Camila bigger on the solo trail

Camila Cabello was the Zayn Malik of Fifth Harmony. Remember how Malik bolted out of One Direction while in mid-tour and threw the goings-on with the boy band into chaos? Well, Camila’s departure from the hottest girl group around was not quite as sensational. Well, she did not do it in the middle of a tour. But a lot of people including those four girls who were once her friends were not happy about what she did.

Just like the boys of One Direction, the members of Fifth Harmony, Ally Brooke, Normani Kordei, Dinah Jane, Lauren Jauregui and until last year the sexy Latina Camila, auditioned as soloists in The X-Factor talent show in the UK. Also like 1D, they did not make it and were advised by judge and producer Simon Cowell to instead get together and form a group. Which they did to huge success.

Miss Movin’ On, Boss, Sledgehammer, Worth It, Reflection and Work From Home were some of the hits that Fifth Harmony had one after the other. Then they got that Zayn Malik moment. To the group’s credit though, the girls continue to do well as a foursome. But I am sure that Camila has no regrets about leaving the group as after a few bumps here and there she is now also doing very well on her own.

Camila’s collabs as a soloist turned out well. Hey Ma with Pit Bull, I Know What You Did Last Summer with Shawn Mendes and Bad Things with Machine Gun Kelly. But her early solo outings were not as well-received, Crying In The Club, I Have Questions. Then last September, 2017, Havana, a sleek slow burn featuring Young Thug, was released as the first promo single for Camila’s solo debut album. It was an instant smash reaching No. 1 in several countries. And now riding on Havana’s tail, the album, Camila is also a huge success.

Camila has a big hit and her solo career is well on its way, but what I find really amazing is how her album was put together. Camila has this perky, clubby image, thanks to her Fifth Harmony days but what she has in her album is a collection of soulful acoustic ballads, All These Years, Something’s Gotta Give, Consequences and Into It, Latin-inspired tropicals like She Loves Control and Inside Out and lots of pop and R&B like the album’s bookend tune Never Be The Same. And it is great to find out that she has the type of vocals to carry off these meaningful songs with stripped down arrangements.

The Top 20 songs in this week’s Billboard Hot 100 chart are Perfect by Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé; Havana by Camila featuring Young Thug; Rockstar by Post Malone feat. Young Thug; Thunder by Imagine Dragons; No Limit by G-Eazy feat. A$AP Rocky & Cardi B; Bad At Love by Halsey; Too Good At Goodbyes by Sam Smith; MotorSport by Migos, Nicki Minaj & Cardi B; Gucci Gang by Lil Pump; Bodak Yellow (Money Moves) by Cardi B.

New Rules by Dua Lipa; Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man; Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran; Love by Kendrick Lamar feat. Zacari; Sorry Not Sorry by Demi Lovato; Believer by Imagine Dragons; Him & I by G-Eazy & Halsey; Let You Down by NF; Bartier Cardi by Cardi B feat. 21 Savage; and Gummo by 6ix9ine.

The Top 20 titles in the Top 200 Albums listing are The Greatest Showman, the motion picture soundtrack feat. Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron and others in the cast; Divide ÷ by Ed Sheeran; Reputation by Taylor Swift; The Beautiful & Damned by G-Eazy; DAMN by Kendrick Lamar; Revival by Eminem; Evolve by Imagine Dragons; Stoney by Post Malone; Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho by Huncho Jack; American Teen by Khalid.

Luv Is Rage 2 by Lil Uzi Vert; The Thrill Of It All by Sam Smith; Tell Me You Love Me by Demi Lovato; Heartbreak On A Full Moon by Chris Brown; 24K Magic by Bruno Mars; Project Baby Two by Kodak Black; More Life by Drake; Quality Control: Control The Streets, Vol. 1 by Various Artists; Ctrl by SZA; and Pitch Perfect 3, the motion picture soundtrack feat. Anna Kendrick and others in the cast.