2023 Year-End in Review

                                      

                                         
Image by Freepik


By Waiching

In 2022, I experienced a lot of disappointment and unhappiness. As the year ended, I was relieved to put it behind me and eager to turn over a new chapter and to make sure that my work efforts in 2023 stood out and that it was a year filled with more positive highlights.

At the start of the year, things were looking good. Even though we had no permanent manager or supervisor in charge of the food court for several months, I was making good progress with my work and receiving positive feedback from members about my contributions. Over time, there were various changes in the employee roster at Costco. Some individuals departed, and others joined the department. While most new faces were welcome to the team, there were a few who left that were not missed. (It is amusing to me that the same two people who once advised me to stick to my regular work at Costco were the ones who eventually quit their jobs at the food court. They believed that I was not good enough to serve members or prepare food, but, ironically, they were the ones who ended up leaving). 

I realise I will never find my worth in another person or their opinions. I have cultivated a not-give-a-damn attitude and got used to not taking what people say or do to me personally; that's them, their image of me, of how they perceive me - but I don't have to agree or accept it. I have self-worth and pride and some get me and understand me; by not getting upset or overreacting by taking things personally, ignoring and moving on, I feel at inner peace with myself. Seeking validation from other people devalues my self-worth and sets me up for heartbreak and sadness. 

On certain days, things go smoothly, while on others, they don't. Even though I have mixed feelings about the café, it still seems like this is the most appropriate place for me to develop my skills. The department has been experiencing a high turnover rate every year, which is not uncommon in large corporations such as Costco. They are always in need of new workers and hope that the employees have invested too much time and effort to resign, once they do the bait and switch.

The present-day food court team is doing well and has improved in strength and drive. It's always good to witness a team that works well together when things go well. As for the self-service kiosks they have made the process slightly efficient and there are no longer any queues to contend with. 

At the end of last year, I made the conscious decision to take a step back by focusing on and prioritising myself and not relying on other people for my happiness. As a result, I ended my relationship with a colleague whom I had known for almost four years. I felt she was not respecting my boundaries, particularly when I needed space. There was also an incident at work that I won't go into detail about, but it made me realize that I needed to cut ties with her for good. This experience taught me that it's okay to be independent and to prioritize my own needs.

In 2023 things weren't perfect, but I felt like at the start there was a new dawn, a new beginning after some people at work, including my previous manager left. I like being able to challenge myself without someone constantly monitoring me. It is through these experiences and the people we meet that build our character; that we can grow and mature emotionally and get the best out of each other. Either we become better individuals or we remain stagnant. Or it reminds us how we ought not to be like him/her. 

The cost-of-living crisis has been a hot topic for discussion lately, but fortunately, I earn a good income from my work. The years of overseas travel continued in 2023: In February, I returned to Hong Kong, which is like a second home. It's one of my favourite cities in the world. Later on, I visited Los Angeles for the first time. While both trips were very different, they offered a much-needed respite from my daily work routine.

Looking back on this year, I am proud to say that my biggest accomplishment was reaching five years of service in the food court of Costco, making me the longest-serving employee in that department at the warehouse. Surviving for half a decade in the fast-paced environment of the Costco food court/cafe, despite the many challenges that come with working in a department that experiences high turnover rates every year, is no easy feat. 

In 2023, I became more aware of the importance and impact of my work contributions. This realization motivated me to take my career to new heights by becoming more proactive. I also discovered that I possess a considerable amount of self-confidence and self-worth, which enabled me to take on various tasks that were required of me.

When faced with a difficult task, it may seem impossible and daunting at first. However, with persistence, it can be achieved. In my case, I found that the more I worked in the back, the easier it became. I was serving members and ringing up orders, something I had not done before. Initially, I was hesitant and worried that I would not be able to do it. 

In the past, I used to get so caught up in my emotions that it affected my work or prevented me from doing it. But now, years later, I've learned to set them aside. I don't get upset or emotional as much as I used to, and I'm far less angry and pent-up than before.

However, I still had to stand up for myself when certain people tried to push my buttons.

When you are in anger mode, you have no clarity. 

It was a real challenge to accept that other people's behaviour towards me had nothing to do with me. Instead, it was more about the internal issues that they were dealing with.

My intuition is telling me that something is not right with that person. However, I try to ignore it and give them another chance because I am usually a forgiving person. But then, they continue or repeatedly persist with the same behaviour that is triggering me, even though they are unaware of it.

