Aaliyah - Come Over

Aaliyah’s “Come Over” was originally slated to appear on her third and final album, 2001’s “Aaliyah”, but was left off the track list in the end. After her tragic death at 22, it was later released in 2002 as part of her posthumous record “I Care 4 U”. The song was actually recorded by the R&B duo Changing Faces for their 2000 album “Visit Me”. Both versions sound pretty similar and are wonderful standalone songs.

Aaliyah’s version differs in that the production is slightly more futuristic and it features background harmonies by then-rising R&B singer Tank. My favorite line is when Aaliyah says “Um, wait a minute, my battery's low. Let me, alright.”, showing a deeper intimacy with the listener as if they’re listening in on the call themselves.

One of the many gifts that Aaliyah brought to the table was her ability bend her soft vocals to the production. In this song in particular, her voice sounds buttery smooth as it melds perfectly with the staccato, subdued production. It would have been great to have seen how her voice would have strengthened with age. However, we’re only left to imagine how many more great songs she would have released in the future. The beauty of having her music on all major streaming services is that her music will truly live on in the digital age.