Growing up, I was a huge huge fan of ‘90s R&B princess Aaliyah. I saw Romeo Must Die; I learned the choreography to “Rock the Boat”; I sang her song “I Miss You” in the shower every morning. While I don’t think anything can compare to the original version of her first massive hit “Are You That Somebody?”, pop-violist Anni Rossi‘s version is a refreshing take on the difficult task of finding a lover. It proves a worthy successor to her previous R&B-gal cover of Rihanna’s “Rude Boy.”
While the original version of “Are You That Somebody?” was understated-but-danceable in a way that was Aaliyah’s (and producer Timbaland’s) signature, Rossi’s version lets her more delicate style shine through her. She plucks her viola like a guitar (electric pickups, shoulder strap, and all) and lends an almost whimsical color to the words, “Sometimes I’m goody goody, right now I’m naughty naughty.” It’s a fun, upbeat track, and a welcome trip back to the more innocent times when all Aaliyah wanted was someone to want to be with her.
MP3: Anni Rossi – Are You That Somebody? (Aaliyah cover)
[audio: News0511/05AreYouThatSomebody.mp3]
Check out more about Anni Rossi at Myspace.
[…] Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody?” is perhaps best known for its loop sample of a baby cooing. The Brooklyn songstress Bell excludes this defining feature on her cover, yet this version the Aaliyah chart topper is nonetheless just as catchy as the original (not to mention Anna Rossi’s cover). […]