Best of Mixerr Album Reviews! Page 295

Nicole Wray - Elektric Blue album review

Nicole Wray came back with her sophomore effort called Elektric Blue in 2001. The Elektric Blue album is rich and sultry in terms of soul. Not to mention soulful. You have love ballads such as I’m Lookin’, Bangin’, and Not My Man. You also have inspirational motivational songs such as Ghetto Children and Mama Used To Say (No Joke). She wrote and also produced a lot of the album.

This album was the successor of Make It Hot. This album of hers was supposed to the follow-up album to Make It Hot which everyone anticipated for. However her sophomore album was never officially released due to label drama. It is truly and genuinely a shame that this album was never released. However Elektric Blue was released as an album sampler and as a promo on CD. The album was issued as a promo to Japan as well. More than likely those people are holding out and don't want to share with anyone. It's sad. I know.



Elektric Blue is the intro and title track to the album. Hearing the introduction of Elektric Blue is an angelic breathtaking experience. The ballad is quite soulful and rich in sultry. The song has a rock meets pop and soul type of vibe due to the badass guitar.

When you’re feeling down, you must reach out and feel Elektric Blue. When you’re having doubts, you must reach out and feel Elektric Blue. That’s what Nicole Wray instructs us to do when feeling down or in doubt.


I'm Lookin' is a late night love song where Nicole is looking for someone to love. You might have remember seeing the music video for this song on Midnight Love on BET back in 2001. I'm Lookin' is one of those late night cruise songs. DJ Eddie F produced I’m Lookin’.

Nicole Wray is looking for someone to love and hold on to. She’s looking for you. She’s looking for someone she can trust. But she has not someone for herself truly for her. Nicole wants to be like everyone else who’s dating. Well, Nicole wonders if she’ll ever be complete. All she needs is the warmth of a man and the strength of his hand.


Mama Used To Say (No Joke) samples Junior - Mama Used To Say. In fact, Mama Used To Say (No Joke) pays homage and is a tribute to Junior - Mama Used To Say. The song Mama Used To Say (No Joke) has a rock feel to it. Rockwilder produced this song. This song also features Redman and Missy Elliott. It's one of those old school feel skating rink type of songs as Missy Elliott explained herself on the Elektric Blue album sampler.

Mama Used To Say (No Joke) is for all those independent working people out there along with the working class people out there. Stop begging for money from your friends.

The moral to this song is to get a job occupation and get an income. Living life being ‘flat broke’ as in ‘broke as a joke’ is no fun. Stop begging for money from your friends. Stop thinking that life’s a joke. Get up off your ass and do something with yourself because you’ve got to live your life. Don’t live life for no one else. Haters gonna hate.


Talk With Time is a sweet, subtle song great for storybook telling time. It's about her and her boyfriend not getting to see each other because there is not enough time every day out the week for them to socialize and be together. The clock is ticking in the background. Harold Lily sings in this sweet song too.

Harold Lily produced Talk With Time, Wanna Cruise, and Sweetest. Harold Lily is on this song right after the first minute passes (1:00) saying, “I won’t let you down. I love you baby!”


Ghetto Children is a sad heartfelt song about what everyday misfortune that unfortunate children deal with in their lifetime. Ghetto Children is a song that has the feels. The misfortune unfortunate children Nicole describes on this song are children that come from extreme poverty. The song Ghetto Children features Virginia rapper Bizzy Rock.

These are children that live in public housing projects such as HUD. These are children are on public assistance and welfare. Such children come from extreme poverty, the ghetto of course, and lower income areas. Neither of these children own material things in their possession. These children will never get a new bike because the rent is always due, will never experience shop till you drop, and never ride down with the top down for example. Nicole Wray encourages these children to focus your mind, be something, and stay away from trouble. Be something. Don’t let nobody stop you.


Club 2G was produced by Missy Elliott in 1999. Club 2G was originally recorded for the Elektric Blue album but was re-recorded and used for the Lil Mo - Based On A True Story album instead in 2000. Nicole Wray, Missy Elliott, and Naam are featured this song. Nicole Wray is featured in the chorus with Pam Olivia. Club 2G is similar to Supa Star in terms of mood and theme. Club 2G was featured on the television show Dark Angel in 2000. Many Dark Angel fans will recognize this song due to its dark but soulful nature. Dance music meets soul and hip hop/rap. Missy Elliott and Lil Mo do the rapping portion of the song. Missy Elliott is all over this track as she was with 5 Minutes and Starstruck. Missy adlibs on it.


