Sean Kingston: "Beautiful Girls"

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anyone got any thoughts?
i was hoping this would be more wayne wonder and less lil romeo, but oh well.

also: according to these lyrics it was, "back in 99" when Sean Kingston "went away for his first crime," which means he would have been in some correctional facility at age 9... which is pretty gully i guess but kind of fucking crazy...

Jordan Sargent, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 06:51 (eighteen years ago)

Whoa! He was born in '90?!

Tape Store, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 07:16 (eighteen years ago)

YES!

(according to wikipedia, the most accurate encyclopedia in the world.)

Jordan Sargent, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 07:23 (eighteen years ago)

I have made my thoughts known.

The Reverend, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 14:26 (eighteen years ago)

oy vey

strongohulkington, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 14:28 (eighteen years ago)

anyway, i love this song

strongohulkington, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 14:28 (eighteen years ago)

emo pop-dancehall is a-ok with me

strongohulkington, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 14:28 (eighteen years ago)

this is the song that inspired my revival of the "Believe" thread

Curt1s Stephens, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 14:29 (eighteen years ago)

I was going to start this thread, but I figured it was old news and I was late as usual.

I like how it sounds. Not so keen on the lyrics, though. Is it supposed to be sarcastic?

dean ge, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 14:33 (eighteen years ago)

Am I really going to have to start copypasting my rants about how this is the worst thing in the history of bad? This thread better turn negative with the quickness.

The Reverend, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 15:06 (eighteen years ago)

yeah because if there's one thing ilx needs it's more chumps copying and pasting rants to new threads

strongohulkington, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 15:10 (eighteen years ago)

if there were multiple posts discussing this on one of the balkanized genre threads, maybe you can dump them here too

strongohulkington, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 15:11 (eighteen years ago)

i like this song. i am fine with vocoder-autotune-robot-whatever singing. in fact i like it a lot.

max, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 15:49 (eighteen years ago)

it's not as egregious here as it is on other recent songs i think

strongohulkington, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 15:54 (eighteen years ago)

i like everything about this song (the guy's voice, the vocal hooks, the "suuu-i-cidal" hook especially) except that damn "stand by me" sample, which is unfortunately not an insignificant issue. I can barely think of a more tired song to reference.

sw00ds, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 15:58 (eighteen years ago)

where do we stand on "suicidal, suicidal" being edited out for radio/mtv play?

Jordan Sargent, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 16:09 (eighteen years ago)

I didn't know it was--that's crazy. Do they change the lyrics? I can't imagine to what.

sw00ds, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 16:13 (eighteen years ago)

anyway, it's not even a song without that. that was the first thing that jumped out at me about it.

sw00ds, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 16:14 (eighteen years ago)

they were playing "suicidal" on the radio this weekend

strongohulkington, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 16:16 (eighteen years ago)

the first time i saw the video is the first time i heard the song and there is just a silent gap where he says "suicidal, suicidal." i thought he was saying something vilgar along the lines of like "beat the pussy up" so i was a little surprised when i looked up the lyrics.

Jordan Sargent, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 16:16 (eighteen years ago)

then it must only be the TV version xxp.

Jordan Sargent, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 16:16 (eighteen years ago)

unrelated but SK bears a crazy resemblance (in appearance) to young biggie, no?

Jordan Sargent, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 16:23 (eighteen years ago)

my girlfriend likes this song(!)

Curt1s Stephens, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 16:25 (eighteen years ago)

In a store last week a little girl was singing "suicidal" and then turned to ask her mommy, "What does suicidal mean?" Her mom was on the phone and waved her away. It was like something from straight out of a movie. I thought, "Holy shit, kids shouldn't be hearing this." So, I'm okay with the fact that "suicidal" is edited out because no tiny little kid needs to be thinking about killing herself.

dean ge, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 16:30 (eighteen years ago)

I think I'd like this more if his voice didn't remind me of the guy from Gym Class Heroes and he didn't pronounce "girl" like "guuuurowul."

Alex in Baltimore, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 16:31 (eighteen years ago)

I don't disagree with dean entirely, but it's just such an essential component of the song that I don't know what the song is without it. I'd probably be uncomfortable playing it in the presence of a 6-year old, sure. (Though less so, probably, than I would be playing "It Wasn't Me"--not being a parent, I haven't had to worry about these things too much yet.)

sw00ds, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 16:35 (eighteen years ago)

cleanin up the bathroom floor

Curt1s Stephens, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 16:37 (eighteen years ago)

we were holdin' sponges/cleanin up the bathroom floor

sw00ds, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 16:38 (eighteen years ago)

sw00ds, I didn't even realize they were the same song at first! It is essential, for sure, but "Beauuuuteeful Girls" serves as a chorus, too. Weird. He should get an award for having a song that is equally successful with or without a major component. When I saw the video, I just thought he was swearing or something.

dean ge, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 16:40 (eighteen years ago)

I suppose if I'd heard this first with the silent gaps I might feel the exact same way about it as I do with "suicidal" intact (I mean, I wouldn't notice it missing--but then I wouldn't be lured by it if it wasn't there, either). Often when I hear 'clean' versions of rap songs, I end up much preferring them to the explicit versions, but I'm a bit squeamish that way. Depends on the use, context, etc. (One of the contexts for me is weddings; now that this has come up, I probably will seek a 'clean' version of "Beautiful Girls," in case I'm asked to play it early, which I could easily see happening.)

sw00ds, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 16:48 (eighteen years ago)

I was going to start a thread on this about two months ago when I first heard the song. Then I thought "No, no. This is too stupid. It won't last. This punk-ass kid won't jack Ben E. King and get away with it."

