Archive » Month of Mary

This page contains 35 entries posted under the "Month of Mary" category.

Monday November 30

Coming Soon! 'Men Love Mary: A Tribute To 'My Life''

 

The Month of Mary is almost over, but our celebration of Mary J. Blige isn't. The party continues tomorrow with the release of a very special project that SoulBounce has worked tirelessly to produce in honor of Mary and her...

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Butta  |  11/30/2009 at 2:45 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Sunday November 29

Why Men Love Mary And 'My Life'

 

The Post-Breakup Album is always a tricky thing to execute, particularly for female artists. Write some great songs, and you win the people's support (see: Mama's Gun). But drop some "other" shit and you have men AND women thinking, "I...

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Phonte  |  11/29/2009 at 3:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Sunday November 29

Reflections On 'My Life'

 

Fifteen years ago today, My Life was released and, through that collection of songs, that collection of angst, heartache and pain set to music, Mary J. Blige became our Queen. She earned that throne with that one album, slowly worked...

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SoulBounce  |  11/29/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Saturday November 28

'My Life' At 15: Rewind

 

All November long SoulBounce has been celebrating MJB the VIP during the Month of Mary in commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the release of Mary J. Blige's pivotal release, My Life. We kicked off the month by breaking...

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SoulBounce  |  11/28/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Friday November 27

When Mary J. Showed Us What She Could 'Do'

 

You know, I feel like Kiki Shepard should be doing this post, as it seems like an old school "Apollo Legend Moment." Heh. The year was 1990. Uptown/MCA Records recording artist Father MC had just hit the scene with catchy,...

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Harlem  |  11/27/2009 at 2:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Wednesday November 25

'Month Of Mary' Mix

 

The Month of Mary wouldn't be complete without a mix chronicling Mary J. Blige's music over the course of her career. We commissioned Todd Kelley aka The Big La to dig into MJB's crates to create a special mix for...

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Butta  |  11/25/2009 at 5:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Wednesday November 25

It's Not Over 'Til Mary J. Blige Sings

 

It's not over! The "Month of Mary" is still going strong as we celebrate Mary J. Blige's tremendous impact on the music world by taking us on a journey through hers. The Queen of Hip Hop Soul had conquered more...

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Fave  |  11/25/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Tuesday November 24

Mary J. Blige's 'Seven Days' Remix Flips The Script

 

As the Queen of Hip Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige has built an impressive catalog of gully dance grooves and deep slow jams. But did you know that her remix game over the years is also ridiculously off the hook?...

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Fave  |  11/24/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Monday November 23

13 Reasons Why Mary J. Blige Is The Undisputed Queen Of Hip Hop Soul

 

No month-long homage to Mary J. Blige would in any way be complete without acknowledging her profound contribution to the genre known as Hip Hop Soul. When she was anointed its Queen by the King of Overexaggeration, Puff Daddy as...

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ill Mami  |  11/23/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Monday November 23

Mary J. Blige Brings Order To The AMAs

 

Last night's American Music Awards telecast was a circus. Between J-Lo falling down during what was supposed to be her triumphant return to the stage and Lady Gaga's fiery piano and Rihanna's flashing lights shoulder pads, the ladies were running...

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Harlem  |  11/23/2009 at 11:00 AM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Sunday November 22

Mary Has No 'Limit' On Her Love

 

Being introduced as the Queen of Hip Hop Soul on What's The 411? meant that there had to be better and badder remixes of your original material just like true Hip Hop singles. With Puffy at the helm, Mary J....

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ill Mami  |  11/22/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Saturday November 21

All Mary Needs Is Some 'Sincerity'

 

Two things struck me simultaneously the other day as I was listening to DMX: firstly, DMX used to be able to get it hype and convey so many deep emotions all at once and secondly, some dude who was my...

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ill Mami  |  11/21/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Friday November 20

Mary J. Blige, Style Icon: A Retrospective

 

 The "Month of Mary" on SoulBounce would not be complete without taking a look back on our beloved Mary J. Blige's look in the public eye. As a woman who grew up next to one of the fashion capitals of...

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Alicia  |  11/20/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Thursday November 19

'My Life' At 15: The Videos

 

No discussion about Mary J. Blige's My Life would be complete without talking about the videos that accompanied the singles from the album. Although there were only three videos made, they are as iconic as the album itself. Filmed during...

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Butta  |  11/19/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Wednesday November 18

'My Life' At 15: 'Be Happy'

 

Mary J. Blige's "Be Happy" was the upbeat first single from My Life to the rest of the world of people who hadn't taken the time to delve into this overwrought, thickened with emotion of an album. To outsiders, Mary...

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ill Mami  |  11/18/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Tuesday November 17

'My Life' At 15: 'No One Else'

 

Unwavering dedication--at the expense of tears, heartache and sanity--throbs in the core of any true "ride or die" type of love. When My Life dropped, Mary J. Blige had become the poster child for tormented souls battered by incredibly flawed love...

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Fave  |  11/17/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Permalink

Monday November 16

'My Life' At 15: 'I Love You'

 

I wish you'd change your ways soon enough/ So we can be together/ You just don't understand good love/ But now all we have is memories...Finally, we've reached the point where Mary is just about ready to let go. I...

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Harlem  |  11/16/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Friday November 13

'My Life' At 15: 'Don't Go'

 

Words such as "pleading," "longing," "desperation" have been used thus far to describe Mary J. Blige's seminal opus, My Life. You may be tired of reading such descriptions. I'm here to tell you that reading the rest of this post...

