Aaliyah: “The Highest, Most Exalted One –The Best”

Written by CrushedBeauty on November 5, 2011

The meaning behind the name “Aaliyah”: The Highest, Most Exalted One –The Best. (Pronouced "A-Lee-yah")

“If at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and Try Again” a great philosophy for those wanting to pursue a goal but encounter obstacles along the way, they're also lyrics from one of my favourite Aaliyah songs. I heard “Try Again” in 2000 after hearing the buzz it was creating in the States for becoming the first single in U.S. history to gain a No1 on the Billboard charts based on airplay alone. I discovered it was the official soundtrack to Aaliyah’s first feature film “Romeo Must Die.” When the single was released in the UK, I bought the single (back in the day as a cassette) and played it repeatedly for weeks in my Panasonic walkman. Aaliyah gained a presence on my bedroom wall of posters and song cards among Jennifer Lopez, Backstreet Boys, Destiny’s Child and Eminem. One episode of Top of The Pops aired a performance of ‘Try Again’ and I made sure I stayed to watch the repeat and record it on my VHS music tape where my sister and I recorded all our favourite videos and live performances.

Aaliyah’s promotion of “Romeo Must Die” led her to London in 2000 and remember watching her interview on ‘Planet Pop’ she was beautiful, softly-spoken, great style, friendly, mature and a had warm smile. Once “Romeo Must Die” was released, I went to see the film at my local cinema with two friends from school – it was an exciting, action-packed movie. The one scene that stood out for me was the scene where she cries over brother's death [04:40]– it was a great testament of her acting ability and confirmed her as a “triple threat” – she could sing, dance and act, I was SO excited for Aaliyah’s future. Accompanying the Soundtrack for the movie was a song she did with DMX “Back in One Piece” and her look in the video is what inspired me to start wearing bandanas, I love her style in the video: the baggy trousers, bandana, the vest top – she had ‘swag’ and she came across as a person who the girls wanted to be friends with and emulate and who the guys wanted to date.

The Video Music Awards (2000) – Aaliyah is awarded for Best Female Video for “Try Again” the one thing that I find so endearing about her win was the fact she brought her brother on stage with her to accept the award – so humble!

Aaliyah had been working on films for “Queen of the Damned” (which she completed) and “The Matrix” which she had filmed some scenes but was later re-cast. July 2001 she released her third album “Aaliyah.” August 2001, she would she shoot her last video for “Rock The Boat” which was shot in the Bahamas.

In my teenage years I didn’t attend church as much as I used to, but on 26 Saturday August 2001 I thought it would be nice to attend church that Sunday since I hadn’t been to church in a really long time, I went to church with my sister the next day. Oblivious to the fact that a tragedy had taken place my sister and I returned from church and walked into the living room where my parents were watching TV. My dad asked us if we went to pray for the girl that died and was confused, following my dad’s question my mum told us they heard Aaliyah had died. I starred at her shocked. I went up to my parents room to turn on the radio to hear that R&B Star Aaliyah had died in a plane in crash the day before while shooting a video in the Bahamas, I turned on the TV in my parents room which also confirmed her death (she had passed with 7 others on board). My heart sank. I was devastated. It rained all day. I was 16 at the time and to comprehend that someone at that age of 22, so young, beautiful and had a huge career ahead of her is something that still frustrates me till this day. When her Greatest Hits album (along with a DVD with interviews) was released in 2003 I made sure I purchased a copy, but it was still really hard to listen to her music and watch her music videos.It was only years later when watching the video for "Rock The Boat" again that I realised Carmit (Pussycat Dolls) was a dancer in the video, after meeting Carmit a few times, I would have loved to ask her what Aaliyah was like!!

Listening to Aaliyah's music is still bitter-sweet for me, I loved her style of music but it’s also a  reminder she’s no longer with us. I’ll always wonder where her career would have taken her…. August 2011 marked 10 years since her death and watching the BET special: "Aaliyah: One In A Million" which aired celebrating her life was a big reminder for me of how many great tracks she had and how much she achieved in 22 years. Although I discovered Aaliyah in 2000 I love her music before that time as well, One In A Million (her second album) and the “Aaliyah” album are my favourites. Timbaland really produced some brilliant tracks for her.

I’ll end this blog with a video tribute for her that I found online (posted below), I smiled and cried watching this. Kimberly, if you read this blog – I’m so glad that Aaliyah inspired you! I’m sure like myself you had seen what a special person she was. Aaliyah was definitely a girl who could do it all.

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We miss you dearly, Aaliyah.