Ne-Yo - 'Beautiful Monster'
Getting the words right in a song situation is harder than it seems. While a lot of people claim not to listen to lyrics, or even care if they're rubbish, the ideal state of being for a good pop song is one where all the words fit all of the melody - right down to the way the stressed syllables in each word match the rise and fall of the tune. Oh, and they can't be stupid either.
The ideal situation being words which can handle a bit of close examination, and which don't stick out like a nail in a peach.
Listen to the verses in this song. Not only are they well sung, beautifully produced and all that, those words are close to perfect. Ne-Yo says what he has to say slowly, deliberately, and clearly, and every word is balanced and measured against the melody which carries it. He even has time to throw in a few Michael Jackson hiccups here and there.
Shame the chorus is quite so casually unfriendly to women in general, but you can't have everything.
(Here's the video. He's got magic hands. MAGIC HANDS!)
It's not a big deal, the throwaway sexism. I mean compared to the works of Mr Akon, this is almost chivalrous. But calling someone a monster, even a beautiful one, isn't massively nice, and then adding the pat-on-the-head payoff - "and I don't mind" - hardly makes everything alright again.
Or at least, it wouldn't if it wasn't quite so addictive. The "I don't mind" bit makes the song, and Ne-Yo clearly knows this or he wouldn't keep going back to it.
Just as well, too, because for my money the rest of the chorus feels a little un-deserving of the massive buildup in the verses. For all that it's a great hooky tune, somehow it feels like a dip. As soon as that compelling chuntery synth drops out, and the beat kicks in, the song staggers unevenly for a bit, when it should be flying.
Then you get to the "I don't mind" bit, and basically WHOOSH, we're off to the stars.
Also, all issues of song quality and musical deliciousness aside for one second, I do have a brief conspiracy theory about this song which I'd like to air for second. In the second chorus, where Mr Yo starts improvising a second lead vocal after the main refrain, why does he sing "beautiful Martha" twice? It's markedly different from when he sings "monster" later on, and once you've heard it, you can't un-hear it, if you see what I mean.
It goes like this:
"She's a monster [she's a Martha], beautiful monster [beautiful Martha]"
Is this a not-particularly-well-coded message to the person the song is about? Is he having a pop at people who are called Martha in general? Does he have a thing about Martha Wainwright's scary teeth? Have I just misheard him? I think we should be told! Launch an inquiry! Phone the President! Calm down! No YOU calm down!
OK THEN I WILL.
Download: Out now
www.yearofthegentleman.com
BBC Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
Planet Ill says: "Beautiful Monster" is right in line with what everyone and their momma is releasing these days."
Kick The Ear Drum says: "This has to be one of the worst songs I have heard in a while."
Idolator says: "This is Ne-Yo at his finest, and you can probably expect this to wind up another beautiful-monster-sized hit for him."
Comment number 1.
At 16:41 3rd Aug 2010, OddOne wrote:Hilarious review Fraser, and much against much better judgment, this song get's 4 stars from me. I gave it quite a tongue 'n' cheek review too, and I also focused on it's awful single cover.
Btw, this is heading for #1 this week. I PREDICT IT WILL.
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Comment number 2.
At 16:56 3rd Aug 2010, Haducon2 wrote:Seeing as I'm Ne-Yo's number 1 fan, I was always destined to like this...and I do.
It'll probably just beat the also wonderful 'Club Can't Handle Me' to #1
4 stars
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Comment number 3.
At 18:50 3rd Aug 2010, kutox wrote:Yes I agree with the review. The dance/house influence works really well imo, it shows progression from Ne-Yo as well as keeping the qualities that makes him one of the best male R&B stars of today (if not the best).
The production (which is great) fits the dark mood of the song, and the verses are particularly good, but I agree that the chorus isn't as big as it probably should be, and it doesn't progress even towards the end of the song. The video doesn't really suit the song either. Still, it's another solid tune that should keep Ne-Yo on top of the game at this time.
★★★★☆
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Comment number 4.
At 20:11 4th Aug 2010, spirit wrote:Fantastic chorus !!!!
Will be a fight to the wire between Yo and Flo for Sunday's number 1 !
If Flo hadn't have brought his release date forward a week , then he would be number 1 .
Now Yo begins to grow , has the right to crow and holds the flow over Flo !
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Comment number 5.
At 20:13 4th Aug 2010, spirit wrote:EXCLUSIVE
Ne-Yo's next single Libra Scale will be out on September 20th !
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Comment number 6.
At 04:34 5th Aug 2010, OddOne wrote:I can tell you now (and two days ago) that I predicted 'Beatiful Monster' to be Sunday's #1 single. Flo Rida will be #2.
Mwahahaha! I could be right for once!
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