I also didn't want to harp on rappers sampling classic songs, which I figure is probably is a played-out conversation in this neck of the woods. But "Stand by Me"? For pete's sake.

kingkongvsgodzilla, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 17:10 (eighteen years ago)

One of the contexts for me is weddings

Ugh. I played DMX's "Up In Here" at a wedding, thinking it was the clean version. It wasn't and I just wanted the floor to open up and suck me in. The guests still danced but their faces said "Oh gawd, I pray he turns this off soon." I faded it at about 40 seconds. My friend who got me the gig (and whose sister got married) ran up to me immediately afterwards giggling uncontrollably. But I was sooooo embarrassed.

Anyhoo, a gap over "suicidal, suicidal" must be an awfully long one. I would've thought my television set was dying.

Kevin John Bozelka, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 17:23 (eighteen years ago)

But "Stand by Me"?

What's so sacred about that song? Or any song for that matter?

Kevin John Bozelka, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 17:24 (eighteen years ago)

What's so sacred about that song? Or any song for that matter?

Shakes head. Sighs. Unscrews the cap from a bottle of bourbon. Pauses. Looks poignantly into the distance, as if there was something out there. Some vestige of a younger, better world. Fade to black.

kingkongvsgodzilla, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 17:46 (eighteen years ago)

ban these two

strongohulkington, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 17:47 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah. Either that or we should get a room or sumpin'.

kingkongvsgodzilla, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 18:00 (eighteen years ago)

strongo you seem a man out of time in this thread

deej, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 18:01 (eighteen years ago)

"this thread"

strongohulkington, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 18:04 (eighteen years ago)

crap i just did it again

strongohulkington, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 18:04 (eighteen years ago)

this thread is for posting FOR, AGAINST or INDIFFERENT opinions supported by tangential details that make the song likeable/unlistenable/comme ci comme ca

deej, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 18:07 (eighteen years ago)

Sorry folks. I just get wistful, ya know?

So, as for why I think the song is bad, it's the whole "you'll have me suicidal when you say it's over" business.

Now, I don't really get upset about the topic of suicide in pop lyrics. If you want to listen to Ozzy Osbourne's "Suicide Solution" or the proto-synthpop of Martin Rev and Alan Vega, then by all means.

But my first impression upon hearing "Beautiful Girls" is that the line was ripe to be quoted out of context by emotionally manipulative teenage shitheads trying to keep girls wrapped up in bad relationships. This impression is obviously a little on the sensationalist side. It was just my first impression of the song and I haven't been able to shake it. There are probably dozens of great, great songs that I love that fit this same bill.

Other than that, it reminds me of Sublime (their major label album) in that poppy dancehall kinda way. Which I'm pretty much "comme ci, comme ca" about.

kingkongvsgodzilla, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 20:25 (eighteen years ago)

i was going to make this its own thread but it seems appropriate enough here:
TS: "Beautiful Girls" v. "Lip Gloss"

I'd choose "Lip Gloss" only because it seems to me like Lil Mama grabbed that song (beat) by the balls and took it places where it might not have been supposed to go, whereas SK probably just fell into this song and it's nice like a pillow, but...

Jordan Sargent, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 21:12 (eighteen years ago)

I like this lots, though the "suicidal" bit grates on me a little.

My gf, who works with young kids, hears them singing it frequently and is consequently a hater. I'm sure if I were in her position I'd like it less.

BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 21:35 (eighteen years ago)

Sorry folks. I just get wistful, ya know?

I hear ya. But the sample is pretty subtle, tasteful even. It certainly doesn't overwhelm the song. Anyhoo, I love it when my beloveds (e.g. DeBarge) get sampled (DeBarge get sampled a lot).

But my first impression upon hearing "Beautiful Girls" is that the line was ripe to be quoted out of context by emotionally manipulative teenage shitheads trying to keep girls wrapped up in bad relationships.

Maybe. But if Steely Dan and "In The Bush" have taught us anything, it's that pop music is a crappy message carrier giving people something to do with their mouths, something to help navigate various relationships in life. So I doubt "suicidal" will sink in many minds in any literal (or even figurative) sense.

P. S. I loved your little bourbon-drenched, sample-ensaddened movie.

TS: "Beautiful Girls" v. "Lip Gloss"

"Lip Gloss." It's shtickier.

