WHET Shanice?

lousy lay

She was cute and had a good voice.

Was she just not promoted correctly?

She had that reality show a few years back too (Flex & Shanice something something). I don't think the record label ever intended to make her some long-lasting artiste with blockbuster albums and tours. They had a cute girl, who could sing their cute song, and plastered it all over the radio and MTV for that year. She was left on her own from there and lacked the distinct sound and image of a lot of her contemporaries had (Janet, Jody Watley, En Vogue, Vanessa Williams, SWV, Anita Baker, Toni Braxton, Mary J Blige, Mariah, TLC, Whitney). A lot of competition, a lack of support, and there just wasn't really a 'lane' for her.

I Love Your Smile is a fun hit (although I always cringe during her rap verse), but it doesn't really do justice to her talent. I saw her do a random club date a few years back and was shocked at how good her voice was. She did some classic R&B tunes, her hits, and even had a section where she did a bit of a jazz medley (there was a live band). Unbelievable range, clarity, and belting power.

LOL, I always cringe at the rap part too.

This was my jam…

R3 so you think she just lacked ambition or hustle? Didn't 'network' enough?

Or was it more that she didn't have a creative spark, or an image/gimmick, or something unique to say? That she didn't write music or have an ear for it? Even someone like Madonna who doesn't write or compose or front a band is said to have a talent for picking hits and the most talented people to work with.

I just listen to the rap-free version.

“Ya dig?!!!”

Her boss was lame you know, and so was the pay.

I loathe that song.

Blow, Branford, blow.

R6 I don't really blame her, she was 15-17 during those early years where her visibility was the highest. Back then you really did need major label backing. And not just a record deal, but actual ambitious A&R people going to bat for you to get the best songs, and find you a unique image that will sell you to the masses and make you stand out. Instead of trying to follow up this ILYS by seeking out Babyface or Luther or Teddy Riley, she had no-name arrangers and producers. Motown were spending all their money on Boys II Men and Johnny Gill, and she was styled too much like Janet, Jody, and even Kim Fields to stand out much.

She co-wrote a lot of her music (which I think is great), but even on her second album which was supposed to announce her as a grown-up (with the slightly sexy cover), she had one Diane Warren song, one song produced by Dupri/Seal (who shortly after had massive hits for TLC), and the rest were more collaborations with unknowns. A few years later she was singing backgrounds for Toni Braxton's 'Unbreak My Heart' instead of her own songs, and eventually got signed to LaFace at the end of the 90s when they were no longer churning out hits as regularly. Seems like nobody from her team tried to find her niche in the industry, or find records that would fit her remarkable voice.

Lisa Fischer was a similar case: Beautiful woman, amazing voice, and a big hit single/Grammy. But nobody put the time in to make sure they had staying power in the industry, or a 'next step'. I can't fault the songwriters either, who would make much more money giving their records to Toni, Mariah, Karen White, Whitney, etc. who actually *were* better promoted, had a memorable public image, and a string of hits that established a sound.

R12 Speaking of TLC, is that Left Eye in OP's video at about the 3:18 mark? She's one of the people in the group getting their picture taken, wearing a blue denim shirt.

I saw her in Les Miserables on Broadway sometime later in the nineties. Granted, I was in junior high at the time, but I remember liking her. Despite being what I guess was non-traditional stunt casting (I think she was one of the first Black people they cast in the original Les Mis), she was as good a singer as any of the Broadway performers on the stage (albeit with a more contemporary pop R&B sound) and with that angel face definitely worked as Eponine.

I thought that Lisa Fischer preferred to be a backup singer? It definitely makes more steady work.

Thanks R12! You appear to know your stuff!

Dated but still fun deep cut.

This was a top 5 hit in 1992:

Couldn't go wrong with Diane Warren and David Foster in the early 90s.

She looks a lot like Kim Fields.

She made a comeback in the late 90s with "When I Close My Eyes." It reached number 12 on the Hot 100 and 4 on the R&B charts. It was her last hit.

It's too bad she didn't become a bigger star because she had it all: beauty, talent, and class. She just lacked a dedicated producer to craft a sound specifically for her. Whitney had Narada Michael Walden, David Foster, and Babyface; Mariah had Walter Afanasieff, C&C Music Factor, and Jermaine Dupri; Toni Braxton had Babyface and L.A. Reid; Celine had David Foster and Diane Warren.

Every talented singer needs a producer who understands their voice and what sound suits them. Unfortunately, Shanice didn't have that, which is why she only had a few minor hits.

Dime a dozen. You can hear 15 of her on The Voice every year.

Wasn't she from Star Search?

I only remember Trenyce, who was on the second season of "American Idol."

R21 Whoa. That song was bad. And not in a good way. The guy in the video was hot, though.

You hear 15 coloratura sopranos on The Voice every year, R22?

I think the song at R21 is a good pop song.

I had the Inner Child album which includes I Love Your Smile. It was a fun album. Narada Michael Walden produced many of the songs on it, but he was nearing the end of his hit making producer days by then. Next I heard of Shanice was when I saw her name credited as a background singer on Toni Braxton's Unbreak My Heart and I thought Shanice's career didn't pan out well.

[quote] The guy in the video was hot, though.

And Will Lemay is still gorgeous to this day!

R28 Dayum!

He reminds me a bit of the stud from this video.

R30 God, I remember lusting after the Guido in that video as a young gayling.

Tracie Spencer was another one…cute girl, impressive pipes, inconsistent with musical output…

Answering my own question.

-R23

R33 I remember when she was on that show. Pretty impressive pipes for a tyke.

There was a slew of acts like her in the 90s. It was hard to stand out when every week when the next big thing came out.

Psych!