Let's talk about Ciara's Evolution

Oh, that I totally agree with! My point about Ciara is that it seems like every song where she sings outside of a range that goes from the F above middle C to the C above that stretches against her abilities, so I'm not sure that lionizing her for sounding like she's desperately reaching for a note on a particular song is warranted.

I wouldn't deny that Ciara is limited as a singer and there's a shitload of songs where she sounds like it too. I just think it works on "Promise". Difference of opinion anyway. ("Oh" is also a weirdly compelling vocal performance, albeit very differently).

And, y'know, obviously good vocal performance is a huge part of R&B and it goes towards why Teedra Moses > Aaliyah > Ciara. On a song by song basis though there's no necessary reason why vocal chops will push someone further over the line.