Jay Sean–Maybe

Released 14 April 2008.
Billboard: Not released in US.
UK Charts: #19

Second in a set of three singles from Sean’s album My Own Way. In terms of technical skill required to handle a song from a male pop singer, this one’s definitely way up there, as he shoots up into a very high register in the pre-chorus (Everyday I patiently wait – feeling like a fool but I do anyway). It’s well sung and pleasing; definitely serviceable.

Lyrically, it’s a very generic love song, a little cute with the use of technology like Facebook and phone flirting…  Somehow, this one doesn’t turn out a sleeper as do many midtempo generic love songs like this one do; probably because of the vocal fireworks he releases in the pre-chorus as mentioned above. Other than “generic-ness” I honestly don’t have complaints. The melody is pretty nice and flows quite well.

Anyway, as far as I’m concerned this song shines more in Jay Sean’s singing than in the song’s lyrical content. Personally, I have preference for the last in the series, Stay, which I’ll be covering soon. This is still good, though.

OVERALL RATING = 6.0 / 10
Maybe, Jay Sean’s 2nd single from his album My Own Way is a solid, if generic, pop song that showcases some rather high notes (for a guy, that is, of course).

Kanye West–Love Lockdown

Released September 18, 2008.
Billboard: #3
UK Singles Chart: #8

I haven’t listened to much of Kanye West’s first three albums – perhaps, from what I’ve read from critics, it might be time I should go and give them a listen. I have listened to some of 808s and Heartbreak, as well as My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and I’ve found both ranging from serviceable to very, very well constructed. It’s quite impressive for an artist to be able to handle the rather differing sound on the two albums. This is a pretty good song, I find – some people have described the song’s production as “minimalistic”, and I think I’d agree.

The nice, slightly haunting bassline, combined with the almost relentless, menacing sound of the taiko drums works very well in creating an atmosphere of tension which seems reasonably appropriate for a song about a breakup.

A song like this definitely seems like a good candidate to put on the operating table in terms of its lyrics, though, or rather send it under the microscope. To begin with, what does it mean to keep one’s love locked down? The obvious implication is restrained, which works reasonably well, given he sings So I keep it low, keep a secret code/So everybody else don’t have to know. He keeps the girl’s love restrained… or does he mean his love for the girl? It might be because he feels pain or awkwardness at expressing his love – he can’t keep his cool dealing with her.

He ends off the chorus with You lose, though, which seems to be an insinuation that the girl is missing out from not choosing him. Now if we recall that he’s not loving you, the way (he) wanted to, it may suggest there’s a one-sided crush, but more likely a platonic relationship which he wants to add in a romantic element.

Interestingly in the second verse he comments I can’t keep myself, and still keep you too. He needs a romantic partner; however the all-or-nothing thing he’s suggesting here, though an effective reflection of desperation, is a little disturbing too…

The theme of heartbreak is, naturally, covered in many of the songs in 808s and Heartbreak, and it works well for me; it seems that I can identify with him, though I can’t really say I’ve been in such a situation before, personally.

OVERALL RATING = 7.0 / 10
Love Lockdown may be seen as a minimalistic pop song that incorporates a dark, angsty sound. The theme of struggling with love is similar to much of what we see in pop music; however, the excellent, haunting production brings this one quite a cut above most of the normal stuff that I hear.

Jay Sean–Ride It

Released 21 January 2008.
Billboard: –
UK Charts: #11

The Bauhaus font that he uses for his name and album titles is pretty nice to look at. Anyway, that said, this is the third in a chain of moderately successful singles before his #1 hit Down. His R&B sound is pretty nice to listen to, though it’s nothing groundbreaking. Released as the lead single off his 2nd album My Own Way, it’s not bad, though I’d think the other two singles he released from this album, Maybe and Stay are much stronger.

It’s a pretty laid-back song, perhaps a bit too laid back for me, and compared to his other songs, quite a bit of a sleeper. The chorus is catchy though, and has a rather messy pattern to sing (with each line ending on a little jump in pitch). Those lyrics, honestly, get a little bit disturbing…

(Ride it) we’re all alone…
(Ride it) just lose control…
(Ride it, ride it) come touch my soul…
(Ride it, ride it) let me feel you…
(Ride it) turn the lights down low…
(Ride it) from head to toe…
(Ride it, ride it) touch my soul…
(Ride it, ride it) let me feel you…

It seems quite creepy, honestly, this part. And the second verse seems quite pointless, too:

Movida was the club on the Saturday
You acting like a diva, saying you don’t wanna pay
It’s gotta be your fiesty style, raised eyebrow
I love it when you look at me that way
Now we’re in-you order a Mohito at the bar
ya re-apply lippy cos it came off on the glass

Zzzzzzz.

the DJ plays ya favourite song, Kanye’s on
now ya beckoning for me to dance

At first, I had an inclination the song might be Heartless? But clearly it’s not anything off 808s and Heartbreak which wasn’t even released then. So what’s it then? Stronger? Hmm.

The bridge section is nice, though – it’s just a slightly better than normal sleeper track for me, but still quite clearly a sleeper track.

OVERALL SCORE = 4.5 / 10
Ride It is a laid-back R&B affair from Jay Sean that isn’t bad, though at some points at least as far as I can tell it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere significant.