Nicole Wray explains on Without You that without her man there is no her. She has nothing to be happy about without her man. Without You is a song to surf to at the beach with a vintage rock vibe and sound. This song was on the original Why Do Fools Fall In Love soundtrack. That's another great song! Without You is a bonus track for Elektric Blue.

Nicole doesn't know what's up with her man. She really wants to tell he him that he is like her sunshine to her. She has nothing to be happy about without him. He really makes her smile. She does not understand why she feels the way she does. Only he can take her mind away from all the pain.

Heart and soul is what she feels for him. No other love will ever be so true. He’ll never find another girl like Nicole Wray. Only he can take her mind away from all the pain that comes every day. Only he can take her mind away from any given thing. Only he can take her mind away. She needs to know if he’s going to stay with him.


Bangin' is an upbeat fast paced song about a man sleeping with another woman and about what Nicole will do to her main man after the love. Bangin’ has Timbaland’s signature production on it with his usual double drums over fast paced beats. The horn synths in the background were Timbaland and Missy Elliott. Bangin' features Prodigy of Mobb Deep and Missy Elliott. A music video should have been made for the song Bangin' (Don't Lie).

Nicole wants to know who her man is talking to. Nicole wants to know if that chick is with him and does he love her. He better tell the truth as he will end up in an ICU. She needs to know if he is the only one he is calling. She would do anything for her man. She would love to fuck him all night. But damn it's not alright. Does Nicole meet or reap all the benefits? Are these the only lips that he kisses? Clearly she has a thing for her man to the point where she is pissing around for him. She will always satisfy him.


You is a sad heartbreaking breakup song with a mid-tempo 2000s R&B/soul sound. You would have honestly made a good single. Nicole is attracted to a man due to the way he spits his game. That is until his crew came through to Nicole and told her some things about him that put her in the loop about what his true intentions were and what he was trying to do specifically. The basis of the song revolves around people playing games with each other.

He came around Nicole’s way about the same time everyday. He had been lookin fly no doubt. All the chicks be checkin him out. Something about the way he spit his game Nicole hooked and attracted to him. This was until his crew came through to Nicole and told her some things about him that put her in the loop about what his true intentions were and what he was trying to do specifically. Nicole is not a fool. He plays the game until the game is played on him.

Nicole saw him yesterday. He didn’t even notice her. He even waved to her but it was too dark for her to see.
She did not want to deal with him. So she found her a new man. He apparently drives a CLK.

The one who told on him and played on him is the one Nicole is into now. So who's playing who? Can't take losing. He should have known how to love and not to play because Nicole is not the one to be playing games with. They could have had a family.


Gonna Love You sounds like a cover of a Babyface song which is a slow love ballad. It has the same melody as TLC's I Miss You So Much. This sound like a 90s song more than a 2000s song. You can easily tell that Babyface produced this particular composition right here.

Elektra and Missy were scared of Gonna Love You because they feared Nicole was going to become more popular than Missy herself. Elektra and Missy were scared of the song Gonna Love You because they knew this song was going to be a hit when Suga Mike and Big Baby recorded and produced this song with Nicole This song definitely would have been a hit! And a lovely single. Elektra and Missy wanted to keep her style of singing pigeonholed to hip hop/rap while Nicole wanted to sing pop and soul songs.   


Single Life is ode to the single ladies who are living that single life that hold down 2 jobs without any children in the picture at all. Single Life is a short 1 minute interlude. Timbaland and Missy Elliott produced Single Life.

Sweetest is Nicole’s unique cover to Sade Adu's classic love ballad Sweetest Taboo. Sweetest is a smooth, sexy, sultry love ballad about her boyfriend’s love being the sweetest. Nicole says “Your love is the sweetest.” His love is something that Nicole Wray is unable to describe. Sweetest is a great song to listen in the park to or on a long walk.


Wanna Cruise is one of those late night cruise songs. A song that you can cruise to when you're in your car cruising down the highway late at night. Late at night would be the best! DJ Eddie F had produced this long extensive masterpiece of a song while Nicole Wray composed its entirety. Wanna Cruise is one of those sultry ballads along with I’m I’m Lookin’.

