Date: July 11, 2009
Weeks: 14
The Black Eyed Peas are an interesting group. Sometimes their music is sloppy, obnoxious, audio chaos. Other times it seems like they've calculated the precise resonance frequency of pop music and carefully crafted it into a focused dance delivery system. Fortunately, we're dealing the the latter today.
This song was everywhere when it was new, and it's easy to see why. It's an energetic romp that builds tension and anticipation and then releases all the pent-up energy into a huge, enthusiastic burst of energy. I know I keep using the word "energy," but I can't help it. It's really the song's most endearing feature.
There's a lot to nitpick about the music, though. There are some strings sounds early on that would have sounded better if they were real, rather than simulated. There's too much obvious Auto-Tune going on in the voices. But none of those are really problems.
What is a problem is that the song spends too much time in its anticipation build-up phase. I don't mind the first 90 seconds is spent building to the explosion of the chorus. I think that's about perfect, actually. The problem I have is that after only 1 minute of that chorus, the song goes back to the build-up phase for another full minute-plus of building anticipation all over again. Literally half the song's running time is spent waiting for the other half to start up, and that's a balance that doesn't quite work for me. I've enjoyed songs that spent much much longer building up to a big but short payoff, but that's an interesting choice. And I don't have anything against songs that do a brief breakdown in the bridge, because that keeps the song interesting. But the build-ups in this song stop being interesting and just make me impatient for the good part.
The lyrics are a mixed bag. I'm not going to complain about their simplicity, because that's kind of point. In fact, the lyrics sort of redeem all the time spent building up. Since the primary lyric is "Tonight's gonna be a good night," it's obvious that all the anticipation is probably intentional. That doesn't entirely redeem it, but it goes a long way. Before I was really paying attention to this song, I mostly just knew it as the song where they shout "Mazel Tov" for no reason, so that's a successful lyrical choice, at least as far as getting attention. The part where they list days of the week is pretty lazy. But then you add that to lyrics like "Let's do it and do it and do it do it do it," and I just don't have the heart to tear apart this big, dumb, friendly song.
My verdict: Like it. It's big, dumb, easy fun.
Showing posts with label 2009. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2009. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Song #969: "My Life Would Suck Without You" by Kelly Clarkson
Date: Feb 7, 2009
Weeks: 2
I don't like American Idol. It's bad enough that music companies manufacture pop stars and rob music of its organic roots. But then they turn the process of manufacturing those pop stars into televised entertainment, and we're supposed to enjoy it? I just can't support that. Yet somehow their crazy process managed to pick Kelly Clarkson the first time out. While I tried to dismiss her for a long time, I wasn't able to resist the appeal of "Since U Been Gone." That song was nothing like anything I would have expected to come out of American Idol, and I have to say the show succeeded in spite of itself when it picked Kelly Clarkson. Thankfully I can read from Wikipedia that she had split from her American Idol management when she made that song, so my world can continue to make sense.
Happily, this song continues the high-energy pop/rock tradition from "Since U Been Gone." With driving bass, a chorus that practically explodes in your ear, a sound that fills a room, and an appealing chord progression throughout, there's no denying this song's energy. Overall, it's fun and easy to dance to.
Actually, it might be a little too high-energy. That's not a criticism I make often, but something about this song feels like it goes beyond high-energy, passes frantic, and gets into the realm of hyperactive. I think it's the fact that the fast beat never goes away. There's never a break from it. The fat synthesizer bass is appealing for a while, but it keeps carrying it, even when it might be better to calm down and give the listener a break from it. And even during the bridge, when everything else breaks down, the percussion keeps that driving beat alive. Hyperactive songs can work, but they're best if they are short or if they stop every now and then.
I like the vocals here. Clarkson gives a high-energy, loud performance without veering into being screechy. It gives the song energy. This was what impressed me so much in "Since U Been Gone," that she wasn't just showing off her voice but was giving the song what it needed to be good. And that continues here.
The lyrics are about two people who have tried breaking up, but find that they don't like being apart. They both seem pretty damaged and a bit codependent. "I know that I've got issues, but you're pretty messed up, too. Either way I found out I'm nothing without you." This probably isn't the best foundation to build a relationship on. Yet they have tried being apart and it doesn't work, either. "My life would suck without you." I think the message is intentional, and watching the video confirms that. This isn't a good relationship, but these people are stuck together until they realize it's not good. That's the story that they're trying to tell, and I think they do a good job of that. I'm glad I'm not in a relationship like this, but I've known people who were and I think I can understand the sentiment.
My verdict: Like it. It has its flaws, but overall it's good stuff.
Weeks: 2
I don't like American Idol. It's bad enough that music companies manufacture pop stars and rob music of its organic roots. But then they turn the process of manufacturing those pop stars into televised entertainment, and we're supposed to enjoy it? I just can't support that. Yet somehow their crazy process managed to pick Kelly Clarkson the first time out. While I tried to dismiss her for a long time, I wasn't able to resist the appeal of "Since U Been Gone." That song was nothing like anything I would have expected to come out of American Idol, and I have to say the show succeeded in spite of itself when it picked Kelly Clarkson. Thankfully I can read from Wikipedia that she had split from her American Idol management when she made that song, so my world can continue to make sense.
Happily, this song continues the high-energy pop/rock tradition from "Since U Been Gone." With driving bass, a chorus that practically explodes in your ear, a sound that fills a room, and an appealing chord progression throughout, there's no denying this song's energy. Overall, it's fun and easy to dance to.
