Pretty Girls Music Review

BRITNEY'S BACK! Anyone who knows me knows that Britney is my favorite female pop star ever!! With that said, I was a little disappointed with the angle taken with Britney Jean (her last album) but from the sounds (and looks) her latest era will make up for that!

Britney just released the first single to her upcoming legendary era and it's with none other than Iggy Azalea. This was a good call in my book being that Iggy is one of the hottest females in music right now. Not only was it a good look to collaborate with Iggy but the song is a straight up girls summer anthem! It's perfect for this time of year.

The song has an old school funk/r&b beat and I completely approve. It sounds like old Britney is surfacing and it's exactly what fans and the public has wanted for so long. Britney has her classic whiny, sort of nasally, smooth yet coy vocals on the song. This is what every Britney fan has been waiting for!

Pretty Girls is bound to be a hit nationwide and possibly worldwide. If this is the official introduction to her new era, I'm excited and I will have to say, for lack of a better word, it will SLAY! It's been a while since Britney's team came up with a well put together promotional plan but this may be the one to save her career and show the world why she's the queen. Now let's wait for the music video and see her slay those dance moves...

I give Pretty Girls a 4.5/5 star rating. Can't wait for the next one!

Buy Pretty Girls on iTunes here.

Lyrics:

[Intro/Chorus: Both]
All around the world, pretty girls
Wipe the floor with all the boys
Pour the drinks, bring the noise
(It's Iggy-Iggs!)
We're just so pretty!
All around the world, pretty girls
Jump the line, to the front
Do what we like, get what we want
(Where you at, Brit?)
We're just so pretty!

[Verse 1: Britney Spears]
Hey, don't you know that it's always the same?
From Australia 'round to LA
You can betcha', wherever the girls go, boys follow
We be keeping them up on their toes
They can laugh, but they don't get the jokes
Just you watch, they're so predictable
(Some things don't change...)

[Pre-Chorus: Both]
(The girls roll up)
Windows roll down
(Eyes on us)
Jaws on the ground
(Watch them go)
It's just so funny
(Like bees to the honey!)

[Chorus: Both]
All around the world, pretty girls
Wipe the floor with all the boys
Pour the drinks, bring the noise
We're just so pretty!
All around the world, pretty girls
Jump the line, to the front
Do what we like, get what we want
We're just so pretty!

[Verse 2: Britney Spears]
Tell me, is it true that these men are from Mars?
Is that why they be acting bizarre?
Every time I walk out of my house it's like, "Hey, baby!"
They don't see me rolling my eyes
They buzzing around me like flies
They got one thing on their minds
(Some things don't change...)

[Pre-Chorus: Both] + [Chorus: Both]

[Bridge: Iggy Azalea]
Damn, still killing them softly
I would spend time with you but that'd cost me
They pray that Iggy-Iggy give 'em one more chance
But busy Iggy wouldn't even give 'em one more glance
See, it's a thin line between the beauty and the beast
Slim waist, thick cake, the whole world want a piece
Bad girl, good (ooh) would make you lose your mind
All of the boys begging Britney, hit 'em one more time
Iggs

[Chorus: Both]

American Oxygen (Music & Video Review)

Okay, so I know I'm late but I've been busy! The song was released over a week ago (basically two weeks now) and I've been listening to it since then, I just haven't had the chance to review it (which may be good because I can now review it with a clearer opinion). Anyway, check out my review below for one of Rihanna's new songs from her upcoming album (still called R8 for now), American Oxygen.

Initially when I first heard American Oxygen I thought "hmmm, it's okay but it's not FourFiveSeconds or Kiss It Better" and while I do feel almost the same way, the song has grown on me a bit more. American Oxygen depicts the struggle of making it in America (as does the music video) and I think it's an important message for society, especially in times like now.

Now, I've read it took about a year to write this song and at first I thought "why?" but after a few more listens I can see why. It's one of those songs you have to get right if you're going to go there. You can't "half fast" it and the production of the song shows just that. It's well written and of course Rihanna makes it her own as she does every song given to her.

Now, while the song is an easy listen, I don't expect it to impact radio the way FourFiveSeconds did (I don't care, I still love that song!) American Oxygen is an anthem for the new generation of Americans but it's also a bit too "safe" to be considered a huge anthem in the way "Empire State of Mind" was for New Yorkers. It just doesn't have that strong feel.

I have been listening to the song for a while now and it's found its way onto a few of my playlists but I wish it hit harder. Although I can relate to the lyrics and I completely understand sweating for a nickle and a dime in hopes to turn it into an empire but the song doesn't have that "now press repeat" factor that most Rihanna songs have. I appreciate the seriousness and message of the song but when I initially heard the snippet, I thought it may hit harder. Honestly, the snippet didn't even have that "Higher" effect (now that's a song she needs to release ASAP).

Now as for the music video, it bumps the song up a few notches in my opinion. The video is ON POINT! Rih Rih didn't miss a beat with the visuals and the story of America. Depicting how the new and old America are so different yet pretty much the same was ingenious. It's heartfelt and inspiring and honestly, the video is what gave me more appreciation for the song. Reaching the American Dream takes blood, sweat, and tears (literally!) and even then you may fall short.

