What Happened To Bajan R&B Singer Shontelle? | Depression, Bad Timing & The Business of Music

Writing, not singing, is what gave Shontelle her big break into the music industry. One song she wrote, in particular, blew up so big it made people curious to see what else she could do. And so, began her singing career. The comparisons to another very successful Bajan beauty that came before her were obvious and unavoidable. Then, just when her career was starting to gain some momentum, business politics and bad timing caused everything to fall apart. Let’s find out whatever happened to Bajan singer/songwriter Shontelle.
#Shontelle
C O N N E C T W I T H M E!
I N S T A G R A M || / genuinelygenevieve
T W I T T E R || / genuinelygenn
T I K T O K || / genuinelygenevieve
Business Inquiries/PR: [e-mail]
INTRO & OUTRO:
Music by Ryan Little - Think About You - thmatc.co/?l=F...
VIDEO:
Music by MDMN - Love Angel - thmatc.co/?l=4...
Music by Mark Generous - Only You - thmatc.co/?l=B...
ABOUT LET'S GET TO THE ROOT
Hi! I'm Genevieve and this is my second channel. I'm a lifestyle blogger who's obsessed with skincare, self love, 90's r&b music and anything chocolate! Don't forget to check out my main channel, Genuinely Genevieve!
Let's Get To The Root lives up to its name by going beyond just the surface. This channel is a deep dive into all the interesting and shocking information about all your favourite Hollywood celebrities, entertainers, movies, television shows and more from back in the day. Here we'll answer all your burning questions and give you all the juicy details you never knew before!

[@ashantiluv6564]

Impossible is literally one of my favorite songs. I never understood why she didn’t blow up bigger. Thanks for this video.

[@Tiajones333]

Me too

[@taureanmay7480]

Okay.

[@taylordowning2533]

Mine too

[@T3nnIsBoY]

I just heard impossible the day before yesterday, I was riding in car with a friend of mine & her wife & it came on the radio.

[@ashantiluv6564]

@@T3nnIsBoY it took you back huh?

[@Ggxbgdryvxd]

The songs that didn’t chart or didn’t do well in America did well in the UK. It’s a shame that we only view someone successful if they do well in America

[@LOUISVILLECARDINALS]

I agree

[@mylifeasme5791]

I think it’s since these genres started in the states or something. But it seems like America does have to be the targeted demographic if you want to “make it” which is unfortunate

[@franklantic]

It can't be helped. America is still the biggest consumer when it comes to basically everything, music included. When an artist makes it big in the US, that artist can easily be catapulted into worldwide fame.

[@rowdyjman94]

Blu Cantrell's breathe (rap version), Christina's dirrty & eminem's stan are famous examples of this.

[@ksam5673]

@@franklantic The USA isn't the biggest consumer they are the biggest marketer

[@15daboss]

Both her songs T-Shirt and Impossible were my jams!❤️

[@musiclover-cn7tb]

Same here t shirt was the first time I ever heard of her and then say hello to goodbye and perfect nightmare was another song and the licky licky under the covers .

[@phanicebwabi]

I liiiiiive for t-shirt. Such wonderful memories

[@tk-ns8lr]

What u mean were🤔 lol

[@xbabygirltx]

It’s a shame Shontelle’s career didn’t take off the way it should have. I always respected her songwriting skills. Roll it gal was my anthem when I was applying for university.

[@taureanmay7480]

Oooooh.

[@kc-jv1rn]

Roll still is the jam

[@azareya19]

Wasn't it Allison Hinds who sang the song?

[@xbabygirltx]

​@@azareya19 Yes I think she released it first, then J-status released another version with Rihanna and Shontelle afterwards.

[@musiclover-cn7tb]

@@azareya19 I thought a demo was given to Rihanna once too.

[@longbranch11207]

Glad she moved back home where she can enjoy herself along with the gorgeous Caribbean lifestyle

[@taureanmay7480]

Wow.

[@Fatima-rz9vt]

Exactly, this entertainment business isn't it. God saved her I'm hoping 🙏🏿

[@agluv7360]

Impossible was always on heavy rotation for me!

