Chris Brown–Up To You

Not a single, but F.A.M.E. was released on 18th March 2011.
Billboard: –
UK: –

After a bunch of singles that ranged from weak (No BS, Deuces) to well, okay (Look At Me Now, Yeah 3X I guess, Beautiful People) and perhaps decent (Next 2 You) I decided to check out a few of the other tracks on Chris Brown’s new album. Up To You was a standout for me.

This is more my kind of thing, really. In terms of instrumentation and production, for some reason I was really reminded of Usher’s U Got It Bad. The slow, more traditional approach works here as it did on Usher’s song (they’re not about the same thing, but the idea of relative passivity is maintained across both songs). As a piece to listen to, Up To You is a pretty decent one (I do have an objection though: the awkward use of the swear-word to open the verses is unnecessary; while justifiable it doesn’t ring so well in the ears). The bridge and choruses are done well, I’d think. I like the (I’ve made so many tears, I don’t wanna make no, make no more) part.

Like most 2011 pop songs, there ARE lyrical deficiencies, unfortunately;

(Verse 2)
What the hell babe
Make me wanna jump out an airplane

Eh? It doesn’t help that I’m made to recall B.o.B’s Airplanes and Tyler The Creator’s Yonkers when presented with this kind of lyric. Perhaps the wtf-ness of this is attempted to be justified in the next line (The way it feels, I just can’t explain) so I can semi-buy this, but it’s a very strange idea for love, I find. It’s introduced out of nowhere, really.

(Bridge)
I’ve made so many tears I don’t wanna make no, make no more
So give me your list, yes I’m checking things off
Ready to go to work, baby you can be boss

Comparing love to what would presumably be a to-do list isn’t my idea of a romantic gesture. Yes, Acts of Service is a love language, but I still find such a comparison awkward. Given that work is frequently associated with the notion of a daily grind and being separate from play or pleasure (though they CAN be found together, for many people they’re not), I’m not so sure comparing devotion to work is the best idea as well.

Not to mention the grammatical error – ‘baby you can be the boss’ would be better.

Nevertheless, the general approach behind the song works for me. Perhaps I’m a little idealistic, but I do often enjoy songs where the singer/persona takes on a lower-key approach, learns, develops and grows, and Up To You definitely does have such elements. (It could also be because the Billboard charts are so frequently filled with either hostile a la F**k You, Rolling in the Deep, vapid e.g. Just Can’t Get Enough or Down on Me, deceptive like Born this Way or bad such as Tonight, The Lazy Song material – not that the former two categories are bad, but it can be tiring to listen to such songs too frequently.) As far as I’m concerned, it’s a clear pass and a decent song – though it doesn’t quite match up to Usher’s U Got It Bad which for me seems to be, in terms of sound, pretty similar. Probably Brown’s best off F.A.M.E., though also a far cry from his best (for me, that would have to go to Say Goodbye). It’s very, very solid though.

OVERALL SCORE = 7.5 / 10
Up To You eschews Brown’s recent shifts towards rap and high-energy dance tracks, going with a more traditional R&B approach. For me, it works well. While there are a few small lyrical deficiencies, the message is a nice, positive one and the instrumentation works well to support the message, as does Brown’s singing. Please don’t remind me of the airplane, though.

B.o.B ft. Bruno Mars–Nothin’ on You

Released on February 2nd 2010 (US), 17th May 2010 (UK).
Billboard: Peaked at #1 on May 1st 2010.
UK Charts: Peaked at #1 on May 23rd 2010.

For me, this song bears a special significance in that it was the song that made me actually interested in the pop-rap hybrid that has been increasingly employed by various artists. While Nothin’ on You definitely isn’t the first pop-rap song I’ve heard, or even the first good pop-rap song I’ve heard (I haven’t really been keeping up with music, but Dead and Gone and Green Light (John Legend and Andre 3000 one, not Roll Deep one) were pretty good for me), it’s probably the first one that I’ve found really solid all around, with both elements pretty strong. B.o.B is pretty entertaining and capable on his delivery, and even crosses over fairly acceptably (when singing the pre-chorus sections, as in the There’s so much nonsense/It’s on my conscience and I’ve been to London/I’ve been to Paris… parts). Naturally, Bruno Mars is excellent and smooth with his notes. This song has a very solid and catchy melody.

The song basically tells a very normal story, and essentially is a retelling of what happened to Ne-Yo’s character as featured in Knock You Down (I used to be commander-in-chief of my pimp ship flyin’ high/Till I met this pretty little missile, shot me out the sky). Except that B.o.B is less successful – …And honestly, (he) ended up with none. That said, it’s a bit more revealing than that, as in this case it’s not simply, or perhaps not just that he’s lovestruck, but also that he’s been able to observe his past aimlessness. (Or perhaps, it may just be an excuse for his past actions, used to obtain this new beautiful girl that he sees!) Anyway, the producers seem to know that already too… To quote Mars, “In my songs I’m not saying something that’s never been said before. They have lyrics aren’t going to blow people away. It’s the emotion and the melody that drive it home.” I agree! The simplicity of the message is actually quite refreshing, as compared to the messages carried by the seemingly inexhaustible supply of club-bangers out there.

Going down to the nitty-gritty diction level, though, some of the lyrics are a little weird, though… uh the comparison to a Nintendo 64 is indeed puzzling, though it may be because I’ve never used one; perhaps, many gamers who’ve played with it frequently can identify with it freezing? Doesn’t work for me, though. Unfortunately, the line You’re my Wonder Woman, call me Mr. Fantastic doesn’t ring well in my ears too. Most of it is pretty solid, though, and I like verse 1, especially the little vocal effects thrown in at the end of each line.

I also enjoyed the video; using multiple cut-outs of various ladies as Mars sings Beautiful girls, all over the world… is certainly interesting. B.o.B has his shot on the guitar, which I know he can play and Mars has his turn on the drums. It’s pretty nice to watch.

This one’s one of my favourites in terms of production, though I can’t listen to it too much because it’s honestly very, very saccharine in terms of content. It was a very good release, in my opinion. I think the double #1 placing (in the US and UK) is pretty deserved. Good stuff!

OVERALL RATING = 7.5 / 10
Despite being drenched with sweetness, Nothin’ on You is nevertheless a very solid pop-rap collaboration that is able to showcase the talents of both B.o.B and Bruno Mars.