3 New Summer 2021 Music Releases: Reviews
READING TIME: 6 MINUTES
1. Shakira – Don’t Wait Up
Verdict: Lost its sheen
Vote: 2.5 Stars
From previously conquering genres like Latin Rock, synth-pop and merengue, to now mustering up Don’t Wait Up, it’s shocking to say this is a track under the belt of superstar Shakira. This song is a major disappointment. Especially as this is someone who has not released new material in years, recently performed the SuperBowl and has an upcoming worldwide tour – it doesn’t setup a good precedent. The lyrics play on the emotions of a weepy teenager (“first I kissed you, then I got mad at you, 'Cause I wish I'd be happy without you”), the production is generic, and the video is undeniably constructed to solely cater Tik Tok trends rather than preserve artistic integrity. All is not abysmal as her vocal range is impressively displayed, showing she’s still not afraid to experiment with different textures of her voice. Nonetheless, one would have hoped her recent BEP collaboration was a one off stint, but if her material continues in this fashion, she is tarnishing the legacy of one of world music’s contemporary legends. What’s most peculiar is Shakira’s star quality was her ability of standing out of the crowd and being avant-garde, but this new era is reductive and in fact outdated as it all plays on the early 2010s Mediterranean Eurodance/EDM era. Not what is expected for someone of her calibre, but we shall await to see if the upcoming LP redeems herself.
2. Normani – Wild Side (ft. Cardi B)
Verdict: Non-identifiable and muddled
Vote: 2.5 Stars.
It’s obvious where she continuously draws her inspiration from musically and visually (Janet, Ciara, Beyonce) yet with every release, it feels like Normani isn’t hitting the spot to carve a distinctive enough catalogue of her own. Is this the result of an evolved industry? Perhaps. But there is no clear indication that this piece of work is a ‘Normani’, and the new few releases put her at high risk between floating or succumbing to fading into the shadows. Wild Side’s insipid-crafted lyrics revolve around yet again overused subject matter of overt female sexuality, unintelligible pronunciation, a seeming last minnute slapped on Cardi feature and the mistake of using the ‘One in a Million’ sample with ill-intention. Her slow R&B joint debut seems sleeper than kick the door down. Fortunately, her stellar choreography in the music video redeems her vouch for talent and makes up for the lacklustre song. That’s not to say though that the choreography doesn’t really align with the song, and Normani again has too many dancers detracting attention from Her - this is also an issue with directors and cameras playing around with too many effects on the shots, than letting the choreography do the talking. There is a dilemma that Normani is still struggling with direction and making the connection between the song writing, singing and dancing - they are need to relate to one another. All in all, this song may build up momentum on urban radio and potentially a streaming sleeper hit, and the music video’s end product is visually stimulating, but it is all too forgettable for somebody the industry keeps placing a bookmark on.
3. Swedish House Mafia – It Gets Better
Verdict: An excellent comeback
Vote: 4 stars
The trio stomp on the scene with an excellent return to form, after having been absent for almost a decade. The multiple elements of It Gets Better from its metal-inspired beginning, deep house pre-chorus, intertwined 90s vocals and experimental-cowbell drop keeps you on your toes, and has proven that the EDM genre is still kicking. The abrupt ending of built-up vocals and synths to a sudden halt is another great tactic in wanting to keep the song on replay. At first, the initial few listens do not conjure a feeling of anthemic, stadium sounds like their prior works ‘Don’t You Worry Child’ or ‘Miami 2 Ibiza’ did, but the track remains superior due to owning that late summer metropolitan rave feel. Who knows…perhaps it will end up becoming a slow burner. The music video also hits the spot: it encapsulates exactly the song’s essence where a large population in unison are tied up in the rhythms, regardless of the genre switch ups. This was a treat to see on today’s Spotify playlist, and It will be interesting to see what else they have in store for us.
