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Special Event: atrlcritic | Ed Sheeran's new songs after the upgrade
Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 13,055
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Heartbeat Song - Kelly Clarkson
I have a very open mind for every type of music and I enjoy all genres but this song really doesn't help her, at all. She has a really amazing range, a fantastic voice and popularity that can make any song a hit (if she wanted), but she can't choose the right songs to release. This song is bland, generic and not original.
She tries to show her vocal range but she fails because this song doesn't suit her powerful voice. The chorus doesn't help her either, it's too slow for a song that starts making you feel like it will be a powerful song that you will be singing with your friends until you can't scream anymore. When I first heard it (before the chorus), I thought the song was decent but after I gave it a full listen, my opinion completely changed. I never give negative reviews but sorry Ms. Clarkson.
2/10
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Member Since: 3/21/2012
Posts: 55,134
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Some of you gurls are just 
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Member Since: 3/14/2013
Posts: 37,294
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When is the deadline for HBS?
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by Already Gone
When is the deadline for HBS?
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Tomorrow night. I can extend it if you are busy though. 
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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Kelly Clarkson - Heartbeat Song
In a pop landscape dominated by artists that seem pent up on constantly one-upping each other, setting the newest trends, or re-inventing themselves from era to era with diminishing and tiring results, it's refreshing to have a musician who sticks to her guns, knows who she is, and seems intent on honing her work. "Heartbeat Song" doesn't differ too much sonically from the majority of other Kelly Clarkson singles, "Since U Been Gone," "My Life Would Suck Without You," "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," but it does need to be different from those hits; Kelly knows what she does best and she does it well.
At this point in her career, Kelly is a veteran artist, but she still is bringing the spunky and likeable energy to her songs that made people fall in love with her in the first place (does anyone else this far into their career sound like they're having as much fun singing on record as she does?) which is refreshing to hear. "Heartbeat Song" also, perhaps not coincidentally, happens to be one of the most joyous and brightly extroverted songs of the year so far (it also happens to be better than many of the dreadful singles of the last year). There's no frills here, no pretense, no feaux-edginess, no trend hopping. It's just a typically solid pop song from an artist who's made a career out of solid pop songs; something near revolutionary in today's pop landscape.
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Grade B+
 My Reviews
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Member Since: 3/7/2012
Posts: 11,952
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^ I love your review, Bloomers! 
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Member Since: 3/14/2013
Posts: 37,294
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Quote:
Originally posted by alexanderao
Tomorrow night. I can extend it if you are busy though. |
No worries I am trying to have it by tonight
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 4/24/2011
Posts: 8,547
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Rihanna feat. Paul McCartney & Kanye West - "FourFiveSeconds" --- (9/10)
Genre: Pop Soul, Folk Pop
Maybe be the best thing about this song isn't, you know, the song itself. The song is a really cute, super organic folk-pop ballad with some great vocals by Rihanna, Kanye West's vocals have no trace of auto-tune, and Paul's contribution is pretty good as well, also that bridge is something completely epic, who knew Rihanna had so much soul inside of her? You know, an entire album full of these songs would probably kill me (and not exactly in a positive sense of the word) - but this is actually great!
But probably the best thing about this is, is how... odd the entire situation is. I could imagine everyone's first reaction to this: Rihanna making a song with Paul McCartney and Kanye West? "Interesting!" That song being a Folk/Soul ballad? "Wait... what?" And that song being the lead single of her much anticipated eighth album? No one could EVER have guessed it. Rihanna becoming the Death Grips of Pop music? That's a really odd choice, but the weirdest thing, is, why people never expected that of her before?
Honestly, TRF.
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Member Since: 4/29/2012
Posts: 15,977
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Rihanna f/Kanye West & Paul McCartney - FourFiveSeconds
For the lead single of her eight album Rihanna has booked herself no other than modern day genius Kanye West and the legend that is Paul McCartney.Obviously set to expand her sound, FourFiveSeconds shows Rihanna in a way we've never heard her before. FourFiveSeconds is a mellow and stripped down acoustic guitar driven song that has nothing at all to do with Rihanna's usual heavy synthesized beats.The focus really lies on her vocals which are by far the best thing about the song and what will keep people listening, because unfortuanately both Kanye and Paul fall short.
