There are two kinds of people. One, who fall in love only once, and for them that defines what love is, how it feels, how it should be. The details of the thing or person or feeling they love gets hard coded into their system. They stick to the familiar, what they understand, and what fits. And the smallest departure from the love 'prototype' makes them uncomfortable, unloved and unconnected. And they don't really then love or even like it.
Then there are the other kind of people, who keep their hearts open to fall in love again and again. They are not in love with a prototype, but are in love with the idea of falling in love. And feel what they feel right then and there. They don't approach every new experience with a checklist of what it needs to tick the box for them to love it or reject it. They give different people, different things, different feelings, different experiences a chance, and give themselves a chance to fall in love again and again.
Black Eyed Peas' The End (Energy Never Dies) is for the 2nd group of people. It is not 'just another' hip hop music album from BEP. It does not fit the prototype. It breaks expectations, surprises you, moves you, shocks you, and pleases you. It's a complete journey for the senses, full of non- stop stimulation, one track after another. An album, strictly for the BEP fans... Strictly!
Boom Boom Pow... The perfect first song of the Album that sets the tone for the rest of the album, saying clearly that this album is for the 2nd group of people. It's not what you would expect from BEP. And yet exactly what you would expect of them. "They like to cover my swagger, I'm on my next shit now. I'm so three thousand and eight, you're so two thousand and late" says it all.
Meet Me Halfway, the first song release from the album, is a great ballad, done in classic BEP style. In fact, it's the safest track for those who still have Elephunk and Monkey Business as the benchmark. It hits the spot, with Fergie's gorgeous crooning and Will I Am's counter-rap. Reminiscent of Shut Up and Don't Phunk With My Heart, this one delights easily.
I Gotta Feeling, that tonight's gonna be a good night, that tonight's gonna be a good good night, a feeling, ooooo hooooo. What more can one say. The quintessential party-all-night-long song. The one song in the album that is for everyone, not just BEP fans. A universal, no-brainer hit. Takes a lot more meaning especially after the 3rd Rum and Cola. The other song in the album with the same sentiment, but different rhythm is Party All Night.
Now Generation. Country style guitar? Am I still on the same album? Beats that are definitely more 80s pop, it's a completely different style of music in this one, vs rest of the album. A little stereotypical picture of the Now Generation, but when did we listen to BEP for deeper meaning.
One Tribe. This one is the deeper meaning and purpose. The purpose that BEP has always stood for. The purpose that all music always stands for. One world, One love, One tribe. The one track that's always there in every BEP album. "Where is the Love" of Elephunk, "Union" of Monkey Business. We hear you BEP everytime and we're on it.
Rocking to the Beat. This is easily my favourite track of the album. Pure music genius is what BEP have on offer in this. Techno is where it starts (did you say BEP is a hip hop band?), taking you straight to the 90s, the synthesizer, the digital sounds...and then it quickly transforms to the disco beats of the 80s. You're like "whooa where did that come from" and quickly realise it's only the beginning. Pretty soon the techno is back and then it's time for Will to weave his magic and the hop begins " whats a DJ without a turntable, what's a hot girl if she can't really dance", and then back to a reverie of techno, hip hop, disco, beats, guitar, going back and forth, up and down, surprising you with every test, every turn, every second, till you're completely full with the ride of your life, leaving you heaving and sighing, craving for more.
Missing You and Alive are the other love ballads of the album, in true BEP style, this time again mixing 90s Cher-style heart-break song with BEP style. Must listen to, for that love song future sound. The first is the girls' song, and the 2nd is the boys' song. Enjoy.
No one album experiments and tries out such different styles of music within the same album as this one does. This makes the album one helluva roller coaster ride. Yup, Black Eyed Peas' The END is not for the faint hearted. Its not like anything else you've heard. It's nothing like what you would expect from a BEP. But, that's exactly the point. And exactly, why it works. Rock On, BEP!
Neo,
ReplyDeleteI do think you've been too kind to the Peas, because the point to experimentation surely is to reinvent, no? And I don't think they've managed to do that with The End. They're so talented they should be upping their game, not falling back on stitching Autotune onto Fergie's vocal chords. Everyone does that! But not everyone gives back to RD Burman, which they did.
If I were will.i.am though, I'd really appreciate the case you make for my band, though. Likening it to the falling in love definitions. Nicely done!
Thanks Derrin' though youre probably right that I am biased to BEP. I did think there was a lot of experimentation, that I loved. Re-invention is possibly for later, when they go out of style. They ain't outa style yet tho'...
ReplyDelete