Actually, it might be a little too high-energy. That's not a criticism I make often, but something about this song feels like it goes beyond high-energy, passes frantic, and gets into the realm of hyperactive. I think it's the fact that the fast beat never goes away. There's never a break from it. The fat synthesizer bass is appealing for a while, but it keeps carrying it, even when it might be better to calm down and give the listener a break from it. And even during the bridge, when everything else breaks down, the percussion keeps that driving beat alive. Hyperactive songs can work, but they're best if they are short or if they stop every now and then.
I like the vocals here. Clarkson gives a high-energy, loud performance without veering into being screechy. It gives the song energy. This was what impressed me so much in "Since U Been Gone," that she wasn't just showing off her voice but was giving the song what it needed to be good. And that continues here.
The lyrics are about two people who have tried breaking up, but find that they don't like being apart. They both seem pretty damaged and a bit codependent. "I know that I've got issues, but you're pretty messed up, too. Either way I found out I'm nothing without you." This probably isn't the best foundation to build a relationship on. Yet they have tried being apart and it doesn't work, either. "My life would suck without you." I think the message is intentional, and watching the video confirms that. This isn't a good relationship, but these people are stuck together until they realize it's not good. That's the story that they're trying to tell, and I think they do a good job of that. I'm glad I'm not in a relationship like this, but I've known people who were and I think I can understand the sentiment.
My verdict: Like it. It has its flaws, but overall it's good stuff.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Song #978: "Whatcha Say" by Jason Derulo
Date: Nov 14, 2009
Weeks: 1
Oh come on. You can't do that!
You can't take a song sample that has been used as a joke by a fairly well-known Saturday Night Live sketch and subsequent Internet send-ups, turn it around, and try to build a serious song around it. It's not like this is based on a different part of the source song ("Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap) and this is all some coincidence. It's the exact same part of the song. So Jason Derulo seems to be trying to leverage that popularity for his own benefit. It's like trying to create a serious song with the lyrics of a knock-knock joke.
So, okay, it's a bad idea, but that doesn't mean it can't overcome that problem and still work, right?
The first thing Jason Derulo sings is "Jason Derulo." Oh boy. As far as I can tell, that's him trying to head off the inevitable question you always hear, "who sings this song?" It doesn't even have any context within the song. It's like an auditory watermark.
The rest of the lyrics are pretty despicable. It's about a guy who got caught cheating on his girlfriend. And I can't help noticing that he's not quite apologizing. "I was caught up in her lust when I don't really want no one else." So he avoids apologizing and blames the other woman for causing him to cheat. Classic jerk tactic. "Cause when the roof cave in and truth came out I just didn't know what to do." He's not sorry he cheated. He's just sorry he got caught. This whole song is like the worst apology ever. The only point on the bad apology checklist he missed was somehow blaming his girlfriend for causing him to cheat.
The music isn't bad. The backing track is varied and interesting enough. Derulo seems to sing well enough. There's clear evidence of Auto-Tune on his voice but at least it's not that overly intentionally fakey Auto-Tuned sound.
And I have to say, despite complaining about the sampling choice earlier, this song does use that "Whatcha say" sample in a better way than the original. In "Hide and Seek", it's just the bridge (I think. That song is kind of formless). In this song, it's the chorus, which is really what it deserves to be. It's a decent hook to center a song around. Musically, at least. I don't understand how it links into the lyrics.
My verdict: Don't like it. The lyrics are really insulting and the whole sampling issue is grating. And the music, while not unpleasant, isn't good enough to save it.
Weeks: 1
Oh come on. You can't do that!
You can't take a song sample that has been used as a joke by a fairly well-known Saturday Night Live sketch and subsequent Internet send-ups, turn it around, and try to build a serious song around it. It's not like this is based on a different part of the source song ("Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap) and this is all some coincidence. It's the exact same part of the song. So Jason Derulo seems to be trying to leverage that popularity for his own benefit. It's like trying to create a serious song with the lyrics of a knock-knock joke.
So, okay, it's a bad idea, but that doesn't mean it can't overcome that problem and still work, right?
The first thing Jason Derulo sings is "Jason Derulo." Oh boy. As far as I can tell, that's him trying to head off the inevitable question you always hear, "who sings this song?" It doesn't even have any context within the song. It's like an auditory watermark.
The rest of the lyrics are pretty despicable. It's about a guy who got caught cheating on his girlfriend. And I can't help noticing that he's not quite apologizing. "I was caught up in her lust when I don't really want no one else." So he avoids apologizing and blames the other woman for causing him to cheat. Classic jerk tactic. "Cause when the roof cave in and truth came out I just didn't know what to do." He's not sorry he cheated. He's just sorry he got caught. This whole song is like the worst apology ever. The only point on the bad apology checklist he missed was somehow blaming his girlfriend for causing him to cheat.
The music isn't bad. The backing track is varied and interesting enough. Derulo seems to sing well enough. There's clear evidence of Auto-Tune on his voice but at least it's not that overly intentionally fakey Auto-Tuned sound.
And I have to say, despite complaining about the sampling choice earlier, this song does use that "Whatcha say" sample in a better way than the original. In "Hide and Seek", it's just the bridge (I think. That song is kind of formless). In this song, it's the chorus, which is really what it deserves to be. It's a decent hook to center a song around. Musically, at least. I don't understand how it links into the lyrics.
My verdict: Don't like it. The lyrics are really insulting and the whole sampling issue is grating. And the music, while not unpleasant, isn't good enough to save it.
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