I consciously avoided listening to the new Alicia Keys single “It’s On Again” prior to now. With a guest rap by Kendrick Lamar, production by Pharrell Williams and orchestration by Hans Zimmer (plus a tie-in to the new Spider-Man film) it just seemed like there were too many cooks in the pot for the song to be any good.
Was I right? Well… “It’s On Again” isn’t a bad song, but it’s also not particularly unique or special. It’s probably the most traditionally danceable thing Alicia has recorded, and would’ve fit in perfectly on Pharrell’s G I R L album, but it’s so…pedestrian. Maybe I need another listen or two, but right now it just has a throwaway vibe to me.
Kendrick’s super-caffeinated verse is the best thing about “It’s On Again,” but it also sounds like it was flown in from another, more intense, song.
Alicia is looking good in the video, though…and the movie tie-in pretty much guarantees a hit, which Alicia is probably looking for after her Girl On Fire album sold below expectations (and rightfully so, it wasn’t very good.)
2 comments
Trey Stone says:
Apr 23, 2014
not feeling amped-up k.dot on this one even though I dug “Control.” You’re right about the stitched-together nature too, v weird.
MJ says:
Apr 24, 2014
To me, the song gets super unexciting as soon as Kendrick stops rapping.
Also, Kendrick Lamar shouldn’t be on dance/pop records. I think we learned that with Robin Thicke’s “Give It 2 U.”