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Listen Up:
Sizzlin’ summer singles…
It’s summer time and the charts are starting to heat up with a few songs. Wanna know what the hottest songs are? Check ‘em out! ¤ Michelle
“Crazy”
Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere
If this song were a movie, it would be an experimental one. In one scene you’d see a cute little baby playing with a fluffy teddy bear and then it would quickly jump to a scene that displayed a plate of moldy bread. Sound bizarre? That’s the same sort of insanity that the innovative new group Gnarls Barkley evokes from their single “Crazy.” But you know what? I absolutely love it.Gnarls Barkley is comprised of Danger Mouse – a highly respected hip-hop producer, and Cee-Lo – a member of the southern-fried hip-hop group, Goodie Mob. They’ve pooled their unbelievable talent together to create an eclectic CD.
Their first single, “Crazy,” seems to defy classification. It flows through a bevy of genres without creating a chaotic mess. Some parts sound like dance, some parts sound like funk, and there is definitely a splash of R&B and house up in there. It’s like a smorgasbord of music. It’s the only song that a co-worker and I can both agree on its genius (we both question each other’s musical tastes).
Even though I didn’t know how to take this song at first, it left an impression on me. I liked it, but I couldn’t understand why. I enjoyed the throwback-to-another-era vibe and I liked the dance element, but it just seemed too unusual. As I listened to it more, the difference was exactly what I loved about it. It is unlike anything on the radio – it’s not humdrum R&B or boring hip hop. Luckily for me I wasn’t the only fan of this song. It steadily climbed up the charts and sits quite comfortably at number one.
Rating: This song easily gets ***** (out of 5)
“SOS (Rescue Me)”
Rihanna, A Girl Like Me
Look who’s trying to become R&B’s newest It-girl. It’s none other than the Bajan cutie, Rihanna. She has a few hits under her bling-encrusted belt, and she’s ready to get the party started, y’all!As pop infused as “SOS (Rescue Me)” may be, I like it. It has a catchy beat (the sample comes courtesy of Soft Cell and their mega 80’s hit, “Tainted Love”), an infectious hook, and okay vocals.
Rihanna sings about being madly obsessed with someone, and begs anyone who will listen to help her get over her infatuation.
This song completely works for me. Even though Rihanna uses a highly regarded sample, she made the song her own (…why do I sound like Paula Abdul??). It’s bouncy and fun without coming off like a cheesy karaoke cover.
Rating: This song gets *** 1/2 (out of 5).
“Torn”
LeToya Luckett, LeToya Luckett
Did you ever think that you’d hear from ex-Destiny’s Child member LeToya Luckett ever again? Not me. After that messy break up, I thought that she and fellow ex-DCer LaTavia Roberson would fade into the night. But like any good fighter, she prevailed and is back with a blazing R&B track.“Torn” is the first release off her self-titled debut CD. It might sound a little familiar to you. It contains a sample from “You Are Everything” by the Stylistics, which was also used by Mary J. Blige for her 1997 hit “Everything.”
This song fully expresses the confusion that you experience when you’re in love with someone you know ain’t the one for you. You want to tell them to leave you alone, but you also want to jump into their arms and tell them that you love them. Grrls, we’ve all been in that situation, right!
LeToya’s song is a departure from the teenybopper content that she used to perform with Destiny’s Child. She has emerged as a young woman who isn’t afraid to show us how much she has grown and matured. You know Beyoncé is so hating her right now!
I like that even though her song speaks about a rocky relationship, she doesn’t come off depressing or too preachy. If the rest of the album is as good as this song, I can’t wait to hear her next release!
Rating: This single gets ***** (out of 5).
“Hips Don’t Lie (Remix)”
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean, Oral Fixation
What do you get when you add an average pop singer and a hit-making producer? You get a number one song.I know that this song is played about a million times a day, but it doesn’t mean that it is any good (ahem “Laffy Taffy,” “My Humps”!!!).
If “Crazy” from Gnarls Barkley were an experimental film, “Hips Don’t Lie” would undeniably be a Julia Roberts romantic comedy. It’s safe, cute, and appeals to most.
If you’ve heard the original, you’ll notice that there isn’t much difference from the original and the remix. Wyclef plays more of a part on the remix to make it club ready; however, it still falls flat on my ears.
While this song is perfect for getting you to shake your thang on the dance floor, Shakira’s vocals are mediocre and uninspiring (I think that she’s a way better dancer than singer). But things do start to spice up when she coos in Spanish.
Overall, this song is fun to dance to, but listening to the bizarre lyrics can be a little annoying.
Rating: I give this song ** 1/2 (out of 5).
“I Love My Chick”
Busta Rhymes featuring Will. I. Am and Kelis, The Big Bang
Busta was cool back in the day. Joints like “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See,” “What’s It Gonna Be” featuring Janet Jackson, and “Dangerous,” among others, are etched in my memory.But his current hit, “I Love My Chick,” is probably more annoying than “Hips Don’t Lie.” He lazily raps about how he feels about his chick, and Kelis responds by shouting back that she loves him too. It even gets more annoying when Will. I. Am hits the mic.
The only saving grace is that I like the video. It’s a little elaborate, but fighting scenes are sexy!
Rating: This song gets ** (out of 5).
