Artist- Jessica Mauboy
Album- Beautiful
Let’s face it- whether you like it or not, TV talent shows
like the X Factor and Pop Idol have definitely produced a plethora of well
established, music industry dominating acts. And with the success of such
people as One Direction and Little Mix, there has definitely been a powerful
wave of acts gaining worldwide music recognition, particularly in terms of the
cracking of the tough American music market. However, this might just be my
poor perception, but Australia doesn’t seem to have produced a worldwide star
from their TV talent shows. The most prominent candidate I can see is Jessica
Mauboy, the runner up of the fourth season of Australian Idol and a prominent
force within Australian music. The singer also has a slight international edge
with her starring turn in the hit film The Sapphires. So could Beautiful, the singer’s
third album, be a set for world domination?
Track 1- Beautiful
Title track Beautiful is an up tempo electro and dance pop
number with a thumping bass and bubbly synth production that creates both a
powerful and airy sound to the track. Lyrically the track is an ode to love as
the singer expresses to her man about how she wants him to be around forever
because he just makes her feel Beautiful. The track has this lyrical sweetness
about it, with the chorus being catchy in terms of the use of repetition and
the stuttering effects on some of the words, but vocally the song is also
strong as the singer uses the range of her voice to good effect and plays the
role of sweet and sexy girlfriend at the same time through her tone. It isn’t a
innovative dance piece by any means, but it is a strong pop number that should
have you dancing and which makes you feel joyful.
3.5/5
Track 2- Kiss Me
Hello
From the prominent dance force of Beautiful we head into
more RnB territory with Kiss Me Hello, which features some finger snapping
beats and some weird but cool production that brings a little bit of an exotic
flavour to the song in my opinion. Hear we find Mauboy telling this guy of how
he is on her mind all the time and although it is risky, she wants to have him
and she just wants him to kiss her hello when he is really saying goodbye. The
message is sweet if a bit clunky lyrically, whilst vocally the song nicely
builds with some great ad libs used in the final chorus to bring the passion of
the song to life. The production is quirky but also quite simple and although
not as catchy as the previous song, the tracks sound nicely keeps things
ticking along.
3/5
Track 3- Pop a Bottle
(Fill Me Up)
Released as the second single from the record and giving
Mauboy her sixth Australian top ten, Pop a Bottle is a simple pop track that
uses the metaphor of drinking to express how Mauboy just wants to feel this
boys love cause it is so good and wants to be a bit of a risk taker. Lyrically
the song isn’t perhaps the best as the message can feel a bit cliché, but the
use of the ‘oh oh oh oh’ hook is really catchy, and the vibrant personality
that Mauboy exudes through the vocals makes the song even catchier and makes up
a little for the lyrical quality. In terms of the production the song follows a
simple pop sound with funky but light guitar riffs and dance ready electro pop
rhythms that make the listener want to let loose along with Mauboy. And whilst
the sound may feel familiar in today’s pop world, the song is perhaps a good
track to use to launch the singer internationally.
3.5/5
Track 4- I Believe
I Believe is an up tempo dance pop number where Mauboy
relates to the listener he philosophy that things in life just happen for a
reason. Elements of the lyrics are clichéd but the simplicity of the chorus and
the forceful quality of the song makes for a catchy pop tune. Vocally Mauboy is
strong and she softly floats along in the verses whilst going to her higher register
in the chorus and really punctuating the lyrics with this awesome intensity.
Producer Adam Reily creates a stomping sound for the track that is built on
shimmering synth notes and this pounding bass that is a little bit of an
unoriginal dance sound but which is effective in allowing the sentiment of the
song to shine.
3.5/5
Track 5- Never Be the
Same
The records first ballad, Never Be the Same is a forceful
mid tempo power ballad that lyrically focuses on the idea of Mauboy as this
girl who has forgotten who she is in life and how you change in life to the
point where things will never be the same. The song has a little bit of
romantic essence in the lyrics but it can easily be seen as an empowering
anthem about trying to stay on the right path. The lyrics are potent and
interesting for the listener to interpret, whilst Mauboy gives a commanding
vocal that really builds in power and impact. Production on the track is
awesome with a lovely blend of this delicate piano instrumentation, a heavy
bass beat in the chorus and stabs of synths that just combine to create this
equal parts light and forceful pop sound that elevates the lyrics.
3.5/5
Track 6- In Love
Again
Another ballad, In Love Again has more of an RnB tone and is
also a little more stripped back to allow the singers vocals to shine. The song
is very focused and simple as the singer replays this love story in which she
lets go of the hurt and learns to love again. It isn’t an original music
message but the purity of the lyrics is commendable, whilst the lilting vocals
of the track makes for a lovely smooth quality to the song that is further
elevated by the layering of the singer’s vocals. The combination of acoustic
guitar, snappy beats and piano instrumentation gives a passionate sound to the track
that lifts the lilting tone of the vocal quite nicely, although the sound is
maybe a tad overpowering for me.
