Artist- Cheryl Cole
Album- 3 Words
Out of all the girls that formed British girl band Girls
Aloud, Cheryl Cole is undeniably the leader of the pack when it comes to
carving out a solo career, with three solo number 1’s and a further two top ten
hits under her musical belt. Yet whilst the singer has had a strong solo
career, her sales have dipped with each consecutive album she has released.
Now, as she prepares to reportedly release her fourth studio album in 2014, it
would seem that her success may never reach the heights that her million
selling debut album did. However, is 3 Words actually an album that deserves to
have sold a million copies, or was this album more built on luck and hysteria
surrounding the singer’s high profile role on the UK X Factor and the fact that
this was the first solo record not only from Cole, but from any of the members
of Girls Aloud?
Track 1- 3 Words
(featuring will.i.am)
3 Words begins the record off with a slow building dance pop
sound that finds the singer vocally duetting with Black Eyed Peas member
will.i.am, a close friend and the records executive producer. The song focuses
on the two artists playing lovers who sing of being saved by the other person
saying that they love them. The lyrics are a bit clunky in their structure and
the message is a bit too simple and clichéd, whilst the vocals of the two
artists don’t blend smoothly enough to make the track seem really sincere. The
only thing that really salvages the song is the production, which utilises
acoustic guitar loops and piano melodies to create this soft, shimmering sound
that gives the song a slightly intense feel, whilst the chorus is kicked into a
higher gear with the use of heavy bass and some synth notes.
2.5/5
Track 2- Parachute
From the dance pop sound of the previous track we are taken
into a more straightforward pop route with Parachute, with RnB rhythms
pulsating underneath the track. The song focuses on Cole both sweetly and
sultrily declaring that she doesn’t need anything else expect the person who
loves her, as she feels safe in their arms, with subtle elements of paranoia
also being present in the lyrics. Vocally the singer is much stronger within
this effort, with the light tone of her voice suiting the lyrical sentiment and
being elevated by the layering of her voice within the chorus, allowing the
song to become a catchier listen. Production wise the track features some
marching style drum beats and smooth string arrangements, as well as some soft
piano instrumentation that just creates an airy tone for the track that makes
this a nice pop tune.
3.5/5
Track 3- Heaven
(featuring will.i.am)
The first of three songs co-written by Cole, Heaven finds
will.i.am coming on board again for another dance pop driven love song,
although this track has a bit more of an RnB vibe on top of the dance sound.
Lyrically the song finds Cole simply telling her lover that she hopes he knows
that being with him is pure bliss for her. The lyrical sentiment is very
clichéd and vocally this is an uncomfortable listen as the weakness of the singer’s
voice is more prominent within the track, whilst the chorus is pitched too high
and just sounds annoying. In terms of will.i.am’s presence on the track, he
basically adds a rap that will go over your head and gives us small vocal
moments that gives a two sided quality to the track that is just bland. The
juddering synths and pulsating dance rhythm is equally as bland, creating an
inoffensive sound that just makes the song a complete package of being boring.
1.5/5
Track 4- Fight for This
Love
Cole’s first single as a solo artist and her biggest selling
single to date, Fight For This Love is a synth based pop/RnB track that finds
the singer telling the listener of how relationships can be rocky, but
sometimes you have to fight for love. The lyrics are tightly structured with a
catchy pop chorus and nicely subdued but airy verses. Vocally the track is nice
with the singer’s soft tone bringing an element of sincerity to the songs
message, whilst in the chorus the singer becomes a bit more forceful. The
chorus is also made stronger by the layered style of the vocal. The light synth
production with the use of some drums makes for a nice pop sound that you can
easily dance around to, and whilst the song isn’t innovative in its message or
sound, it is a solid slice of pop made all the better by the singers undeniable
charm.
3.5/5
Track 5- Rain on Me
Rain on Me is a nice pop track that has a bit of a soulful
RnB edge and which finds the singer being a bit feistier. Lyrically the track finds
Cole just telling people that she will not give them the pleasure of seeing if
they hurt her not. The track has an empowering quality and although elements of
the chorus feel slightly awkward, for the most part the lyrics are smartly
compiled to be readily accessible and catchy. The singer is vocally stronger
within this track, and whilst she doesn’t hit the high notes in the way you
would want a solo singer to, this song definitely shows off some of the Cole’s range
very nicely. The sound of the track is also fun with a cool blend of twinkling
piano melodies with some subtle horn blasts and a snappy beat that just creates
this really enjoyable sound, and it is surprise that this wasn’t a single.