Not My Man (Meet Me At the Spot) is a groovy slow jam which is actually a love ballad. Not My Man (Meet Me At the Spot) is a fan favorite among Nicole Wray fans and is also Nicole's personal favorites from her career on Elektra and Goldmind.

Don’t Have To is about Nicole not having to worry about paying rent or worry about where her next meal is coming from. It’s all good now. All she has is her hopes and her dreams. She’s going to the top whether people like it or not. Don’t Have To features Pam and Dodi as the background vocalists who are singing in the background for this song. Don’t Have To would be re-recorded in 2002 by gospel duo Pam & Dodi.

Dial My Heart is a sultry love ballad featuring Tamar Braxton's songwriter Tamara Savage whom this love ballad was written by. Think dial my heart for love. Other than that, BillBoard Magazine confirmed Dial My Heart featuring Tamar Braxton's songwriter Tamara Savage is on the Elektric Blue album.

Too Controllin' is about a controlling boyfriend who runs and controls Nicole’s life. He cannot leave her alone. He often calls her throughout the night. He constantly dogs her when she is out in public. The song is memorable due the lyrics in the hook which are “Why do you have to try to control me? Why can't you just let me be?”

Sianora (Sayanora) is a bouncy break-up tune where Nicole breaks up with her boyfriend due to drama in their relationship.

U Can't Be Me has that popish 2000s sound with sultry R&B singing. U Can't Be Me was produced by Suga Mike and Big Baby.



There are many factors as to why the Elektric Blue album was never released. Here are the reasons why the Elektric Blue album was never officially released.


A lack of charting singles was a reason why Elektra decided to shelve Elektric Blue. Her label was displeased with the charting performance of the album’s lead single "I'm Lookin" since it failed to chart in the single digits on the Billboard Hot 100. I’m Lookin’ only charted at #66 on the BillBoard Charts in 2001. Other promo singles for the album such as Bangin' (Don't Lie) and Mama Used to Say (No Joke) failed to chart. Elektra felt the album was going to repeat the same mistake. So Elektra decided to shelve Elektric Blue. Nobody was interested in late night love songs as they once were in the mid 1990s.

Warner Music Group had wanted artists with hits that were top charting on the BillBoard. Why? Because 1,000,000 copies to be sold was the guidelines for Warner Music Group because Warner Music Group had wanted artists that were hitting the Top #40 and not Top #100. Nicole Wray's debut Make It Hot would have gone platinum or silver but instead only sold 800,000 units worldwide. She was not generating enough sales. Nicole should have known that but that’s not entirely her fault.


Promotion was very limited for this album as Elektra was promoting for other artists on their label during this time. There was hardly any decent promotion for this album. More time should have been spent trying to promote the Elektric Blue album. Blame Sylvia Rhome as she shelved so many great R&B/soul albums. Pushbacks were another factor which led the album to be shelved.

Elektric Blue was originally scheduled to be released in 2000. However when Missy Elliott signed Torrey Carter to her imprint, that pushed all the other albums back from their intended release dates. That also caused delays for her album.

Missy really killed Nicole’s career by telling her that she did not want to work with her on the semi-official album of Elektric Blue and by focusing more on herself and most of the artists who were signed to Goldmind Inc. at the time. Missy did not promote Nicole Wray's career very well.


Missy’s focus on other artists singed to her Goldmind label was another reason why Elektric Blue never came out.

One day, Nicole got a call from Missy saying that she did not want work with Nicole on the Elektric Blue album and focus more on herself along with artists she signed to her Goldmind label. Missy Elliott and Elektra slowed down the production on the album because Missy was signing other artists to her Goldmind label every year. Nicole decided to walk away from the production because Missy Elliott and Elektra weren't giving her the attention that she wanted or needed. Her album and her career was no longer a priority for the label. She left because they kept putting her on the back burner. She was getting tired of being placed on the back burner.


Disagreements between the producers, the label, and management is another reason this album never came out. The producers could not come to an agreement in putting this album out. Mismanagement played a big role here. Elektra and Missy were scared of Nicole being more popular than Missy herself. That is why they intentionally mismanaged her career. Mama Used To Say (No Joke), Bangin’, and I’m Lookin’ are examples.