Kevin John Bozelka, Wednesday, 11 July 2007 02:50 (eighteen years ago)

yeah because if there's one thing ilx needs it's more chumps copying and pasting rants to new threads

Lounge, homie. I was basically saying that as a stand-in for the actual copypasting.

TS: "Beautiful Girls" v. "Lip Gloss"

I'd choose "Lip Gloss" only because it seems to me like Lil Mama grabbed that song (beat) by the balls and took it places where it might not have been supposed to go, whereas SK probably just fell into this song and it's nice like a pillow, but...

I'd choose "Lip Gloss" only because it doesn't make me want to push her off a skyscraper onto sharp, jagged spikes.

The Reverend, Wednesday, 11 July 2007 03:05 (eighteen years ago)

So, I'm at my grandma's pool, and all of a sudden, my two-year-old cousin starts singing "Suicidal! Suicidal! Suicidial!" (well, really, it was more like "Sueeecial, sueeecial," etc.)

It made me hate the song, too.

Tape Store, Monday, 16 July 2007 23:11 (eighteen years ago)

are you guys for real? are we supposed to prevent kids from seeing romeo and juliet, too?

max, Monday, 16 July 2007 23:17 (eighteen years ago)

suicide as an expression of love might be fucked up but its got a 3000 yr old history in western art. get over it.

max, Monday, 16 July 2007 23:18 (eighteen years ago)

I wouldn't take a two-year-old to Romeo and Juliet, no.

Tape Store, Monday, 16 July 2007 23:19 (eighteen years ago)

...because they commit suicide? or because its going to shit all over itself and start crying?

max, Monday, 16 July 2007 23:20 (eighteen years ago)

probably the most batshit crazy single of the decade.

It is the only thing in recent memory that just completely shocked me to hear on a Clear Channel radio station. It isn't very radical sonically, but the lyrical content is from outer space compared to what else is on the radio.

I had the same reaction when I heard Snoop's Drop It Like It's Hot. The lyrics are pretty tame on that record, but it is probably the most drugged out clear channel record of the 00's.

(I don't think either of these records are that far out in the grand scheme of things, it just reflects on how boring corporate radio is these days...)

Display Name, Thursday, 19 July 2007 07:53 (eighteen years ago)

i don't think it's that batshit crazy...

i mean it should be commended for doing some out there things for a pop&b single... namely going doo wop-y and starting the song off a capella and using the t-pain vocoder.

this kid's voice is butter, though.

Jordan Sargent, Thursday, 19 July 2007 08:04 (eighteen years ago)

like "BOB" and "holla back girl" are much more jarringly bat shit crazy to me than this.

Jordan Sargent, Thursday, 19 July 2007 08:05 (eighteen years ago)

I don't think the record is crazy on a sonic level, although it is highly unusual for exactly the reasons you stated. It is crazy because the only lyrical formulas allowed on pop/rnb format stations are sex or thug/jock posturing.

A song that is explicitly about male emotional weakness coupled with such an antisocial expression of that weakness is pretty far out considering the context. You don't get too much of that from corporate popnb radio these days.

Display Name, Thursday, 19 July 2007 09:06 (eighteen years ago)

alright agreed.

Jordan Sargent, Thursday, 19 July 2007 09:10 (eighteen years ago)

I really hate this song, but JoJo's version is pretty good. Much better than the original anyway...

The Brainwasher, Friday, 20 July 2007 14:34 (eighteen years ago)

I was gonna put this on my annual Summer mix thing but its charms are no longer workin for me.

BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Friday, 20 July 2007 14:38 (eighteen years ago)

Saw the video on MTV recently and they are bleeping out "suicidal."

curmudgeon, Friday, 20 July 2007 15:05 (eighteen years ago)

Still can't decide if I like or hate this song. I think it's 'hate' but I don't turn it off when it comes on the radio.

Jordan, Friday, 20 July 2007 15:09 (eighteen years ago)

(but then I usually sing Stand By Me over the top)

Jordan, Friday, 20 July 2007 15:09 (eighteen years ago)

the MTV edit is totally unlistenable, especially because they cut the vocals back on when he takes a breath in between "suicidal"'s. he should've just figured out some other placeholder phrase to sing in the video version. "she needs to take some Midol, take some Midol" vs. "she's such a Nubian idol, Nubian idol" vs. "I am a super spider, super spider"

Alex in Baltimore, Friday, 20 July 2007 15:12 (eighteen years ago)

vs. "my favorite C.S.I. character is Sara Sidle, Sara Sidle"

Alex in Baltimore, Friday, 20 July 2007 15:15 (eighteen years ago)

is this the first top 40 hit by an artist born in the '90s?

Curt1s Stephens, Friday, 20 July 2007 16:27 (eighteen years ago)

uhhhh no. definitely JoJo, probably at least a few others.

Alex in Baltimore, Friday, 20 July 2007 16:31 (eighteen years ago)

probably not cuz what about those high school musical kids.

btw. i just got back from E3 and holy shit! okay i'm sitting their hungover as a motherfuck at the Disney press conference - got smashed the night before at the troubadour seeing queens of the stone age/eagles of death metal at the EA party...

so anyway. I'm sitting there and the main dude is giving like sales statistics on the "power of the brand" typical analyst bait type stuff and then he's like "oh we have this new High School Musical game - it's the karaoke game for everyone..I need some volunteers to demo it"..

