There are singers, and then there are entertainers.
Singers, such as Fantasia Barrino, can bring an audience to its feet with the power and emotional pull of their voices. Entertainers, such as Janet Jackson, are usually provocative and able to get down. In rare instances, you can get a mixture of both entertainer and singer in one package — Beyoncé, for example, dominates the music scene because she can dance, sing and do music videos in which she gets wet in the rain and bends over. That out of the way, Jennifer Lopez is an entertainer, because a singer she is not.
Lopez’ latest release, Rebirth, returns J. Lo to hot beats and upbeat music, which is a positive move for her — she’s a flygirl, after all. Her last album, This Is Me … Then, was a train wreck because someone tricked Lopez and told her she was a singer. She then produced an album of midtempos and ballads. Remember the painful-to-listen-to ballad “Dear Ben”?
Yeah, I don’t want to either.
She is on the right track in bringing along Washington’s own Rich Harrison to produce the lead single “Get Right,” a horn sample-heavy track, full of busy noises with Lopez’ vocals thrown on top of the clutter. It works well though, and the catchy hook doesn’t hurt. But wait — those who listen to mix tapes might notice that “Get Right” is in fact a song Usher scrapped for Confessions, called “Ride.” Odd, but not uncommon in pop music today, especially when so many artists use the same producers. Then we get to lullaby ballad “Ryde or Die.” Wait again — she snatched Brandy’s unreleased song “If I (I’ll Do Anything For You)” and re-recorded it. It seems no one is safe; artists, hide your unreleased tracks. Lopez will come and take them, re-record them and make millions off what you didn’t. You know the saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
Lopez works best on Rebirth with Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins. Listening to the songs the two produce together (“I Got You,” “Step Into My World”) it’s easy to see the chemistry is natural. Jerkins, who knows exactly how to work around Jenny’s vocal limitations, has an elaborate production that works magic for her. The album hits a low point with the tired, thug-love ballad “Hold You Down,” featuring Fat Joe. It’s got the formula J. Lo has done over and over again since the success of “I’m Real [Murda Inc. Remix].” It was fun the first time, but no one believes that Lopez has really run the streets holding down some thug. She thuds again with the pop-rock “Cherry Pie” — a song that sounds too juvenile for someone her age and more befitting of Hilary Duff or Ashlee Simpson.
Although Rebirth may be more aptly named “Recycled,” Lopez hits the mark pretty well with what she’s trying to achieve, which is to make enjoyable music that you can “get right” to all night.