Kanye still hasn't realised his singing talent is extremely limited and his verses drag down the song quite a bit with them missing both passion and a feeling for pleasent singing voal arrangements. Paul's guitar playing sounds fresh for a second in combination with pop star Rihanna but it's in itself quite uninspired and a little bit of a bore.
Lyrically the song is a simple and postive carefree song that doesn't try to be more and isn't anything less.
Final Say: Rihanna's comeback single is a departure for both Kanye and Rihanna from their respective music style and while it is a nice song to sing along too it doesn't have the sticking power Rihanna's music usually has and leaves Kanye looking like a third class country singer instead of the greatest rapper of all time that he is.
5.5/10
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Member Since: 3/1/2014
Posts: 14,803
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Wait, we can give 0? Is it too late to change my score?
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Member Since: 8/19/2011
Posts: 37,346
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FourFiveSeconds x Rihanna x Paul McCartney x Kanye West
Rihanna is the latest to hop aboard the surprise train after dropping the lead single from her highly anticipated #R8 out of nowhere last Saturday night. The song leans between folk and pop and showcases the singer in a way we've never seen her before: with her vocals front and center. The song seems to be very polarizing among listeners but I find it to be really good. "I'm tryna make it back home by Monday morning, I swear I wish somebody would try me, oooh that's all I want" she sings melodiously over an acoustic guitar played by legendary Paul McCartney of The Beatles UNTIL Kanye West swoops in and ruins the song with his terrible wailing. Kanye is a lyrical genius as A RAPPER and that's where he should stay and I'll leave it at that. Overall, I think highly of the song BUT, as a Rihanna fan, it doesn't pack the punch of a Rihanna lead single especially when it's to kick off her first album in 2 years. Even Rated R's "Russian Roulette" was more exciting and eventful. This is an album track at best but if I know Rihanna, and I know her well, she'll be sure to serve up plenty of catchy hits so no worries on this side.
7.5/10
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 20,654
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not more Beyhives than Navys reviewing this 
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Member Since: 9/1/2013
Posts: 4,260
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Quote:
Originally posted by WeFoundWill
not more Beyhives than Navys reviewing this |
I mean
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Member Since: 12/21/2011
Posts: 12,474
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Screaming at this thread
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Member Since: 6/5/2010
Posts: 6,067
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Quote:
Originally posted by Cupid
Says a lot really. They shouldn't be.
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Of course they should. Zeroes are as valid as tens (which I see being thrown around like they mean nothing quite often here).
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Member Since: 8/28/2012
Posts: 34,863
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Quote:
Originally posted by Iman
FourFiveSeconds is Rihanna's first lead single since 2012. Even though the break wasn't that long, it felt like a decade because Rihanna usually releases ok and fun singles that are quickly forgotten. FourFiveSeconds is everything but that. It sounds pretentious and lackluster. Paul McCartney's acoustic guitar is forgettable and we've all heard better guitar riffs. For me Kanye is the only redeeming part of this track. For Rihanna to deliver such a raw and stripped song, she needed more powerful vocals, more grit, vocal control and soul. All of which she failed to demonstrate in this song. I'm also not impressed by the lyrics. I found them repetitive and they don't tell a good story. For a song that is trying to be serious, I expected more. In the meantime, I'll stick to Alabama Shakes who have already perfected this soulful country sound. Maybe the problem with this song is that it doesn't go all the way with the experimentation and it sucks.
0/10
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Quote:
Originally posted by BYoncé
FourFiveSeconds
In a world of rush releases, pop emergencies, and the ever present label of BEYONCÉ'd, Rihanna remained quiet, having waited over two years since her last release. Artists take breaks all the time, but for an artist known to remain a near omnipresence around the top of the charts with A-Game material, this absence was abnormally quiet, especially by Rihanna standards. The track features fellow recording veterans Kanye West and Paul McCartney. Compared to snippeted songs from the hush hush R8 sessions, FFS is quite underwhelming. While her contemporaries have all owned simple acoustic tracks in the past, this is a semi-first for Rihanna, especially for a lead single. Rihanna's vocals by itself are homely, but feel as though she's going out of it's way to be imperfect. The production is a disappointment, the song never feels like it's going anywhere, lost amidst it's collaborators, unable to find it's place almost. The chorus is nearly beautiful, simple guitar, Rih and Kanye impress, but on his verses, Kanye feels weird, with a small voice interrupted with his own (is it Paul's?). Rihanna never hits the mark for the great, relatable and down to Earth delivery that it looks like she was aiming for, simply giving it her average to nearly annoying the entire time. When it seems like it's finally her time to shine, the guitars fade out, with a sort of church organ accompanying her shrill, brassy, flat notes and her awkward delivery. It reminds this reviewer of a leaked Madonna demo in that the production is charming for an unfinished piece, but you can hear where it so desperately needed to be fixed.
