Well, 2013 is upon us and it's once again time to see the top forty songs that really made the biggest impact on me. As usual, I must remind you that this list does not represent which songs I thought were the best, but which ones I enjoyed listening to the most. There were a lot of songs that didn't quite make the cut but overall I think it's a very deserving list. So, without further ado, here it is.
40) Love U Betta - Neon Hitch
39) Let Me Love You - Ne-Yo
38) LaserLight - Jessie J and David Guetta
37) Back In Time - Pitbull
36) She Wolf - David Guetta and Sia
35) Closer - Tegan and Sara
34) This Kiss - Carly Rae Jepsen
33) Whistle - Flo Rida
32) Wide Awake - Katy Perry
31) One Thing - OneDirection
30) Payphone - Maroon 5
29) Part of Me - Katy Perry
28) Pound The Alarm - Nicki Minaj
27) Both Of Us - B.o.B. and Taylor Swift
26) Spirit Indestructible - Nelly Furtado
25) Helena Beat - Foster The People
24) Lemonade - Alexandra Stan
23) Va Va Voom - Nicki Minaj
22) Big Hoops - Nelly Furtado
21) Wild Ones - Flo Rida and David Guetta
20) Feel So Close - Calvin Harris
19) Good Girl - Carrie Underwood
18) Drive By - Train
17) Somebody That I Used to Know - Gotye and Kimbra/Walk Off The Earth
16) Some Nights - fun.
15) Good Feeling - Flo Rida
14) Crash Your Party - Karmin
13) Summer Paradise - Simple Plan and Sean Paul
12) Turning Tables - Adele
11) Take Care - Drake and Rihanna
10) Fine - Darrelle London
9) Next To Me - Emeli Sande
8) Brighter Than The Sun - Colbie Caillat
7) Turn Me On - David Guetta and Nicki Minaj
6) Prima Donna- Marina and the Diamonds
5) Starships - Nicki Minaj
4) Give Your Heart A Break - Demi Lovato
3) Let It Go - Dragonette
2) Is Anybody Out There - K'naan and Nelly Furtado
1) Guardian - Alanis Morissette
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Owl City - Shooting Star
I apologize for taking a bit of a hiatus with this for the last couple of months, but I'm back. Now, let's take a look at Owl City's new song "Shooting Star." Owl City is just coming off of a huge success with "Good Time," but one of my major complaints with that song was that it sounded way too generic for Owl City. Unfortunately, "Shooting Star" follows the same pattern.
The song is a basic pop dance song. We've got Owl City singing in typical beat that grows into a bouncy, powerful chorus followed by the usual "whoa whoa whoa" while the beat plays. There's nothing wrong with this, but we've heard it all before. And this is Owl City we're talking about, the guy who's known for his unique sound, not for following commercial trends.
Then we get to the lyrics. They're not as plain as "Good Time" but they are still very predictable. It's the same old message about letting yourself shine through. We've been hearing this for so long now it really doesn't carry any meaning, and I'm certainly not hearing any new meaning from this song. In fact, this song could easily be mistaken for Katy Perry's "Firework" if you reworked some of the lyrics slightly.
The song manages to present a small fraction of Owl City's quirkiness. The background beat gives a cute feel and the lyrics bring back the cosmic theme that's been in a few previous songs. But it's really not enough. It feels like Owl City has taken what's made him special and transformed it so it conforms to what's commercial right now. It's really unfair because Owl City had some amazing songs, and "Fireflies" was even a massive hit. But apparently it wasn't enough.
The question now is how will this song do? It's formulaic style is sure to attract some popularity, but will it be enough to turn the song into a hit like "Good Time"? I doubt it, but it's possible.
In other news, both The Voice and The X-Factor will be coming to an end soon. I watched both of them and can easily say that X-Factor was much more entertaining. Even though she's gone I will forever be a fan of CeCe Frey!
The song is a basic pop dance song. We've got Owl City singing in typical beat that grows into a bouncy, powerful chorus followed by the usual "whoa whoa whoa" while the beat plays. There's nothing wrong with this, but we've heard it all before. And this is Owl City we're talking about, the guy who's known for his unique sound, not for following commercial trends.
Then we get to the lyrics. They're not as plain as "Good Time" but they are still very predictable. It's the same old message about letting yourself shine through. We've been hearing this for so long now it really doesn't carry any meaning, and I'm certainly not hearing any new meaning from this song. In fact, this song could easily be mistaken for Katy Perry's "Firework" if you reworked some of the lyrics slightly.
The song manages to present a small fraction of Owl City's quirkiness. The background beat gives a cute feel and the lyrics bring back the cosmic theme that's been in a few previous songs. But it's really not enough. It feels like Owl City has taken what's made him special and transformed it so it conforms to what's commercial right now. It's really unfair because Owl City had some amazing songs, and "Fireflies" was even a massive hit. But apparently it wasn't enough.
The question now is how will this song do? It's formulaic style is sure to attract some popularity, but will it be enough to turn the song into a hit like "Good Time"? I doubt it, but it's possible.
In other news, both The Voice and The X-Factor will be coming to an end soon. I watched both of them and can easily say that X-Factor was much more entertaining. Even though she's gone I will forever be a fan of CeCe Frey!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Justin Bieber - Beauty and a Beat
I first heard this a while ago, actually, and my first thought was, this isn't the kind of song that I'd expect as a single. Yet, turns out I was wrong, and after listening to the song a couple more times, I relaxed that it actually will work pretty well on the radio.
Justin's more dancy than ever now with this song. Not that there's anything wrong with that, this album has offered a surprising amount of diversity for Bieber, and he might as well try the style that everyone is loving right now. For the most part the song sounds like a lot of the dance stuff we've heard before, but Justin's voice still manages to sound tender and sweet. Something that is always welcome when pretty much all the major stars are female, or rougher style bands. I feel that the song really breaks out thanks to it's dubstep style beat that interludes between the verses. It's something unique and a lot of fun compared to the more generic eletro-beats out there.
The song doesn't shine too much in the lyric department. It's about two things we've heard before plenty of times, a beautiful girl and dancing. Justin isn't really trying to sound romantic with his voice this time, but it's not like he can really sell emotion in his voice anyways. Might as well just focus on sounding catchy.
We also get a verse from Nicki Minaj, which I feel isn't exactly at her. best. She's spilling out rhymes that make little sense, and doesn't really add anything to the song. I feel that they could have done without her, or at least done it a little better. It just feels like a last minute tack-on to give the song more attention.
There's no reason why this song won't be a hit. Justin Bieber has always had success with his songs, and this one fits in exactly with the market today. It probably won't be a huge smash, but since when has anything Justin Bieber's done been a huge smash? It'll be a fun song to listen to, and that's good enough.