3.5/5
Track 7- Honest
Honest is a song built on the idea of trust within a
relationship. Within the lyrics the singer relates the situation she finds
herself in in terms of her relationship, and she just really asks the person to
let go and not keep any lies or secrets within the relationship. The song nice
morphs from this simple piano backing in the first verse and this simmering
energy to a stomping RnB rhythm that makes the simplicity of the lyrical
message a bit more touching and powerful. The use her falsetto in a strong way
within the track that allows for this great contrast that makes the song feel
more forceful and intense. The only real issue with the song is that the
production feels a bit bland in terms of the snappy percussion, as although the
sound fits the song, it is a bit boring placed after the last too just as
emotionally loaded tracks.
3/5
Track 8- I’ll Be
There
Keeping the track more in this firm RnB lane, I’ll Be There
is a mid tempo, kind of soulful and
smouldering song that finds the singer laying her heart out and telling this
person that she is in love with them, with the most prominent element of her
message being that she will be there right when he needs her. Vocally the
singer exudes a little bit of sex appeal within the song and gives us some
lovely runs between the different sections of the track that nicely elevates
the feeling of the track being sincere. The simple RnB production with the
groovy electro notes and snappy beats gives the song this smooth and almost
sultry feel, but at this point the album does become a bit boring cause the
sound has been slow and a bit too familiar for too long in the records pacing.
2.5/5
Track 9- Go (I Don’t
Need You)
Mauboy takes a turn with Go (I Don’t Need You) as she goes
from this girl in love to a girl who is happy being on her own. The song finds
the singer basically telling this guy that he has treat her wrong in the
relationship and now he should just go and leave her alone. The message is
feisty and simple, being a cool slice of stomping RnB that will probably
becoming the singer’s female empowering anthem that her female fans will love
to sing along to at her live shows. The song finds the singer giving is a really
feisty vocal performance that is nicely contrasted in terms of the fast paced
delivery of the verses set against the smoothness and simple intensity of the
chorus, with the song building in power as the singer gives us some gorgeous ad
libs. The song finally puts the record back in an more up tempo state and
features this harsh beat and cool string arrangement in the bridge that makes
for a final empowering kick to the final moments of the track where Mauboy
really let’s all her emotion out.
3.5/5
Track 10- Heartbreak
Party
After the RnB essence of the last few tracks we turn to more
of pop sound in the record with Heartbreak Party, a fun and up tempo track
where Mauboy really seems to enjoy herself. The song is lyrically intriguing as
the singer tells this boy that this relationship is over and she won’t be
crying tears over him, but will instead turn her heartbreak into a party where
she can just have fun. The track features a fierce vocal delivery in the verses
combined with an equally as fierce but lighter (thanks to some cool vocal
layering) vocal in the chorus that makes for a really catchy pop tune.
Producers The Underdogs do a stellar job with the production, blending this
thumping pop beat with some nice electronic notes and incorporating some big
elements to the backing vocals that definitely bring a sense of a party vibe to
the song.
4/5
Track 11- Barrier
The records final ballad is a strong mid tempo affair that
is more of a personal song within the album in which the singer addresses a moment
in her life where she broke down walls that she put up around herself, with a
romantic tinge being present in a few of the lyrics. The song is a bit clichéd
but is nicely accessible and empowering for the listener, whilst the singer
exudes confidence within her vocal performance and has this forceful,
passionate delivery that makes the message seem more potent. Producers DNA give the track a stomping pop tone with the
use of frenzied bass rhythms and cool string arrangement that perfectly
captures the songs message and also kind of gives a euphoric quality to the
song.
3.5/5
Track 12- To the End
of the Earth
Lead single To the End of the Earth is a strong dance track
that acts as a kind pure love song inspired by the singers feelings of
homesickness. Lyrically the song is instantly catchy and pure, with the singer
expressing that she will go to the end of the earth to be with this person that
inspires her and makes life feel so great. The songs vocals are shiny and
smooth with a cool building intensity that is given weight through the layering
of her vocals and the way that she holds the notes within the song. The
production value of the track is really strong with some glittery synth notes
and rumbling dance rhythms that will definitely get you wanting to get up and
move, and with this track the singer definitely shows an appealing to be an
international star as I’m sure a few countries would eat up such a strong dance
tune.
3.5/5
Track 13- Kick Up
Your Heels (featuring Pitbull)
Final track is an upbeat, toe tapping number with a funky
RnB pop vibe and ends the record on a nice high. The lyrics are quirky and find
Mauboy playing this flirtatious role where she tells her baby to kick up his
heels and just dance with her. Rapper Pitbull gives us a slightly silly but
enjoyable rap section within the song that plays well with the flirtatious
vocal performance of Mauboy, whilst the cool production of the song with the
fast paced rhythm and funky 60’s inspired sounds makes for a nice finish to the
record that is a bit different and really shows the brilliancy of Mauboy in the
way that she can really be diverse.
3.5/5
Final Review
Beautiful is really enjoyable and polished album from an
awesome singer. The track is lyrically catchy and accessible whilst the singers
vocals are powerful and rich. The production values on each song are also
really good, with the album nicely incorporating different genres to show the
versatility of this artist. The lyrics are sometimes clichéd and the middle
section could have done with a bit more variation in sound, but this is
definite a strong RnB/pop record that is much better than some of the material
produced by more internationally known artist, and it just seems a shame that
the singer’s work is not recognised on a larger scale.
7.5/10
Best Track-
Heartbreak Party
Worst Track- I’ll Be
There
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