I need to keep reminding myself that I am not responsible for managing other people's emotions, especially from people I would never give them the time of day, otherwise. I don't owe anyone any comfort, and if they can't or won't accept me for who I am, I won't force them. 

I don't live my life for them.

I don't like to judge people and write them off completely unless they have done something or said something to me that has made me lose trust in them. Some people might not give them another chance, and only some deserve a second chance. However, I have realized that my self-worth is not dependent or co-dependent on other people's acceptance of me. They might have an image of who I should be in their eyes, and vice versa, but that is not reality. I am the one who is in control of my life, my destiny, my emotions, and my feelings, not anyone else.

I am who I am for myself, and not for anyone else. What others think or say about me does not define me. I know my self-worth, and I don't need anyone's validation to feel good about myself. Besides, you should never allow anyone else's thoughts, remarks, opinions, or comments about you to determine your self-worth and validate who you are. 

You may take them with a grain of salt, but nobody knows you better than yourself. And if people decide to have a negative opinion of you, yet throw a hissy fit when you have something to say about them, remind yourself they are being hypocritical and unfair to themselves as well as to you. 

I have learned to appreciate the simple things in life, and I no longer chase after people who do not appreciate me. I value those who matter to me and cherish their presence. 

I used to tolerate a lot because I didn't want to lose people and I have not been able to deal with the insecurities of my childhood past, but I now realize and understand that not everyone is worth holding onto.

Having been at Costco for five years, it has been quite a ride. In late 2018, the cafe team, with its original members, was performing well. However, things became hectic and chaotic in 2019 and 2021. Despite the challenges, I was able to perform better in 2021. Although 2023 presented many difficulties, it was still a significant improvement over the previous year.

In 2022 it permeated an overwhelmingly jaundiced sentiment that made me loathe it even more. I said to one colleague of mine how last year was a 'total s*** show'. Well, for me it was. 

It is important to take the time to reflect on both our successes and our failures or goals that we didn't achieve. In my personal experience, I have undergone a journey of growth, resilience and self-discovery, which is ongoing. Change and evolution are inevitable and can be felt over time, whether we acknowledge them or not. Every year, I learn something new. If I make mistakes, I must learn from them. If something good happens, I cherish the memory.

After waiting in line, I have finally realized that I have accomplished a great deal. Despite the multiple line-up changes, working at the café/food court has been incredibly gruelling and challenging, with long days and nights. We all know that we work harder than many other departments and we do not need anyone to affirm this. However, the café team has made significant progress in the past year and is in a much better place today than it was last year at this time. 

Throughout the first four years, I was primarily focused on my work and managed to achieve positive results. 

Looking back, I now realize that emotionally I wasn't in the right place. I used to try to control situations and people, always trying to make things work out the way I wanted. This approach left me feeling miserable and unhappy. I came to the realization that I was seeking validation and respect from others, believing that this would bring me happiness. However, towards the end of 2022, I discovered that this approach had its drawbacks and that I had placed my happiness in the hands of others so I decided to stop.

My journey through life's ups and downs, based on my shared experiences, may not be understandable to everyone. However, that is perfectly okay because it is not their journey to comprehend. In the same way, their journey is not for me to understand. Once I decided to stop caring about what others say or think about me, set boundaries, and cut off people who did not respect them, and those who gave me mixed signals, I could move forward. Working life helped me grow a backbone, - something that was lacking in my past life.

My energy and intuition weren't for everyone and no longer served a purpose to him or her.  

Healthy relationships are built on mutual trust, honesty, and open communication, rather than attachment. When communication is lacking, problems are likely to arise. If it seems that the relationship with the other person is not productive, then either it is an unhealthy relationship or there is very little to gain from it.

As time goes by, relationships between people can change. There are some individuals with whom I used to converse frequently, but now I hardly talk to them, or perhaps not at all. Some others may have gone out of my life completely. I have also realized that people have many different aspects of their personality, and they may reveal a part of themselves that we had not seen before.

I need to prioritize those who matter in my life and align with my values and not waste my time on those who do not reciprocate the same level of attention & energy as mine.

It has been a challenging year that has resulted in personal growth and transformation. It is easy to become overwhelmed by problems, issues, and difficulties, as well as the behaviour of others who may say more about them than us. It is important to stay positive and focused on our goals, even when things don't go as planned. We should keep moving forward day by day and continue to do the best we can. It is also important to avoid getting distracted by things and people that do not concern us or do not have our best interests at heart. 

We shouldn't let anything or anyone hold us back. If we had not crossed paths with them, we would not even pay them any attention in the first place.

(Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik) 

When we let go of our expectations of others and stop hoping for unlikely outcomes, we liberate ourselves from disappointment and the sudden urge to control or manipulate people into liking or respecting us. Rather, we can choose to be supportive, caring, and empathetic, which can help us avoid significant emotional burdens.

When we accept others for who they really are, without feeling guilty or resentful, and allow things to be as they are, we gain acceptance that everyone has the freedom to live their lives as they wish, as long as their thoughts, actions, and behaviours do not undermine or hurt us.

We gain a better understanding of ourselves and of them, which often leads to a much healthier relationship when we choose not to place expectations on him/her.

One thing I need to be always wary of is if I am unsure, I still need to speak up in person to prevent a mistake or issue from occurring or taking place. 

I have come to a point in my life where I cannot go back to the difficult times I faced in 2019 or 2022. For the next five years, I will have to rely on my own drive and initiative to succeed at Costco. I know my worth and I don't feel the need to justify myself to anyone anymore.

The first five years were mentally and emotionally challenging for me, and I have had my fair share of both good and bad experiences. I believe that those experiences at Costco have shaped me into the person that I am currently. I am now in a stronger position to face the challenges of the future. 

I understand and accept that life is unpredictable, but I am determined to continue to do my best at work. I have realized that my state of happiness lies with me, and I am the only one responsible for it.

I am excited to see what the next five years have in store for me. I am eager to grow personally and professionally in all areas of my life. Progressional growth is high on my list of priorities and I am confident that with hard work and determination, there is more success to come.

 

Image by rawpixel on Freepik

*A generative AI tool on Grammarly was used for the editing process of this post

Highs +

- Travelling to Hong Kong in February and Los Angeles in October
- The member compliments 
- Finally getting to work in the kitchen after 5 years devoted to cleaning the tables 
- The cafe team from September onwards 
- I was happier and more content most of the time than in 2022 

- Reaching 5 years in the Costco cafe/food court 

Lows -

- Early May, July & August 
- When I had an injury in early December, December was a challenging time for me 

Los Angeles: My Own Thoughts

By Waiching 

Los Angeles was one of those must-go-to-places/cities on my bucket list and for the experience alone, you have to go and see it to believe it. It is the USA's second-largest city after New York.

There are places and cities around the world that have earned their reputation for being what it is: I'll be honest, Los Angeles appealed to me because I was interested in film and TV and it was a major draw for me in wanting to explore the area. Sometimes, it took me by surprise that my impressions of Los Angeles and this city that had so much to offer besides Hollywood were rather far-fetched. 

What with its reputation, yet come to think of it, L. A doesn't quite rival New York in the overly impressive U.S. big city stakes when it comes to the tourist attractions or lack of. The fact of the matter is, what I and my sister realised is if you strip away that aspect of L.A, there probably isn't much going for it and as unique the Mexican and South American influences are, they take a massive backseat to the glamorous, showbizzy stuff that goes on. 

To get to various places in the city, we had to take Ubers and took the subway transit a few times. Los Angeles isn't a walkable city by any means; there was always some type of obstruction right around the corner, although we still walked it on foot because the weather was nice. But it shows how inconvenient & underdeveloped the public transportation system and its infrastructure is, compared to London, New York, and even Hong Kong and still it is heavily reliant on cars, buses, and trains. 

Regarding the Hollywood sign, it is a massive hike that we were not going to take, so we took a photo of it from afar instead. And we had to make do with a shorter trek across the sign, which was located at Ovation, Hollywood and Highland. 

My experiences were for the most part, okay. I preferred it over Washington D.C. just about because I was into TV and movies, and Los Angeles is the home to many TV and film studios. As well as various films have been shot and produced in Hollywood. We did skip the theme parks such as Disneyland as they were not our type of thing. 

But it doesn't come close to New York, and I enjoyed Boston even more. I'm probably wrong, but downtown at night had no sign of life, Chinatown in Los Angeles was a cop-out: one evening, when we arrived at about 7pm or something after getting off the subway, almost all of the shops and restaurants were closed. We ate in a restaurant, Foo Chow that was featured in the film, Rush Hour which was made famous as Jackie Chan was in it, but the food itself left a lot to be desired. 