...so anyway these two like really model looking "volunteers" come up and they are acting all shy like where do we stand?? what? where's the screen? how does this work??? they even give themselves a nervous "Hi I'm lisa, Hi I'm whatever" coy routine...the only thing was I could see that they had those real skinny little wireless wraparound mics on already, total plants in the audience.

so they start singing and it's all "oh um..*tentative out of key singing*...blah blah....then....OOOOH I'VE FOUND MY CONFIDENCE WE'RE UNITING TOGETHER VIA THE POWER OF SONG!!!!!!!* belting out the last half total american idol style (keep in mind this room is small there's probably less than a 100 people mostly game journalists and industry dudes)...so then I was like wtf....this can't get any weirder..but it CAN!

So then all of a sudden the song builds up and like 20-30 cheerleaders and dudes dressed up in HS basketball unis and shit come out they are dancing down the aisles and throwing beach balls all over the place (I almost got domed by a beach ball cuz i was so thrown off)...and they are doing a total up with people dance thing...even getting people out of the audience to wave their hands from side to side....

crazy shit.

the future.

M@tt He1ges0n, Friday, 20 July 2007 16:34 (eighteen years ago)

lol take it to the teenpop thread, dude

i think all the high school musical kids really are, like, high school age or older and so are 80's babies.

Alex in Baltimore, Friday, 20 July 2007 16:37 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, High School Musical kids are older than me, I think. Lil Mama = '89.

Tape Store, Friday, 20 July 2007 16:42 (eighteen years ago)

Uh, my sister is a senior next year and she was born in 1990. High school kids = 90s.

The Reverend, Friday, 20 July 2007 16:43 (eighteen years ago)

(or '89)

Tape Store, Friday, 20 July 2007 16:44 (eighteen years ago)

("...or older", though)

xp to myself

The Reverend, Friday, 20 July 2007 16:44 (eighteen years ago)

i checked wikipedia and it looks like they're all 80s babies. one of them was born in 1980!

Alex in Baltimore, Friday, 20 July 2007 16:48 (eighteen years ago)

oh ok, strangely I'd never heard of JoJo!

Curt1s Stephens, Friday, 20 July 2007 16:51 (eighteen years ago)

yeah i guess this wasn't the place for that post. but when the teenpop thread invades YOUR life, you won't know what hit you believe me.

M@tt He1ges0n, Friday, 20 July 2007 17:15 (eighteen years ago)

All of these people have had Top 40 hits:

1989
Chris Brown
Lil Mama
Lil Romeo
Jordin Sparks
Aly (of Aly & AJ)
Taylor Swift

1990
JoJo
Sean Kingston
Jibbs

1991
AJ (of Aly & AJ)

1992
Miley Cyrus

jaymc, Friday, 20 July 2007 17:17 (eighteen years ago)

Forgot about Jibbs, even though I just posted about him yesterday.

Tape Store, Friday, 20 July 2007 17:20 (eighteen years ago)

do you seriously not understand that 1989 is not the '90s?

Curt1s Stephens, Friday, 20 July 2007 17:20 (eighteen years ago)

I think he was clarifying who was borderline/not quite 90s.

Alex in Baltimore, Friday, 20 July 2007 17:21 (eighteen years ago)

Right.

jaymc, Friday, 20 July 2007 17:22 (eighteen years ago)

There's probably a couple I'm forgetting, too. I was mostly relying on Wikipedia's list of celebrity births from each year.

jaymc, Friday, 20 July 2007 17:23 (eighteen years ago)

JORDIN SPARKS :) :) :) :) :)

Tape Store, Friday, 20 July 2007 17:23 (eighteen years ago)

(You're not forgetting her...I'm just smiling 'cause of our potential date)

Tape Store, Friday, 20 July 2007 17:24 (eighteen years ago)

every chris brown single has been incredible (including "wall to wall").

Jordan Sargent, Friday, 20 July 2007 21:54 (eighteen years ago)

the song is pretty great. the 'suicidal' bit is utterly disgusting and the little kids i work with sing it all the time too. NOT COOL.

anyway, i've never heard it with that part simply silenced...here, i've heard it changed to 'in denial, in denial,' which doesn't necessarily make sense, but is a lot more palatable to those who find the 'suicidal' line manipulative and a negative influence.

the table is the table, Friday, 20 July 2007 22:54 (eighteen years ago)

the 'suicidal' bit is utterly disgusting

oh jeezus!

deej, Friday, 20 July 2007 23:25 (eighteen years ago)

every chris brown single has been incredible (including "wall to wall").

-- Jordan Sargent, Friday, 20 July 2007 21:54 (1 hour ago)

I don't know what's more RONG, this or when you said that Sean Kingston looks anything like Biggie besides being, y'know, black and fat.

