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Brandy's new single ...was it supposed to suck?


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Anybody heard Brandy's "What About Us?" Is this supposed to suck? Or does it suck accidentally? Or is it actually percieved by people as not sucking, which means I need to make sure and not tell the players the key, tempo or chord changes in a song from now on, while making sure they can't hear each other while playing? Am I the only one seeing a naked Emperor here? Regards, Brian T
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Argghh! That track drives me crazy! Was it suppose to suck? I dunno, propably.. The main thing is that it sucks, BIG time. What were they thinkin'? Let's give the track a little 'edge'!? Hope that kind of stuff doesn't become a massive trend.. luuker
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I think seeing the production styles that developed within the “IDM” scene back in 1998 cross over into the modern pop charts is nothing less than fabulous. This Emperor is not only fully clothed, but stylin’. Absolutely effin’ brilliant IMNSHO. :D [edited for spelling :rolleyes: ]
Go tell someone you love that you love them.
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When I first heard this track I thought the cd player was skipping or something but my friend's 13 year old loves it. I guess this was a bold attempt tp be innovative still from what I've gathered the record is selling well. I wonder is this true or just a lot of hype?
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That track drives me nuts! :( It sounds to me like the timing is all over the place (hard to tell, huh?) until the second half of the song. The cardinal rule of unorthodox studio tricks is "does it sound good?". I think they missed it by a mile...
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Very interesting... Straight 4/4 melody on top of a swing 6/8 groove. Don't quite know how she sang it - must've been tricky. Interestingly this track only seems to bother musicians. Regular folks I've discussed this with think it's great and don't seem to notice or be bothered by the timing differences, even when it's pointed out to them. Doesn't suck IMHO.
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[quote]Originally posted by mars: [b]Very interesting... Straight 4/4 melody on top of a swing 6/8 groove. Don't quite know how she sang it - must've been tricky. Interestingly this track only seems to bother musicians. Regular folks I've discussed this with think it's great and don't seem to notice or be bothered by the timing differences, even when it's pointed out to them. Doesn't suck IMHO.[/b][/quote]I figured that's the tune being discussed- heard it in public (haven't had a radio or TV for a year). I was thinking, wow, pop music that has some rhythm to it. Hopefully it WILL become a massive trend. "Complex" rhythms are easy as pie if you do them melodically- do the groove and figure out the time signatures later, it's really more natural than shoe-horning everything into a straight four, just look at the (real and old) folk musics of the world. Check out the book "African Polyphony and Polyrhythm" by Simha Arom for a humbling experience. -CB
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Who wrote that song? Who produced? First time I heard it, it felt very strange, almost annoying. It started to slowly grow on each listen and now I find it quite amusing. /Mats

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What do we want? Procrastination!

When do we want it? Later!

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[quote] [b]do the groove and figure out the time signatures later[/b] [/quote]That's just it, I couldn't quite hear the groove on this one. I love polyrhythms that groove but to me this one seemed a bit hard to grasp. Maybe I need to go back and listen some more but as a rule if I have to work too hard to find the groove then I just move on. I'm curious to see the video or how a dance crowd responds.
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[quote] [b]Who wrote that song? Who Produced?[/b] [/quote]I think Rodney Jerkins, "Darkchylde" produced it. I'm not going to lie and say that it's a great track, but I don't think it sucks that bad. It's kind of quirky, but it doesn't totally suck.

"All conditioned things are impermanent. Work out your own salvation with diligence."

