Track Listing

1. One
2. Money
3. Call Me
4. Not With You
5. Boy Next Door
6. One Day
7. Ghetto
8. Thinking 'Bout You
9. I Do
10. Room 101
11. Guilty
12. I Can't Be
13. This Time

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #81599 in Music
• Released on: 2001-05-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
In a time when the R&B production line has gone into overdrive to meet the public demand for tripping beats, Jamelia's single "Money", all big fat opera divas, eerie strings and slamming harpsichords, was a stroke of genius. That one song revitalised radio play lists buckling under the weight of Destiny Child wannabees. The problem for the 19-year-old Jamelia was always going to be following up the single's success. Needless to say, while "Money"'s classical overtones may reverberate throughout Drama, its equals or equivalents are nowhere to be seen. That said, Jamelia's debut still rates as one of the best R&B albums of the day; the lack of genuine inspiration made up for in part by fine songwriting and Jamelia's gorgeous vocals. Though "Call Me" could have been written for Destiny's Child and "Not With You" and "Boy Next Door" sound like latter-day Shola Ama, that doesn't mean they are any less potent when it comes to textbook examples of how to pen an R&B hit; most artists would be severely smug to have half of Drama's tunes to their credit. If "Money" is seen for what it is--a rare and blessed gift from the pop gods--then Drama is a debut any R&B starlet should be proud of. --Dan Gennoe

Customer Reviews

DRAMA INDEED.
After returning to the charts with new single 'Bout' I decided to put this album in the CD player, and I had forgotten just how talented Jamelia is, and why this album is so highly rated by so many.
The album opens with 'One', the rawest track on the album, with Jamelia almost rapping at the beginning, the music is just awesome, the chorus catchy, and the verses showcase Jamelia's talents perfectly. Then there is her breakthrough hit, 'Money' (feat. Beenie Man), an orchestra-laden track with a sublime chorus, this got to number five in the UK charts and became a massive summer hit.
'Call Me' is a bit repetitive at times, but still a solid r'n'b effort. 'Boy Next Door' is the best slow song on the album, perfect for evenings when you just want to chill. Jamelia's vocals glide easily on this track.
'Room 101' is a slick, sassy song where Jamelia is in a dilemma about an affair, and, along with 'One' and 'Boy Next Door' is one of the best tracks on the album.
There are a lot of slow songs on the album, and occassionally there are too many clustered together, so you don't know where one track ends and where one track begins. Most of the tracks on 'Drama', however, are extremely well-executed and accomplished affairs, with not one rating as a 'bad' song.
If Jamelia continues to produce music of this high quality, she will undoubtedly return to the forefront of UK r'n'b, and rightly so. Writing all the songs on the album bar 'Guilty' (written by the brothers Gibb), this lady is surely the UK Ashanti. A must-have for all r'n'b fans.

A FUNKY HEAD JERKING GOOD TIME!
I have looking for this CD for a long time and when it finally arrived I was more than pleased. The track with Beenie Man is a classic in the Hip-Hop/Reggae annuals. Jamelia has a powerful voice and I hope that this is only the begining of a really successful career. Watch out Whitney Houston!

WOW!
You really need 2 start listening 2 this album with an open mind, but the trax R fantastic all the same. The first six trax are brilliant, especially Money & One Day but it dips a bit with Ghetto and Thinkin' bout U, and then picks up once again with I Do and the stunning Room 101. It ends however on a not so good note with It Can't Be & This time, still, most are good. StevieFM :o)