From Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish to Sabrina Carpenter, Chappelle Rhone and Charli XCX, 2024 has been year of the diva,
And the two biggest female pop stars of the 90s – Mary J Blige And Gwen Stefani – still keeping it relevant three decades after she first burst onto the music scene.
Blige, 53, and Stefani, 55, are at the age when the most indomitable divas — from Madonna and Janet Jackson to Jennifer Lopez — are on the decline from their chart-topping heights and creative peaks. But, even though they never felt the “real love” they once did, both are back with new albums released Friday — Blige’s “Gratitude” and Stefani’s “Bouquet” — which Shows that they are not ready to rest on their laurels just yet. ,
Both made their debut in 1992: Blige served as the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul with “What’s the 411?” and as the ska-punk princess of Stefani No Doubt’s self-titled set.
And several hit singles, albums and tours later, both have reached major milestones: Blige is celebrating the 30th anniversary of her 1994 masterpiece “My Life”, while Stefani is celebrating the 30th anniversary of her 2004 solo debut “Love.Angel. Celebrating 20 years of Music.Baby”. ,
Blige is also taking a well-deserved victory lap behind her Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction Last month. But while it may just be time to cruise on the classics that brought her to music’s most exclusive club, the “Family Affair” singer still remains fresh in the game.
And why not? Blige’s last LP, 2022’s “Good Morning Gorgeous,” was a surprise Album of the Year nominee in 2023.
Far better than we expected, “Gratitude” is a solid follow-up from an artist who has consistently come through – even when he no longer owes us anything.
All the glory aside, Blige still has a lot of heart and hunger that you can feel thanks to the fans who have been riding with her since day one.
Staying true to her roots, Blige – not ready to settle into Auntie status – goes hard with the first five tracks, including the Fabolous-assisted opener “Breathing”, on which she lets all the drama out. is: “So holdin’ it in/But now I’m breathing/And I’m breathing deep.”
Another rapper – Jadakiss – takes the mic on “Need You More”, which may take you back to the 1990s when it’s reminiscent of the 1990s. en Vogue Press “Hold On” with that blasting bass line.
Meanwhile, “Beautiful People,” “You’re Not the Only One” and “Never Give Up on Me” all recall the jazzy hip-hop soul of early MJB favorites. “you remind me,” “Love No Limit” and “Mary Jane (All Night Long).”
Do they beat any of these cuts? No, but the throwback feeling is real.
And the state of grace she’s in on “God’s Child” features Fat Joe – another rapper still holding it down for Blige’s native New York.
If Blige is rocking her thigh-high boots, Stefani is giving herself a midlife makeover.
The No Doubt frontwoman transformed into a dance-pop diva on “Love.Angel.Music.Baby”. She was the missing link between Madonna and Lady Gaga, more cool and quirky than Britney Spears. And after the success of “Hollaback Girl”, “Rich Girl” and others, she continued in the same rhythm in 2006’s “The Sweet Escape”.
But, after reuniting with there is no doubt about it Following on from 2012’s “Push and Shove”, Stefani surprisingly did not make another solo album until 2016’s “This Is What the Truth Feels Like”. However, she remained busy as a coach on “The Voice”, where she fell in love with her husband Blake Shelton after her separation. Bush’s Gavin Rossdale,
There’s no doubt that her ex is the subject of “Somebody Else,” the punk-pop opener of “Bouquet”: “You belong to someone else/And it doesn’t even break my heart. You belong to someone else/And I’m for her. I pray to them, whoever they are.”
But after that blatant flip-off, Stefani settles into a soft-rock sweet spot that includes several floral-themed tracks — the title tune, “Empty Vase,” “Marigolds” and “Late to Bloom” — which feature Shelton. Give flowers to.
The husband even gets close to “Purple Iris”, where they overflow their marital bliss As mild middle-aged people.
She sings, “It’s not 1999/But this face is still mine/The way you look at me/I swear my heart skips a beat.” “It’s not 2014/But you still look good in those jeans,” he responded.
It’s not exactly rustic – although Stefani wears a cowboy hat on the album cover, and Nashville legend Scott Hendricks produced the LP – but it definitely drifts into yacht-rock territory.
Which, when you think about it, isn’t too far from Carpenter’s big 2024 hit “Please Please Please.”
And after this olivia rodrigo Attending the No Doubt reunion at Coachella this spring, it’s clear that Stefani has left her mark on the next generation of divas.
