Why does everyone hate "Change Clothes"?

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Is this the most despised song in ilxor history? I've always liked it.

― Maxwell von Bismarck (maxwell von bismarck), Saturday, 24 January 2004 22:30 (twenty-two years ago)

It's far from the "most despised," though it's a sub-par Jay-Z song, a sub=par Neptunes song, and a silly video. So that's three strikes.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 24 January 2004 22:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, I think it's only me that despises it.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 24 January 2004 22:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I like it.

― Broheems (diamond), Saturday, 24 January 2004 23:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Good beat.

― David Allen (David Allen), Saturday, 24 January 2004 23:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I give it a 50, Dick.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 24 January 2004 23:14 (twenty-two years ago)

"the most despised song in ilxor history"?

I doubt it.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Saturday, 24 January 2004 23:25 (twenty-two years ago)

What would be the most despised song in ilxor.com history? What are even some good candidates? I'm blanking.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 24 January 2004 23:27 (twenty-two years ago)

It would be hard to determine the most hated ilxor song, as I think ilxors are particularly eager to stick up for hated songs.

― Maxwell von Bismarck (maxwell von bismarck), Saturday, 24 January 2004 23:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Find a song on ILM that everybody HATES

lots of classics there.

― Maxwell von Bismarck (maxwell von bismarck), Saturday, 24 January 2004 23:29 (twenty-two years ago)

And why is encore the next single/vid?

― sym (shmuel), Saturday, 24 January 2004 23:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I like "Change Clothes"!

― jaymc (jaymc), Sunday, 25 January 2004 00:10 (twenty-two years ago)

It's sexy sexy!

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 25 January 2004 00:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I like plinky low-key piano stuff with subtle thump noises, so I'm fine with CC&G. My theory is that all the hate stems from the fact that for a first single from OMG JAY-Z'S LAST FINAL CAREER-SUMMARIZING EPIC CODA RECORD it doesn't quite kick you in the head enough.

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Sunday, 25 January 2004 00:11 (twenty-two years ago)

It's not as good as "From LA to New York".

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 25 January 2004 00:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Nate OTM. It's nice but underwhelming and trivial.

― sym (shmuel), Sunday, 25 January 2004 00:12 (twenty-two years ago)

first single from OMG JAY-Z'S LAST FINAL CAREER-SUMMARIZING EPIC CODA RECORD

I'd like it even more if it was the last on the last.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 25 January 2004 00:13 (twenty-two years ago)

it's not really any worse than the Neptunes tracks on the Blueprint 2, but Nat's right, it's just a poor choice for a first single for this album. it's a shame, Jay used to have some balls when it came to picking singles, now he just goes with whatever Pharrell gives him to work with.

an "Encore" video (w/ footage from the Madison Square Garden show) has been out for a while now, but I think that's more of a concert momento, the real next single that's being pushed is "Dirt Off Your Shoulders".

― Al (sitcom), Sunday, 25 January 2004 00:15 (twenty-two years ago)

It's a FINE single you dill pickles! It's catchy, charming and fun! The last thing I want from this guy is another fuckin' self-deifying Gottdamerung like "H.O.V.A." I just wish they'd pull a Poochy in the video and have Jay-Z say he has to return to his home planet, then Pharrell says his spaceship died on the way and signs an affidavit claiming we'll never see a Jay-Z single again.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 25 January 2004 00:18 (twenty-two years ago)

haha

― sym (shmuel), Sunday, 25 January 2004 00:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't like "dirt off your shoulders either". Urrgh. Jay-Z can't pick singles for shit.

― sym (shmuel), Sunday, 25 January 2004 00:22 (twenty-two years ago)

it'd be nice if "99 Problems" got pushed. aside from that one, though, none of the other songs that haven't been picked already really jump out as having single potential.

― Al (sitcom), Sunday, 25 January 2004 00:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Lucifer!

― sym (shmuel), Sunday, 25 January 2004 00:29 (twenty-two years ago)

to thread, obv.

― sym (shmuel), Sunday, 25 January 2004 00:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Lucifer to thread = Pharrell to chorus, in my book

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 25 January 2004 00:31 (twenty-two years ago)

part of why I'm shocked I like "Change Clothes"

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 25 January 2004 00:31 (twenty-two years ago)

i think i dislike it because when i'd burned the black album and was playing it in the kitchen one of my housemates kept switching from the tracks i liked to the neptunes tracks.

