Average rank: 4.00 #1 votes: 3 (A Little Unruly, I am your light, Frozen99)
On Loose, Nelly treats sexuality with all the subtlety one might expect of such an abrupt makeover; it’s loud, aggressive and brashly confident. This second single—inspired by the Hall & Oates hit of the same name—is the ‘80s synth-rock equivalent of a blaring neon that shouts “You either wanna be with me or be me!” Nelly doesn’t come across nearly as sexy as she feels, but damn if her commands to “move your body around like nympho” aren’t irresistibly fierce. A massive success across Europe, “Maneater” failed to make a significant impact in the US outside of dance clubs as it was overshadowed by the #1 hits that sandwiched its release.
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Originally posted by I am your light
“Maneater" for me is the best song of Loose because it represents a nice example of how much an pop artist can extended his/her musical experience can be. Also, it represents a strong feminine anthem. It shows how a woman can go out and gets however many men she wants without give any care of what people think.
This was released in so many countries like the album's first single and it was so well-received because of its fresh and catchy production. Timbaland and Danja did great on here. The beat, the synths and principally the background vocals along with Nelly's vocals are the highlights. The ’80s vibes of the song also can give a nostalgia to anyone who was born at that time or even enjoy ’80s jams.
For me, "Maneater" means a good time in my life, back in 2006/2007 when I was almost graduating from Junior High. Me and some of my friends at the time used to blast this song along with her other smash hits during the breaks between the classes. That's why I love it so much, it gives me a nostalgia from such good times
Average rank: 2.53 #1 votes: 10 (PrinceMichaelFan, Dark Miracles, HandsOn, Body Talk, UnusualBoy, ThisCharmingMan, karma police, lovetrueromance, supaspaz, Quicksand)
It’s the rare song you hear for the first time and instantly know it’s a classic. But that’s how it felt discovering this third single from Loose, with its enchanting tapestry of drum machine kicks and claps, electric guitar and echoing vocals that still sounds like it’s beaming in from somewhere 20 years down the line. Bolstered by the mystical mumbo-jumbo of the lyrics—in which Nelly ponders taking things all the way, physically and emotionally, with someone she’s unsure is worthy—it exudes an otherworldly power and uplift that goes beyond mere pop music. That may be the secret behind its enduring appeal. A #1 hit and Grammy nominee in its time, “Say It Right” remains Loose’s most beloved track.
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Originally posted by Dark Miracles
What to make of 'Loose'? Well, like all of Nelly's albums, as wildly different as they may be, the title encapsulates everything perfectly. In 2015, in a wonderful hour-long interview (despite a less wonderful host), she summarized that the album was a result of her tan, believe it or not. "Woo I don't know what's come over me! *cackles*" She let loose, of both her inhibitions and the way she previously created music, and perched on Timbaland's spontaneous music wave to make a low-key dark manifesto on a woman's sexuality and sense of longing.
The music connected with the worldwide public, and brought Nelly a whole new level of success. Some people dubbed her a sellout because she was being too sexy (what?), despite being fully dressed in every music video, photoshoot etc. It was a wonderful reinvention, misunderstood by some, in which she harkened back to the more R&B and urban utensils of her musical toolbox (“Get Ur Freak On” remix e.g.)
Lettuce also give it up for Danja, who co-produced the entire album as Tim's protegé and solely produced the incredible "Showtime," a song that features an outro that makes my heart both weak and grow fonder.
One of my favorite qualities of the album is the vocal production. Timbaland's beats are powerful and rough, and can easily drown out vocalists who don't know how to command them. Nelly, along with 5 or 6 other people like for example Missy, are a perfect fit. In Nelly's case, her vocals are a little too nasal to just be splattered and overshadowed by Timothy's soundboard, and courtesy of Jim Beanz's vocal production, they ended up strikingly complementing the slick production on “Say It Right” and “Promiscuous” and the harsh, thumping production on “Maneater” and “Wait For You.” The insular “Afraid,” which starts off the album, to me is a great symbol of Nelly's state of mind while making this album. She preaches in the verses using her lower register and bursts out of her seams in the chorus. Maybe she really was afraid of what people might say, but thank god for that.
Favorite song: “Say It Right. “It is simply my favorite song of all time. I remember when I first heard, I recall the transcendent feeling I got when hearing it, I remember where I went later that night. It's a musical easter egg for me, a wrinkle in time.