Elektra and Missy wanted to keep her style of singing pigeonholed to hip hop/rap while Nicole wanted to sing pop and soul songs. Missy wanted to sing and also a back up singer to replace Lil Mo, Gina Thompson, and Nicole Wray. So she called Tweet back in 2000 and asked her to work on Aaliyah's track with her. They knew each other since the early 1990s when they were in DeVante's Swing Mob collab at Da Bassment Studios in Rochester, New York. Missy's call was supposedly the thing that saved her life. To sum it all up, Tweet was basically a replacement for Nicole Wray. Nicole Wray was replaced in favor of Tweet.


Elektra was going through changes at the time the Elektric Blue album was going to be released. The merger between Elektra and Atlantic at the time is the reason why Elektric Blue did not get an official release. Atlantic Records now owns all of the tights to the former Elektra Records catalogues. Also Warner Music Group, which owned Elektra, was going bankrupt back in 2000.

5/5*****!!

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Nicole Wray - Dream Factory Sessions album review

The Dream Factory Sessions album is another album from Nicole Wray that went unnoticed and was unfortunately overshadowed. The album is a mixture of genres ranging from pop to soul. Most of the material from Dream Factory Sessions was produced and recorded in 2004 for the Lovechild album that was supposed to be released on Roc-A-Fella Records, Def Jam, and Damon Dash Music Group (DDMG and DD172) back in 2005. Nicole Wray was also signed to 7 Aurelius label called Dream Factory at the time too. Most of the songs were recorded between the years of 2003 to 2006. However most of that material was produced and recorded in 2004. 7 Aurelius produced all 11 songs on this Nicole Wray album. All these songs were produced in high quality. Nicole Wray served as executive producer.

7 allowed Nicole Wray to be free and to work alongside him by producing and writing. Which can be attributed to why Dream Factory Sessions was considered outside of her natural raw singing talent. She was allowed to be creative. The Dream Factory Sessions were the most amazingly creative time of her life.

Most of these songs remained unreleased until 2011 when 7 Aurelius released the Dream Factory Sessions album as a digital download on iTunes and Juno Download in the United Kingdom on the date of 11/11/2011. (Dream Factory Sessions has been pulled from iTunes since then.) 7 Aurelius intended for Dream Factory Sessions to be a digital album which is why Dream Factory Sessions is only available on the internet as a digital download instead of a physical format. Dream Factory Sessions has been pulled from iTunes since 2012. The reason why was due to a lack of downloads and demand.

Both Nicole Wray and 7 Aurelius worked hard to get this album to be released out to the public. The reason why it took so long for the Dream Factory Sessions album to be released is because 7 Aurelius had to buy the music rights, publishing rights, and streaming rights from Roc-A-Fella Records, Def Jam, and Damon Dash Music Group in order for this Nicole Wray album to be released. That is the reason why Dream Factory Sessions was released in 2011.

Despite that, Nicole Wray had very little and/or no control over the release Dream Factory Sessions. 7 Aurelius was responsible for the release. He referred to Dream Factory Sessions as a lost album. Despite track longevity with 11 songs, Dream Factory Sessions is/was referred to as a mixtape by Nicole Wray fans. Although that is not the case here.

The only downsides are that some of these songs are from Nicole Wray’s previous albums such as Boss Chick, Boss Bitch, and I Found You. Take the songs Boomerang Theory, Drumz, and Miserable People. Nonetheless, Dream Factory Sessions is still a great Nicole Wray album for both old and new fans. All these songs were high quality! Boomerang, Lost, Masquerade, and Drumz are dope as hell! Dream Factory Sessions is one of those albums that got overlooked by the masses and general public. Those who have been following Nicole Wray over the years can see her growth as an artist.


Dream Factory is a song Nicole Wray recorded back in 2005 for her Lovechild album that was supposed to be released on Roc-A-Fella Records. Of course the famous producer 7 Aurelius produced Dream Factory for her. He was responsible for producing those hot beats you hear. Dream Factory is also known as Lollipop to longtime Nicole Wray fans. Dream Factory is also the song that appeared in the State Property 2 soundtrack & film in 2005. Roc-A-Fella Films included Lollipop in the State Property 2 film.

