Pharrell Williams (also known as Skateboard P) is back at it again, hoping to gain much more positive exposure with his second solo album “GIRL,” released on March 5. His first solo album, released back in 2006, “In My Mind” didn’t turn out so good within the eyes of the critics and his fans. Now, at the age of 40, he’s hoping for some positive results, and he is headed on the right track with his newly released single “Happy” after it shot to number one on the music charts.
Although radio stations play the song to death, it still makes me want to scream and shout “because I’m happy” and next thing you know it I’m either blasting it in my car or dancing around my house. Throughout the album you can hear nice guitar lines, which bring funk with a taste of the R&B singer Prince.
The first track on the album “Marilyn Monroe” is not a track you want to skip over. It has a great beat and a bumping bass line alongside the interesting lyrics about a helpless romantic and the perfect lady. Pharrell sings, “Not even Marilyn Monroe (Marilyn Monroe)/Who Cleopatra (‘Patra Please)/Not even Joan of Arc (Joan of Arc)/That don’t mean nothing to me/I just want a different girl.” The meaning behind the lyrics is that he not too fond of the beauty queens of history, and that he is just into girls with their own attitudes and personality.
The second track on the album “Brand New,” featuring Justin Timberlake, has a mixture of vocals and movable beats that make you want to grab somebody and just get up and dance the night away. “Brand New” is personally my favorite track on the album and leaves you feeling refreshed and brand new. Pharrell made a wise decision collaborating with Justin Timberlake because their vocals are so in harmony and the lyrics are so catchy that after only hearing one verse, you already know the entire song.
“Hunter” is the third track on the album has the same cool beats like the rest of the songs but with a twist of funk and groove that kind of reminds me of a mixture of Prince and James Brown. Critics say “Gosh,” which is the fourth track on “GIRL,” reminds some people of Prince’s “Black Sweat” but more of a better, modern version than Prince’s song.
On most albums, only the first couple of songs are good, but then once you get to the bottom half of the album, the songs start to fade from being decent to just okay. However, Pharrell manages to keep my interest on the second half of the album with a track featuring Miley Cyrus titled, “Come Get It Bae,” where you get to hear Miley less raunchy voice. Despite some people hating Miley, she actually makes the song sounds 10 times better with her vocals on the track.
Pharrell changes the beat up with “Gust of Wind,” with his third collaboration with Daft Punk. According to Billboard.com, the track features a rush of Zimmer strings that sounds like, well, a gust of wind. Daft Punk is credited as contributing vocals, but the creepy computerized hook sounds more like Pharrell himself climbed into one of the robot helmets.
Pharrell seems to have a variety of love songs on this album, and “Love Queen” stands out from the rest because in the background. You can hear hand drums and humming, which is different from the rest of the tracks within the album. Then, there’s this love song featuring Alicia Keys titled “I Know Who You Are” where you get an idea of Pharrell’s sensitive side when he sings, “I know who you are and I know what you’re feeling.”
Pharrell closes the album with “It Girl.” The premise behind this track, according to Billboard.com, is that this song is an ode to the creative (also, sexual) power of muses and contains the line “your waves wash all over me.”
Overall the album was filled with beats and a lot of inspiration from pervious soul and R&B artists such as James Brown, Prince and even some Michael Jackson.However, if there is one thing that I learned from this album: Pharrell really loves women and many have been the inspiration behind this worth listening to album. So, with that being said, make sure you pick up a copy of “GIRL,” and I promise you that you won’t be disappointed.
PHOTO TAKEN from popsugar.com