Justin's more dancy than ever now with this song. Not that there's anything wrong with that, this album has offered a surprising amount of diversity for Bieber, and he might as well try the style that everyone is loving right now. For the most part the song sounds like a lot of the dance stuff we've heard before, but Justin's voice still manages to sound tender and sweet. Something that is always welcome when pretty much all the major stars are female, or rougher style bands. I feel that the song really breaks out thanks to it's dubstep style beat that interludes between the verses. It's something unique and a lot of fun compared to the more generic eletro-beats out there.
The song doesn't shine too much in the lyric department. It's about two things we've heard before plenty of times, a beautiful girl and dancing. Justin isn't really trying to sound romantic with his voice this time, but it's not like he can really sell emotion in his voice anyways. Might as well just focus on sounding catchy.
We also get a verse from Nicki Minaj, which I feel isn't exactly at her. best. She's spilling out rhymes that make little sense, and doesn't really add anything to the song. I feel that they could have done without her, or at least done it a little better. It just feels like a last minute tack-on to give the song more attention.
There's no reason why this song won't be a hit. Justin Bieber has always had success with his songs, and this one fits in exactly with the market today. It probably won't be a huge smash, but since when has anything Justin Bieber's done been a huge smash? It'll be a fun song to listen to, and that's good enough.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
P!nk - Try
P!nk's got a couple of signature sounds. There's her rough side, and there's her party side, both which were somewhat present in "Blow Me One Last Kiss," but she's also got her incredibly vulnerable side which is what "Try" is all about.
The song has a lot of similarities to her previous hit, "Perfect." It's a reflective piece that is meant to boost one's spirit. Unlike "Perfect" though, P!nk isn't speaking to anyone but herself. This is her song, showing all of her insecurities, but telling herself that she's still going to try. It shows a lot of inner tenderness that makes the song really beautiful. It doesn't quite have the same raw power that was present in "Perfect," but that is a hard feat to top. The song is no less beautiful, though, the feeling is clearly still there. It took me a few listens to really connect with it, but once I did, I felt a beautiful emotion within the words.
The lyrics are perfectly done. It's a simple song, while delivering a strong story. P!nk says exactly what she means, "Where there is desire, there's bound to be a flame. Where there is a flame, someone's bound to get burned. But just because it burns doesn't mean I'm gonna die. You gotta get up and try." It really emphasizes the album's title, "The Truth About Love." This is a universal truth about love, and she's saying that you can work through it. Much of the song is just a repetition of the phrase, "And try, and try, and try. Gotta get up and try." Yet this only reinforces the strength. The repetition shows her determination, she's not going to back down, she's just going to keep trying.
The song is beautiful, and is bound to be another one P!nk's hits. She's got a lot of competition right now, but no one can really match her sound, her fragile emotion, and her strength. I would be surprised if this song does not go to number one.
The song has a lot of similarities to her previous hit, "Perfect." It's a reflective piece that is meant to boost one's spirit. Unlike "Perfect" though, P!nk isn't speaking to anyone but herself. This is her song, showing all of her insecurities, but telling herself that she's still going to try. It shows a lot of inner tenderness that makes the song really beautiful. It doesn't quite have the same raw power that was present in "Perfect," but that is a hard feat to top. The song is no less beautiful, though, the feeling is clearly still there. It took me a few listens to really connect with it, but once I did, I felt a beautiful emotion within the words.
The lyrics are perfectly done. It's a simple song, while delivering a strong story. P!nk says exactly what she means, "Where there is desire, there's bound to be a flame. Where there is a flame, someone's bound to get burned. But just because it burns doesn't mean I'm gonna die. You gotta get up and try." It really emphasizes the album's title, "The Truth About Love." This is a universal truth about love, and she's saying that you can work through it. Much of the song is just a repetition of the phrase, "And try, and try, and try. Gotta get up and try." Yet this only reinforces the strength. The repetition shows her determination, she's not going to back down, she's just going to keep trying.
The song is beautiful, and is bound to be another one P!nk's hits. She's got a lot of competition right now, but no one can really match her sound, her fragile emotion, and her strength. I would be surprised if this song does not go to number one.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Bruno Mars - Locked Out of Heaven
This month has proven to be a major turning point for 2012 in music. We already had Christina Aguilera, Taylor Swift, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Ke$ha making big moves. And just this week we've got new Adele and of course, Bruno Mars.
Bruno is taking a step in the right direction with "Locked Out of Heaven." He's picking up the pace with his song and turning it into something that could be really easy to dance around to. Yet he's still keeping it true to himself; he's still got signs of his signature style that makes it unique. In the end it's the best of the best; we've got Bruno's smooth and bouncy vocals, put into a tracks that builds into something intense, all backed by a recurring, "Ah yeah, yeah, yeah!"
Lyrically the song uses biblical allusions in reference to sex. I suppose I wouldn't be against that, but the problem I find is that it seems indecisive of whether the song is subtle or explicit. On the one hand, lyrics like "Open up your gates," could be taken innocently or with a sexual reference in mind. On the other hand, "Your sex takes me to paradise," doesn't really leave a lot to the imagination. If you're going to fill a song with metaphors, I find that it's better to keep at least some ambiguity just to keep the effect alive.
All in all, I'm finding the song to be pretty enjoyable. It's catchy, it's fresh, and it proves that Bruno Mars has what it takes to survive right now. I think it's going to be another hit, but he seriously has a lot of competition, so who knows how well he'll fare against them.
In other news, I've been watching season 2 of X Factor. Last season I was very devoted to it and spent a lot of time talking about my favorite moments. With X Factor it's really easy to pick a favorite and cling onto them; you bite your nails when they could leave, and you cheer when they survive. This season, my favorite girl is CeCe Frey. I just love her obnoxious confidence, it's a really refreshing break from all the sob stories and under-confident contestants. And she's got a really strong voice too, so she proves that just because you're cocky, doesn't automatically mean you're a terrible singer. It also doesn't hurt that her leopard facepaint looks very sexy. She survived the first episode of Boot Camp, now I'll be praying that she keeps on surviving.
Bruno is taking a step in the right direction with "Locked Out of Heaven." He's picking up the pace with his song and turning it into something that could be really easy to dance around to. Yet he's still keeping it true to himself; he's still got signs of his signature style that makes it unique. In the end it's the best of the best; we've got Bruno's smooth and bouncy vocals, put into a tracks that builds into something intense, all backed by a recurring, "Ah yeah, yeah, yeah!"