[@taureanmay7480]

Hmmmm.

[@SirPlasticMan]

Still lol

[@sadiedae]

Such a great song and I love T-shirt.❤️

[@EsteemedMentality]

It's fascinating to know she's eating off Man Down. I think she would have more potential and future in songwriting . She has the background 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@shavondarobinson8474]

I agree and actually i am published songwriter as well i make good royalities.

[@taijohnson9139]

Shavonda Robinson teach. Me how

[@YungEmperor305]

@@shavondarobinson8474 what hit songs have you penned?

[@bibinakajja2110]

I am a fan of hers. T-Shirt was and still is on repeat. Her song Battle Cry was/is underrated and Impossible was/is a great song

[@kellie5476]

I wondered what happened to her, I remember T-shirt and Impossible charting here in the UK.

[@GearsinMotionGraphics]

Thanks, for sharing this... I never heard of this artist and is such a refreshing thing for you to show Unsung people.

[@taureanmay7480]

Your welcome.

[@d1mples91]

I never knew too much about Shontelle. I only know of her Impossible song, that was a huge hit for me. Didn't even know she was from Barbados, learn something new every day.

[@marvamaxwell4124]

I can't wait for this pandemic to be done so I can go back home to Barbados I miss being there and seeing all my family

[@myvettebeauty]

I used to sing Impossible like my life depended on it.

[@melissamariea]

Lmao! Same. 🤣

[@monicamariamclean2198]

I didn't know she wrote the song Man down by Rihanna but they're friends so that's not unusual

[@itsLuBosh]

"Impossible" by her is far better than the second version....That guy sang it so unnatural and the fact that he did not even reply to her just shows what a jerk he is....

[@GearsinMotionGraphics]

Could you do the singer Shola Ama?

[@taureanmay7480]

No idea.

[@stacksondeckldn4628]

Good idea! 💡

[@tami8458]

Yeah, I loved that girl! Should have been bigger

[@RM-kl4cq]

@@taureanmay7480 RnB/garage British singer

[@gayshurm7616]

Please do one on Deborah cox

[@jhanturandall2519]

Deborah cox still sings, she does jazz now

[@monicamariamclean2198]

Yeah although she do Deborah Cox do jazz now she do a lot of jazz music now

[@MiamiPush2theLimit]

I’d much rather be a songwriter than a performer. Songwriters make a lot of money, oftentimes more money than performers, and they still have a private life.

[@fedoramcclaren4294]

There is an article about songwriters getting taken advantage of as well, based on the artistes taking songwriting credits that they deserve.

[@DeniseRene407]

I agree. I’d take money over game any day.

[@debbieharris1628]

1. At work when "Impossible" comes on I shush everyone because it's just that damn good. 2. That purple lipstick at 9:58 is just gorgeous! Does anyone have a clue what brand or color it is?

[@niaroach3396]

My thing is, Rihanna could not help homegirl out, by having her, at the very least, do some vocals on one of her songs?

[@ashgreene4914]

Rihanna has her own management calling the shots too. The record labels and producers can be very controlling on what an artist can do and that is why there is conflict when an artist wants more creativity control. Just my assumption.

[@SweetTea742]

I would have thought so too back then but knowing more of the industry now, I guess a younger Rihanna didn't have much of a say... She would have been just another artist working in the company.... She wasn't the shot caller.

[@niaroach3396]

@@SweetTea742 ok, but Rihanna is calling the shots now, so why not put her on something now, or on anything within the last 5 years.

[@Brandon2ne2]

@Lakacia Lloyd i thoght it was rock city that wrote it

[@mischiefmaker3140]

@ben yosep there’s nothing wrong with helping someone out . Especially, someone you know

[@fujajo2761]

Whatever happened to Coverdrive? I really liked that group.

[@taylordowning2533]

This was a very good documentary. I'm glad to know she's doing well. Impossible and Roll It Gyal are two great songs.

