The most beautiful song in the world

I like to think that somewhere in the heart of T-Pain lives a Chelsea queen, or, at the very least, a flaming Cher freak. How else to explain that "Believe"-esque vocal effect he puts on his voice (in various degrees) on just about every track he graces? That mechanized bleating made about as much sense as the phrase "Hard & B" until "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')," a track that cares enough about technology to refrain from exploiting it. Behind the track's minimal backbone (a one-two bump of finger snaps and a gentle 808 kick), groan synths that are muddy and mixed down enough to seem indistinct. They support T-Pain's robo-wail more spiritually than melodically -- they hum background-style, as matter-of-fact to the song as computers are to society. Or, as matter of fact to the song as Cher's digital shadow is to T-Pain's voice. The effect of all the elements together -- the stew of keyboards, the lean beats, the cyber-star singer -- makes for a track that initially sounds unfathomable, almost paradoxical: it's a minimal mess.

But not for long, because then the song opens up to reveal this heavenly harmony, just as T-Pain is opening up to reveal his flesh-based initiative: "I'mma buy you a drink / I'mma take you home with me." Just like that. A drink (one!) and then, boom!, back to his room. This is big talk from a guy who looks like a composite of Whoopi Goldberg, Stevie Wonder ('07 edition) and Bleeding Gums Murphy, but that kind of confidence falls right in line with the actual track's security with its own weirdness (so secure that it doesn't feel the need to announce it...it just is!).

I love this song like T-Pain loves his Oakley shades. The title of this post is only semi-sarcastic, for when those chorus harmonies hit, it feels like a skanky revelation, like you're being taken to church by a sinner. There's something classic in that chorus, especially when it breaks down to a percapella ("Oooh, oooh, ooh ooh..."), something utterly '90s in its adoration of pretty vocals. This song is sweet enough that I know if it came out when I was in middle or high school, it'd be indelible on my memory, tied to any number of formative events. "Buy You a Drank," simply, is halcyon. As ridiculous as it is (ha! at the one-drink thing and double ha! that the drink is actually a "drank"), I don't know if I could turn down T-Pain's offer, myself. I bet he has fun gadgets to play with at his place.

Comments

[Kevin]

Return of the mack!

[♥dex]

Before I read the second paragraph with your composite of those three people, I was thinking more along the lines of the Predator, V. 2k7.

[kasia]

i can't get enough of that song right now!

[Brandon H]

I'm always amazed when people from the same set recycle each others beats (and in this case, lyrics) AND folks just eat that shit up. This is a slowed down version of "It's going down" with more bass (and not because of the dance) and background humming added.

The first time I heard anyone do that was when Mary used that Lil Kim's "No Time" beat in "I Can Love You." I thought it was crazy, especially since we were just getting tired of Kim's track, but folks treated it like it was new. I wonder why that is? And why it continues to work for folks now?

[Brandon H]

Oh, and the composite joke was great! haha! "Bleeding Gums Murphy"!!!

T-Pain kinda makes me think what Busta Rhymes would have looked like if he hadn't buffed up on steriods.

[michaelandrew69]

T. Pain = testicular pain?

[BayBB]

There is not drank in America to make me go home with that. Better break out the Absinthe! He needs something that make people hallucinate.

[Jerri]

You can keep this song Rich, but I'm happy you have me UMBRELLA

[trick please]

I honestly cannot believe you reviewed a song by T-Pain.That is hilarious

[Queen Lena]

I can not STAND that vocal effect. It's been driving me crazy for years; every time I hear it, I seriously almost start pulling individual hairs out of my head.

[Chaka_Kahn]

I wear that exact same banana yellow do-rag to bed every night.

[loca]

I heard this song on the radio this morning for the first time and I was like, 'here we go again- shorty shorty, money, money, walk it out, petron, etc. etc'

BUT then I got hit with the 'ooh oooh ooh' and I was transported to middle school and I wanted to straight make a dance routine to this song.

[angela]

I love this song!

[Tess]

I love this song, you are so right about the 90's effect. I wish I had the chance to grind with my first love to this on the rubber floor of our cafeteria during a school dance. How's that for a run-on? Haha...you're great!

[Angél]

"This is big talk from a guy who looks like a composite of Whoopi Goldberg, Stevie Wonder ('07 edition) and Bleeding Gums Murphy..."

I...fucking...love you.

As for the song...one of those you feel so guilty about singing (and snappin') to. What can you do.

[Avin]

Seriously Rich, I have been kicking myself for humming along to this song for two weeks now. I dont know whats more disturbing, the song itself or the fact that Mr. I'm In Love Wit A Stripper is singing it.

I dont want to like it, and I damn sure dont like that gremlin T-Pain, however its stuck in my brain dispite the horrible "Roger from Zapp" style vocals he uses time and time again.

I feel unclean, I need to go shower now. *shudders*

[Brandie Posey]

yessssssss to your Beyond the Valley of the Dolls header!!! my fave movie of all time.

[Michael F Gill]

>>How else to explain that "Believe"-esque vocal effect he puts on his voice (in various degrees) on just about every track he graces?<<

I'm betting it's done because the vocalist really can't hit a high note, and the producers have to digitally autotune the vocal to death in order to cover things up. The result might sound synthetic, but thanks to vocoders/robots/etc, it almost seems edgy nowadays.

[dodger]

winston: thats so a Jaslene pose at 2:46
rich: pizza, spaghetti, burgers, desert!

[Joshua]

Wow, he looks like The Predator channeling the House of Infiniti BQ-Style face-off winner.

[JaneDough]

There is a reason why he uses a voice modulator:

1. T-Pain made a spoof track of Akon. In order to sound like Akon he used a modulator. Akon heard it and signed T-Pain.

2. T-Pain sounds like crap live in most venues that doesn't allow for the system needed to change his voice.

I like the song although I think most of T-Pain and Akons songs are a little off.

[peachi]

I love this song! This and party like a rockstar are on heavy rotation in ATL right now lol

[Devon]

I'm going to have to disagree...I think Lloyd's "Git it Shawty" trumps this song. Any song that immediately makes you think of a stripper named Lexus, Porche or Mercedes clapping her ass and spinning around a pole is a classic! There's no doubt in my mind that these two songs will be turning out the strip clubs this summer!