Lyrically the song uses biblical allusions in reference to sex. I suppose I wouldn't be against that, but the problem I find is that it seems indecisive of whether the song is subtle or explicit. On the one hand, lyrics like "Open up your gates," could be taken innocently or with a sexual reference in mind. On the other hand, "Your sex takes me to paradise," doesn't really leave a lot to the imagination. If you're going to fill a song with metaphors, I find that it's better to keep at least some ambiguity just to keep the effect alive.
All in all, I'm finding the song to be pretty enjoyable. It's catchy, it's fresh, and it proves that Bruno Mars has what it takes to survive right now. I think it's going to be another hit, but he seriously has a lot of competition, so who knows how well he'll fare against them.
In other news, I've been watching season 2 of X Factor. Last season I was very devoted to it and spent a lot of time talking about my favorite moments. With X Factor it's really easy to pick a favorite and cling onto them; you bite your nails when they could leave, and you cheer when they survive. This season, my favorite girl is CeCe Frey. I just love her obnoxious confidence, it's a really refreshing break from all the sob stories and under-confident contestants. And she's got a really strong voice too, so she proves that just because you're cocky, doesn't automatically mean you're a terrible singer. It also doesn't hurt that her leopard facepaint looks very sexy. She survived the first episode of Boot Camp, now I'll be praying that she keeps on surviving.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Carly Rae Jepsen - This Kiss
No question about it, 2012 has been the year for Carly Rae Jepsen. Of course, Canadians like myself have been listening to her for years now; perhaps you'll recall that I posted about "Call Me Maybe" months before it hit America...eh, eh. It's Carly Rae's cute, bubbly sound that people love and she manages to keep that sound while she takes on a new sound as well for "This Kiss."
Right off the bat, that puts Miss Jepsen ahead in my books; she's not afraid to experiment with something a little different. "This Kiss" stays true to the dance sound that's popular right now, while mixing in some 80s style synth-beats. The song is designed really well, so the electric style beats mix right in with Carly Rae's voice and gives a pounding effect to the words she sings. It's definitely something that'll catch your attention.
If you're a loyal Carly Rae fan that perhaps you'll remember when "Tug of War" was her big hit. Well "This Kiss" puts her the opposite shoe on her foot lyrically. This time she's the one out screwing other guys, while she leaves her guy oblivious. It's not really a dirty song, though, it still keeps that cute innocence. Carly Rae reminds us that she knows what she's doing is wrong, yet she just can't resist. "I wish it didn't have to feel like this," she laments while still keeping the song fun and upbeat. These lyrics have meaning and a story to tell. You can tell that there really is thought behind these words. How else you explain the fact that she rhymes 'sentimental' with 'detrimental?'
"This Kiss" really is an awesome song that is sure to keep on boosting Carly Rae Jepsen's unstoppable rise. Like "Call Me Maybe" it's giving something people are sure to like, while offering something that you haven't heard a billion times already. It's cute, it's fun, it's the kind of song that just so easy to love. I think this is sure sign that Carly Rae isn't going anywhere.
It's so nice to know that Canadian (or other countries) artists aren't always confined to their country. I always thought Carly Rae was one of those gems that the rest of the world would never find, yet here we are. Now if only someone would bring Dragonette over to America, I'd be set.
Right off the bat, that puts Miss Jepsen ahead in my books; she's not afraid to experiment with something a little different. "This Kiss" stays true to the dance sound that's popular right now, while mixing in some 80s style synth-beats. The song is designed really well, so the electric style beats mix right in with Carly Rae's voice and gives a pounding effect to the words she sings. It's definitely something that'll catch your attention.
If you're a loyal Carly Rae fan that perhaps you'll remember when "Tug of War" was her big hit. Well "This Kiss" puts her the opposite shoe on her foot lyrically. This time she's the one out screwing other guys, while she leaves her guy oblivious. It's not really a dirty song, though, it still keeps that cute innocence. Carly Rae reminds us that she knows what she's doing is wrong, yet she just can't resist. "I wish it didn't have to feel like this," she laments while still keeping the song fun and upbeat. These lyrics have meaning and a story to tell. You can tell that there really is thought behind these words. How else you explain the fact that she rhymes 'sentimental' with 'detrimental?'
"This Kiss" really is an awesome song that is sure to keep on boosting Carly Rae Jepsen's unstoppable rise. Like "Call Me Maybe" it's giving something people are sure to like, while offering something that you haven't heard a billion times already. It's cute, it's fun, it's the kind of song that just so easy to love. I think this is sure sign that Carly Rae isn't going anywhere.
It's so nice to know that Canadian (or other countries) artists aren't always confined to their country. I always thought Carly Rae was one of those gems that the rest of the world would never find, yet here we are. Now if only someone would bring Dragonette over to America, I'd be set.
Rihanna - Diamonds
Rihanna. We have heard that name nonstop for the past four years...at least. She doesn't know how to take a break and so she just keeps pumping out the same sounding songs over and over and over again until you just want to slam your head against the steering wheel whenever her voice comes on the radio. Occasionally, though, we get a diamond in the blur of repetitive, blaring dance tracks. And "Diamonds" is aptly named, because it is one of these gems.
"Diamonds" isn't the kind of dance song that Rihanna has been giving us lately. It's still a pop song, yet she slows it down a bit and gives us something graceful. You may remember "California King Bed" which I thought was lovely, but definitely didn't match the success of her other hits. "Diamonds" is a similar song, yet it adds much of the strength and excitement that "California King Bed" lacked. The chorus may be slower than what you're used to be, but it just has so much power in the smooth vocals.
Throughout the song Rihanna repeats the phrase "Shine bright like a diamond" with a playful, childish tone. At first I thought it was annoying, yet I realized that this is the perfect final piece to the song. While she's got you hooked with her beautiful singing, this little verse is the part that's going to burrow into your head and make you remember the song.
"We Found Love" was the kind of song that repeated a sentence so many times that it lost all meaning. "Diamonds" is repetitive too, yet it keeps the meaning to the song. There is such a strong emotion behind these words that it really does keep the beautiful every time. Plus the verses contain poetic lines that actually sound interesting and make you want to listen to what she's saying.
While I could still use a break from Rihanna, I'm glad that she is giving us something a little different. The ballad type song is still popular, and Rihanna takes this while mixing in her own style to make the kind of song that is sure to appeal to many fans. I am very impressed with "Diamonds" and I think it may be one of Rihanna's best songs recently.
"Diamonds" isn't the kind of dance song that Rihanna has been giving us lately. It's still a pop song, yet she slows it down a bit and gives us something graceful. You may remember "California King Bed" which I thought was lovely, but definitely didn't match the success of her other hits. "Diamonds" is a similar song, yet it adds much of the strength and excitement that "California King Bed" lacked. The chorus may be slower than what you're used to be, but it just has so much power in the smooth vocals.