[@foreverantonio]

Yassssssssss I use to love her t shirt and impossible still slap

[@taureanmay7480]

Joyful.

[@randalbanfield6722]

Just so happened that I (a Bajan too) opened this video on her 36th birthday. LOL

[@amaamma3610]

She's beautiful and intelligent.

[@amyrios4670]

Can you do city high

[@lavendersunsets7066]

I only know her for one song. And forgot all about her and it.

[@taureanmay7480]

T- shirt 👕 😳 😍 👌 ♥ ✨.

[@kc-jv1rn]

Lol

[@randyg4571]

Thank you for the update on Shontelle. My friend just asked about her about three days ago. We did not know what she was doing. We were always routing for her but unfortunately it seemed that the word Bajan turned out to be a bad omen for her.

[@SweetTea742]

Really? Why do you think so wrt the word Bajan?

[@randyg4571]

@@SweetTea742 Unfortunately you misunderstood where I was going. First off I am Bajan living overseas. My thinking was that it would have been extremely difficult for another black female singer from Barbaosl to capture international attention after the words Bajan and Barbados were automatically applied to Rihanna.. I was really surprised when international media started referring to her as Bajan and wondered if they knew what they were saying. Shontelle may be talented but it is an uphill battle for her to separate herself from the Bajan singer. Most of the celebrity media can only deal with one of a kind(similar characteristics etc). Do you know if one of her fore-parents is from Tobago?

[@SweetTea742]

@@randyg4571 Hi Randy G, thanks for clarifying :) I now understand what you mean. I think you're absolutely right where you said the celebrity media can only deal with one of a kind... I would also like to add that they may only promote one at a time as well.... Now, you have me wondering if that was intentional to blindside Shontelle and have the focus on Rihanna alone? I'm not sure about the Tobago connection though.

[@randyg4571]

​@Truth Speaks I humbly disagree with you. From the get go Rihanna always said that she was Bajan. In North America if you have a Caribbean accent people tend to associate you with Jamaica , the most widely known of the English speaking Caribbean countries. She cannot correct everyone who makes that assumption about her. At least they are talking about her which is what is important for any artist. As far as branding, initially she had little control over that. Brand Rihanna was carefully cultivated by a team which aimed for a certain niche through borrowing from different musical genres(reggae/dancehall , pop, R&B, and artists(Madonna) with the aim to differentiate her from the urban or hood crowd. Talent is secondary to product appeal and thus the right team has to be formed to promote a product with potential. However I believe that the one major event that propelled her to international fame was that hood incident with Chris Brown(both hood) which her team was able to managed with great success(starting with the Oprah interview). Her image was carefully crafted and luckily for her hood Barbados is not widely known. I give Rihanna credit for her single handed promotion of Barbados with zero cost to Barbados tax payers.

[@taureanmay7480]

I miss shontelle.

[@taureanmay7480]

Where 🤔 is she now.

[@AlexFroot]

@@taureanmay7480 she has some music out 2 singles

[@xXMADEINXx]

She should get paid for what he made off that song it’s her song at the end of the day

[@rossellinirossicalrossc3507]

What ever happened to Kat DeLuna?

[@priscamaloya8238]

They did...search about it

[@Korouss911]

I never liked James version of impossible. He's a good singer but sounds like he was straining through the whole song. And the fact that she reached out to him and he never replied 🙄 well a big middle finger to him.

[@createthebalance]

I miss her! 🙏🏾 she has such a beautiful voice.

[@rebeccapetty1k390]

I've never heard of her but I can tell right away that her biggest mistake is to try and be like Rihanna... It is like what does she bring to the table? A lot of people can sing and have hazel eyes and she should have gotten a stage name.. I mean her real name is that of a mega star like Rihanna or Beyonce.. It is obvious she was lost an artist she did not have an artistic direction

[@mizzjacquettaxx6974]

I miss her. She was a great singer tho. I only like her song is “T-Shrit”.

[@taylordowning2533]

Check out Impossible. That song is amazing

[@stellabellafontay9366]

Never knew about this Beauty. Wow.

