大象传媒

JoJo - 'Too Little, Too Late'

• Fraser M
• 4 Jan 07, 11:41 AM

Remember JoJo? She had a No.2 hit with 'Leave (Get Out)' back in 2004, which was an awesome ode to useless untrustworthy boyfriends, despite the fact that she was only eight-and-a-half years old or something. Then she took some time off to make films about mermaids and family holidays like all good pre-teen superstars must, and now at the ripe old age of ten (okay, fine, she's 16 - we can tell when a joke stops being funny - or indeed doesn't start, or maybe it's that we can't tell after all...), she's back to conquer pop again. Anyone else feel like an underachiever yet? Yep, me too.

Good things first: this is a slab of confident, sophisticated maturo-pop. We do have a problem, though: the best part of the song kind of ends up being the worst part too. How so? Let me explain.

There's a refrain in the verses where distorto-JoJo slurs "you know it's just too little too late", and which works really well there. But then distorto-JoJo ends up singing that for the entire chorus, which ends up being a good idea too thinly spread, not to mention the fact that JoJo has an awesome voice that's kind of being hampered by the production here.

It's not a disaster or anything, but it is slightly disappointing that they feel the need to water down the strength of her voice to fit her into more of a Rihanna mould than an Xtina mould. Catchy tune, mind, and it lends itself well to a singalong in the car when the rain's pouring down the windows - which is just as well at this time of year. Cunning, eh?

Released: January 15th
Watch the video at

(Steve P)