet soulfully brilliant singers around is Teena Marie who has given us an incredible new MASTERPIECE with the release of "La Dona". A musical journey takes off and really gets into high gear with the masterful "I'm Still In Love" with Teena singing with all her classic AND passionate soulful brilliance in a current contemporary setting without compromising what's great about her own original groove. A funky jam "Honey Call" is infectious and seductive while "Baby I'm Your Fiend" is sublime and jazzy flowing into the hypnotic beauty of "My Body's Hungry" which is a smooth soul classic. Gerald Levert is perfect in an engrossing soulful duet "A Rose By Any Other Name" that is the ultimate slow jam classic with both of these awesome singers in peak form weaving a rich tapestry of glorious vocals that become totally breathtaking!!! Breathtaking is this whole set and "Off The Chain" is an over the top jam that is a totally amazing cooker with a rap by "The Birdman" that flows with perfection with Lady T. Teena raises "rap" to a new level and "Makavelli Never Lied" is a keeper with references to greats such as Stevie Wonder, Chaka Kahn, Joni Mitchell, Marvin Gaye, John Lennon, Jesus Christ, all of whom never lied which leads into revalations such as "Recycle Hate To Love" with its universal message crucial to our very survival in a latin motif that flows beautifully with a glorious guitar that is unforgettable. Hip hop rhythms compliment and never get in the way of the brilliance of Teena Marie and examples like "The Mackin' Game" and "I Love Him Too" demonstrate this. Full circle comes around to Rick James in "I Got You" and the cooking "Hit Me Where I Live" has a lot going on with great tempo changes while a mothers love is a joyous experience in "High Yellow Girl". "Black Rain" is a Teena Tour-De-Force classic where you can just sit back and marvel at a singer doing what she does best in a gorgeous setting that has a vocal that is all over the map while the finale "I'm On Fire" is clearly another Teena masterpiece where Lady T shows what she is all about in a soft and soulful setting!!! A truly magical set with an artist at her absolute peak!!! Hopefully this time Grammy will rise to the occasion and salute this LADY-it is long overdue but better late than never!!!! Bravo Teena Marie-You Are AWESOME!!!!!!"

Grown Folks Music

SoulSistah#1 | Where I'm at! | 05/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is music for the discriminating music lover with mature taste. Teena Marie is my all time favorite singer, no make that sanger. I make that statement with pride as she is the epitome of an entertainer. And the blessing is her voice just gets better with time. She sounds even better live. But I digress......
Her new album (yes I did say album), La Dona, is destined to be another classic. Teena revisits her roots as a classic balladeer and infuses it with jazz, R and B, dancehall and even a little crunk. Her crystal clear tonality and crisp vocal style will take you back to a time when singers could actually SANG. If I could compare her music to a feeling I would say this album feels like a summer breeze coupled with sunshine and the feeling of pure LOVE. Teena even gets some assistance from her partna in crime, the one and only RICK JAMES B_______!My only complaint is I wish the album was longer perhaps with a few more slow jams.
You will not be disappointed in this album. The intro skit is not annoying like on most albums. And the musical arrangement is not only original but refreshing. Tina IS La Dona, and she WILL RECLAIM HER THRONE. As a matter of fact if she were here, I would kiss her pinky ring. Please cop this album, she has made you an offer you can't refuse (okay enough with the cliches)."