Sean Kingston: "Beautiful Girls"

Whoa! He was born in '90?!

YES!

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

I have made my thoughts known.

oy vey

anyway, i love this song

emo pop-dancehall is a-ok with me

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

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?

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

they were playing "suicidal" on the radio this weekend

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.

then it must only be the TV version xxp.

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

my girlfriend likes this song(!)

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.

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."

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.)

cleanin up the bathroom floor

we were holdin' sponges/cleanin up the bathroom floor

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.

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.)

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.

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.

But "Stand by Me"?

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

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.

ban these two

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

strongo you seem a man out of time in this thread

"this thread"

crap i just did it again

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

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

oh please

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?

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"

what do you got against basset hounds?

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

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

that's a terrible picture of gwyneth paltrow

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.

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

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.

This atrocity. Eamon RIP

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.

This atrocity.

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

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.

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.

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

J.R. Rotem produced Cheetah Girls. Roffle.

those sandals!

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

scott storch= the lex

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

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

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?

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

I prefer to smoke a gualoise in such a situation.

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

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

Pass the courvoisier. (xp)

BY REQUEST ONLY:

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

hahahaha yeaaaaaaaah

hall of fame

Beautiful. :-)

2.0

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

The subtle change begins.

The next santorum.jpg

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

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

50's "Best Friend"

hi-tek i thought

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

suicide is like the candyman

"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.

Snakes on a plane!

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

lol @ this thread

rip stronghulkington

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?

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

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

three cheers