Jennifer Lopez - 'Do It Well'
In all the melee of celebrity life, brand-extending perfume deals, the occasional stint as an actress and all that, it's good to see that J-Lo hasn't forgotten what she does best - making not-particularly-memorable pop songs, and pretending to be very down to earth. This is not the same as BEING very down to earth, but it's nice that she feels the need to make the effort. Strange, given her heightened status in the world, but nice.
So, seeing as she's back among her pop peeps, what's changed in Lopezworld? Well, the verses to her songs still have those weird melodies that start off strident and dramatic (ISH) on the first line, but run out of ideas by the second, and just pick some random high note to end on, in the name of variety. Then it repeats for lines three and four, and then again later on, only starting the melody from somewhere else.
As far as songwriting goes, it's clumsy and a bit rubbish, but seeing as J-Lo songs seem to do this kind of thing a lot, it's a bit late to be complaining about it now.
Elsewhere, the disco dynamics force a little bit of Beyonce-style speed-singing, as Jen attempts to singalonga-string-section - and nearly manages it too - before embarking on the chorus. Now, whoever wrote the chorus seems to have had Usher's upbeat numbers ('Caught Up', 'Yeah!') in mind. And they've clearly decided that minimalist crunk is all very well, but what that muscular backbone really lacks is a spiralling, queasy orchestra to amp things up a little bit.
Put together with those call-and-reponse backing vocals which are also a J-Lo hallmark (although not a copyrighted one, thankfully) and you've got a song which DEMANDS that you pay it FULL ATTENTION, and give it RESPECT and DIGNITY and STUFF LIKE THAT. Or there will be a reckoning of Biblical proportions.
Yes it tries too hard, yes large bits of it don't really work that well and yes Jennifer's voice is weaker than a kiitten attempting to lift Brazil, but it's still good to have her back where she belongs. If only so we can giggle about that block song again...
Download: Out now
CD Released: October 1st
(Fraser McAlpine)
Comments
Seriously,
What is with former "popstars" coming back with poor songs which "randomly find themselves growing on you" recently ...
Britney did the same ... I haven't heard from Miss Lopez in a while and now she's given us another song where she's basically trying to state how "hip" she is (as the video shows).
Anyways, I wish her luck with this poor attempt. I'm looking out for a remix with a famous American rap artist as we speak!
Sorry but I BEG TO DIFFER!!! this song is hot, jlo has never sounded so sexy! its like sexyback remixed with jamiroquai. its better than bloody sean kingston thats for sure! this is feel good music. it might not top the sugababes new song but this is an ace club song and you know it! your review sucks!! its clear you dont like jennifer lopez anyway so its a bit one sided. why you reviewed it is a mystery lol
^ I agree with you.
The review sucks. Hating on the song and Miss Lopez just for the heck of it??
GET A LIFE!
[Hating? On J-Lo? Blimey, you didn't read the review AT ALL, didja? I LOVE her. And also, it wasn't for the heck of it at all. It was because the song actually does contain all the things I said it does. - Fraser]