My piece on the top songs of 2003 is finally online, and I can't believe (argh) that I left out Jay-Z's "99 Problems."
Kanye West - "My Way". A marvellous cut from Kanye West's upcoming LP, rich with a particularly familiar sample (accelerated, of course), laced with strings, but skipping with a good-natured beat: hand-claps, oohs, a feeling of may-be-so, so-be-it. The music is light, full of an idealized, childhood innocence, but then - things are really heavier than that, sadly. Much heavier.
Nena - "99 Luftballons". This is here because Julian thinks it should be. He (rightly) believes it's a song everyone should know, and really, most of you probably do. It's 80s pop at its best, the synthy guitars dancing about in tight pants, zinging and zagging as the drums jump around. The german version of the song is peppier than the english translation: I couldn't care less what Nena is saying, so long as she keeps doing it, singing out that chorus with a big-eyed-but-sultry smile.
Posted by Sean at January 12, 2004 1:03 AMYou really should read the NYTIMES current article on hip hop, entitled "Rappers Sweeten the Image and Hold the Bling Bling" or, as I like to call it, "Official Notice: The Next Motherfucker Who Publishes the Phrase 'Bling Bling' In the NYT, Headline or Not, Is Getting Shot in the Fucking Head With My .44 Water Pistol; Y'Heard Me?".
Choice quotes:
"Ja Rule is probably being purchased more in a mall in Virginia than on 125th Street"
(Yo son, Ja is gonna KILL Nelson George, son.)
"In a line from his new song "What More Can I Say," Jay-Z, who recently said he was retiring from rap, says: 'I don't wear jerseys/I'm 30 plus/gimmie a crisp pair of jeans" and "button-ups.' Button-up is slang for an oxford shirt. "
(Thank god, I thought he meant Pampers.)
"50 Cent... is rarely seen without a snug-fitting tank top, his well-glistened muscles always on display. 'I love you like a fat kid loves cake,' he says to a paramour who stands by him while he is in prison."
("Well-glistened muscles?" "Paramour"? "Editor"?)
"Jay-Z is in a position of power, so he can affect change," she said. "He can make dressing up cool."
("Jay Z makes dressing up COOL"!)
Whoooo. Boy. The mixtape review that accompanies this is a bit better, but not by much. And there's this classy phrase:
"Most are also available online ? you can try www.nycphatmixtapes.com or www.bestmixtapes.com ? but where's the fun in that?)"
Yeah, what's the fun in going online? Gwuh?
Listen, new rule: if you don't listen to hip hop recreationally, you are no longer allowed to write about it. Deal? Deal.
Posted by forksclovetofu at January 12, 2004 7:20 PMdear god, if the album is as consistent as this one track (which, by the way, is a brilliant) we're all in for something deadly and beautiful.
Posted by kevin at January 13, 2004 9:25 AM
and it will begin playing. All songs are also available to download: just right-click the link and choose 'Save as...'