Throughout the song Rihanna repeats the phrase "Shine bright like a diamond" with a playful, childish tone. At first I thought it was annoying, yet I realized that this is the perfect final piece to the song. While she's got you hooked with her beautiful singing, this little verse is the part that's going to burrow into your head and make you remember the song.
"We Found Love" was the kind of song that repeated a sentence so many times that it lost all meaning. "Diamonds" is repetitive too, yet it keeps the meaning to the song. There is such a strong emotion behind these words that it really does keep the beautiful every time. Plus the verses contain poetic lines that actually sound interesting and make you want to listen to what she's saying.
While I could still use a break from Rihanna, I'm glad that she is giving us something a little different. The ballad type song is still popular, and Rihanna takes this while mixing in her own style to make the kind of song that is sure to appeal to many fans. I am very impressed with "Diamonds" and I think it may be one of Rihanna's best songs recently.
Ke$ha - Die Young
Throughout all of 2012 I've been saying how it's been a boring year for music. Well all of sudden, it seems like all the biggest names have decided that it's time to dominate again. Today I'm going to try to cover three of the songs that stood out to be in the past week. Starting with the one that, while it's good, probably had the weakest effect on me.
Remember "Born This Way?" Remember how Gaga hyped it up, saying it was going to be a revolutionary hit? Well, the song was good, but did not match my expectations from that. And here we go again; this time it's Ke$ha who claimed that she would be reinventing pop. And then she goes and releases a song that doesn't even reinvent herself.
This song is exactly what Ke$ha has always sounded like. It's got an autotuned chorus, while she raps through the verses. The lyrics are about partying and the like, sound familiar Basically, we waited over a year to get TiK ToK part two. Although, it's not all a repeat of herself; she also borrowed the same guitar riff that you've heard throughout "Good Feeling." As if you didn't have that stuck in your head long enough.
It's not a bad song, though. We have waited long enough that just hearing the familiar Ke$ha sound is nice again. There's a reason she's been topping charts, and that reason should carry onto this song. Ke$ha should keep in mind, though, that getting people's hopes up can lead to big disappointment.
So, in short. The song is the kind of dance-track Ke$ha specializes in. If you like that style, then you should like "Die Young." And maybe Ke$ha will reinvent pop later on, you never know. But so far, all we've got is her recycling pop.
Remember "Born This Way?" Remember how Gaga hyped it up, saying it was going to be a revolutionary hit? Well, the song was good, but did not match my expectations from that. And here we go again; this time it's Ke$ha who claimed that she would be reinventing pop. And then she goes and releases a song that doesn't even reinvent herself.
This song is exactly what Ke$ha has always sounded like. It's got an autotuned chorus, while she raps through the verses. The lyrics are about partying and the like, sound familiar Basically, we waited over a year to get TiK ToK part two. Although, it's not all a repeat of herself; she also borrowed the same guitar riff that you've heard throughout "Good Feeling." As if you didn't have that stuck in your head long enough.
It's not a bad song, though. We have waited long enough that just hearing the familiar Ke$ha sound is nice again. There's a reason she's been topping charts, and that reason should carry onto this song. Ke$ha should keep in mind, though, that getting people's hopes up can lead to big disappointment.
So, in short. The song is the kind of dance-track Ke$ha specializes in. If you like that style, then you should like "Die Young." And maybe Ke$ha will reinvent pop later on, you never know. But so far, all we've got is her recycling pop.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Christina Aguilera - Your Body
2012 has been a bit of an uninteresting year for music. I'm not even sure what the song of the summer actually was, a lot of people are saying, "Call Me Maybe," but I remember listening to that song way back last year. Personally, I'd pick either "Wild Ones" or "Payphone." But anyways, it looks likes things are seriously picking up this fall and winter. We'll be getting hits from Ke$ha, Lady Gaga, P!nk, Nicki Minaj, No Doubt, Nelly Furtado, and of course Christina Aguilera. I feels like forever since rumors of a song called, "Love Ya Body" were floating around, well looks like it's finally here, only now just called, "Your Body."
Christina is coming out of a really rocky zone. Her "Bionic" album was a much bigger failure than expected, and it all went downhill from there. She's making a comeback now and this is the big single representing that. It's powerful, it's got that really raw Christina sound that she's famous for. She's back in action and not holding anything back.
The song moves quickly at first, but really breaks out at the chorus with a pounding beat. Rough strength is put into everyone word as they're drilled into your head. It's definitely a good strategy as it's so easy to get that rhythm stuck in your head and find yourself humming or bobbing to it throughout the day.
The lyrics also take a pretty strong approach. Whether your listening to the explicit version or the clean version, it's still very clear what the meaning is. "All I want to do is love your body." What else could that mean? She's not making any unusual euphemisms, she's just shouting it out plain and simple. Like everything about the song, it's bursting with confidence and strength.
The one thing that gets me about the song, though, is how formulaic it is. There's nothing particularly new or unique brought out here. I'm not going to drag on this, though, since she's coming from rock bottom, so it makes sense that she'd want to stick with the winning formulaic. It's still a great song, just not as interesting as it could be.
This is going to be a big hit for Aguilera, the question is can she stand up to the massive competition? It's going to be tough, but can she hold her own against the likes of Carly Rae Jepsen, Ke$ha, Lady Gaga, and various others? Only time will tell.
Christina is coming out of a really rocky zone. Her "Bionic" album was a much bigger failure than expected, and it all went downhill from there. She's making a comeback now and this is the big single representing that. It's powerful, it's got that really raw Christina sound that she's famous for. She's back in action and not holding anything back.
The song moves quickly at first, but really breaks out at the chorus with a pounding beat. Rough strength is put into everyone word as they're drilled into your head. It's definitely a good strategy as it's so easy to get that rhythm stuck in your head and find yourself humming or bobbing to it throughout the day.
The lyrics also take a pretty strong approach. Whether your listening to the explicit version or the clean version, it's still very clear what the meaning is. "All I want to do is love your body." What else could that mean? She's not making any unusual euphemisms, she's just shouting it out plain and simple. Like everything about the song, it's bursting with confidence and strength.
The one thing that gets me about the song, though, is how formulaic it is. There's nothing particularly new or unique brought out here. I'm not going to drag on this, though, since she's coming from rock bottom, so it makes sense that she'd want to stick with the winning formulaic. It's still a great song, just not as interesting as it could be.
This is going to be a big hit for Aguilera, the question is can she stand up to the massive competition? It's going to be tough, but can she hold her own against the likes of Carly Rae Jepsen, Ke$ha, Lady Gaga, and various others? Only time will tell.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Alicia Keys - Girl on Fire
Alicia Keys definitely seems to be trying to bring back some of her big success back from her debut. While she's had some nice songs over time, none of them have been very big hits like "Fallin" and "No One" were. Well, it seems like her response is just to repeat, "No One" with new lyrics and hope for a hit.