It's kinda weird that J.R. Rotem produced both "S.O.S." and "Beautiful Girls," maybe his whole formula is getting a Caribbean teen to sing over a big boneheaded sample of a classic pop song.

Alex in Baltimore, Friday, 20 July 2007 23:42 (eighteen years ago)

I love "Yo! (Excuse Me Miss)" but "Wall to Wall" is boring.

Tape Store, Friday, 20 July 2007 23:59 (eighteen years ago)

I like all the singles from his first album to some degree or other, but the new one is teh suxxor.

The Reverend, Saturday, 21 July 2007 00:29 (eighteen years ago)

deej, sorry to say this, but some people still find suicide sad, shocking, awful, and not something to make light of, particularly in the way 'beautiful girls' does. quite honestly, if you don't feel this way, then i think it's YOU that people should be saying 'oh jeezus' about.

the table is the table, Saturday, 21 July 2007 01:21 (eighteen years ago)

of course actual suicide is sad shocking and awful.

deej, Saturday, 21 July 2007 01:40 (eighteen years ago)

If there is one thing pop radio needs, it is more bubblegum tunes about suicide.

Display Name, Saturday, 21 July 2007 02:35 (eighteen years ago)

on the rolling charts thread, someone made a comment about how i would have wanted to destroy radio (nay television) when "suicide is painless" was a hit, but the difference between that song and "beautiful girls" is that the mash theme is ABOUT deep, disturbing, seemingly neverending pain, whereas the latter is...well, a lot more fluffy, not only in its message but its musical execution.

whatever, no point in arguing. i like the track, i just find this one very large aspect of it kind of offensive.

the table is the table, Saturday, 21 July 2007 03:13 (eighteen years ago)

I'm more offended by the sheer shiteating tone of our protagonist than his reference to suicide (probably the most popular of cides).

jim, Saturday, 21 July 2007 04:03 (eighteen years ago)

JoJo cover sucks!

Tape Store, Saturday, 21 July 2007 04:15 (eighteen years ago)

You suck.

The Brainwasher, Saturday, 21 July 2007 04:15 (eighteen years ago)

THX CAPN' OBVIOUS

Tape Store, Saturday, 21 July 2007 04:16 (eighteen years ago)

CAPN' OBV.*

Tape Store, Saturday, 21 July 2007 04:16 (eighteen years ago)

SUICIDAL! SUICIDAL!

this song is great.

lex pretend, Saturday, 21 July 2007 14:07 (eighteen years ago)

and wtf SUICIDAL is the best bit

lex pretend, Saturday, 21 July 2007 14:07 (eighteen years ago)

I'm more offended by the sheer shiteating tone of our protagonist than his reference to suicide (probably the most popular of cides).

^^^^That.

The Reverend, Saturday, 21 July 2007 14:23 (eighteen years ago)

do people really think that suicide rates are going to rise because of this song?

max, Saturday, 21 July 2007 16:19 (eighteen years ago)

If Chris Brown singles couldn't make the suicide rates rise, this song won't either.

Alex in Baltimore, Saturday, 21 July 2007 16:28 (eighteen years ago)

hahaha

deej, Saturday, 21 July 2007 17:10 (eighteen years ago)

did you like "poppin" Al? i thought that one was pretty good

deej, Saturday, 21 July 2007 17:13 (eighteen years ago)

Oh my god, that one's the worst. I don't know what's worse, the awkwardness of the beat or the way he goes "we gon do SUMP, somethin is gon get DONE." I thought it might be good with Wayne on the remix but his verse was kinda ehhh.

Alex in Baltimore, Saturday, 21 July 2007 17:19 (eighteen years ago)

alright "poppin'" excepted (though that wayne verse is fire— one of his weirder guest appearances), but i'll ride for "run it", "yo (excuse me miss)(?)" and the "gimme that" remix single all day every day.

"wall to wall" is just combustible pop to me, and i'm surprised it bricked as hard as it has... i figured he had a pretty steady fan base.

Jordan Sargent, Saturday, 21 July 2007 20:20 (eighteen years ago)

POPPIN (original version) is the only chris brown i like

deej, Saturday, 21 July 2007 21:18 (eighteen years ago)

alex in baltimore doesn't actually like ANYTHING though.

'run it' and 'gimme that' and the cod-reggae rmx of 'excuse me miss' are all really great re: chris brown, generic twink crunk'n'b but when the genre is that good, generic is inevitably v pleasing

lex pretend, Sunday, 22 July 2007 04:44 (eighteen years ago)

"Run It" is excellent. (I'm probably the only person on earth who prefers it to "Yeah", which I was never that huge on.) All the other singles on his first album are good to decent. "Wall to Wall" is v. predictable and boring, and don't get me started on his "Umbrella" remix. As much as people bitch about Jay-Z's contribution, he didn't actually make the song unlistenable.

The Reverend, Sunday, 22 July 2007 07:31 (eighteen years ago)

As much as people bitch about Jay-Z's contribution, he didn't actually make the song unlistenable.

except there is no such thing as a version w/o jay-z.