― tom west (thomp), Sunday, 25 January 2004 01:52 (twenty-two years ago)

well, "Allure" is pretty good.

― Al (sitcom), Sunday, 25 January 2004 02:09 (twenty-two years ago)

One more vote for "Destroy"
It's an irritating bit of drivel with a boring beat and DEE YEOOOUUUWW EM BEE lyrics. Busta Rhymes could think up something 2000x better while making oatmeal in the morning.
The video is excellent for the hotties, but only if you shut the sound off.

― Lord Custos Omicron (Lord Custos Omicron), Sunday, 25 January 2004 02:39 (twenty-two years ago)

i like it a lot better after seeing the video and hearing it all the time. it's nice.

― cloverlandthug, Sunday, 25 January 2004 03:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I only like the "oh-OHh"

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Sunday, 25 January 2004 04:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Gottdamerung like "H.O.V.A."

haha. but if S. Carter ever did anything Wagnerian (and he hasn't) it would be "Dopeman"

Change Clothes makes me itchy. If it were the final song, it would make me even itchier.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Sunday, 25 January 2004 04:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I dig it a lot. The thing is, it sounds a lot better in the context of the album than in the context of current hip hop singles (which are almost all ridiculously awesome).

I also think Dirt off Your Shoulder is a great track, a highlight of his career. I really dig how Timbo has the cymbal emulate a brushing noise during the chorus - "Get, that, dirt off yr shoulder [scratch scratch]"

I'm glad he's not pushing 99 Problems...talk about a "lets appeal to the white folks" track. Of course it's awesome, but I mean, really...they can't bang that in the clubs.

― djdee2005, Sunday, 25 January 2004 07:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I dunno, I heard "99 Problems" on WHFS the other night, and it made me pretty happy! but then, the "black folks" station here played it nonstop when the album first dropped.

― Al (sitcom), Sunday, 25 January 2004 17:11 (twenty-two years ago)

i am a bit confused as to miccios "lucifer" = "pharrell" thing above

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 25 January 2004 17:28 (twenty-two years ago)

"change clothes" is just trite: weak chorus, wisp of cotton candy production that dissolves against my ears on contact (i am trying desperately right now to remember one thing about it other than the lyrics or the vocal hook right now and can't).

however it earns a smidgen of affection for "it's just me", and bleek sashaying down the runway

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 25 January 2004 17:30 (twenty-two years ago)

(or was it beans, i forget now)

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 25 January 2004 17:30 (twenty-two years ago)

in the next video he should just go full on george michael and have the whole roc roster dress up in crazy outfits and do a runway show. (i wanna see free wearing that motorcycle halter top.)

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 25 January 2004 17:32 (twenty-two years ago)

It is trite. But that's what's good about it, in a funny way. Cotton candy=yum.

― bugged out, Sunday, 25 January 2004 17:34 (twenty-two years ago)

yes, but i wouldn't want to eat it every twenty minutes.

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 25 January 2004 17:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't listen to the radio or watch music videos, so no problem there :)

― bugged out, Sunday, 25 January 2004 17:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I wasn't saying black people/stations don't like 99 Problems, or suggesting it had less "cred" or something. I was just saying it would definitely be more likely to appeal to a white audience - "guitars means its good!" sorta thing. I donno. I like it better as an album track. And again, i doubt it would get any club play (which is where he's aiming his next single).

As for Change Clothes not having any memorable portions, I think you're nuts!

"Sexy, sexy..."
"We can make this a tandem..."
"No bra with that blouse, its so neccessary"

that line about jedi knights, "your dude is back," "I'm from the projects, gonna take you to the top of the globe."

Yeah, I think the song is pretty damn memorable.

― djdee2005, Sunday, 25 January 2004 19:16 (twenty-two years ago)

It's awful.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 25 January 2004 19:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I like it, very nice companion piece to "Frontin'"; though, yes, the video is clearly a misfire.

― Tom May (Tom May), Sunday, 25 January 2004 19:22 (twenty-two years ago)

It's not as good as "The Gambler".