For what seems to be a spiritual successor to Cheers (Drink to That)'s catchiness and fun, whether it's the attempt at capturing the fleeting nature of life or Rihanna trying to gain credibility with critics who claim her music has no substance, her and this track falter, leaving the final piece devoid of the same charm it's predecessor had and ultimately making her big return to the music scene a decisive mistake. If her past albums and material has proved anything, it's that even a bad lead single doesn't indicate that we should count Rihanna out, only the full R8 album will prove if her reign won't let up.
0 / 10
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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The Lowdown: Change of pace for Rihanna has its ups and downs, but ultimately tries just a bit too hard.
The acoustic guitar that abruptly kicks off FourFiveSeconds signifies a fresh start to a new era for Rihanna. It is surprisingly reminiscent of the guitar in Taylor Swift's 22, with a cozy feel to it that creates an intimate, calm atmosphere for the listener. Rihanna's vocals are deliberately sincere, but still pleasant to listen to. After listening to the first thirty seconds of the song for the first time (as the RihannaNow website had reverted back to its state of buffering), I was intrigued to see where the song would go. I like how she uses both her lower register and her higher register in the first verse, and how no time is wasted in getting to the breezy, folky chorus. McCartney's guitar playing is great and he places emphasis on some notes to give the song a more relaxed feel.
Unfortunately, after the promising first 45 seconds of the track, Kanye West's first verse occurs. I understand why West is featured in the song (he and McCartney's ongoing project has been widely publicized), but his attitude, voice, and demeanor don't seem to fit the nature of FourFiveSeconds at all. He does his best to replicate the straightforward, genuine feel that Rihanna and McCartney bring to the table, but instead comes off as a naive man who hopped onto the track to regain some credibility among pop listeners who felt alienated by Yeezus. It doesn't help that his first couplet is cheesy enough that it was the first line I remembered from the song ("Woke up an optimist/Sun was shining, I'm positive"). You're going to have to do a little better than that if you want to come across as genuinely invested in the emotions of the song, Kanye.
My personal favorite part of the song comes immediately after Kanye's verse. Over notes from a simple organ, Rihanna flaunts her vocal range, effortlessly transitioning from power to grace and from high to low. This small portion of the song is when it feels most authentic, where it seems that Rihanna is most engaged in her venture to explore new sounds and branch out as an artist. But soon after, that flash of authenticity vanishes as Kanye sings his second verse. The song, however, does end on a decent note, quickly ending after a final chorus.
Because minimalism and simplicity has been a general trend in pop music over the last year, I can't exactly commend Rihanna for making such a song. However, at times I quite enjoyed the brevity and refreshing feel of FourFiveSeconds. The song also has a very unique structure (verse-chorus-bridge-verse-chorus) which actually works well due to the intrinsic nature of the song- I feel like the purpose of the song was almost to make a song that, while staying firmly inside the pop genre, strayed as far from trends at the moment as possible. It noticeably failed in one aspect (minimalism) but succeeded in others. This song tries to create an intimate atmosphere that other folk-inspired songs brought to the mainstream (Ho Hey, I Will Wait, If I Die Young, etc.) about 3-4 years ago. This song comes within shouting distance of such a feeling, but several things stop it from achieving its goal. Besides Kanye's verse, certain parts of the song still give off a mainstream feeling (not that that's bad, but it does go against the aim of the song). The lyrics range from standard and unremarkable to pointlessly corny, and it almost seems like the artists go out of their way to attempt to sound relaxed and innocent.
An adequate effort overall, FourFiveSeconds is a nice departure from the dance-pop and R&B-influenced pop that we have heard time and time again from Rihanna. But after every listen to What's My Name?, I am reminded of the brilliance Rihanna can produce. FourFiveSeconds, while certainly not grating on the ears, is really not very memorable or special in the end.
Reviews:
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Member Since: 3/14/2013
Posts: 37,294
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"Heartbeat Song", the lead single from Kelly Clarkson's upcoming seventh studio album (or sixth if you don't count her Christmas album as one) named "Piece By Piece".