Jordan Sargent, Sunday, 22 July 2007 09:19 (eighteen years ago)

jojo singing "when i dutty wine" in her cover!!!!!!!

lex pretend, Tuesday, 24 July 2007 20:37 (eighteen years ago)

this song is way less suicidal than "alone again, naturally"

M@tt He1ges0n, Tuesday, 24 July 2007 20:55 (eighteen years ago)

also they should do a rock remix w/mike muir.

M@tt He1ges0n, Tuesday, 24 July 2007 20:56 (eighteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

so apparently Lil Mama's done a remix of this as well. Will she not stop until she's done a remix of every summer number 1? If so, when will she work her wonders on "hey there delilah"?

danzig, Wednesday, 8 August 2007 07:14 (eighteen years ago)

three weeks pass...

...

Jordan Sargent, Friday, 31 August 2007 18:34 (eighteen years ago)

"Me Love" is actually alright. Sean Kingston is still my mortal enemy, though.

The Reverend, Friday, 31 August 2007 18:45 (eighteen years ago)

I still say the kid doesn't actually look much at all like Biggie past the same approximate weight & skin tone. Same goes for the kid in the "Sky's The Limit" video, too, to be honest I always thought the likeness there was way overrated.

Alex in Baltimore, Friday, 31 August 2007 18:56 (eighteen years ago)

He looks more like the "Sky's the Limit kid than he looks like Biggie.

The Reverend, Friday, 31 August 2007 21:22 (eighteen years ago)

I really like driving around to "Me Love."

Tape Store, Friday, 31 August 2007 21:30 (eighteen years ago)

UB40, too.

Tape Store, Friday, 31 August 2007 21:30 (eighteen years ago)

Does it sample UB40, or am I imagining that?

The Reverend, Friday, 31 August 2007 22:58 (eighteen years ago)

it does, "Red Red Wine." I already wrote something elsewhere to the effect that between the UB40 sample and the "D'yer Mak'er" interpolation, I really wonder if "Me Love" is supposed to make some kind of weird commentary on white pop's appropriation of Jamaican/Caribbean music.

Alex in Baltimore, Saturday, 1 September 2007 00:09 (eighteen years ago)

three weeks pass...

If this song ended after the second chorus (around the 2 minute mark) it would be the greatest single of the decade.

Whiney G. Weingarten, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 07:02 (eighteen years ago)

it's so awesome when he says "mash-up my mind."

otm about the length, tho.

Jordan Sargent, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 07:44 (eighteen years ago)

1992
Miley Cyrus

...who is pregnant, apparently.
---------------

Anyway, I still fucking hate this song. I think his strange, slurred, vaguely glottal "L"s (on "gurrwl" and "suicidow") are a massive affectation, or at least played up, and it drives me insane.

Plus the song doesn't NEED the "Stand By Me" sample at all - it almost seems like it was cynically added after the fact or something.

I also resent that I never hear "Umbrella" playing on kids' mobiles on the bus anymore (because I still wasn't sick of that song) and instead am subjected to this song on every ride, complete with loud "Suicidow" sing-along.

Ben Boyerrr, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 10:13 (eighteen years ago)

Jordan OTM, "But you mash up my mind" is the lyric of the year.

Anyone heard his remix version of Fergie's "Big Girls Don't Cry"??? So odd. Especially because Fergie tries so hard to have chops on that song.

Also, was Matt Hegelson aware that the karaoke scene he witnessed was actually just a straight quote from High School Musical itself? Anyone who had seen the movie would know it was totally staged the moment karaoke volunteers were called for.

Tim F, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 13:04 (eighteen years ago)

I'd be pretty heartbroken if M@tt had seen High School Musical.

Alex in Baltimore, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 13:09 (eighteen years ago)

BTW in the last couple of weeks radio stations over here has mysteriously replaced the original "Beautiful Girls" (which they were playing unedited) with an official clean version where he sings "in denial" instead. The very last bit where it sounds like a record slowing to a halt now makes no sense.

Tim F, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 13:13 (eighteen years ago)

I wish they would replace the "suicidal" part with the chorus to "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

"Aaaaaa mulatto / annnnn albino / aaaaaa mosquito / myyyyyy libido"

Ben Boyerrr, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 13:18 (eighteen years ago)

BTW in the last couple of weeks radio stations over here has mysteriously replaced the original "Beautiful Girls" (which they were playing unedited) with an official clean version where he sings "in denial" instead. The very last bit where it sounds like a record slowing to a halt now makes no sense.

-- Tim F, Wednesday, September 26, 2007 1:13 PM (21 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

haha, wow, there's a version where he sings "in denial"? that's hilarious. also, how did the ending make sense before? did the record slowing down mean he was committing suicide at that moment?

Alex in Baltimore, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 13:36 (eighteen years ago)

Obv.

Tim F, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 13:46 (eighteen years ago)

So did he like...shoot himself and the bullet ricocheted and hit the record player?

Alex in Baltimore, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 13:55 (eighteen years ago)

I think it was sleeping pills maybe.