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 25 January 2004 19:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Naomi Campbell is vile.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 25 January 2004 19:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I Just Wanna Love You (Give It 2 Me) > Frontin' > Fuck All Nite > Allure > La La La (Excuse Me Again) > Change Clothes > Ballad For The Fallen Soldier > Nigga Please > Excuse Me Miss

― Al (sitcom), Sunday, 25 January 2004 19:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I think a lot of the hate towards "Change Clothes" can be attributed to the fact that it's the FOURTH Jay/Neptunes collaboration to be released as a single/video in the past year. total overkill. I mean, I love Jay and Pharrell both, but they simply don't do their best work together.

― Al (sitcom), Sunday, 25 January 2004 19:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I LOVE "Change Clothes"; I think it's that high pitched synth sound.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Sunday, 25 January 2004 19:52 (twenty-two years ago)

love the song and the video, it is cotton-candy sweet! and I love naomi's smile.

― teeny (teeny), Sunday, 25 January 2004 20:33 (twenty-two years ago)

The video doesn't seem like anything special - I've only seen it a couple of times, which is enough for me - but the song is great - a classic Neptunes beat with deceptively casual Jay verses.

― o. nate (onate), Sunday, 25 January 2004 21:27 (twenty-two years ago)

"Change Clothes" is the aural equivalent of aspertame.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 26 January 2004 00:20 (twenty-two years ago)

It's the sonic equivalence of irritable bowel syndrome, more like.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 26 January 2004 00:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm a bit mystified by a lot of the hate for the song myself - it's easily one of my favorite songs on that album. I do think it should've been the second single, though - "99 Problems" really should have been the lead single.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Monday, 26 January 2004 00:31 (twenty-two years ago)

The first few times I heard it, I was sure that I'd heard the song before. Just a nagging feeling in the back of my head, since I couldn't figure out exactly what song it sounds like. I think the problem is that it sounds like ALL of them.

I think we should change the title to "The Jay-Z & Neptunes Song" and be done with it.

― mike h. (mike h.), Monday, 26 January 2004 02:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Al OTM.
I think the reason I don't love this song is that I have to justify my love of Jay to my anti-"money-cash-hoes" rap friends, and that it's not interesting enough to convert anyone to liking Jay-Z. I always end up coming across as a cliched fan saying "the singles are the weakest stuff. You gotta listen to the albums".

― sym (shmuel), Monday, 26 January 2004 05:28 (twenty-two years ago)

sym OTM! the thing is, for a long time, I think Jay was pretty good at picking singles, even the goofier crossover stuff like "Big Pimpin'", mostly deserved to be hits, and were always balanced out by ballsier single choices. but on the last couple albums, he's been releasing his cheesiest, most pandering singles since "Sunshine".

― Al (sitcom), Monday, 26 January 2004 06:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Yay! I'm OTM for the first time!
But yeah, it's been much worse for the last couple albums, tho I don't like Girls Girls or lots of the Vol.2 Singles.

― sym (shmuel), Monday, 26 January 2004 06:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I like it way better with the "Piggies" loop on the Grey Album...

― Douglas (Douglas), Monday, 26 January 2004 08:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I always end up coming across as a cliched fan saying "the singles are the weakest stuff. You gotta listen to the albums".

In angry e-mails, I always end up quoting his line "Do you listen to music, or do you just skim it?"

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 26 January 2004 08:20 (twenty-two years ago)

girls ^3 is one of the greatest songs ever.

― djdee2005, Monday, 26 January 2004 08:57 (twenty-two years ago)

My initial reaction to the song was definitely similar to some of the comments above - a bit too fluffy, not the best track on the album, too close in sound to other Neps/Jay collaborations, not a good first single. But I've completely come round to it. It's all about the "throw on a suit" line. And the video rocks! We need more androgynous models in hip hop videos.

― Flyboy (Flyboy), Monday, 26 January 2004 12:04 (twenty-two years ago)

i dont really think jay z is very good in it,but i think its one of
the nicer fluffy neptunes productions

― robin (robin), Monday, 26 January 2004 13:49 (twenty-two years ago)

It's great! I don't get the hate. The last time I was in hip-hop clubs, in New Orleans, everyone was bumpin' it and loving it.