The single was definitely made to be eaten up by the radio and the pop fans and it was not meant to be something very personal or revolutionary. It is produced by Greg Kurstin like her last hit "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You). I have had the song on replay for a long time ever since its release but it is far from being Kelly's best material. However, it's not as bad as some people say it is and I can't really find it that generic as many people here describe it.
Overall, I think Kelly's single is good for a return, but I think we all expected something better from her. I am still gonna keep the "up, up, up, up all night long" part in my head for the entire year.
9/10
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 37,384
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These messy FFS reviews
I'll get started on my FFS and HS reviews right now
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 37,384
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Rihanna & Kanye West & Paul McCartney - FourFiveSeconds
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If there's anything I didn't expect from Rihanna's comeback single, it would be exactly this. A twangy, soulful, upbeat song, FourFiveSeconds is a far cry from the Calvin Harris assisted dance pop of "We Found Love" and the urban tinged Sia ballad "Diamonds". Both were classic Rihanna, and found success both on the charts and with critics, as they were written to do. FourFiveSeconds, however, is a very different song. It sounds nothing like what's trending on radio or what typically fills a 13 year old girl's playlist. The song itself has proven polarizing to fans and haters alike. Yet, somehow, the song finds success in its stark range of reception. Already, the song has propelled itself to the higher parts of the iTunes chart; high enough to be called a success, but not quite enough to be called a smash. Reception from critics has been positive, but not quite positive enough to call it acclaimed. Personally, I consider it the best career move Rihanna has made since the aforementioned We Found Love. That song had a similar trajectory itself; a lukewarm initial reception followed by a legacy unmatched by the majority of pop songs released this decade. I see FourFiveSeconds ending with similar success. The hooks are simple but catchy. The lyrics are accessible yet refreshingly honest. And the collaborators are legendary. For me it's no question whether this song will make an impact in pop history. Within months radio will be roaring with similarly soulful stripped back folk/pop songs, as listeners remember FourFiveSeconds as the first iconic shift in the ever changing pop tide.
10/10
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Kelly Clarkson - Heartbeat Song
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Like it or not, Kelly Clarkson has been the face of Top 40 radio for the past decade since her coronation as radio queen during the Breakaway era. She helped make pop/rock cool again alongside fellow poprockers Avril Lavigne and P!nk, and helped the genre maintain popularity well into this decade with hits like Stronger as late as 2012. And now, after an extended hiatus and a few under-performances from her Greatest Hits album, Kelly is back again in an attempt to reclaim her throne at Top 40. This time, however, the crown may stay just out of her grasp. Heartbeat Song is simultaneously everything that made Clarkson a star and everything that made her last two radio singles a failure. From a formulaic perspective the song is a success. Clarkson's powerful, breathy tone stays at the forefront of the rock and dance influenced pop track throughout the song as hook after hook layer on top of each other. Still, the song seems disconnected and the verses feel as if they lead to something bigger. The chorus itself functions fine as a fist in the air type anthem, but fails to rise anywhere memorable. Kelly has proved me wrong before, as the radio fodder lead single of her last album eventually peaked inside the top 10. Still, I don't see this song as a success critically or commercially, especially after her long absence and recent radio missteps. I remain in anticipation of Clarkson's Piece by Piece, but as the title suggest, she'll have to work harder to restore radio and the general public's trust in her ability to craft perfect pop songs piece by piece.
5/10
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Other Reviews
SINGLES
Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang 9/10
Carrie Underwood - Something In the Water 10/10
One Direction - Steal My Girl 4/10
Gwen Stefani - Baby Don't Lie 6/10
Iggy Azalea feat. MØ - Beg For It 9/10
Imagine Dragons - I Bet My Life 10/10
Ariana Grande feat. The Weeknd - Love Me Harder 8/10
Selena Gomez - The Heart Wants What It Wants 8/10
Beyonce - 7/11 3/10
ALBUMS
Tove Lo - Queen of the Clouds 8.5/10
Tinashe - Aquarius 9.5/10
Hozier - Hozier 6.8/10
Jessie Ware - Tough Love 8.7/10
Taylord Swift - 1989 6.3/10
Calvin Harris - Motion 6.0/10
Azalea Banks - Broke With Expensive Taste 7.3/10
Nicki Minaj - The PinkPrint 9.3/10
Meghan Trainor - Title 7.6/10
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