Hilary Duff - 'Stranger'
Frankly, I could bore you all to tears going on about Songs That Should've Got A Proper Release, dammit. I'm still smarting from the news that Katharine McPhee's 'Over It' is not getting an official UK release, despite being one of those brilliant summer songs that the charts are in desperate need of right now, and now I'm going to berate Hilary Duff for the fact that she's chosen to release 'Stranger' instead of the clearly superior 'Danger'.
I'm ignoring the part where 'Danger' could've had its vocals provided by Paris Hilton, in all honesty, so uninterested are they, because the backing track sounds like an old Sonic the Hedgehog game on the Mega Drive (yes, I'm showing my age, and you can shut up), which officially makes it better than anything you'd care to mention.
Come on, Hilary, it's not too late for a double A-side (assuming such a thing exists in the age of digital downloads). I mean, it'd be 'Stranger'/'Danger'. You could get government sponsorship to tour it around schools! Maybe even a series of PSAs bookending a week of Very Special Episodes of Lizzie McGuire? No?
...Right. Fraser's giving me The Look now...
So 'Stranger' continues the more grown-up, serious side of Hilary Duff, begun during the criminally underappreciated (over here, anyway) 'With Love', and goes for an eastern sound that perhaps owes a pint and a packet of pork scratchings to the Pussycat Dolls 'Buttonz', amongst others. The vocals are definitely more in the ballpark of 'husky' rather than 'impressive', but it's not exactly as if anyone was expecting her to belt out a couple of arias from Bizet's The Pearl Fishers any time soon, is it? No. We're grading on a curve here, and the vocals are entirely acceptable for a Hilary Duff song, if a little bit unexciting compared to, say, 'Fly'.
This might sound a bit of a backhanded compliment, but I don't think this track would sound out of place on a Britney Spears album, which suggests to me that she's done a passable job of leaving behind her bubblegum past (which is sort of a shame - 'The Math' is the best equation-based pop song ever) and moving on to a funkier, more considered sound. She manages to convince with a song that's got more to do with coming to realise that your no-good boyfriend isn't everything you thought he was than it has to do with establishing that if the light is off, then it quite probably is not on.
I'm not going to say this is my favourite of her tracks, as my rabid opening rant probably suggests, but I've done a fair bit of seat-dancing while listening to this, so it pretty much clears the jumps I've set for it. Now just sort out releasing 'Danger', please? And if you can tackle that Katharine McPhee thing while you're at it, Hils, I'll give you five stars next time.
Download: Out now
CD Released: July 9th
(Steve Perkins)
Comments
I think you are wrong, 'Stranger' is one of the best singles released by Hilary Duff thanks to its amazing backing track and vocals from Hilary. Also, 'With Love' was appreciated over here, which satisfied many people seeing as the single was seen on many music channels several times a day. I believe that the album 'Dignity' is the album that shows Hilary Duff has now grown up and is ready to express her true feelings, which she has done whilst co-writing all of the tracks on the album.
The fool should release 'Between You and Me'. I'm holding out hope that this is one of those Pussycat Doll type campaigns where they keep releasing the better songs last.
Whoa whoa whoa... Are we forgetting this woman is a former child actress who can barely act, and has this music career where she can barely sing... Comments from anyone named Bronwyn (which instantly ages them under 16) should be completely ignored.
I'd rather an American Idol act than someone pushed into childhood stardom by pushy parents, who is bound to fall off the wagon in a few years time (look at Britney!)
nothing to do with this song, but what did you rate Avril Lavigne - When your gone, i can't get on to it?
[It's here - Fraser]
Hey Paul Kerton, I happen to be 17 thankyou very much. Your comment was rude and had zero point. I doubt that Hilary will turn out like Britney Spears, you are a real joke.
The verses and the backing track are alright, it's just the chorus that is boring. Also, I love her outfit when she's dancing but the dancing itself is rather strange. She looks like a duck wearing stilettos. OK song though.
The verses and the backing track are alright, it's just the chorus that is boring. Also, I love her outfit when she's dancing but the dancing itself is rather strange. She looks like a duck wearing stilettos. OK song though.
I agree that 'Danger' should be released as a single, but have to say that it's a top move that the UK release will feature the WAWA Remix as the main version, which is better than the album version.
Thanks for not letting anybody know you were canceling your concert in Chicago, Hilary until after ticket people had driven all the way there and had arrived in Chicago. We drove over 4 hrs. to get there and had no expanation as to why you had canceled and no reshedule date. VERY disappointing... and SAD for your young fans who had really looked forward to hearing you in concert.
Poor way to handle your fans!!
Nanci Dyer