Like "No One," "Girl on Fire" is a pretty song. What it lacks that is the power and emotion that her previous hit had. The song mainly just repeats itself with never really building too strong. It's a slow song that stays at a leisurely pace throughout it's play. While she does put some strength into the word "fire" each time she says it, that's about as good as it gets. The song just feels like it should be building somewhere, but it never does.
By taking a slow tender approach, you're already crossing off the dance appeal, so that means that it had better be a beautiful song. Like I said, it's pretty, but it's far from beautiful. The lyrics are motivational, and could be emotional, but it just feels like there isn't any feeling behind them. This song doesn't feel like it's about Alicia, it feels like it's about some girl that Alicia is being paid to sing about.
There's a Nicki Minaj version, too, which presumably is what will be marketed to the radio. Like the rest of the song, Nicki is slow, boring, emotionless, and meaningless in her lyrics. While normally you'd think that adding a rapper like her to the song would be an attempt to pick it up a bit, all she does is make the songs a few seconds longer.
The song is a bore overall. Maybe it'll be sweet to hear once in a while, but it's not something that is going to keep people interested. It simply doesn't feel like a hit. If Alicia wants to recapture what she had with "No One" she should keep in mind that it takes more than the same formula to make a song into a hit.
Like "No One," "Girl on Fire" is a pretty song. What it lacks that is the power and emotion that her previous hit had. The song mainly just repeats itself with never really building too strong. It's a slow song that stays at a leisurely pace throughout it's play. While she does put some strength into the word "fire" each time she says it, that's about as good as it gets. The song just feels like it should be building somewhere, but it never does.
By taking a slow tender approach, you're already crossing off the dance appeal, so that means that it had better be a beautiful song. Like I said, it's pretty, but it's far from beautiful. The lyrics are motivational, and could be emotional, but it just feels like there isn't any feeling behind them. This song doesn't feel like it's about Alicia, it feels like it's about some girl that Alicia is being paid to sing about.
There's a Nicki Minaj version, too, which presumably is what will be marketed to the radio. Like the rest of the song, Nicki is slow, boring, emotionless, and meaningless in her lyrics. While normally you'd think that adding a rapper like her to the song would be an attempt to pick it up a bit, all she does is make the songs a few seconds longer.
The song is a bore overall. Maybe it'll be sweet to hear once in a while, but it's not something that is going to keep people interested. It simply doesn't feel like a hit. If Alicia wants to recapture what she had with "No One" she should keep in mind that it takes more than the same formula to make a song into a hit.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Pitbull - Get It Started
Pitbull's career lately seems to be following in the exact footsteps of Flo Rida. A while ago, Flo released, "Good Feeling" a song that sampled a much older song, that took a bit to warm up to, but was actually incredibly catchy. Then later Pitbull released "Back In Time" which was essentially the same idea. At the start of the year we got "Wild Ones" from Flo Rida and Sia. A dancy song, that clearly showcased Sia much more than it did Flo Rida. And just now we've got "Get It Started" a song where Pitbull sounds like the guest rapper for Shakira.
The song starts out with a Pitbull sounding plain and boring. It's not until Shakira explodes onto the scene that the energy really starts to pick up. Her powerful vocals really bring the song alive and actually make you feel like dancing. Pitbull, on the other hand, sounds like he's doing his cheap, generic featured verses. There's no playful rhythms or puns that stand out. It's incredibly lacking on his part.
The song does keep the energy up with an electro dance-break in between verses. Normally I'm against songs that give credit to the DJ, like David Guetta or Tiesto, but that's exactly what this song should have been. If they gave it to some big name DJ like Calvin Harris then he could have really gone all out on the electronic parts, while mixing Shakira and Pitbull together.
The song is able to keep the energy alive, though, and that is what really matters. "Wild Ones" was a huge success, even if Flo Rida wasn't the star of it. So, I'm thinking that "Get It Started" still could do good, but not great, if it starts to pick up.
The song starts out with a Pitbull sounding plain and boring. It's not until Shakira explodes onto the scene that the energy really starts to pick up. Her powerful vocals really bring the song alive and actually make you feel like dancing. Pitbull, on the other hand, sounds like he's doing his cheap, generic featured verses. There's no playful rhythms or puns that stand out. It's incredibly lacking on his part.
The song does keep the energy up with an electro dance-break in between verses. Normally I'm against songs that give credit to the DJ, like David Guetta or Tiesto, but that's exactly what this song should have been. If they gave it to some big name DJ like Calvin Harris then he could have really gone all out on the electronic parts, while mixing Shakira and Pitbull together.
The song is able to keep the energy alive, though, and that is what really matters. "Wild Ones" was a huge success, even if Flo Rida wasn't the star of it. So, I'm thinking that "Get It Started" still could do good, but not great, if it starts to pick up.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Taylor Swift - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
Well, this song hasn't even been out that long and it's already making huge waves. It's topping charts and everyone's saying how it's going to be a big hit. Taylor Swift is definitely already a big name, and her return is sure to attract attention.
The song is slightly different for Taylor. While she normally does smooth country pop full of sad emotions, this one is much more pop. It's got a strong pounding beat, as Taylor chants about how she's done with her boyfriend. Thrown into the mix is a spoken part, again emphasizing that she's not getting back together. The song is catchy and easy to bob along to.
Lyrically, Taylor's done being sad and instead takes a more triumphant sound. She's taking control of the relationship this time and won't let the boy back. It doesn't offer anything new, but the lyrics are still clear and meaningful.
So, the song is good, but personally I don't think it deserves quite all the hype that it's getting. While pure pop may be something new for Taylor, it's old news for the rest of us. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" sounds just like a good chunk of the songs you'll hear on the radio right now. For some of us, we liked hearing Taylor's gentler sound in the midst of all the dance songs. Both lyrically and musically the song offers nothing new to this genre. So why is it soaring up the charts? Why is it going to be the most overplayed song in a month or so?
I like the song well enough right now, but if I have to listen to it everyday then I may quickly change my mind. So, overall I'll say congratulations to Taylor Swift for trying something new for her and something that has guaranteed her a hit, but personally I wouldn't mind if she just went back to country.
The song is slightly different for Taylor. While she normally does smooth country pop full of sad emotions, this one is much more pop. It's got a strong pounding beat, as Taylor chants about how she's done with her boyfriend. Thrown into the mix is a spoken part, again emphasizing that she's not getting back together. The song is catchy and easy to bob along to.