Dirt Off Your Shoulder is fantastic too, I agree about the brushing noises...I felt like I could instantly see the accompanying dance/video the first time I heard the song.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 26 January 2004 14:39 (twenty-two years ago)

i prefer change clothes to 99 problems, but then, i prefer most anything else i've heard in the last year to 99 problems, which grates me in hard to understand ways. check out snoop's "change hoes" remix.

― andrew s (andrew s), Monday, 26 January 2004 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

"on the last couple albums, he's been releasing his cheesiest, most pandering singles since "Sunshine"."

"Sunshine" anyday over "Change Clothes"...the beat to the former is cheesy also, but it's a higher grade cheese--Kraftwerk Cheese.

― jenn benningfield (jenn), Monday, 26 January 2004 16:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh btw, the pots & pans percussion makes this track, where y'all at?!

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 26 January 2004 17:40 (twenty-two years ago)

i thought this album was great when i first heard it. now i don't listen to it at all, and i'm a big jay-z fan. for me it ranks after (In order):

Blueprint
Reasonable Doubt
Life and Times Vol 3
Roc la Familia
Blueprint 2

It's sad that it's so underwhelming, and yes, "Change CLothes" is amongst his worst 2 or 3 songs ever.

― paulhw (paulhw), Monday, 26 January 2004 18:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I think it's my fave album of the year. And that's what is so tragic, that I don't like the two singles from my favorite album.

I don't like Dirt Off Your Shoulders because it's so obssessive compulsive. It reminds me of XTC, and I hate XTC.

― sym (shmuel), Monday, 26 January 2004 23:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Jay-Z isn't worthy enough to lick the dung off of XTC's boots, by the way.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 26 January 2004 23:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't like Dirt Off Your Shoulders because it's so obssessive compulsive. It reminds me of XTC, and I hate XTC

please explain.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 26 January 2004 23:50 (twenty-two years ago)

(reads the thread)

b-b-but the percussion! it's great!

I've hardly listened to The Black Album since I got it but I can't work out whether it's Jay-Z or me. Maybe it's that I listened to The Blueprint 2 a lot and The Black Album just sounds like disc 3. He should have done a stylistic swerve a la The Blueprint, although in a different direction from *that* as well. I think I might have preferred an album of relatively harder bangers like "Stop" maybe. Or just a lot of battle raps.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 26 January 2004 23:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Well the chorus is devoted to glamorizing the act of brushing dirt off your shoulders. It obsessively focusses on a tiny unimportant act. He's shouting "Get that dirt off your shoulders". It's like a chorus about how you need to clean your toilet.
I find "Senses Working Overtime" and "Making Plans for Nigel" and other XTC songs to have a similar tense nervous-making obssessive-compulsive feel, though I don't know how much I can explain it beyond that.
And I hate XTC because that voice makes me want to fetch the trusty nailgun.

― sym (shmuel), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 00:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Alex, I doubt Jay would want to lick the dung off XTC's boots.
Maybe they should watch their step better next time.

― sym (shmuel), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 00:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Jay-Z's entire career is a tiny, unimportant act.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 00:02 (twenty-two years ago)

oh, at the very least I'll give him a whuh-whuh

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 00:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe you'll love him when he fades to black, Alex.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 00:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Um, syms, it's a dance move?

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 00:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I think I'd do a backflip if I saw Alex make an "I was totally wrong about Jay-Z. The man is a street poet." thread. Not out of joy (cuz the Hova is extremely overrated), but just due to the absurdity.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 00:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Well now I feel stupid. But the context is less important than the listener's interpretation!

― sym (shmuel), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 00:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Except when the listener's interpretation is WRONG!

Ah, but I kid.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I think I'd do a backflip if I saw Alex make an "I was totally wrong about Jay-Z. The man is a street poet." thread.

No need to limber up, then, Antoine. It ain't never go' happen.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 27 January 2004 15:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm not sure where everyone gets this "jay-z is overrated" stuff, esp. when everyone on ILX makes posts about how overrated he is.

Jay-Z's entire career is a tiny, unimportant act.
-- Alex in NYC (vassife...), January 27th, 2004.

Denial river egypt etc.

― djdee2005, Tuesday, 27 January 2004 17:58 (twenty-two years ago)

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