Nicki Minaj - 'Right Thru Me'
Ah good, another song featuring the unique vocal stylings of Nicki Minaj. The Nicki Minaj who clearly lives in a recording studio, speaks in rhyme all the time (just like that), and can't listen to any music - from Mozart to Motorhead - without quickly adding an extra verse and throwing it on the song pile. What does this bring the running total to now? Twelvety-eleven? Mumpty-nive? A grocer's bushel?
SO, let's see if we can't beat her at her own game, shall we? Let's just very quickly say that this is unusual - a hip hop waltz - kind of sparkly and magical, and oddly Christmassy. It's a cut above most things Nicki's been involved in this year - which means it's a cut above most things full stop.
It boasts a refrain which is so important and so sweary that they had to reverse the key cuss to get the musical point across. Nicki's on fiery form, blasting her man for hurting her, begging him not to break her heart, and wishing she didn't feel as bad as she does.
Oh and it deserves a huge team point for the line "tired of letting passive aggression control my mind, capture my soul" alone. And that refrain, which is all kinds of sad-lovely.
And now, let's add some music of our own...
I've managed to find a single which is out this week and it features no Nicki Minaj whatsoever (so far). It's by a group called Cloud Control and it's called 'Meditation Song #2 (Why, Oh Why)'
(Seeing as Nicki's song is hidden behind adverts, .)
Now, what you'll immediately notice is that this buzzy, rattly, folky thing is a) very olden daysy and b) very great. It would be a struggle, therefore to imagine how a remix of it could even exist, much less find space for Nicki's honey-and-vinegar purr.
Basically, what you'd have to do is start Nicki's song, get about two-thirds of the way through, then stop it and play Cloud Control. It's the kind of production technique Will.I.Am uses all the time, so it's clearly an acceptable way of getting from one thing to another. And best of all, it gives Nicki's sad song a really blissed out, optimistic ending, even though both songs are essentially about being overwhelmed by waves of emotion, and wondering why we humans react to things in the way we do.
Of course, by the time I've finished writing this, Nicki will have already finished her guest verse and be powering on to talk all over the Pretty Reckless, Florence and the Machine, and Throbbing Gristle.
She's like the common cold of music, only more enjoyable and less demanding on a box of tissues.
Download: Out now
±«Óãtv Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
"Like Drake, Nicki Minaj is staking her claim as a bit of a hybrid rapper/singer. And like Drake, the live singing is not her strong suit."
"I think this is Nicki's lane. This is one of her best songs to date."
Comment number 1.
At 25th Nov 2010, SamuraisShadow wrote:I like this. Still loving her bit on 'Monster' (kanye)
Now review Ellie.
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Comment number 2.
At 25th Nov 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:Anyone who rhymes Sri Lanka with Willi Wonka and then says 'And if I’m fake I aint notice cause my money aint' in the same verse is good with me.
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Comment number 3.
At 27th Nov 2010, Tom_wales91 wrote:I have to be honest i love nicki minaj i think shes so clever with her woeds it baffles me why she's only on her second solo hit its like okay we get it your musical presence has been nooticed but great song not overly sentimentaal but still warm and fuzzy 4 stars.
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