Katy Perry's former home 


The Hollywood Walk of Fame, whilst it was okay to look at and explore, didn't wow us and wasn't a big deal. It's just a bunch of stars & and their names littered on the pavement: some looked like they needed sprucing up as they had cracks on them. If you are really into sightseeing, then fair enough, but in terms of seeing celebrities out and about, that only happens sometimes. Or rarely at all. I had not met or seen one famous actor or celebrity when I and my sister were there. Unless they count the presenter of Dr Pimple Popper, the TLC series in  Sandra Lee, which my sister bumped into at Ovation. They tend to live right up in the Hollywood Hills or the mansions or up in Beverly Hills. 

Sadly the city is marred by crackheads and rough sleepers in Skid Row, shady individuals wandering around Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame area, tour sellers (some who came across as desperate by flogging you tickets) and people wearing daft costumes selling pamphlets or getting you to take a picture with them; it stinks of urine and weed, and then there's the state's sales tax, which took me by surprise, and the burden that it is really expensive (but that is to be expected everywhere in a big internationally renowned city, given we are in a cost-of-living crisis and cities are still recovering after 2-3 years of covid). 

That isn't to say our time in L.A. was a complete loss, though; I still enjoyed my time away from working life and away from London. The weather was nice and we had some good grub to eat. I enjoyed stepping foot inside the supermarkets/grocery stores to see the different types of food items that they had and people are a lot more relaxed and chilled and not as in-yer-face as those in New York; despite that, I loved the fast-paced, hustle and bustle of New York, that energetic buzz that L. A lacks. Hollywood Boulevard/Hollywood & Vine, was okay but if you were to ask me to choose between Times Square and Hollywood Boulevard, I'd go for the former. Having been to both cities, New York still has that cutting edge.

New York and Los Angeles are completely worlds apart: one is on the East Coast, and the other is on the West and close to Mexico, hence the Latino influences throughout L.A. and its past colonial history and is a very highly capitalistic-oriented culture. One has a higher cost of living than the other in NY, one city is fast-paced, and the other is more relaxed.  

(left-hand side: the hotel that was featured in the movie, Pretty Woman)

As I mentioned, people say that L. A is one of those cities everyone must experience and visit once in their lives to be able to form an opinion: is it for everyone though? The answer is no, and I wouldn't return until a couple of years down the line. 

If there is one regret is that we could have spent a few more days in the city; we were there for like 4, 5 days- and that is still not enough time to see and do everything, or see, do things we wanted to do, but couldn't do. My opinion on L. A would have differed for the better. 

I feel as though San Francisco - a city I meant to go to - might be a better fit for me and is more comparable to New York; it has more in common with that city than Los Angeles through Little Italy and Chinatown. 

L.A. is, fine personally speaking, and is worth coming to for the photo opportunities and to get a few souvenirs, but that's mainly it. 


The plus points +: the hotel we stayed in The Adler is very good, the bus tours, lovely weather, markets and food shopping were good  

The bad points -: Chinatown is not worth it, the city is too spread out, the homelessness issue is a concern, druggies on the streets, the city is not commutable-friendly nor walkable, the metro system isn't as good as in New York

Retro Review: The Bone Collector (1999)

The Bone Collector
1999
Cast: Denzil Washington, Angelina Jolie, Queen Latifah, Michael Rooker, Luis Guzman, Leland Orser, Ed O'Neil 
Genre: Crime Thriller 
Worldwide Box Office Gross: $151 million

Plot: A quadriplegic ex-homicide detective and his partner track down a serial killer who is terrorizing New York City

'Sweet Little (Murder) Mystery'

Based on the novel by Jeffrey Deaver, The Bone Collector follows Lincoln Rhyme: a paraplegic forensic specialist, an NYPD homicide investigator and a team of police officers that include beat-patrol rookie cop Amelia (Angelina Jolie) and Paulie (Ed O'Neil) in their hunt and capture of a serial killer, after a string of mysterious murders in and around New York crop up.  

With a slow-moving plot, the film managed to keep me glued and engaged to the suspense that it had me on the edge of my seat despite the unravelling of the serial killer, which might have thrown a lot of people off. But it made the story even more intense and entertaining to watch. The more the film went on, the more I got into the plot, as you and I wondered what might happen next. Both Denzel and Angelina gave impressive turns in their roles, Lincoln and Amelia as we see in action two performers, way before they reached mega-stardom, looking assured as they carried this movie from beginning to end.

One of Angelina Jolie's earlier performances on the big screen, she was relatively unknown at this time, it is also one of her most impressive; as Amelia, she is given a lot to do and plays a significant role in the story, and whilst Denzel is bed-bound 99% of the time in this film, as Lincoln he still manages to dig deep and aid Amelia. Given that he spends so much time unable to move about, he has to rely a lot on his nurse, Thelma (Queen Latifah) and Amelia. This plot device enabled the film to be better and feel not as conventional as other serial killer-based crime thrillers.  