Tim F, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 13:57 (eighteen years ago)

yeah but c'mon you've got the 50s sample to play with too - how bout a singing detective style deathbed fantasy reminisce? and zomg it'd only be an imagined suicide of lost girl longing, the moment where it all went wrong, representing sean's actual natural death EXCEPT it was never sean at all reminiscing, but buju banton in fact, who had never forgiven himself for his nephew sean's death, back in 99. in a boating accident.

... greenlight?

r|t|c, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 14:27 (eighteen years ago)

how bout a singing detective style deathbed fantasy reminisce

Because psoriasis is perhaps the only thing that could make Sean Kingston less pleasant to look at?

Dom Passantino, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 14:30 (eighteen years ago)

god i hate this song

Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 14:32 (eighteen years ago)

oh relax, we can cast lisa loeb as his nurse or something

r|t|c, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 14:32 (eighteen years ago)

when i hear "suicidal, suicidal" i'm like... i know just what he means

Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 14:32 (eighteen years ago)

and i'm flabbergasted why jess thinks the arrival of the "whine-rock" vocal style to r&b is a good thing

Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 14:33 (eighteen years ago)

this was such a piss-poor summer jam, i want my money back

Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 14:34 (eighteen years ago)

^^ this from the guy who dropped the youhatefun bomb on me for not subscribing to the dismal britney carcrash

r|t|c, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 14:35 (eighteen years ago)

oh please

Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 14:42 (eighteen years ago)

classic. not sure why anyone would think the world doesn't need oldies sampling r&b w/autotuned vocals from whiny fat kids who can't sing. the first thing i thought when i saw the video was "how did this song happen?" and that thought does occur to me very often.

would've been cool if it could have sampled "suicidal thoughts" ("i swear to god i wanna just slit my wrists and end this shit") or even if dude could just have diddy talking on a phone in the background. maybe he'll be able to do a duet w/biggie someday.

hey whats up with the scott storch looking guy in the beginning of the video?

artdamages, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 14:44 (eighteen years ago)

britney's song had a good beat, weird threatening vamps, the monster voice in the chorus

this guy just whines like some baleful basset hound

"BYOO TEE FULL GURL!!!!"

it's in the same league as "she's so love-ah-lee" and "you're beauteh fahall"

Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 14:45 (eighteen years ago)

what do you got against basset hounds?

artdamages, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 14:54 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.businessgreetingcards.com/images/usrupload/Bassett%20Hound1.jpg

artdamages, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 14:54 (eighteen years ago)

oh and i meant "that thought DOESN'T occur to me very often."

artdamages, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 14:55 (eighteen years ago)

that's a terrible picture of gwyneth paltrow

Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 14:55 (eighteen years ago)

I've really enjoyed listening to car radio again recently, it really smashes down all my defences to songs I might otherwise stand back from (see also: Delta Goodrem - "In This Life"). Had I just heard this once or twice I'd probably be pretty ambivalent but now I love it more each time.

OTOH on the "Big Girls Don't Cry" he has an odd and disturbing resemblance to Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Tim F, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 22:38 (eighteen years ago)

it's a lol to hear a cheesy pop song about wanting to top yourself.

max r, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 22:56 (eighteen years ago)

hey whats up with the scott storch looking guy in the beginning of the video?

-- artdamages, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 14:44 (Yesterday) Link

that's J.R. Rotem, the other tabloid-fodder white rap/pop producer who wears sunglasses bigger than his face.

Alex in Baltimore, Thursday, 27 September 2007 01:20 (eighteen years ago)

This atrocity. Eamon RIP

The Reverend, Thursday, 27 September 2007 03:17 (eighteen years ago)

I mentioned this elsewhere, but JR Rotem is to '07 as Trackmasters are to '97, although the latter aren't guilty of anything as awful as this.

The Reverend, Thursday, 27 September 2007 03:19 (eighteen years ago)

This atrocity.

There's something so pure about the disdain in this reaction.

Ned Raggett, Thursday, 27 September 2007 03:28 (eighteen years ago)

woah i didn't know rotem did the whole kingston album. he has some good shit tho, two good songs w/ rihanna, a decent song on the last lil scrappy album and ross' "push it." is all that canceled out because he did like 5 tracks or something on the federline album?

storch needs to just fall of the planet tho. he's gotta be the biggest douche of all time.

Jordan Sargent, Thursday, 27 September 2007 03:43 (eighteen years ago)

yeah, Rotem has his moments, I liked 50's "Best Friend" and Lil Kim's "Whoa." I'd like to reiterate my crackpot theory from upthread, though: It's kinda weird that J.R. Rotem produced both "S.O.S." and "Beautiful Girls," maybe his whole formula is getting a Caribbean teen to sing over a big boneheaded sample of a classic pop song.

Alex in Baltimore, Thursday, 27 September 2007 03:52 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, that wasn't really intended as a diss to Rotem, just noting their similar steez. As far as Scott Storch, this pic can't be reposted enough:

http://aznavourdreyfetmoi.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/scottstorch.jpg

The Reverend, Thursday, 27 September 2007 03:57 (eighteen years ago)

J.R. Rotem produced Cheetah Girls. Roffle.

