Everyone's vying for the top summer jam, so I am happy to feature FIVE great new HOT songs. The summer's gotten off to a hot start, so I'm very optimistic more hot songs are on the way!
"Makes Me Wonder", Maroon 5
Mix together some guitar trickery, quick rhythm, and tightly staccatoed lyrics, and you get the burning hot new single from Maroon 5.
The album, It Won't Be Soon Before Long, has already gotten rave reviews, like this one from The Washington Post, calling it "too perfect."
Perfect or not, here's hoping for some more hot tracks from this quintet.
"Last Night", Diddy, featuring Keyshia Cole
This track is another great example of one of those song that grows on you after a few listens. "Last Night"'s refrain is simple: "Last night/I couldn't even get an answer/I tried to call/But my pride wouldn't let me dial/And I'm sitting here/With this blank expression/And the way I feel/I wanna curl up like a child." Simple refrain, but if you hear it six or seven times in one song, you just want to hear it again and again and again and again and again and again and again.
Diddy and Keyshia Cole's alternating lyrics fit the storyline perfectly, as two lovers desperately yearning for each other. To think, this could all be solved if Diddy would just pick up the phone and call. But his pride wouldn't let him dial.
"Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin')", T-Pain, featuring Yung Joc
Rhyming "money in the bank" with "I wanna buy you a drank"...why didn't I think of that? T-Pain's second hit single features computer-processed vocals, a slow but sure pace, and a special appearance by Yung Joc. I love the intro to this song and the snaps as percussion.
"Big Girls Don't Cry", Fergie
This song is just a really catchy tune. In it, Fergie sings beautifully about saying goodbye to a lover, for the sake of moving on and finding herself. For those of you keeping track at home, Miss Fergie has had quite the solo debut, with "Fergalicious", "London Bridge", and "Glamorous". With "Big Girls Don't Cry", that adds up to FOUR huge singles, and an early nomination for me for some pop GRAMMYs in 2008. Fergie sweetens it up in my favorite verse of the song..."Like the little school mate in the school yard/We'll play jacks and UNO cards/I'll be your best friend and you'll be mine/Valentine".
Fergie may not be the vocal virtuoso that Christina Aguilera is, but she's a great singer and quite the entertainer, with or without the Black Eyed Peas.
"Home", Daughtry
Every time I post about an American Idol contestant, I consciously think about it. Have I been brainwashed, or is this just another pop artist who deserves a fair shake? Perhaps unexpectedly, it's even better NOT to win American Idol these days, merely placing in the top 12 gets you name recognition, a spot on the tour, and the freedom to negotiate your own contract.
Nevertheless, I like "Home", Daughtry's second single off his creatively-titled debut album, Daughtry. Here's another song where the lyrics make the song:
"I'm going home/Back to the place where I belong/And where your love has always been enough for me." It's a song about being away from the ones you love, but knowing that they're there for you no matter what.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Thursday, May 10, 2007
If You Ain't Got No Hot Songs, Take Your Broke ... Home: "Glamorous", "Do You Know", "Umbrella", "Because Of You", "Summer Love"
It has certainly been too long since my last post, but I was just giving pop music some time to catch up. They finally did, and I'm really excited about these five songs right now.
"Glamorous", Fergie, featuring Ludacris
Here's another song that took me a bit to warm up to. In Fergie's "Glamorous", she describes a past life as an average L.A. teen, compares it to her high-profile lifestyle, and determines she's still the same chick, just with more dough. Ludacris adds a rap that finally sunk into me that stuttering is very hot right now in pop music - "You deserve nothing but the finer thi-i-ings" is just one of three examples he provides. What makes this song hot is the clapping as percussion and Fergie's breathy voice.
"Do You Know? (The Ping Pong Song)", Enrique Iglesias
Is it to early to call the song of Summer 2007? If not, I nominate Enrique Iglesias' "Do You Know", or "Dimelo" if you are so inclined (or prefer the Spanish version). What's hot about this song? Well, that's a ping pong ball providing the backbeat to Enrique's always-strong vocals. Another surprising twist is the vocal - the oft-seductive Latin is now yearning for us to empathize with him as a scorned lover - "Do you know what it feels like, loving someone, who's in a rush to throw you away?"
