Mandy Ventrice pop quiz

Mandy Ventrice’s MySpace Page quote is, “relax…it’s just pop.”   That says it all and we here at popolio think it’s just genius.  She has no material to plug as of yet, but decided to go ahead  and do a pop quiz for us, anyway.  Based in NYC, she is working on new material to be released later this year, though, and does have some stuff on MySpace.  So, she’s definitely an up-and-coming pop-start to watch.

March 27, 2009

Name:   Mandy Ventrice
Genre:  Pop

This, That, or the Other
1. Underground OR Mainstream? Mainstream
2. Maintain Artistic Integrity and Vision OR Make a lot of Money? (or both)??? Both
3. Studio or Stage? Stage
4. Spirituality or Hedonism? Spirituality
5. Make Love, Have Sex, OR %$*!? Mix it up!

Fill in the Blank
6. Music is my being.
7. I’m musically inspired by life’s journey.
8. My favorite old school joint is “Weak” by SWV.
9. If I was a super hero I’d be Catwoman.  Does she count?
10. Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll should change to Champagne, Sunshine, and Pop Music.

Short Answer
11. I make music because:  It’s fun!
12. I want my fans to:  Dance!
13. If I could share one thing about myself it would be:  I don’t like pretzels.
14. Wild Card!  I miss California!
15. I want my musical legacy to be:  Known for making people feel something real.

Listen to her song, “Bitten,” and go to her MySpace Page to check out more of her pop confections.

 Mandy Ventrice’s favorite old school joint!

 

MY TOP 10: 90s/00s Pop/R&B Diva Music Video Jump-Offs – 2. Missy Elliott “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)”

2. Missy Elliott “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)”

Formerly Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott and currently only Missy Elliott to the masses, her first video, Number 2, “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” released in 1997, set a high standard for the rest of her video work.  Missy had been behind-the-scenes writing for other artists for years, when she finally introduced herself as a solo artist, with Supa Dupa Fly, she kicked the door down.  A few rap cameos along the way didn’t hurt. 

Sampling Ann Peebles’ 1973 hit, “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” this video featured Missy’s simple yet clever, nonsensical, and fun rhymes.  There’s unintelligent lyricism and then there’s this.  I think Missy’s style is sometimes mistaken for the former.  With a stripped down, melodic, and well thought out flow, she definitely has influenced other artists since.   With rhymes more bulky and complex at the time, she brought an alternative style that harkened back to old school roots with a ‘90s update.

I’ll name-check Hype Williams once more, because the collaboration between him and Missy is really what made this video special.  His fish eye lens effect, at this point, was fresh and not overwrought.  Name-checking other hip hop/R&B artists and actually having them in the video was a fun treat for music fans.  And the black trash bag outfit was bananas.  

Though her latest release, Block Party, has had many delays and single changes, refreshingly, not a skinny thing, at the time, Missy was, and remains, a true multi-threat performer with stage presence and charisma that’s carried her through with trash bag, flawless makeup and ‘dos, tomboyish yet feminine style, and talents for rapping, singing, dancing, and producing.