Welcome to Short/Long Music Review, where I find songs (I either love or hate) to review them in a short review that took a long time to review.
Today, I review two songs that may seem like great songs to honor a legendary singer, but I feel like they are just used to boost the careers of the singers participating in these songs. I like one and hate the other, for certain reasons. They were previously unlereased productions by R&B legend Aaliyah, but they are now singles. One of them is by her featuring half-talented rapper/three-quarters actor Drake and another by one-eighth singer/talentless actor Chris Brown featuring her. Enough Said and Don't Think They Know.
Let's start with Enough Said.
Although this song was produced by Missy Elliot and Timbaland 10 years ago, was released by Drake in August 2012.
I really like this song, but I hate how it was put together. I feel like Drake wanted to put the song together to his advantage. You can tell when it's produced by his long-time producer, Noah Shebib, or "40" as "they" (whoever "They" are) call him. And you can also tell as it sounds more like a Drake song, than an Aaliyah song, even though she's the primary artist. Oh and the "Yo, Wussup" thing is annoying as hell. That's the downside.
The upside: the beat is amazing and Aaliyah sounds great. I can even enjoy Drake, even though it's the usual: money, niggas and hoes. This is the type of song that feels better to listen to at night, maybe when your reading a book, spending time with a lover, or even when your watching Qubo at 3am. Yes, some people do that.
One thing I will say is that Drake could do what some others can't: turn an unfinished production into a nice song. I hope he doesn't do this again. Oh, and he was smart enough not to make an MV (music video) of this song, unlike a certain someone.
Now from one unfinished classic turned completed piece of crap to another,
Don't Think They Know.
^That looks creepy.
"Don't Think They Know" was originally a duet between Aaliyah and Playa member Digital Black (look it up), recorded in 2001 and produced by J-Dub. The song was later released in 2005 on Black's "Memoirs of a R&B Thug" album. I hate the song as much like I do him. The beat is the same as some other rap and R&B songs. Chris sounds boring and the chorus takes the chorus from the classic Jon B. song "They Don't Know" (look it up), and makes
that sound sad and pathetic. Chris probably also made this song to his advantage. Plus every time I hear Aaliyah's part of the chorus, it feels mixed up, messed up, and ruins what credibility that production had. And what does "don't think they know" even
mean? Whatever.
But there is an upside to this song: the message it represents. It talks about gun violence and how it ruins families, friendships, relationships and neighborhoods across the country. I really like the message and how much Brown cares about stopping violence...despite the irony. Another plus is Aaliyah's vocals and guest verse, showing that even in death and in unfinished business, she still has it.
And the MV is nice; some parts are boring, others are wonderful. And the part near the end where Chris' eyes glow is really creepy.
Now a short opinion on both: These unfinishers shouldn't have been finished in the first place. If they were to be made, they should have been produced by two people who have been a
huge part of Aaliyah's career: Missy Elliot and Timbaland. Also, what could have made these songs better was if she herself sang them alone. No guest verse from anyone or herself with anyone as the primary. Of course that won't happen.
And I believe these songs may be part some new trend in which today's artists produce and sing songs that used to be unfinished productions by legendary artists of past eras, and use them are their own songs, with the dead artists only being featured on the song, which kinda ruins the credibility and legacy of the artists, in my opinion. It's second to straight-up sampling, but it's still annoying. If this this happens, then I might not ever listen to rap and Hip-Hop any more than I am now. Yes, I hate the song released this and last year, but that because of the obvious...and the beats suck. It's like hearing a broken fan, something annoying from the Internet and a gunshot (not many; just one) repeated over and over until you have a aneurysm.
So in a consensus: I like Enough Said, but hate the production; and I hate Don't Think They Know, but like the message. And both should have been produced, but have been. Got it? Good, because I won't explain it again.
And there they are: two songs I didn't have to review but I did, because-well-someone had to. The hooks are catchy, but the lyrics are about--well, who cares--and you couldn't understand them anyway. But it's up to you if you want to listen. And next time I will be back to find another song to review (I hope it's good; who am I kidding, it's probably bad)
See you next time.
in the UNIVERSE!!!