"Umbrella", Rihanna featuring Jay-Z
Jay's (Jay-Z) on the track, but he might as well not, as Rihanna delivers completely on her own. I'll admit I was an early skeptic of a song with "Umbrella" in the title, but I quickly warmed up to it (once I got under the "Umbrella" I guess you could say.) The refrain of this song is particularly powerful, as she sings "Now that it's raining more than ever/Know that we'll still have each other/You can stand under my umbrella", and then extends the "umbrella" with a few more "ellas" and some "ehs" for the coolest stuttering you've ever heard.
"Because of You", Ne-Yo
My boy Ne-Yo's back with another big hit. "Because of You" is going to be a heck of a lot more than just a Kelly Clarkson song. Behind his smooth vocals is a steady drum beat and a gentle piano melody. In this hit, Ne-Yo explains his addiction to his woman, calling her "his sweetest drug." Hmm, wonder why that wasn't the title...
"Summer Love", Justin Timberlake
With lines like "Ridin' in the drop-top with the top down/Saw you switching lanes, girl" and "We can do it fast-fast-slow, whichever way you wanna run, girl", Justin spits it fast on his FOURTH single off of his Grammy-winning album FutureSexLoveSounds. The lyrics really make this song, but Timbaland's pounding track definitely gets your attention!
Other hot songs I would've mentioned last month:
"What Goes Around Comes Around", Justin Timberlake
"Girlfriend", Avril Lavigne
"Goodbye My Lover", James Blunt
"House Like That", Donovan Chapman (former Air Force pararescueman)
Oldie but Goodie: Don't Stop Believin', Journey
Just to note, Kelly Clarkson may also have some tricks up her sleeve this summer, we'll just have to see if her new album has anything hot enough. My first impression of "Never Again" is that it's just a little too angry.
"Glamorous", Fergie, featuring Ludacris
Here's another song that took me a bit to warm up to. In Fergie's "Glamorous", she describes a past life as an average L.A. teen, compares it to her high-profile lifestyle, and determines she's still the same chick, just with more dough. Ludacris adds a rap that finally sunk into me that stuttering is very hot right now in pop music - "You deserve nothing but the finer thi-i-ings" is just one of three examples he provides. What makes this song hot is the clapping as percussion and Fergie's breathy voice.
"Do You Know? (The Ping Pong Song)", Enrique Iglesias
Is it to early to call the song of Summer 2007? If not, I nominate Enrique Iglesias' "Do You Know", or "Dimelo" if you are so inclined (or prefer the Spanish version). What's hot about this song? Well, that's a ping pong ball providing the backbeat to Enrique's always-strong vocals. Another surprising twist is the vocal - the oft-seductive Latin is now yearning for us to empathize with him as a scorned lover - "Do you know what it feels like, loving someone, who's in a rush to throw you away?"
"Umbrella", Rihanna featuring Jay-Z
Jay's (Jay-Z) on the track, but he might as well not, as Rihanna delivers completely on her own. I'll admit I was an early skeptic of a song with "Umbrella" in the title, but I quickly warmed up to it (once I got under the "Umbrella" I guess you could say.) The refrain of this song is particularly powerful, as she sings "Now that it's raining more than ever/Know that we'll still have each other/You can stand under my umbrella", and then extends the "umbrella" with a few more "ellas" and some "ehs" for the coolest stuttering you've ever heard.
"Because of You", Ne-Yo
My boy Ne-Yo's back with another big hit. "Because of You" is going to be a heck of a lot more than just a Kelly Clarkson song. Behind his smooth vocals is a steady drum beat and a gentle piano melody. In this hit, Ne-Yo explains his addiction to his woman, calling her "his sweetest drug." Hmm, wonder why that wasn't the title...
"Summer Love", Justin Timberlake
With lines like "Ridin' in the drop-top with the top down/Saw you switching lanes, girl" and "We can do it fast-fast-slow, whichever way you wanna run, girl", Justin spits it fast on his FOURTH single off of his Grammy-winning album FutureSexLoveSounds. The lyrics really make this song, but Timbaland's pounding track definitely gets your attention!