Lyrically, Taylor's done being sad and instead takes a more triumphant sound. She's taking control of the relationship this time and won't let the boy back. It doesn't offer anything new, but the lyrics are still clear and meaningful.
So, the song is good, but personally I don't think it deserves quite all the hype that it's getting. While pure pop may be something new for Taylor, it's old news for the rest of us. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" sounds just like a good chunk of the songs you'll hear on the radio right now. For some of us, we liked hearing Taylor's gentler sound in the midst of all the dance songs. Both lyrically and musically the song offers nothing new to this genre. So why is it soaring up the charts? Why is it going to be the most overplayed song in a month or so?
I like the song well enough right now, but if I have to listen to it everyday then I may quickly change my mind. So, overall I'll say congratulations to Taylor Swift for trying something new for her and something that has guaranteed her a hit, but personally I wouldn't mind if she just went back to country.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Divine Brown - Gone
I've been meaning to post this all week, and but I finally got around to it today. Anyways, this is the kind of song I'd usually not like, I'm not exactly the biggest R 'n' B fan. Yet there's something about the way it's done that just has me hooked.
Divine Brown has the perfect voice to maintain the soulful feel, and yet make it fit into the catchy Pop trend. The song has a call and response echo of "Gone, gone," that just keeps growing as you go through the song. It's easy to just bob along with it as he voice gets stronger and more powerful. The song combines verses with the same style, as well as as spoken verse at the bridge. All of it works together well in creating a nice song.
The lyrics are straightforward and to the point. "I'm gone, and I won't be coming back." Divine Brown sings them with dignity and power. This isn't a sad goodbye song, or an angry breakup song. It's simply, I can't stay any longer. It's easy to feel the power in her voice as she repeats this message.
While I find that it works well combining R 'n' B with Pop, the question is, will radio accept it. I wouldn't be surprised to see it just disappear because no one's interested. It wouldn't be the first time it's happened. But I'll keep my fingers crossed that Divine Brown can pull off another urban style hit.
Divine Brown has the perfect voice to maintain the soulful feel, and yet make it fit into the catchy Pop trend. The song has a call and response echo of "Gone, gone," that just keeps growing as you go through the song. It's easy to just bob along with it as he voice gets stronger and more powerful. The song combines verses with the same style, as well as as spoken verse at the bridge. All of it works together well in creating a nice song.
The lyrics are straightforward and to the point. "I'm gone, and I won't be coming back." Divine Brown sings them with dignity and power. This isn't a sad goodbye song, or an angry breakup song. It's simply, I can't stay any longer. It's easy to feel the power in her voice as she repeats this message.
While I find that it works well combining R 'n' B with Pop, the question is, will radio accept it. I wouldn't be surprised to see it just disappear because no one's interested. It wouldn't be the first time it's happened. But I'll keep my fingers crossed that Divine Brown can pull off another urban style hit.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Nicki Minaj - Pound The Alarm
Before you read this post, perhaps you'd like to save time and just read my post on Starships. Because they are essentially the exact same song with the exact same faults and qualities.
Structurally, they're identical. Nicki starts out with a light bouncy melody, before breaking into her signature rap style. Then once we hit the center of the song, she goes overboard with the autotune effects and starts chanting in a distorted voice. So, all the same stuff we heard from "Starships."
Like, Starships as well, the lyrics don't really make any sense at all. What does "pound the alarm" even mean? What does that have to do with the rest of the song? What does, "we're getting hotter and hotter, sexy and hotter," mean? Is there any message at all trying to be conveyed here? It really doesn't seem like it. It's just another song that was tossed to Nicki Minaj for sales purposes.
And you know what? Despite everything I just said, I cannot stop hitting repeat. I know that I should hate this song, that there are so many things wrong with it, but I just can't. It's far too catchy and I can never get it out of my head. "Pound The Alarm" may not get any points for composition or lyrics, but it's got the perfect formula and with the casual listener today, that's what matters. If you hear this song on the radio, you'll turn it up and want to hear it again.
I guess that's really the most important thing, that people are going to want to listen to it. So, Nicki's team may have to work on getting a little more unique and writing better lyrics. Nicki is an incredibly original sounding artist, if someone needs to stick with generic dance pop, I don't think it should be her.
Structurally, they're identical. Nicki starts out with a light bouncy melody, before breaking into her signature rap style. Then once we hit the center of the song, she goes overboard with the autotune effects and starts chanting in a distorted voice. So, all the same stuff we heard from "Starships."
Like, Starships as well, the lyrics don't really make any sense at all. What does "pound the alarm" even mean? What does that have to do with the rest of the song? What does, "we're getting hotter and hotter, sexy and hotter," mean? Is there any message at all trying to be conveyed here? It really doesn't seem like it. It's just another song that was tossed to Nicki Minaj for sales purposes.
And you know what? Despite everything I just said, I cannot stop hitting repeat. I know that I should hate this song, that there are so many things wrong with it, but I just can't. It's far too catchy and I can never get it out of my head. "Pound The Alarm" may not get any points for composition or lyrics, but it's got the perfect formula and with the casual listener today, that's what matters. If you hear this song on the radio, you'll turn it up and want to hear it again.
I guess that's really the most important thing, that people are going to want to listen to it. So, Nicki's team may have to work on getting a little more unique and writing better lyrics. Nicki is an incredibly original sounding artist, if someone needs to stick with generic dance pop, I don't think it should be her.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Nelly Furtado - Spirit Indestructible
Nelly Furtado has two major styles: rough and sexy, and deep and soulful. While her last single, "Big Hoops," she went rough and sexy, this time though she's all emotional. Once again she's taken her familiar style but still kept it fresh.
"Spirit Indestructible" is a deep song about inner strength, yet it's the way that it's delivered that makes it so powerful. It starts with smooth vocals and easily slides into a powerful song. The chorus begins with the line, "I have the spirit indestructible," which just sounds so majestic it's easy to imagine something soaring through the sky.
The song continues to build, while still maintaining it's tender feel. It never turns into a dance song, yet it adds in drum beats and chanting to build up the power. It reaches its climax as Nelly sings, "Look at me, look at me, take me away." It's a dignified sound that feels quite real.
Uplifting songs like this have been overdone lately, but it's nice to have one that seriously feels like it means exactly what it says. This isn't a song telling you to cheer up because you were born this way, it's saying
"I am strong." There is a clear connection between the speaker and the lyrics which is what gives it such a powerful effect.
Despite "Big Hoops" being a great song, it failed to achieve success. I feel like "Spirit Indestructible" should succeed, but I said the same thing about "Big Hoops." I'm really hoping it becomes a hit though, because it would be a shame for such an amazing song to go by unnoticed.