Dream Factory had everyone going crazy in the dance clubs back in the mid 2000s. The beats were absolutely nuts. Nicole Wray had an underground buzz with this song despite it not being chosen as a buzz single. The New York City club scene is where Dream Factory first gained an underground.


Masquerade is a remix version of Sarah from Nicole Wray’s Independence Day mixtape from 2007 on FOE from Atlanta, Georgia. Masquerade is an updated version of Sarah as Masquerade revisits Sarah from Nicole Wray’s Independence Day with rearrangements in sound and change in production by none other than 7 Aurelius. The production is ill as 7 Aurelius is an ill producer. Nicole Wray based this song off her own life experiences after her faltering career with Missy Elliott on Goldmind Inc. from 1996 to 2001. Her experiences in this song are based off her post Missy Elliott years before signing to Roc-A-Fella.

Nicole Wray knew this girl from around the way back in her hometown of Portsmouth, Virginia. She was a girl from around the way who Nicole Wray used to kick it with everyday. Apparently she lived on the corner. Every night she is awakened by a gunshot. Nicole Wray now makes hints indicating this girl was being abused. Her mother was nowhere to be found in her life. She was deep in the streets on her own.

Well this girl is making money in the nightlife while living the fast life. She is living both a fast life and nightlife on a double-edged sword by living on the edge. She don’t know any better in what to believe in. She is loving all the wrong people for the wrong reasons. The girl in the song is Nicole Wray.


Misery loves company on the song Miserable People. The mellow and vibe are smooth, timid, and slow. Miserable People is from her 2010 albums Boss Bitch and Boss Chick. The beautiful mellow piano solo at the beginning of Miserable People helps give off a mellow vibe that is not too ecstatic. Miserable People has a loud and powerful essence in the sound.

Nicole Wray laces the track with her soulful singing about how misery loves company. Nicole Wray states there is so many things to love about life. In reality, there is so many things to love about living life. Life has its ups and downs. So why hate? Nicole Wray does not want miserable people in her life. She won’t let it get the best of her.


Drumz is a love song with very loud ultra-heavy thick beats from 7 Aurelius over a tempo of 122 BPM which is the most BPM on this album.. 7 Aurelius produced and recorded Drumz even though the production sounds a bit distorted. Not surprising since this song uses some thick distortion in various places throughout the song. It's another great song you will love! You’ll get used to the distortion after a little while as the song progresses.

There is a bit pop infused in this song. These lyrics are quite poppish, “LOVE IS CANDY/LOVE IS BUBBLEGUM/CHOCOLATE CANDY/ LOVE IS YUMMY YUM/I FEEL SEXY”  This is the pop portion of this song.


Almost Famous was produced by 7 Aurelius. Almost Famous is accompanied by a barrage of live instruments including a small violin ensemble the beginning. The beats are absolutely amazing! Live instrumentation is perfect for a song like this song.

Almost Famous is a throwback song down memory lane which is where Nicole Wray takes us on this song. Just today Nicole Wray saw her ex-boyfriend’s smile. She has not seen him in a while. He made her feel so good and all the other girls knew it. She wonders if his kisses are still the same. She wondered if they had another chance. Nicole would love to call him her man (my man). How he kissed the girls, broke their hearts, and gave them material things. She is loving him all over again.

She remembers when they used to go for rides. He would let the top down letting wind blow. Sippin’ on hennessey. They always looked good together. It’s not the same because Nicole is all caught up in the games her ex played.


This Kiss is a futuristic love song produced by 7 Aurelius and written by Nicole Wray. Beats were created by 7 Aurelius. Of course This Kiss is a love song.

Boomerang Theory is one of those upbeat songs with a mellow vibe and positive feel you will hear in those coffee shop songs and frozen yogurt place songs. Boomerang Theory is also known as Boomerang Effect to you Nicole Wray fans out there. Boomerang Theory was produced in 2006 by 7 Aurelius her Lovechild album and her 2011 single I Found You on DDMG.

4/5****!!

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Lyte Funkie Ones - Lyte Funkie Ones album review

Lyte Funkie Ones - Lyte Funkie Ones is a soft lush soothing mellow pop album with acoustic guitar driven ballads such as Summer Girls and Girl on TV. The album had polished popish love songs such as West Side Story, Think About You, Cross My Heart, and Baby Be Mine. Slow jams such as I Don’t Wanna Kiss You Goodnight and Your Heart Is Safe With Me were included. Their debut album was a decent effort which went overlooked and unappreciated due to the success of their contemporaries such as Backstreet Boys, O-Town, and NSYNC during the late 90s and early 00s. Lyte Funkie Ones were one of the overlooked and unappreciated boy bands of their time.