 

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[quote] [b]Who wrote that song? Who produced it?[/b] [/quote]I don't know, but whoever is promoting it is doing one hell of a job. Just judging from this thread the song is being heard all over. It must be a wonderful feeling to record something and have it played all over the world.
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[/QUOTE]I figured that's the tune being discussed- heard it in public (haven't had a radio or TV for a year). I was thinking, wow, pop music that has some rhythm to it. Hopefully it WILL become a massive trend. "Complex" rhythms are easy as pie if you do them melodically- do the groove and figure out the time signatures later, it's really more natural than shoe-horning everything into a straight four, just look at the (real and old) folk musics of the world. Check out the book "African Polyphony and Polyrhythm" by Simha Arom for a humbling experience. -CB[/QB][/QUOTE] I'm fine with cross breeding time sigs. But this track feels very unmusical to me. Hey, it's a beautiful world of free choice, ain't it? Brian T
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What I heard was pretty compressed. Maybe it was radio- it was at the Messe with a thousand other sounds all around but it caught my ear right off. Anyway I bet uncompressed, with more difference between strong and weak beats, the feel would be much better. A lot of "world music", not the pop kind, is recorded with big dynamic range. Gotta get the CD. -CB
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I like it. Phrasing on the vocals works nice with that all-over-the-place beat. Happy to hear something on the radio that is a little different. Haven't heard it in the club yet, but there seems to be a pretty head nodding, pumping type of beat underneath it. More original styles breaking into the mainstream is a good thing IMHO.
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I don't hear 6, I hear 4 (kick & snare on 1 &3) with a kind of stuttering, late synth part. It's kind of boring actually, but I could dance to it... --za
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Yes, Rodney Jerkins produced. I have to admit it caught my ear - honestly, I think it sounds like a sequence playing with the wrong soundset. Sounds like a car wreck. The bridge is catchy, though. Nevertheless, it stood out of the pack and it has an edge. But overall, I don't like it.
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[quote]Originally posted by gbtank@home.com: [b]Anybody heard Brandy's "What About Us?" Is this supposed to suck? Or does it suck accidentally? Or is it actually percieved by people as not sucking, which means I need to make sure and not tell the players the key, tempo or chord changes in a song from now on, while making sure they can't hear each other while playing? Am I the only one seeing a naked Emperor here? Regards, Brian T[/b][/quote]I haven't heard it...my brother has...he rarely comments on pop music (he's old school) but he went on and on raving about how great this new Brandy tune is...I'll have to check it out and decide for myself. My brother's word is usually golden when it comes to music listening.
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Oh man, I love that tune, it kicks ass. Got it a month ago on the newest Hot 97 comp. and have been listening almost daily. Dancing around, natch. Album came out last week in at #2 on the Billboard album charts. The album version is better, at the end it goes further into glitch-IDM territory. Digging the album...couple really strong ballads, 2 or 3 additional hard tunes that are kickin'. Check it out. How 'bout that Outkast w/the crazy swing beat? Hearing that on the radio all the time too. G. Ratte'
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[quote][i]gratte said:[/i] [b]The album version is better, at the end it goes further into glitch-IDM territory.[/b][/quote]Really?! Damn! Is there much of that production-style on the rest of the album? If so, I could see myself picking it up.
Go tell someone you love that you love them.
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Ok, I just listened to this song. They did put a ton of compression on her vocal...more than I expected. As far as the beat goes...a lot of the kids are hip to this beat...it's reminisent of the Drum&Bass stuff my friend here at work is into...but there's a different name for the exact style. I totally dig it...and if you've ever been in a dance club you know that people generally don't have a problem dancing to this beat...there are plenty of accents to keep you in time....well I guess it's harder for white people on average :D In summary...yeah I agree with my brother...that's a cool track!
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The Curve finds the groove on this track somewhat funky. I give it one thumb up, for originality, and one thumb down for...well, lack of originality. If there's anything annoying about this track, it's the vocal hook in the refrain. "What about-what about" approximately 268 times is a little grating. The groove is quirky-cool, but not particularly innovative. I personally do not predict that it will live in infamy, but I don't hate it either. It just seems to be drawing more attention to itself than it deserves. Kinda like The Strokes. (he-he) She is awful cute, tho. Not that that has anything to do with her success. E

Eric Vincent (ASCAP)

www.curvedominant.com

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