The Reverend, Thursday, 27 September 2007 04:01 (eighteen years ago)

those sandals!

Jordan Sargent, Thursday, 27 September 2007 04:09 (eighteen years ago)

there should be a special island where we can just drop dudes who where sandals like that.

Jordan Sargent, Thursday, 27 September 2007 04:09 (eighteen years ago)

scott storch= the lex

Jordan Sargent, Thursday, 27 September 2007 04:12 (eighteen years ago)

That's the worst insult about the Lex I've ever heard! (And I've heard a few!)

Ned Raggett, Thursday, 27 September 2007 04:14 (eighteen years ago)

The sandals are about the eighth most egregious thing about that photo.

The Reverend, Thursday, 27 September 2007 04:29 (eighteen years ago)

hold up rev are you telling me that you don't smoke cigars in your bathroom while wearing a bathrobe with trim that matches the pattern on the marble steps leading up to your tub?

Jordan Sargent, Thursday, 27 September 2007 04:32 (eighteen years ago)

I wear my sunglasses to take a bath/ So I can see the light that's right in front of my eyes

The Reverend, Thursday, 27 September 2007 04:33 (eighteen years ago)

I prefer to smoke a gualoise in such a situation.

The Reverend, Thursday, 27 September 2007 04:35 (eighteen years ago)

I think next time I'm in Seattle the only possible approach is CognacFAP

Ned Raggett, Thursday, 27 September 2007 04:36 (eighteen years ago)

someone hurry up and photoshop ned's face on that storch photo.

Jordan Sargent, Thursday, 27 September 2007 04:38 (eighteen years ago)

Pass the courvoisier. (xp)

The Reverend, Thursday, 27 September 2007 04:39 (eighteen years ago)

BY REQUEST ONLY:

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/4995/nedstorchif4.jpg

The Reverend, Thursday, 27 September 2007 04:50 (eighteen years ago)

hahahaha yeaaaaaaaah

Jordan Sargent, Thursday, 27 September 2007 04:52 (eighteen years ago)

hall of fame

Jordan Sargent, Thursday, 27 September 2007 04:52 (eighteen years ago)

Beautiful. :-)

Ned Raggett, Thursday, 27 September 2007 04:56 (eighteen years ago)

2.0

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/1694/nedstorchmx6.jpg

The Reverend, Thursday, 27 September 2007 04:59 (eighteen years ago)

The subtle change begins.

Ned Raggett, Thursday, 27 September 2007 05:06 (eighteen years ago)

The next santorum.jpg

The Reverend, Thursday, 27 September 2007 05:13 (eighteen years ago)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/sevenxviii/marcstorch.jpg

Curt1s Stephens, Thursday, 27 September 2007 05:18 (eighteen years ago)

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/7915/nedstorch2nv4.jpg

The Reverend, Thursday, 27 September 2007 05:30 (eighteen years ago)

50's "Best Friend"

hi-tek i thought

r|t|c, Thursday, 27 September 2007 09:06 (eighteen years ago)

the version with "suicidal" was banned here in favour of the "in denial" one. how does such a lovely song get banned!

Ronan, Thursday, 27 September 2007 09:14 (eighteen years ago)

suicide is like the candyman

Ronan, Thursday, 27 September 2007 09:14 (eighteen years ago)

"Best Friend" sure as hell sounds like Hi-Tek, so I assumed it was all him too and then kept reading that Rotem did it. Now I see that they both co-produced it, though.

Alex in Baltimore, Thursday, 27 September 2007 13:22 (eighteen years ago)

one year passes...

Snakes on a plane!

Limoncello Carlin (The stickman from the hilarious "xkcd" comics), Sunday, 8 February 2009 20:12 (seventeen years ago)

Juror8 is tuned to: Sean Kingston Radio
Sean Kingston – Take You There (Radio Edit)
Listening now

your infinity in you is mad lifted (J0rdan S.), Sunday, 8 February 2009 20:14 (seventeen years ago)

lol @ this thread

max, Sunday, 8 February 2009 20:28 (seventeen years ago)

rip stronghulkington

max, Sunday, 8 February 2009 20:28 (seventeen years ago)

every chris brown single has been incredible (including "wall to wall").

― Jordan Sargent, Friday, July 20, 2007 5:54 PM (1 year ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

sarge can i get an update on whether you still reppin for Wall To Wall?

some dude, Sunday, 8 February 2009 20:31 (seventeen years ago)

i never really got why it was such a flop but it's probably in the bottom 3 or 4 of his singles - i doubt i've heard it since july 20, 2007 tho

your infinity in you is mad lifted (J0rdan S.), Sunday, 8 February 2009 20:33 (seventeen years ago)

good news: my 4-year-old cousin hasn't committed suicide

Someone Still Loves You Evan and Jaron (Tape Store), Sunday, 8 February 2009 20:34 (seventeen years ago)

three cheers

max, Sunday, 8 February 2009 20:35 (seventeen years ago)


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