After all the country has been through, Rihanna stands to say "we are the new America!" and those lines I would love to shout proudly knowing there are millions willing to shout the same thing. American Oxygen's music video is the perfect example of why music videos are important to a song and why that companionship is needed. The video gives the song MUCH more meaning.

Overall, I would rate American Oxygen a 3.5/5 stars. It's definitely no "Higher" or "Kiss It Better" or even "FourFiveSeconds" but it'll do as I still get my dosage of new Rihanna music. Still waiting for the release of R8...maybe I should review BBHMM even though it's even older than American Oxygen...just a thought...

Buy American Oxygen here on iTunes.

Lyrics:

[Chorus] Breathe out, breathe in
American oxygen
Every breath I breathe
Chasin' this American Dream
We sweat for a nickel and a dime
Turn it into an empire
Breathe in, this feeling
American, American oxygen

[Refrain]
American oxygen
Breathe in, this feeling
American, American Oxygen

[Verse 1]
Oh say can you see, this is the American Dream
Young girl, hustlin'
On the other side of the ocean
You can be anything at all
In America, America
I say, can't see
Just close your eyes and breathe

[Chorus] + [Refrain] x2

[Verse 2]
Oh say can you see, this is the American Dream
Young boy, hustlin'
Tryna get the wheels in motion
But he can be anything at all
In America, America
I say, can't see
Just close your eyes and breathe

[Chorus]

[Bridge] x4
This is the new America
We are the new America

[Chorus] + [Refrain] x2 + [Bridge] x2

I'm FourFiveSeconds From Hitting Repeat!

So this is my first music post on this blog and I'm so excited because I plan to do things like this more often. I recently announced on my Twitter page that I would incorporate more posts about pop culture and it just so happened that current Queen of Pop, Little Miss Sunshine herself, Rihanna, released her new single featuring Kanye West and the legendary Sir Paul McCartney.

Now everyone has an opinion about this song (as they should) because it's ENTIRELY different from anything else Rih Rih has ever done. I, for one am glad about that. If I got another "club banger" or radio friendly EDM song I would've just quit on modern pop music (okay, not really but you get what I'm saying).

Point blank, I think FourFiveSeconds is great. Is it a masterpiece? No, but it's genuinely good music. Rihanna's voice is strained during some parts but it fits the mood of the song. I've waited for the folksy, acoustic sound in a pop song for so long now it's not even funny! I just didn't think Rihanna would be the pop goddess to give it to me (but I'm happy she did). Kanye's voice falls flat (and autotuned) but he sort of saves himself in his second verse.

This song gives me vibes of being in a bar while a small band plays for the crowd. It's chill and relaxing and it's something you can vibe to while you're in your car (take that for radio friendly). Not only that but it's a catchy song that will remain in your head after just one listen (regardless of your opinion of the song).

Generally the song talks about being fed with someone (or people) who constantly takes your kind for weakness and you're a couple of seconds away from blowing up. It's a nice departure from the "ratchet" music that has been up and coming (and that I will never understand). It's something cool about hearing an acoustic track that talks about the feelings you get before you go off on someone.

For most people the song is a grower but for me, it made its mark on the first listen. Radio will eat it up and fans will be satisfied for now since it's something new from Rihanna. Honestly, if her album sound like this and her snippet of Kiss It Better, it' safe for me to say that this just may be my favorite Rihanna album (sorry Good Girl Gone Bad). I'm excited for R8!!!! Take a look at the lyrics below and listen to the song. Also buy FourFiveSeconds here on iTunes!

Lyrics to Four Five Seconds 

 I think I've had enough, I might get a little drunk
I say what's on my mind, I might do a little time
Cause all of my kindness, is taken for weakness

Now I'm FourFiveSeconds from wildin'
And we got three more days 'til Friday
I'm just tryna make it back home by Monday, mornin'
I swear I wish somebody would tell me
Ooh thats all I want

Woke up an optimist, sun was shining I'm positive
Then I heard you was talkin' trash
Hold me back I'm bout' to spaz

Now I'm FourFiveSeconds from wildin'
And we got three more days 'til Friday
I'm just tryna make it back home by Monday, mornin'
I swear I wish somebody would tell me
Ooh thats all I want

And I know that you're up tonight
Thinkin' how could I be so selfish
But you called bout a thousand times wondering where I been
Now I know that your up tonight
Thinkin' how could I be so reckless
But I just can't apologize, I hope you can understand

If I go to jail tonight, promise you'll pay my bail
See they want to buy my pride, but that just ain't up for sale
See all of my kindness, is taken for weakness

Now I'm FourFiveSeconds from wildin'
And we got three more days 'til Friday
I'm just tryna make it back home by Monday, mornin'
I swear I wish somebody would tell me
Ooh that's all I want

Now I'm FourFiveSeconds from wildin'
And we got three more days 'til Friday
I'm just tryna make it back home by Monday, mornin'
I swear I wish somebody would tell me
Ooh that's all I want