The debut and only album from long lost pop star INOJ (pronounced I know J) covers songs from contemporary R&B artists and groups such as Ready For The World (RFTW), Anita Ward, and Cyndi Lauper. A portion of this album is cover songs. The mood of this album is sweet and passionate with a pop touch. The beats and lyrics are super catchy. INOJ's sweet, sensual vocals blend in well with the catchy beats making want you to listen to her more. Soul meets bass music with pop ballads. This album is a must have for anyone who loves 90’s music! Music from the 90s was some of the best of all time.
The album was released in 1999, but was not released in the United States. It was not released in the United States because her music was selling higher in other countries such as Indonesia, Japan, and Germany. Her music sold to different countries as a business move and marketing tactic by her record company. At first it was specifically Japan.
Columbia Records and So So Def dropped the ball by failing to promote INOJ (Ayanna Porter) properly back in 1998. Instead Columbia released the album outside of the United States. It is truly a shame that INOJ did not prosper under Columbia as they had a star on their hands. She was a musical phenomenon back in her day with two hits that established her as a true singing sensation. For some reason the album went largely unnoticed. Thankfully the album has been released digitally thus being available for all to stream across the world. So at least they got that part right.
INOJ released a cover version of Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time under Columbia Records in 1998 as a single which was produced by Lil Jon. The song was a radio hit back! It was played everywhere back in 1998 due to its dance pop sound.
However this cover version of Time After Time is much more uptempo meaning that this version is 132 BPM with a time signature of 4|4. Time After Time was produced using 808s and 404s. Not no 808’s and heartbreaks.
The organ used gives the song a holy religious feel to it with angelic guitar notes for backing the dance pop vibe and sound.
This version of Time After Time has a different breakdown in terms of lyrics. But some of the lyrics were retained from the original version. Read the breakdown below.:
[Breakdown]
And you say, go slow
I fall behind
The 808's on time
There is something nostalgic about Time After Time. This is a type of song that will remind you of your childhood, high school, or the college years. So it brings back a lot of memories to many people.
The single went from selling just a few thousand copies from being certified gold by the RIAA in just weeks back in 1998. The song was a top charting hit in several countries. For example, Time After Time was a Billboard Top 10 hit in the United States (#6), Canada (#7), and New Zealand (#10). Radio stations played the hell out of Love You Down in Atlanta, Georgia.
Love You Down is a cover song of Ready For The World - Love You Down except this version is a lot more upbeat and fast paced than the original. The Miami bass and Atlanta crunk beats add a new spark of energy to the mix.
Her cover of Love You Down went viral before going viral was even a thing. This was during a time when social media didn’t exist. It was due to DJs supporting her music and playing it on the radio in the United States that her first two singles were a breakout success. The song was a top charting hit in several countries. INOJ followed the success of Time After Time with a re-make of Ready For The World - Love You Down. Radio stations played the hell out of Love You Down and her Time After Time cover in Atlanta, Georgia.
There is something nostalgic about Love You Down. This is a type of song that will remind you of your childhood, high school, or the college years. So it brings back a lot of memories to many people. INOJ's version so good that it beats the original version straight out of the water! There's no doubt both the song and the singer are ready for the world.
All I Want is an original song that was written by INOJ herself and is not a cover of any song that is out already there. In this song, INOJ searches for the right type of man she wants to engage a relationship in. All she wants is your love.
All I Want should have been chosen to be another single due to its uptempo nature and beats. It’s a shame that the record company did not select All I Want to be a single.
All I Want has an uptempo nature due to beats. The song is 126 BPM, uses 32 measures, and has a time signature of 4|4. The song’s upbeat nature gives it a dance pop vibe. Incorporate the genres of R&B/Soul, pop, and dance with the result being this song.
INOJ describes the type of guy and relationship she is looking for in Verse 1 with the chorus being pretty much self-explanatory. In this song, INOJ looks for a guy who's fly. She already has a friend. She ain't looking for your new beginnings.
[Verse 1]
I don't want no ball and chain to hang on me
And I don't need no ties
Don't want your wedding ring
I'm looking for a guy who's fly, ain't catching feelings
See I already got a friend
I ain't looking for your new beginnings
[Chorus]
All I want is your love
Can you give it to me? (give it to me all night)
All I want is your love
Can you give it to me? (give it to me all night)
INOJ doesn’t care if her man has a job. She is looking for some passionate kissing and hugging. And of course a little rubbing. She doesn’t want any headaches or heartbreaks. She wants good loving all night.
Included on her album was also a cover version of Anita Ward - Ring My Bell. However her cover of did not receive much exposure due to So So Def and Columbia promoting Love You Down and Time After Time as singles first. Her voice is angelic and beautiful on this song. Ring My Bell was produced by then underground producer Lil Jon.
The song is 62 BPM, uses 16 measures, and has a time signature of 4|4. Sure the song was uptempo and upbeat, but it was not too fast.
The night is young and full of possibilities. You can ring her bell. Well come on and let yourself get free. Now lay back and relax. Let your body put away the distance. You see, tonight is made for me and you, baby.
Rather Be Alone has a downtempo feel and sad mellow vibe with its soul sound. Incorporated is a flair of rock. INOJ sings her angelic self off on this song of hers. The song has a theme of betrayal due to its downtempo feel and sad mellow vibe.
Rather Be Alone should have been chosen to be another single due to its downtempo soul sound and nature. It’s a shame that the record company did not select Rather Be Alone to be a single. It’s a shame that the songs All I Want and Rather Be Alone were not chosen to be single. I don’t why they didn’t.
The song is 121 BPM at 30 bars and utilizes a time signature of 4|4.
INOJ finds out her man has been cheating on her with another woman. She was mistaken because he treated her like a queen. How could this be? He was using INOJ to cheat on her. Now she would rather be alone than be in love with him.
The chorus explains she would rather be alone than be in love with him now that he’s cheated on her. She would rather sleep out in the cold before lying in bed with him. She’d take the lonely road before taking any rides with him. All the things he said weren't true.
Need To Feel is song where INOJ needs to feel a man’s love. INOJ has got feelings for a friend, but does not know how to tell him. She wants to feel his love. She is scared to tell him. INOJ needs to feel his love.
I rate this album, Ready For The World, 5/5*****!!
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