[@saraho9568]

She favors RiRi, too.

[@TheLovesnowangel]

Eh no, she doesn’t

[@jenc9468]

Tshirt is my fav from her

[@cupcakebuttercups6922]

I dont remember her

[@divaslm1]

She wanted to have a life and was very smart. She got royalties

[@taupenoire1933]

never heard of her! When I think of Barbados there is always a name that pops up and that is ... do I really have to mention it?

[@taureanmay7480]

# Island life.

[@chantalmascoe4594]

Eddie Grant

[@taupenoire1933]

@@chantalmascoe4594 Eddie Grant was born in British Guyana and came to England as a child

[@xxxx-cl9jx]

Rihanna

[@rissaceehart4076]

.

[@LeeLyanKing]

Amazing work ! Can you please make a video about the group So Plush please ?

[@taureanmay7480]

Oh.

[@susanstorm7910]

Impossible was my fave ever

[@animami-8]

She should’ve been bigger. Her sound was different

[@eeee8479]

Not really. And maybe that was one of her issues. She was good but kinda just blended into what was popular for the time.

[@likeitornotwithmichaellane4896]

Wow! What a strong woman. She had a lot of obstacles. And for someone with that amount of talent, is a shame. Much love to you and yours, Narrator Queen! 😊😍💖

[@v.nikkijohnson]

I thank you for doing videos on people that I've definitely wondered about.

[@SuzieQ90]

I'm so Proud of her! 👏👏👏

[@CC-si3cr]

Never heard of her. I knew about her t-shirt song, but that's it.

[@Ziond83]

What's the title of the theme song of this youtube channel, I like the beat so much

[@nehsangbong7259]

Impossible is my ish

[@AndreasTabuMuntu]

I knew I never liked that "James Arthur's" individual nor listened to his music for a reason with his typical colonizer mentality. The caucacity!

[@rossellinirossicalrossc3507]

He won the X factor and that was the winners single.... blame Simon Cowell!

[@karatekidx5000]

@@rossellinirossicalrossc3507 But he could have replied to her congratulations. He's rude for that.

[@rossellinirossicalrossc3507]

@@karatekidx5000 he might not have seen it, he had just won the X factor, I’m sure he had thousands of people tweeting him

[@LettingGoTV]

Love these videos! Can you please do Hoku and also Alecia Elliott?? She just released a new album this year

[@SharondraM]

Shontelle should definitely keep writing and I hope she is

[@TheGamersGuide819]

She was a good writer

[@BaybieK]

Please do one on SHAI

[@lamarrkendelltime]

Rihanna blew her out tha park 😂😂😂

[@annmariebusu9924]

Yes I know roll it gal 😁

[@monicamariamclean2198]

I didn't know Chantel and Rihanna knew each other it's a small world you'll be surprised the people you know in this world cuz it's such a small world

[@dharmakissoon]

West Indian.....um miss I don't pll know whats soca calypso n bajan

[@jizzyg4119]

The music industry is tough

[@experttravelandvisaservice7336]

She was one of the judges and peformed in Miss Earth 2017 and 2019

[@thecloud9effect765]

excelente trabajo y muy entretenido.!

[@JuicyPopEntertainment]

Gracias!😉

[@taureanmay7480]

@@JuicyPopEntertainment means thank you.

[@jessejameslatimer8686]

she kind of looks like Aaliyah at 2:24

[@rissaceehart4076]

I wad going to say she has certain similiarities to E.V.E.

[@joannwilson9097]

Naw i say Rihanna

[@shontellengwalo5072]

She is the best i love shontelle and not only because we have the same name

[@arbolmaldonado877]

Please one what happend with Bone Thugs N Harmony

[@Tia.0721]

Oh wow!!! I NEVER knew that was her singing “Impossible”! I always thought that was LaToya Lucket! Thanks for this video; I learned many things about this talented beauty

[@fedoramcclaren4294]

I didn't know either!!! I thought it was a singer like Arianna Grande or someone like that...

