Jay Sean - 'Maybe'
Songs which begin with the words "beep beep", and go on to detail the experience of receiving a text message from a hot lady are few and far between, and that's probably a good thing. That said, Jay somehow manages to try and avoid sounding incredibly smug and desperate when crow-barring a silly lyrical theme into his song (in this case it's references to modern communications technology - being online, having a profile on Facebook). Which is more than you could say for a lot of overconfident R&B singers.
Not that I'm naming any names. If you can't tell I mean Craig David, that's your lookout.
So, to the rest of the song...well, I'll admit the verses are a formulaic stroll around current R&B cliches, the sort of song in which the loudest sound you can hear is the songwriter trying in vain to turn base metals into pop gold. And OK, Jay's whispery-soft voice doesn't really lend itself well to the clunkier lyrical moments...
...BUT...
There is just something about the chorus, about the ebb and flow of the wafty harmonies, about the neat melody and the way it builds, about the way Jay's voice sticks to the point, while weaving around, which makes up for everything.
It might also be because the weather is looking up, and because no-one ever went broke making songs which musically tickle the listener into a warm smile on a sunny day. But whatever the reason, this is a totally charming song - even if he does fail to mention blogging in his technology roundup.*
Download: Out now
CD Released: April 28th
(Fraser McAlpine)
*Having said that, he did do a special blog for the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Asian Network, which contains some human beatboxing, and the line "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with waffle!"
He knows our secrets! WE MUST DESTROY HIM!
Comment number 1.
At 21st Apr 2008, thranjax wrote:Hi
my problem now is that reading the "If you can't dazzle them.." bit I keep expecting it to rhyme, so I can't stop reading the last bit "baffle them with waffle" without reading waffle to rhyme with baffle. If you see what I mean.
John
By the way, do we really have to DESTRY him? That could be difficult without an O: unless there is some deep magical significance to the missing letter that I am.. er.. missing.
I'm waffled.
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Comment number 2.
At 21st Apr 2008, Fraser McAlpine - wrote:God! It's like you've never read text-speak, grandad...
(or, in a fairer world, like I forgot to spellcheck before publishing. One of the two)
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Comment number 3.
At 21st Apr 2008, thranjax wrote:I think that pronunciation of waffle has stuck for me now.
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Comment number 4.
At 21st Apr 2008, Fraser McAlpine - wrote:then you can rhyme it with Professor Yaffle, out of Bagpuss.
And raffle. A world of fun awaits.
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Comment number 5.
At 22nd Apr 2008, thranjax wrote:Especially for Professor Yaffle himself, on his upcoming hip hop album.
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