Record producer Clive Davis told Billboard in 1999: "Backstreet Boys may be the target and the model, but what's very unique here is that Rich is writing these songs. These guys are raising the standard" for boy bands. But sadly the group faded away along with the boy-band craze as the public lost in the boy band craze after nearly 20 years.


Summer Girls is one of those summer anthems which never seemed to make sense but was popular and catchy enough to become a hit. Some people say it doesn’t make sense. It may not make sense, but it did make dollars. This catchy summer anthem is an acoustic guitar driven ballad about chasing after girls in the summer time. The song was soothing and calming due to the acoustic nature.

Rich Cronin can be heard performing all over the song since he wrote the song himself. That is why you can hear Rich Cronin’s work all over the place.

Remembering the good times. I like it when the girls stop by in the summer. Do you remember? This is a trip down throwback lane. New Kids On The Block had a bunch of hits.

Rich met her summer and it all began. She was the best girl that he ever seen. Somethin' in her eyes drove him crazy. It makes him mad that she left one day and never came back. She stayed all summer and then went back home. They fell deep in love but now they aren’t speaking to each other.

She's been gone since that summer. Summer girls come and summer girls go. Some are worthwhile and some are so-so. Rich would take her if he had one wish. She looked like a girl from Abercrombie & Fitch.

The girl he was dating came from Georgia where the peaches grow. A place where they drink lemonade and speak real. She loved hip hop and rock. He feels much better whenever she is near him. He used to hate school. So he had to play hookie. Rich has always been hip to the B-boy style. He was known to act wild and make a girl smile. He feels much better whenever she is near him. Rich likes the way she laughs whenever he tells a joke.

Rich thinks it's fly when girls stop by for the summer. In the summertime, girls got it goin' on. Summertime girls are the kind he likes. He likes girls that wear Abercrombie & Fitch.


West Side Story is about this girl named Veronica from the west side of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Brad fell in love with Veronica.

Veronica's the song that's in Brad’s head. Veronica's the name he’s often said. Her friends say she's too good for him. It's kinda like West Side Story. She's the only one for him. She's the only girl he sees. Brad can't seem to find a damn thing wrong with Veronica.

Brad sees her friends talking about him every day. But he knows there's something there that no one can see. It’s like they’re living on a movie set of Romeo and Juliet or West Side Story. Her father and mother wish they had never met. She says that he just makes her world round. He is in love with her.

Brad and Veronica went on the run. All because he was playing with Veronica. She's got him now. Her father got a biscuit and it might go pow. You can't stop the blood rush and you can't stop love. So it's time to knuckle up and pray to the lord above.


In addition to Summer Girls, the album produced another hit single, Girl on TV, which Rich Cronin also wrote. The whole song is based on actress Jennifer Love Hewitt, whom Rich Cronin dated for a year during the end of the decade and millennium. Girl on TV is another acoustic guitar driven ballad on the album. Some of the most catchiest lyrics to the song are “Shooby doo-wop and Scooby Snacks, I met a fly girl and I can't relax” These are what make the song memorable.

Rich fell for the girl that's on TV. This girl is actress Jennifer Love Hewitt. She's from the City of Angels like Betty Davis, James Dean, and Gable. A place that is known as Los Angeles, California. You’ll never know and/or understand what she means to Rich.

Rich met Jennifer Love Hewitt at a counter affair. She wore a green dress and everybody was there. He felt out of place until she looked into his eyes. Rich is never gonna be the same again. He met a fly girl and can't relax. The only problem is she's a movie star. His friends won't believe him. If only they could only see him. To be the leading lady in all his dreams is something bigger than Shooby-doo-wop and Scooby Snacks.

Everybody knows her name. They wanna take a picture and they're glad she came. But he just wants to be there when she's down. He doesn't want her autograph. He just wants to call her up and make her laugh. Rich fell for the girl that's on TV. Every where he looks, she is there. It's the girl in the green dress. She took his breath away. And now he looks to the sky for a better day.

4/5****!!