It's not as graphically shocking nor exceedingly violent as Se7en and The Silence of the Lambs, although The Bone Collector appears to be going for the typical movie-going audience demographic, given the strength of the main leads; the headline double act in Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie illicit good chemistry and they came across as believable and convincing as their characters. To this day, it still holds up well. Phillip Noyce (responsible for the Patriot Games & Clear and Present Danger, and lest we can forget, The Saint and the sleaze fest, Sliver) might have stated he wasn't a fan of this movie and felt as if he was part of an assembly line of 1990s psychological thrillers. 

The Bone Collector has become one of my favourite thrillers that doubles up as a reasonably tense, solid and satisfying cat-and-mouse murder mystery with insightful characters, an impressive cast, and a somewhat convincing villain to boot. It works thanks to the kills, surprising plot twists and gripping tension. It needed real panic and urgency, and the kills, which, whilst they were all right, required to have been more gory and gruesome. I was also a little baffled by the killer's motivations after his identity was revealed; it resulted in more questions than answers. 

Final Verdict:

The 1990s was an interesting period for film, especially for thrillers and they were all the rage; lots of great ones, some not-so-good ones, and some films that flew under the radar and went unnoticed. Whilst The Bone Collector is no masterpiece and is also cliched, it is a different spin on the serial killer concept, further elevated by Angelina Jolie and Denzel Washington.

Overall:

Movie Review: Skyscraper (2018)

Skyscraper

2018

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campbell, Chin Han, Roland Moller, Noah Taylor, Byron Mann

Genre: Action Thriller 

Worldwide Box Office Gross: over $304 million 

Plot: A security expert must infiltrate a burning skyscraper, 225 stories above ground, when his family is trapped inside by criminals 

'Oh So Seen-It All-Before Actioner, Which Will Be Forgotten About'

Skyscraper was developed in China in 2016 when Legendary Entertainment won a bidding war for an action-adventure flick, set in Hong Kong and China. It under-performed, grossing over $300 million on a $125 million on the production. 

Will Sawyer is a former FBI hostage Rescue Team Leader and U.S war veteran who currently analyses security for skyscrapers. Whilst on assignment in Hong Kong, Will finds out he is being framed for an arson that took place at the tallest and safest building in the world, and thus, has to find those responsible, to clear his name AND to rescue his family who are trapped.  

Johnson was all right, but his charms were nowhere to be seen, the villain was forgettable and nothing worth shouting about; plus, despite the production, it had the feel of an action B-movie deemed for Netflix status, as opposed to the big screen, despite the millions spent on the special FX. Neve Campbell's character, whilst she had her moments, I feel like she was more on the sidelines and Campbell wasn't given much to do.

Nowhere as good as Die Hard, slightly better than Rampage, but that isn't saying much. If you take away Dwayne Johnson, I wouldn't have shown much interest that this would be a film you can easily pass up. It averages between mediocre and meh I couldn't choose between the two; not completely unwatchable -, rather the premise worked so much better in the late 1980s, early to mid-1990s when these types of plots in action films had a bit more substance and charm going for them. 

Skyscraper tries, but, as with so many traditional Hollywood action films of the non-Marvel & DCU franchises, released in the post-1990s, it is relatively tame and clunky; no big surprises or twists and it takes a long time for the film to get going. 

It's heavy on emotional drama and is not creative or inventive enough when it comes to ideas. There is nothing new and the fights weren't meaty enough. Seems like this was made to cater towards the Chinese market and less so to Western audiences, and seeing the production values it shows. 

It never tries to step out of the shadows of other action flicks that have the same formula, although one thing it does do is the script allows Dwayne Johnson to act a little more. Sandwiched in between a disaster movie and an all-around actioner, 2018's Skyscraper is too cliched and predictable, but this would have been offset had the story had plenty of weight. 

Final Verdict: 

It's one of those efforts that had the potential to emerge as one of the best and most entertaining action films of the 21st century, but only when it is executed flawlessly. When the director's previous credits include comedies such as Johnson's Central Intelligence, We're the Millers and Dodgeball, sadly, Thurber's efforts do not go far enough.  

It delivers as a cheap rental or something you'd watch on TV, possibly once. 

After seeing this on Channel 4 for the first time, I will probably skip this one. 