3.5/5
Track 6- Make Me Cry
The second song co-written by Cole, Make Me Cry is an
initially intriguing track with the bubbling, snappy beat at the beginning. But
after that the song settles back into a bland dance pop/RnB sound. The song is
another track in which the singer is a bit feistier, although she is also
vulnerable, as she tells her lover to stop trying to hurt her if that is what
he is doing, because she loves him and doesn’t want to lose him. The lyrics are
ok but the chorus is really annoying with the repeated lyric of ‘are you trying
to make me cry?’ Vocally the track is also just ok, as Cole’s voice gives a
smooth feel to the song but she is not a strong enough vocalist to really bring
out the passion of the lyrics, whilst the chorus is also a bit annoying through
the use of Auto Tune. The production is ok with a fuzzy synth base and some
funky guitar rhythms, but the track just kind of floats along on the sound and
doesn’t grab your attention, whilst the last minute of the song should have
definitely been cut.
2.5/5
Track 7- Happy Hour
Happy Hour finds the singer edging more into RnB and
flourishes of pop, with the song also having a slight 60’s feel. The weird
backing vocal that is constant throughout the track is really annoying, but
apart from that the production is solid with a groovy beat and simple melodies
that just creates a smooth sound for the singer’s vocals. Within the song Cole
shines vocally as things are kept simple and effective, with the layered style
of the vocal once again working really well. The lyrical content of the track
is much more interesting than previous songs as the singer details a
relationship where she is both in bliss with this person, and he drives her
crazy, with the lyrics being compiled into a complete package of interesting
verses and a catchy chorus.
3.5/5
Track 8- Stand Up
Co-written by pop star Taio Cruz, Stand Up is an up tempo
dance pop number that is all about Cole telling the listener that she has come
here to dance and that they should join her in feeling the music and living
life. The song is lyrically plain but effective, with a nice pop chorus that is
immediately catchy. In terms of the vocals the song is strong through the fact
that things are kept on a simple level, with the singer’s vibrant personality
also shining through in the songs pace. Cruz and co-writer and co-producer
Fraser T Smith provide a fun synth based sound for the record with snappy beats
that makes the song just ready for the dance floor. Cruz also provides a cool
but uncredited guest rap, and it just feels like this track was tailor made to
be a single.
3.5/5
Track 9- Don’t Talk
About This Love
Originally sung by Nikola Rachelle, Don’t Talk About This
Love is a mid tempo pop track that finds the singer going a bit deeper into her
emotions. Here we find Cole singing of her wish for her and her lover to hide
their relationship, as she doesn’t want to hear people’s judgements and needs
to also figure out her own insecurities about the relationship. The lyrics are
composed in a straightforward and honest way, and vocally the singer is really
great within this song, with the vocal performance being soft and understated
and really playing to the Cole’s strengths. The songs production features a
smart blend of strings and guitar with subtle piano notes for a sound that is
as delicate and passionate as the lyrics.
3.5/5
Track 10- Boy Like
You (featuring will.i.am)
Boy Like You is the final song co-written by Cole, and once
again she teams up with will.i.am. Here the singer samples Fleetwood Mac’s 1987
single ‘Little Lies’. Cole sings of making this boy hers because there is
something about him that makes her feel so good. The song is reduced to bland
cliché and the singer isn’t strong enough vocally to convey the songs stomping
electro and RnB pop feel to the full effect it deserves. Once again will.i.am
just adds some annoying vocals to the song and just makes it seem like he
wanted to feature on as many songs as he could, whilst the fuzzy bass and hard
hitting beats creates a sound that just kind of makes you bob your head along,
lacking the quality to get you really excited about the song.
2/5
Track 11- Heartbreak
(will.i.am featuring Cheryl Cole)
Final track Heartbreaker is more of a bonus track as it is
actually a single from will.i.am’s third album Songs About Girls, with Cole
adding some vocals to the British version of the single. That being said, this is
actually the best collaboration between the two, and so it is only a good thing
that it appears on the record. The song finds will.i.am telling this girl that
he is sorry but he is a heartbreaker, whilst Cole provides a small section for
the chorus that simply finds her agreeing with will.i.am about his heartbreaker
status. The song is simple but fun with a slight flirtatious quality, whilst
the upbeat production is light and fun enough to listen to.
3.5/5
Final Review
3 Words is a fun record that
nicely melds the genres of dance, RnB and pop that allows Cole to really carve
out a more distinctive sound away from her time with her band Girls Aloud.
However, a lot of the time the production can be annoying, and with some songs
the singer’s weak vocals are definitely shown. Clichéd lyrics also affect the quality
of the record as a whole, and so whilst there are definitely fun songs on this
record, as a whole it feels like a subpar effort that doesn’t deserve to have
sold over a million copies, and which is really badly affected by the presence
of will.i.am.
4.5/10
Best Track- Fight for
This Love
Worst Track- Heaven
(featuring will.i.am)
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