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ill Mami  |  11/13/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Thursday November 12

'My Life' At 15: 'Mary's Joint'

 

"Unnecessary pain (pain is pain) / Tell me who would get the blame (you know it hurts) / If we should go astray / What would we do? What could we say?" There comes a time every person's life when...

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Harlem  |  11/12/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Wednesday November 11

'My Life' At 15': 'Be With You'

 

After going down, "Be With You" brings Mary's pining up to a more predictable plane. It's a solid R&B track that's undoubtedly of its time. This is accentuated by the preceding track's wildly popular and masterfully employed anachronism (cheers, Diddy)....

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Ro  |  11/11/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Tuesday November 10

Why 'I Am' Loving The Month Of Mary

 

We really picked the right month to feature Mary J. Blige. From rocking national anthems to the release of the Precious soundtrack, to the celebration of the 15th anniversary of My Life, Mary is everywhere this month. And even though...

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Harlem  |  11/10/2009 at 2:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Tuesday November 10

'My Life' At 15: 'I'm Goin' Down'

 

Though it was first popularized nearly 20 years earlier by Rose Royce, Mary's rendition of "I'm Going Down" is arguably the definitive one. This has everything to do her truth at the time. While she doesn't diverge much from...

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Ro  |  11/10/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Monday November 09

'My Life' At 15: 'I Never Wanna Live Without You'

 

"I never wanna live without you, baby / I wanna be your lady / Love is so amazing"One of the standouts on an already stellar album, "I Never Wanna Live Without You" is amongst a handful of tracks that...

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Butta  |  11/09/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Sunday November 08

Mary J. Blige Is 'Beautiful.' Isn't She, Blackstar?

 

Mary J. Blige may be the "Queen of Hip Hop Soul," but many would agree that Mary is the undisputed "Queen of The Remix" as well. Take a moment and think about how many tracks Mary has blessed that resulted...

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ill Mami  |  11/08/2009 at 5:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Sunday November 08

'See In Color' Through Mary's Eyes

 

The riveting drama Precious hit theaters this weekend and those who've seen it have proclaimed that it is not to be missed. Strong performances and Oscar talk for its stars aside, something else that has tongues wagging is the soundtrack...

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Butta  |  11/08/2009 at 1:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Saturday November 07

If You 'Don't Love' Mary 'This Way,' Who Will?

 

The first week into the Month of Mary, you all have been hopefully dazzled with sounds from Mary J. Blige's classic My Life. But as any fan of Mary knows, there are a plethora of bonus cuts that somehow find...

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ill Mami  |  11/07/2009 at 2:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Friday November 06

Mary Speaks On Why Life Is 'Precious'

 

Today, the much buzzed-about film Precious debuts in select theaters across the country. The story, of course, is the story of 16 year-old Claireece 'Precious' Jones, whose life was downright hopeless, and, over time, transformed into not only hopeful, but...

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Harlem  |  11/06/2009 at 2:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Friday November 06

'My Life' At 15: 'You Gotta Believe'

 

It's no secret that My Life was: (1) an open love letter from Mary J. Blige to K-Ci Hailey; and (2) a cornucopia of '90s R&B drenched in soul instrumentals from the '60s and '70s. Unlike the majority of the...

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Fave  |  11/06/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Permalink

Thursday November 05

'My Life' At 15: 'My Life'

 

"Life can be only what you make it / When you're feeling down, you should never fake it" So begins the haunting title track from the My Life album, arguably one of the most beloved songs Mary J. Blige has...

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huny  |  11/05/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Thursday November 05

Mary's 'Star' Shines Bright In The Bronx Night

 

As a native New Yorker, I'd just like the record to show that the World Champion New York Yankees were undefeated when they had soul superstars represent during their pre-game ceremonies. We all know how Jay-Z & Alicia Keys literally...

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Harlem  |  11/05/2009 at 11:00 AM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Wednesday November 04

Mary Won't Be 'Stronger' Til Later This Year

 

This Just In: Mary J. Blige's new disc, Stronger, will be out in time for the holidays. Just during Christmas week, and not around Thanksgiving, as originally planned. Speculation has it that either Mary doesn't want to compete with fellow...

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Harlem  |  11/04/2009 at 5:00 PM  |  Permalink

Wednesday November 04

'My Life' At 15: 'I'm The Only Woman'

 

"I'm The Only Woman" was such a perfect fit hot young thangs such as myself who loved it when we first heard it. My Life was full of pleading masterfully disguised as strength and catharsis and this track was no...

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ill Mami  |  11/04/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Tuesday November 03

'My Life' At 15: 'You Bring Me Joy'

 

"I don't know what I would do / Do without you / In my life, boy..." Barry White's "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me," laid the foundation, but "You Bring Me Joy" was the house that Mary...

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Butta  |  11/03/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Monday November 02

'My Life' At 15: 'Mary Jane (All Night Long)'

 

"Ooooo, baby / Not tonight / I don't want to fuss and fight / I just want to make it right..." And with those lyrics, it was on. The first track on My Life, "Mary Jane (All Night Long)" set...

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Harlem  |  11/02/2009 at 12:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink

Sunday November 01

Welcome To The Month Of Mary!

 

Can you believe that it's been fifteen years since Mary J. Blige's sophomore album, My Life, came into our lives? Fifteen years since Mary followed up her debut album with one of the most personal bodies of work that an...

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Harlem  |  11/01/2009 at 1:00 PM  |  Comments ()  |  Permalink







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