Mary J Blige ft 50 Cent - 'MJB Da MVP'
If there was one thing which made 2006 stand out from previous pop years, it's the fact that music makers of all stripes seem to have collectively and suddenly become bored with the kind of stuff they'd be making up until now and decided to go NUTS. How many times this year has a song come out to a deafening cry of "THIS SHOULD NOT WORK, BUT.."?
You want examples? No problem. Acoustifolk popstrel turns into sex-robot? That'll be Nelly Furtado. Black-hearted rockers re-invent Queen? Step forward My Chemical Romance. Old session muso-types create pop-rock album of the year using the early '70s as their main reference point? We're all feeling the Feeling, aren't we?
So here's the on-paper report. Mary J, having released her greatest hits, has released a breezy ode to her entire life in music thus far. It's very warm, light and frothy, and obviously heartfelt, given the subject matter. Which, if you'll forgive a dreadful pun, makes it a summery (the season) summary (list) of SOME of MARY'S best musical moments. (Oh come on, some-mary? Summary? No? Bah! You're mean.)
Still here? Phew! As I was saying, this shouldn't work, cos it's just a diary set to music, although the music itself is pretty great ('70s funk band doing 'Stronger' by the Sugababes, if you're wondering). But then, in between Mary's lists and thoughts comes Fiddy with his tiny, but perfect rap, and suddenly the song takes off.
So, although not as brilliantly brilliant as any of the examples above, this is still a welcome addition to the list of pop gambles which paid off in 2006. Let's see if we can't amp this up in the new year, eh? James Blunt's comeback had better contain some METAL or there will be trouble...
Released: December 18th
Listen to the song at
(Fraser McAlpine)
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