Overall: 

30 Favourite The- Dream & Tricky Stewart Songs

 

Atlanta-based Christopher Stewart aka Tricky is a 4-time Grammy award-winning producer, music publisher and songwriter with credits such as Beyonce and Rihanna to his name. Along with fellow writer and producer, Terius 'The-Dream' Nash, they have racked up various hit singles and played a significant role in pop and contemporary R&B during the past 30 years. Stewart was rather quiet in the early 2000s but momentum soon picked up come the mid-2000s. 

Some of their record-breaking singles include Mya's Case of the Ex - which Tricky co-wrote and produced, Britney Spears' collaboration with Madonna on Me Against the Music, and big hitters in Justin Bieber's Baby and Beyonce's Single Ladies. Tricky is also one of the original founders of label, Red Zone Entertainment alongside his brother and artist manager, Mark E. Stewart that started way back in 1995 and later on enlisting Frank Ocean as one of their artists. 

Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), 2008 - Beyonce; part of a double-A side to If I Were a Boy, is considered one of the best songs of the 2000s decade 

If I Were A Boy- Beyonce, 2008; more in the vein of a pop ballad, Beyonce explained it was not a traditional R&B song. First real ballad that was later followed up with Broken-Hearted Girl, cowritten by Stargate, Babyface and Beyonce

Break My Soul- Beyonce, 2022; Beyonce's comeback hit and first hit record in over 10 years or so when it was released in 2022, it samples Big Freedia's Explode and Robin S's Show Me Love; more like a club banger, it is unlike anything Tricky Stewart has put out before Break my Soul as it leans more towards dance music, rather than soul or r&b

Case of the Ex (Whatcha Gonna Do) - Mya, 2000 

Everything - B2K, 2003

Umbrella - Rihanna featuring Jay-Z, 2007

Touch My Body - Mariah Carey, 2008; one of many bangers courtesy of Mariah and one of several produced by the duo of Tricky and The-Dream for the songstress. Lyrically, they sure know how to write a great pop/r&b song with mainstream appeal   

Outrageous - Britney Spears, 2004

Angels Cry (Remix) - Mariah Carey feat. Ne-Yo, 2010; one of my favourite Mariah ballads and collabs/duets, lyrics are honestly beautiful, melodies are smooth and fluid-flowing 

Obsessed - Mariah Carey, 2009; perceived by the press as an Eminem diss track, if you listen to the lyrics you can understand how it was related to the whole Mariah vs Eminem furore that blew up in the music world. The record slaps  

Cookie Jar - Gym Class Heroes, 2008 

Just like Me - T.I featuring Jamie Foxx, 2008 

Hard - Rihanna featuring Jeezy, 2010 

Baby - L.L Cool J featuring The-Dream, 2008

Leavin' - Jesse McCartney, 2008; a departure from his teenpop roots and is still McCartney's biggest hit single in the U.S

Up on Game - Skylar Stecker, 2019 

If I Never See Your Face Again - Maroon 5 featuring Rihanna, 2008 

H.A.T.E.U - Mariah Carey, 2010 

Rockin' That Thang - The-Dream, 2009 

Only Want You - Skylar Stecker, 2017  

Lonely Girls Club - Mario, 2009; penned by Ne-Yo but never featured on any of Mario's albums. Pity because this is a great song 

Favorite Girl - Justin Bieber, 2009; early Bieber offering from the late 2000s; has a similar-ish beat to 'Baby', another Justin song

Don't Walk Away - Mario, 2009; taken from his album, DNA, this mid-tempo ballad-like effort is solid and is something that could have been penned by songwriting production duo, Stargate

Sexual Capacity - Color Me Badd, 1996; taken from the original motion picture soundtrack of Striptease, the Demi Moore movie, this is slick 1990s' r&b as we know it. Was written by Robin Thicke, who had the famous hit, Blurred Lines with Pharrell Williams  

Oh Santa! - Mariah Carey, 2010; Christmas pop r&b track this features Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson. Whilst All I Want for Christmas appeals to mainstream audiences, Oh Santa! is more for Mariah enthusiasts and those who prefer something different to the 1995 hit song 

Red Hair - Shawn Desman, 2004; Canada's answer to Justin Timberlake, Keri Hilson provides some of the backing vocals to this song, as well as co-wrote Red Hair. Interestingly, it has the same interpolation as Your Body by Pretty Ricky 

Fashion Killa - A$AP Rocky, 2013  

I'm Not Okay - Lionel Richie, 2009  

Nivea - Watch it, 2006; taken from the album, Animal, which was a Japan exclusive.  

Black - The-Dream, 2009