[@cali85hassan67]

Baby impossible is forever

[@GearsinMotionGraphics]

Or singer Cherokee.

[@taureanmay7480]

Come On.

[@loveangel102]

Man what Cherokee on another level these youngins don’t kno nothing about Cherokee my song ooou wee wee was my song too she have some bangers na

[@kc-jv1rn]

C'mon...Ooo wee wee

[@ronanyomu5967]

Plzzz do a vid on lady savoerign

[@kevinumba6281]

What happened to KP and Envy

[@Kaydashsupe]

Swing my way is still my jam

[@yackieshabaker4370]

My favourite is stuck in love with each other ft akon

[@dedicated2house]

Rihanna is what happened

[@silentnight6682]

Only room for one it seems.

[@anneadeyemo9347]

How did Rihanna happened? Her debut album was released in 2008 and by then Rih was already a Grammy winner 🤷

[@EverEssence4790]

Can you please do one on The Family Stand , Horace Brown and Ten City if you haven’t. I loved loved their music ❤️and then they just dropped out of sight ! I love your content 😊

[@musiclover-cn7tb]

I love horace's first album too.

[@JustRaiya16]

I remember her!

[@taureanmay7480]

Yes.

[@meganjoellee]

Battle cry was my song🥺🥺

[@krislatoya7556]

Baje in the house 🇧🇧. Vita Chambers is another 1, I don't know what happened there.

[@PositivelyAngela]

Yeah, Vita is pretty cool too!

[@survivinginbim]

Livvi Franc is another Bajan singer who had some success around the same time

[@fittomakeup9890]

I love her songs t-shirt and impossible.

[@joannwilson9097]

Let's do Truth Hurts All Saints Just to name a few

[@cc94tv51]

💙

[@Chan777E]

Looking at this girl. Rihanna started with her style. I mean if you look at it when Rihanna first came out everything about both their styles are identical. Wow. She should have been just as successful as Rihanna.

[@Meme-hi5gm]

Rihanna came out first..

[@dondi2129]

Answer: Rihanna

[@meshiag]

I’m a big fan fan of hers

[@footballbrainer279]

She must have influenced Rihanna in some way

[@thequintessential5503]

Shontelle didn’t make it big like Rihanna because she didn’t sell her soul or that they set her up to fail by releasing her the same time Rihanna made debut in showbiz.

[@LettingGoTV]

Also do Dream Street

[@jstratus4]

Thank you for your channel.

[@JuicyPopEntertainment]

You're welcome!

[@4LakerLife]

Have you done Tiera Marie?

[@yackieshabaker4370]

Wow I didn't know she wrote that song,from the very first day I saw the video for roll it gal I fell in love with it an that's more than 5 years ago

[@Tia.0721]

I always wonder when up in coming Artist have friends already successful in the same industry they’re trying to get into, why or if their friends help

[@torrijones8434]

Wow I remember shontelle

[@adrnevez]

Not that she isnt talented, but she came out too late. Her type of music (pop r&b) was getting weaker and weaker from 2009 on. At that time everything was (sadly) fuckin electropop.

[@warriorjgamer]

Can’t believe James Arthur didn’t reply to her congratulating him I personally still think her version was better

[@Tyreus1]

so there was a bigger sister to Rihanna and they never made a duo ? what a shame !

[@danielbrock5449]

Dat women got a weird face

[@melaninpoppin]

What about Che'nelle?

[@joannwilson9097]

Look like Rihanna's big sister

[@sharonfelicia121]

It takes that 1 special song to blow shontelle don't lose hope

[@v.a.l.5165]

I think her main misstep as a recording artist was originally going for such a mainstream sound.

[@g.souththeproducer770]

So, this was Rihanna before Rihanna…… 🤔

[@TeeTop_]

I was one of the 7,000 people that got No Gravity first week. 😭 7:19 Wth!? I never heard about this.

[@humblesoul2547]

I actually liked her however I am glad you're covering her story it's just unfortunate she didn't get the respect and credit she deserve im the music industry which is not surprising but I am glad she is still here and doing well I will leave it at that.