"Spirit Indestructible" is a deep song about inner strength, yet it's the way that it's delivered that makes it so powerful. It starts with smooth vocals and easily slides into a powerful song. The chorus begins with the line, "I have the spirit indestructible," which just sounds so majestic it's easy to imagine something soaring through the sky.
The song continues to build, while still maintaining it's tender feel. It never turns into a dance song, yet it adds in drum beats and chanting to build up the power. It reaches its climax as Nelly sings, "Look at me, look at me, take me away." It's a dignified sound that feels quite real.
Uplifting songs like this have been overdone lately, but it's nice to have one that seriously feels like it means exactly what it says. This isn't a song telling you to cheer up because you were born this way, it's saying
"I am strong." There is a clear connection between the speaker and the lyrics which is what gives it such a powerful effect.
Despite "Big Hoops" being a great song, it failed to achieve success. I feel like "Spirit Indestructible" should succeed, but I said the same thing about "Big Hoops." I'm really hoping it becomes a hit though, because it would be a shame for such an amazing song to go by unnoticed.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Justin Bieber - As Long As You Love Me
It was just a little while ago when I was saying how I didn't care much for "All Around The World," Bieber's promotional single, but the official second single is much better.
Stylistically the song is something pretty interesting. It's still got that dancy edge to it, yet it's a bit more slow and tender than your party anthems. It's a good combo because people seem to appreciate the tender side of Bieber, yet they also like something they can dance to. The song takes a gentle flow through the lyrics, but things pick up around the chorus. While it's not the most in depth set of words, there's just something catchy about the dubstep style, "La la la la love me."
Lyrically the song has a lot more structure. It's the same old love song that we've heard before, however it does deliver a meaning at least. It's a loving song, and that's Bieber's specialty, it's probably best that he sticks to it. In the song he sings about being able to survive hardships as long as he has the love of someone. Yes, it's corny, but that's Bieber for you.
The song also features a verse from Big Sean. It doesn't really add anything, but it does help break things up. Big Sean fits in nicely, so I'm not going to complain. Rap verses are common now, but finding one that actually connects to the song's meaning is always nice.
Clearly this is a good choice for a second single. It's still showing off a new style of Bieber, but it stays true to the things that make him popular and loved. Maybe he'll get his biggest hit yet out of this. Or maybe not. But it does seem likely that it will be big.
Stylistically the song is something pretty interesting. It's still got that dancy edge to it, yet it's a bit more slow and tender than your party anthems. It's a good combo because people seem to appreciate the tender side of Bieber, yet they also like something they can dance to. The song takes a gentle flow through the lyrics, but things pick up around the chorus. While it's not the most in depth set of words, there's just something catchy about the dubstep style, "La la la la love me."
Lyrically the song has a lot more structure. It's the same old love song that we've heard before, however it does deliver a meaning at least. It's a loving song, and that's Bieber's specialty, it's probably best that he sticks to it. In the song he sings about being able to survive hardships as long as he has the love of someone. Yes, it's corny, but that's Bieber for you.
The song also features a verse from Big Sean. It doesn't really add anything, but it does help break things up. Big Sean fits in nicely, so I'm not going to complain. Rap verses are common now, but finding one that actually connects to the song's meaning is always nice.
Clearly this is a good choice for a second single. It's still showing off a new style of Bieber, but it stays true to the things that make him popular and loved. Maybe he'll get his biggest hit yet out of this. Or maybe not. But it does seem likely that it will be big.
Friday, July 6, 2012
P!nk - Blow Me One Last Kiss
This is one of those songs that came out and surprised me. I really thought that we wouldn't be hearing from P!nk is a while, now that she's a mother. However she's back and she's ready to smash right back into the world.
P!nk is a impressive artist, as she manages to stick to a winning formula, while still making it sound fresh every time. She's got her unique style, yet each of her songs always offer something different. Her last two big hits were "Raise Your Glass," a party song, and "Perfect" a relationship song. "Blow Me One Last Kiss" is different from both of them, it's a rocking break up song.
Unlike most break up songs, though, it's not angry and it's not sad. It's more like, "Whatever, I'm done with this." It's very in character for the P!nk's persona and it's a lot of fun too. It's an upbeat song, and could easily be a party anthem if you ignored the lyrics.
The song has a nice pounding rhythm and it's easy to bob along with it. P!nk rolls off the chorus in a fun style that really just flows together great. The song is pretty much just a nonstop train that keeps on going. It's a dancy song, while still maintaining the rock edge.
Like I said, the song is a lot of fun and I'm certain it's going to be bringing even more success for P!nk. With big names like Katy Perry, Rihanna, and Madonna not doing as well, I think it's time we got to see a superstar return with power.
P!nk is a impressive artist, as she manages to stick to a winning formula, while still making it sound fresh every time. She's got her unique style, yet each of her songs always offer something different. Her last two big hits were "Raise Your Glass," a party song, and "Perfect" a relationship song. "Blow Me One Last Kiss" is different from both of them, it's a rocking break up song.
Unlike most break up songs, though, it's not angry and it's not sad. It's more like, "Whatever, I'm done with this." It's very in character for the P!nk's persona and it's a lot of fun too. It's an upbeat song, and could easily be a party anthem if you ignored the lyrics.
The song has a nice pounding rhythm and it's easy to bob along with it. P!nk rolls off the chorus in a fun style that really just flows together great. The song is pretty much just a nonstop train that keeps on going. It's a dancy song, while still maintaining the rock edge.
Like I said, the song is a lot of fun and I'm certain it's going to be bringing even more success for P!nk. With big names like Katy Perry, Rihanna, and Madonna not doing as well, I think it's time we got to see a superstar return with power.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Justin Bieber - All Around The World
I missed my usual end of the week post last week, but I'll try to make up for it with a double post this week. Right now, I've got another song from Justin Bieber's new album. It's got some good and some bad.
Let's start with the good, because there's a lot of bad to get to. The good part is that Bieber seems to be getting more comfortable in this new style. He made quite the jump from his squeaky puppy dog love, to deep, sexy "Boyfriend" style. It was a bit of a surprise to see the difference, which is part of the reason why "Boyfriend" had such an impact. However, the song sounded robotic at parts, "All Around the World" flows a lot smoother. It's combined with the typical dance sounds to make a much more listenable and enjoyable type of song.
Now for the bad. The song is repetitive, meaningless, and boring. First off he just repeats the same old things we've been hearing forever: "You're beautiful, beautiful, beautiful." Then we get to the chorus which is where the song nosedives. The lyrics are absolutely meaningless. "All around the world people want to be loved." What is that supposed to be telling us? How does that related to the girl who's "beautiful, beautiful, beautiful"? And the song pretty much just continues to loop like that.
