Single of the Week: Never Never - Brick & Lace

Sometimes I feel like iTunes is reading this column. I realize that sounds like I think iTunes is a sentient being, and if it were true it would also imply that this column has a lot more power than it does. So let’s say instead that I mean the iTunes Single of the Week coordinators could very well be receiving the same complaint I posted in last week’s column and leave it like that. It’s just funny, I think, that the week after I complained about all of the songs having the same description (70s-soft-rock-soul) they decided to shake things up a bit.

(DISCLAIMER: I do, in fact, recognize that iTunes changes their content up all the time. You have to let me have some kind of intro, though, right?)

This week’s song comes from sisters Nyanda and Nailah Thorbourne from Kingston, Jamaica, who heretofore have primarily been known as songwriters for “Janet Jackson, Paris Hilton, and [Pussycat Doll] Nicole Scherzinger,” according to their allmusic.com biography. This should tell you all you need to know about the single.

But just in case you need a little more, here’s the rundown:

What’s the song?

Never Never

Who’s the artist?

Brick & Lace, sister songwriters from Kingston, Jamaica (apparently leather is passé)

What’s the genre?

      Urban/R&B

What does iTunes say about it?

“Brick & Lace are a sister duo from Jamaic who’s been lucky enough to have a mentor by the name of Akon. Never Never is the debut single from the group and it’s our free Single of the Week. The track is a booming midtempo club tune with high-pitched synth guiding the bass lines while the sisters effortlessly trade slick, sassy vocals back and forth. Get it now before the group’s debut, Love is Wicked, is released later this year.”

What’s it sound like?

I’ll be honest; this isn’t my favorite genre of music, mostly because it all sort of ends up sounding the same to my ear. It is very Destiny’s Child, in my opinion, but not quite as interesting.  

How does it work as a single?

Because I don’t get the whole sound, I thought I would turn to my good friend, Tyler, who does, and see what he thought. He’s the Beyonce to my Jennifer Hudson, if you will. Tyler’s verdict? “It’s a free single. It’s not very good.”

Somehow, I feel validated.

How about a whole album?

I guess I don’t see the point. Club tracks seem to me to be designed for single usage. If the single doesn’t hold up, what does it matter if the album works? And chances are, it won’t.

I kind of like this song—what’s another similar single I should check out?

Again, I’m going to turn it over to Tyler. “Like This by Kelly Rowland. It’s way better.”

Forget the rest of that—what’s the bottom line?

Forgettable.        

Guess what time it is…

Flashback Time!

Last week took us to 1997. Here are the top five singles from last week:

1. Can’t Nobody Keep Me Down…Puff Daddy
2. Wannabe…Spice Girls
3. Foolish Games…Jewel (congrats, Josh G.)
4. Un-break My Heart…Toni Braxton
5. In My Bed…Dru Hill (nicely done, Fred)

 This week, we’re going back to 1987. What did Billboard have at the top 20 years ago?

This week, we’re going back to 1987. What did Billboard have at the top 20 years ago?

1. Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
   We all have sorrow
   But if we are wise
   We know that there's always tomorrow
2. Let them say we're crazy.
   I don't care about that.
   Put your hand in my hand, baby, don't ever look back.
   Let the world around us just fall apart.
   Maybe we can make it if we're heart to heart.
3. There's something I want to tell you
   There's something I think that you should know
   It's not that I shouldn't really love you
   Let's take it slow
4. Im coming down, coming down like a monkey, but its alright
   Like a load on your back that you cant see, ooh but its alright
   Try to shake it loose, cut it free, just let it go, get it away from me.
5. Listen to the music on the lake
   Listen to my heart break every time she runs away
   Listen to the banjo wind
   A sad song drifting low
   Listen to the tears roll
   Down my face as she turns to go

Got a guess at these? Post it in the comments. I’ll post the correct entries next week. See you then!

Sarah Erlewine, Music Correspondent:

Sarah’s column, Single of the Week, published every Wednesday to Gather Essentials: Music (http://music.gather.com) is a look at the latest up-and-coming singles highlighted on iTunes and available for free download.

Sarah Erlewine has previously written for the All Music Guide. In her daily life, she is a technical writer for FerrisStateUniversityin Big Rapids, MI.

You can find all of Sarah’s columns at http://www.gather.com/singleoftheweek .

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