Other hot songs I would've mentioned last month:
"What Goes Around Comes Around", Justin Timberlake
"Girlfriend", Avril Lavigne
"Goodbye My Lover", James Blunt
"House Like That", Donovan Chapman (former Air Force pararescueman)
Oldie but Goodie: Don't Stop Believin', Journey
Just to note, Kelly Clarkson may also have some tricks up her sleeve this summer, we'll just have to see if her new album has anything hot enough. My first impression of "Never Again" is that it's just a little too angry.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Grammy Whammy, "Give It To Me", "Streetcorner Symphony"
I missed out on giving a Grammy preview, but I wasn't surprised to see the Dixie Chicks clean up. Musicians have little impact politically these days, John Mayer admits as much on "Waiting on the World To Change." So the Grammy voters made their statements here, rewarding both the Dixie Chicks and John Mayer for their attempt to voice their views on the state of the world today. It's their show, so be it.
Not surprisingly, my Hot Songs didn't fare well at the Grammys this year. I was most disappointed with James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" not taking home any awards. His simple guitar and piano-accompanied performance of the song at the ceremony was fantastic. Other big disappointments: the Shakira/Wyclef "Hips Don't Lie" and The Fray's "How to Save a Life" not winning. Still, I guess I saw the light with the Black Eyed Peas' "My Humps" winning Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal and "My Love" winning Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Remarkably, I called "My Humps" Grammy material 15 months ago on this blog.
So let's move on and see what's hot right now...
"Give It To Me", Timbaland featuring Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado
This song's been leaked and on the Web since the fall, but is just hitting the charts now with an official release. At first glance, it's the first big BEEF song of 2007. Justin and Timbaland go to bat against their latest critics, while Nelly tries to convince us she's a supermodel. Most poignant is J.T.'s comeback to Prince, who claimed that "sexy never left": "If sexy never left, why's everybody on my..."
Still, I try to look beyond lyrics and see if the song has any redeeming qualities. Redeeming Quality 1: It's a Timbaland track, complete with marching-band style drumming. Redeeming Quality 2: Cool voice effects whenever someone's trying to make a point...like Nelly's "my style is "ri-dic-dic-dic-ulous-ulous-ulous." I'm looking forward to hearing any remixes off this hot single.
Read more about the beef here: Justin Timberlake Takes on Janet Jackson and Prince On Timbaland Track
"Streetcorner Symphony", Rob Thomas
Rob Thomas' CD, Something To Be, is amazing. He's been releasing singles off it since 2005, and there's still great songs left. On it, Rob uses new sounds and voices to express his feelings, and the result is a refreshing push even beyond the stellar work he did with Matchbox 20.
This feel-good hit will have you singing "Come On Over!" right along with Rob and crew. And the guitar virtuoso in the background? Why it's John Mayer!
Not surprisingly, my Hot Songs didn't fare well at the Grammys this year. I was most disappointed with James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" not taking home any awards. His simple guitar and piano-accompanied performance of the song at the ceremony was fantastic. Other big disappointments: the Shakira/Wyclef "Hips Don't Lie" and The Fray's "How to Save a Life" not winning. Still, I guess I saw the light with the Black Eyed Peas' "My Humps" winning Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal and "My Love" winning Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Remarkably, I called "My Humps" Grammy material 15 months ago on this blog.
So let's move on and see what's hot right now...
"Give It To Me", Timbaland featuring Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado
This song's been leaked and on the Web since the fall, but is just hitting the charts now with an official release. At first glance, it's the first big BEEF song of 2007. Justin and Timbaland go to bat against their latest critics, while Nelly tries to convince us she's a supermodel. Most poignant is J.T.'s comeback to Prince, who claimed that "sexy never left": "If sexy never left, why's everybody on my..."
Still, I try to look beyond lyrics and see if the song has any redeeming qualities. Redeeming Quality 1: It's a Timbaland track, complete with marching-band style drumming. Redeeming Quality 2: Cool voice effects whenever someone's trying to make a point...like Nelly's "my style is "ri-dic-dic-dic-ulous-ulous-ulous." I'm looking forward to hearing any remixes off this hot single.
Read more about the beef here: Justin Timberlake Takes on Janet Jackson and Prince On Timbaland Track
"Streetcorner Symphony", Rob Thomas
Rob Thomas' CD, Something To Be, is amazing. He's been releasing singles off it since 2005, and there's still great songs left. On it, Rob uses new sounds and voices to express his feelings, and the result is a refreshing push even beyond the stellar work he did with Matchbox 20.
This feel-good hit will have you singing "Come On Over!" right along with Rob and crew. And the guitar virtuoso in the background? Why it's John Mayer!
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