We get an appearance from Ludacris, probably in an attempt to throw back to "Baby." But his verse doesn't do much to freshen up the song. It's the same kind of Ludacris rap we've heard before, which doesn't make the song anymore exciting.
It's been really confusing trying to figure what exactly Bieber's new single will be. I think he settled on "As Long As You Love Me," but that hasn't stop radio stations from playing "All Around The World." If it keeps up it might end up like Gaga's "Edge of Glory" and become the next single anyways. Let's hope it doesn't though, because it's boring and I got tired of it after only one listen.
Let's start with the good, because there's a lot of bad to get to. The good part is that Bieber seems to be getting more comfortable in this new style. He made quite the jump from his squeaky puppy dog love, to deep, sexy "Boyfriend" style. It was a bit of a surprise to see the difference, which is part of the reason why "Boyfriend" had such an impact. However, the song sounded robotic at parts, "All Around the World" flows a lot smoother. It's combined with the typical dance sounds to make a much more listenable and enjoyable type of song.
Now for the bad. The song is repetitive, meaningless, and boring. First off he just repeats the same old things we've been hearing forever: "You're beautiful, beautiful, beautiful." Then we get to the chorus which is where the song nosedives. The lyrics are absolutely meaningless. "All around the world people want to be loved." What is that supposed to be telling us? How does that related to the girl who's "beautiful, beautiful, beautiful"? And the song pretty much just continues to loop like that.
We get an appearance from Ludacris, probably in an attempt to throw back to "Baby." But his verse doesn't do much to freshen up the song. It's the same kind of Ludacris rap we've heard before, which doesn't make the song anymore exciting.
It's been really confusing trying to figure what exactly Bieber's new single will be. I think he settled on "As Long As You Love Me," but that hasn't stop radio stations from playing "All Around The World." If it keeps up it might end up like Gaga's "Edge of Glory" and become the next single anyways. Let's hope it doesn't though, because it's boring and I got tired of it after only one listen.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Owl City - Good Time
Summer has officially started and the song that'll be the anthem of the next few months is probably already on its way to the top. This is an example of a song that seems to be trying really hard to fill that spot. While there are songs like "Payphone" carry a meaning and just happen to be released strategically at the right time, "Good Time" feels like it was simply released to be a summer fun song.
Owl City teams up with big breakout girl, Carly Rae Jepsen, for this song. I saw this coming a while ago really. Aside from "Call Me Maybe" it's unlikely that Carly Rae's other Canadian hits are going to reach international success, so they're going to have to stick her on already international stars.
Both of them shine equally, though, so it truly is a duet. They trade verses while they blend together for the chorus. They do sound good together, they are both fun voices and this song is all about fun. Adam Young takes a deeper, smooth tone for his verses, while Carly Rae still sounds chipper and girly.
The problem is, this is a really big setback for both of these artists. People like Owl City for something incredibly different from what they're used; Carly Rae shines in simplicity. This song is a generic dance song. The lyrics sing about having a good time, surprisingly enough, and feature the same old "oh whoa" on repeat. The whole song gets rather repetitive fast, though. It's something that you've heard before, and it doesn't even try to bring anything special.
I can understand the logic behind it. Owl City really only had "Fireflies" and Carly Rae no doubt wants to bring out into the more mainstream style. But if they're going to do what everyone else is doing, then they have to make it interesting. I would have liked to see a little more of their individuality in this song. They both put strong personalities into their previous songs and that's what made them great.
I can't say for sure how this song will do once or if it hits the charts. Carly Rae Jepsen is big right now, so I'd imagine that a poppy song like this would gather good attention. But can it keep that attention? It's a pretty boring song, and yet that hasn't stopped songs from going to number one before. I'm willing to just wait and see how it plays out.
Friday, June 15, 2012
B.o.B - Both Of Us
B.o.B. seems to have an unpredictable history when it comes to hit singles. He's had ones that top charts like "Airplanes" and he's had songs that felt like they might be hits, but never really made it, like "So Good." It's very clear that he's trying to get another "Airplanes" with this new song.
We've got the tender voice of Taylor Swift doing the chorus this time. Sound familiar? That's right, it's basically the role that Hayley Williams did on "Airplanes." Taylor may be a bigger name than Hayley, but really she doesn't bring anything different. And it's just her singing the same lines over and over again. It's pretty the first time, it gets a little redundant after a while though.
Then we've got the rap verses from B.o.B. They're good, they're catchy, they've got meaning; yet it's nothing new. A common thing you'll notice with pop rap songs is that you really have to depend on the pop part to make things interesting; since most rappers sounds same once you've heard their sound once. Taylor isn't sounding too exciting in this song, and the rap is all stuff we've heard before.
Lyrically, it seems to have a good meaning; it's just a little tricky to figure out what it is. From Taylor's lines I would guess it's about not being strong enough to maintain a relationship. Yet B.o.B. raps about unfortunate people in general. Taylor sounds like she's longing to hold onto someone, B.o.B. sounds annoyed at the world. There's a bit of a dissonance there, which doesn't help the song.
With all that said, though, it's not really a bad song. B.o.B. still sounds good rapping, and it's clear that he does have his message in mind that he's trying to get across. Taylor still sounds pretty, I just don't think she was the right choice for this particular song. Still, I suspect that it'll be enough to make another big hit for B.o.B.
We've got the tender voice of Taylor Swift doing the chorus this time. Sound familiar? That's right, it's basically the role that Hayley Williams did on "Airplanes." Taylor may be a bigger name than Hayley, but really she doesn't bring anything different. And it's just her singing the same lines over and over again. It's pretty the first time, it gets a little redundant after a while though.
Then we've got the rap verses from B.o.B. They're good, they're catchy, they've got meaning; yet it's nothing new. A common thing you'll notice with pop rap songs is that you really have to depend on the pop part to make things interesting; since most rappers sounds same once you've heard their sound once. Taylor isn't sounding too exciting in this song, and the rap is all stuff we've heard before.
Lyrically, it seems to have a good meaning; it's just a little tricky to figure out what it is. From Taylor's lines I would guess it's about not being strong enough to maintain a relationship. Yet B.o.B. raps about unfortunate people in general. Taylor sounds like she's longing to hold onto someone, B.o.B. sounds annoyed at the world. There's a bit of a dissonance there, which doesn't help the song.
With all that said, though, it's not really a bad song. B.o.B. still sounds good rapping, and it's clear that he does have his message in mind that he's trying to get across. Taylor still sounds pretty, I just don't think she was the right choice for this particular song. Still, I suspect that it'll be enough to make another big hit for B.o.B.
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