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Amerie - 'Take Control'

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Fraser McAlpine | 10:30 UK time, Monday, 30 April 2007

AmerieSo, still harbouring the idea that Amerie is just a bargain-basement Beyonce with a voice like a helium hamster? Still dismissing her as a post-'Crazy In Love' one idea wonder? Still not-really-bothering to pay attention to what she is up to? BIG. MISTAKE.

From the second the deliberately-misleading false-introduction fades and the chunter-guitar kicks in, notice is served that this is not a song you can ignore lightly. For starters, Ame has ditched that over-high squeak from her biggest hit thus far and let rip with her hitherto hidden fiery tonsils. And she's so BOSSY. She's like a smooth-faced Alan Sugar or something.

(In fact, if you'll forgive a momentary lapse into fantasy...can you imagine how brilliant The Apprentice would be if, every once in a while, Alan Sugar conducted his final summing up and sacking in the form of a sassy funk workout like this? Not least because the contestants would be SO freaked out. Better yet, just get him to leap up on the table and mime to a souped-up version of 'Irreplacable' by Beyonce. Lyrically that has pretty much everything he needs to say, but you need that funkbluster to really stop the show...)

Right, where was I? Oh yes, why this song RULES...

Face-slap handclaps. Stoppy bits. Starty bits. Startlingly ornate vocal harmonies. Sweaty brass workouts...For a song with only one musical idea (music students would call it a motif), and a tune you could play on a one-note piano with your face, there are SO many fun moments to get your ear-teeth into here.

You've no chance to get bored, cos no two sections are the same, and besides, you know what would happen if you let your attention slip for even a fraction of a second?

That's right, YOU'RE FIRED!

Four starsDownload: Out now
CD Released:
May 7th

(Fraser McAlpine)

Comments

  1. At 12:46 AM on 01 May 2007, wrote:

    ear-teeth, awesome!! Love that lol

    Song is pretty good, will be fantastic in clubs. Makes me want to dance now and it's late and I'm exhausted!

    All the references to the Apprentice were a bit crazy, mind.. maybe you should lay off the Sugar! (geddit?! do ya?!!? Blimmin awful I KNOW. I apologise! :P)

    [Yeah, but it was (cough) sweet that you tried! - Fraser]

  2. At 11:26 AM on 01 May 2007, wrote:

    haha.. okay you win :P

  3. At 09:12 PM on 01 May 2007, Flossy wrote:


    Nice 2 hear from her again. Preferred her old song though!!! Loved da references 2 da apprentice!!

  4. At 08:59 PM on 03 May 2007, esther wrote:

    Brilliant song! first time i heard this . . . i thought i sounded like janet jackson? soooo catchy dead funky woooooooo! take control! go girl!

  5. At 07:51 PM on 06 May 2007, Adam wrote:

    I love this song and cant wait for the album! Saw her live in London few weeks ago and she can sing live! u go girl!

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