Album Review: Kelly Rowland, Here I Am

Kelly Rowland


Here I Am (released July 26, 2011)


Life must be so hard for mega-rich and beautiful R&B starlet Kelly Rowland.


It’s true that she has sold more than 60 million records worldwide as part of Destiny’s Child. And she probably sleeps on stacks of money and uses her platinum plaques as hot plates to warm up her Hot Pockets.


But the poor child must live every moment in the weave-shaped shadow of Beyonce. Think back to the BET Awards last summer – Twitter was ablaze with pundits comparing Kelly and Bey’s performances. And inevitably, Kelly’s third album, Here I Am, will be compared to Beyonce’s latest.


Is it fair? Not really. Not too many artists are in Beyonce’s league, not even her former group members. Just ask Farrah Franklin, if you can find her. But the comparisons are natural, I guess. Luckily for Kelly, she has something Bey’s album doesn’t have right now – a smash radio single.


“Motivation” is arguably the song of the summer – it’s virtually inescapable. And even though radio has played the paint off that song (to quote a friend), the heavy synths and trash-talking verse from Lil Wayne make it extremely addictive. But the success of “Motivation” worried me. Here I Am has been in the works for years, with many failed singles littering the musical landscape. Remember the horrible “Grown Woman” that I reviewed more than a year ago? Probably not, and rightfully so. Since most of those songs were as popular as a moldy dishrag, I feared Here I Am would be a one-song album.


Sadly, that’s not far from the truth.


Most of the album can be broken up into three catergories: Disposable pop songs stolen straight from Rihanna’s songbook (“Turn It Up” and the sure-to-be-next-single “Lay It On Me” especially); noisy, obnoxious songs like “I’m Dat Chick” that will get love in the club, but no play in my car (“Down For Whatever” has hints of 70s disco, which helps) and mid-tempo ballads.


The last category works best, as it gives Kelly a chance to play to her strengths – her underrated voice. “All of the Night” is a decent slow jam hindered by lame, cliched lyrics (“it’s going down like a basement” – gosh, never heard that before). “Keep It Between Us” is a bit stronger. The “urban remix” for “Commander” – one of those failed singles I mentioned earlier – sounds much better slowed down. Kelly lets her vocals shine without having to scream over the original’s frantic beat.


The only thing on Here I Am that comes anywhere close to “Motivation” is “Work It Man,” an ode to guys who actually have their lives together. According to Kelly, if you have a job, don’t cheat and you are willing to beat up someone for your mate, congratulations, you’re a Work It Man. Yeah, it’s ridiculous, but entertaining.


To answer your burning question, Here I Am is nowhere near as strong as Beyonce’s 4. Sorry, Bey Haters, there’s really no comparison.


It’s certainly not fair to compare Kelly’s success with Beyonce’s, but it is fair to expect more from a veteran performer with years of hits under her belt.




Best Tracks: “Motivation,” “Work It Man,” “Commander (Urban Remix)”


3 stars out of 5