Is it freaking anyone else the fuck out that will.i.am samples maybe the greatest, but not at all mainstream, electrohouse track of our time, M.A.N.D.Y. vs. Booka Shade's 2005 song "Body Language," on his album Songs About Girls? (For your comparing pleasure, here's will's track, "Get Your Money" and here's "Body Language.") He's turning to the Germans that no one of his ilk cares about! That's so Afrika Bambaataa of him! I can't be sure if my freak-out is of the the-world-is-ending-and-it's-freaking-me-out variety or this-is-my-happening-and-it-freaks-me-out variety.
...But I'm leaning toward the latter. On first listen, Songs About Girls is fucking amazing. Ugh. I can't believe that I not only can tolerate but am totally digging a record by a member of the Black Eyed Peas virtually in its entirety. I never thought I'd feel this way. I know will's a Ferg-enabler, so he's at least slightly wicked, but yeah: I'm kinda blown away. A full review may be coming. In the meantime, listen to the track above and take pleasure in the fact that hip-house lives! I know I am.
that is tooo nuts.
i love this song too. i never saw it happening, but its amazing.
Posted by: princemoney | September 21, 2007 at 12:52 AM
Go figure.
Posted by: jeremy | September 21, 2007 at 03:31 AM
Oh, btw, I love that you can read Alicia Witt's lips saying "Kwisatz Haderach" in the animated .gif.
Posted by: jeremy | September 21, 2007 at 09:25 AM
Honey I did a mental 360, twice, and freaked all the way out when willie brought out Magazine 60 for "...From Her Mama," because I assumed that was some little nothin' club hit from waaayyyy back when I was just learning the queer club racket. "Don Quichotte" by Magazine 60 - but you don't know nuthin bout that. Felt the same respect as the AfrikaLove you spoke of tho!
Posted by: DJDS | September 21, 2007 at 09:29 AM
just do yourself a favor, you know it's wrong. leave the CD, take the canolli.
Posted by: dodger | September 21, 2007 at 10:31 AM
Actually, one half of M.A.N.D.Y is Swiss...
Posted by: jt | September 21, 2007 at 11:03 AM
Here's what I want to know:
1. Why is "Body Language" considered such a classic, Rich? Srsly - I'm increasingly getting back into electrohouse, but Booka Shade bore the fuck outta me (cf. the new DJ Kicks).
2. I wonder, assuming M.A.N.D.Y. vs Booka Shade got co-writing credit on the track, what kind of publishing royalties they'll get for this. I mean, will.i.am's album would seem guaranteed to do a cool 5-10 million (minimum) worldwide, so does this mean the Swiss and Germans are gonna be set for life? Anyone know?
Posted by: Thomas | September 21, 2007 at 12:59 PM
Rich: Agree this is fire. Also check out the mashup of MANDY vs. Missy Elliott's "Lose Control", which is also fire.--FJC
Posted by: Fake Janice Combs | September 21, 2007 at 01:36 PM
as mesntioned above, i bugged out when i heard "got it from momma" over the npr radio at work!
Magazine 60's track being essential & weird, same goes with "Body Language". He also used Sexual Harrassment for that BEP track. Whats with the amazing samples but really dumb tracks?
Posted by: james stacher | September 21, 2007 at 02:54 PM
I was even more shocked that the "Donque" song with Snoop sounded as great as it did, even though it's basically just "Baby Got Back" (or, come to think of it, "My Humps"), just glitzier, 2007-style.
Posted by: be right back | September 21, 2007 at 03:43 PM
You are insane, Will.I.Am is possibly the worst thing going in music today. Not only is he a "Fergie enabler", but that song "Got it from my Mama" is a disgrace to sonic waves. It's as much of a "mail it in" song as can be. He isn't even trying, just asking "pretty ladies to make noise" or whatever. You think there will be many females keeping quiet when that plays in a bar? Of course not. It's laziness at its very finest. For shame.
Posted by: Bill Bixby | September 22, 2007 at 01:07 AM
I didn't like it until the last third when he stopped rapping LOL. But that's not fair because I usually am bored by rap anyway so I discriminate against it. I never understood the appeal of feeling like you're sitting next to some noisy people on the bus who are (whoopdeedoo) talking rhythmically. At best it's a good sandwich artistry soundtrack.
Posted by: matthew | September 22, 2007 at 07:40 AM
As much as his production is great, the lyrics kill me!! It stops me from enjoying the song. On "Get Your Money" it sounds like the vocals were recorded cheaply or in complete diregard of the song, they stand out too much from the music itself (perhaps it's his pitch?).
I think he needs to work with someone who's really good at vocal arrangements in order for me to like him unconditionally. It wasn't until a friend of mine started writing and producing music that I came to respect that part of the process. I feel Timbaland has the same problem too, great beats, but the vocal arrangements and lyrics are trash. He ruined MIA's last track on Kala for me with his verse; which was soo elementary. Just because Missy can do it, doesn't mean you can!!
Also, I was one of the few that allowed myself to enjoy the JJ Fad inspired "Fergilicous" but once I begin to listen what that bag of puss was saying, I can no longer enjoy the song. "I be workin' on my fitness, he my witness."
UGGGHHHHHH!!!!!
Posted by: Brandon H | September 22, 2007 at 05:33 PM
Will.I.am has a such crazy taste in music, so I'm pleasantly surprised. I really dig it. If you haven't yet, please check out other tracks in the cd: One More Chance & Aint It Pretty... such ear candies.
Posted by: Red Ranger | September 22, 2007 at 11:04 PM
Will.I.am has a such crazy taste in music, so I'm pleasantly surprised. I really dig it. If you haven't yet, please check out other tracks in the cd: One More Chance & Aint It Pretty... such ear candies.
Posted by: Red Ranger | September 22, 2007 at 11:06 PM
you know what music you should check out?
Yelle!!! She's an up-and-coming music starlet in France, and although she's only had one album come out (She's just started recently) she has a lot of really good songs.
Posted by: Maxam | September 23, 2007 at 08:39 PM
Great blog! I added you to my blogroll. I'd appreciate it if you'd consider linking back.
Most blogs allow you to enter your blog url in a special field in the comment section. If the blog doesn't have that feature, then you will also need to put my url in the comment.
Posted by: Eric | September 24, 2007 at 03:26 AM
I agree a thousand percent. "Heartbreaker" absolutely kills me.
Posted by: C | September 24, 2007 at 10:48 AM
Ever since this random chick in a bar bathroom in Burlington, VT told me how her friend was nearly raped by will.i.am, I've been unable to be a fan of anything Black Eyed Peas-related.
Well, that... and the fact that they blow.
Posted by: Miss Windjammer | September 24, 2007 at 06:11 PM
I'm gonna have to agree with Bill Bixby
Posted by: eded | September 26, 2007 at 08:39 PM
Let me take you back, back to a time before Fergie and a bar bathroom in Burlington Vermont...once upon a time, I liked the Peas, and they were good. The End.
Posted by: SutanFan | September 27, 2007 at 01:27 AM
my name says it all. it's ok but nothing amazing or poptastic. hopefully it's not a lead single, it sounds like a filler track.
Posted by: blah | September 27, 2007 at 12:23 PM
And this is not the first -- if you haven't already, get his production/collaboration "Sergio Mendes: TIMELESS" -- brilliant from top to bottom. will.i.am. is MUCH better as a producer than a star.
Posted by: Strepsi | September 29, 2007 at 12:02 PM
juQw3K
Posted by: Ypeyteko | July 14, 2009 at 04:07 PM