Album- The
Entertainer
Artist- Alesha Dixon
After finding success with the girl group Mis Teeq, Alesha
Dixion went on to have a varied solo career after the groups disbandment. Her
first album was ultimately not released in the UK, but following her success on
the TV dancing show ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, the singer released a successful
second record, which spawned two hit singles, ‘The Boy Does Nothing’ and ‘Breathe
Slow’. The singer also found herself on the judging panel of Strictly Come
Dancing for three years, before quitting the show to become a judge on the
talent show ‘Britains Got Talent’. However, musically The Entertainer was met
with poor commercial results compared to her last effort, and so in the wake of
the singer postponing her fourth record to focus on motherhood, I look at The
Entertainer to see where the singer perhaps needs to improve, or whether people
were just missing out on a great record.
Track 1- Baddest
Chick
Described by the singer as a character song, album opener
Baddest Chick is a feisty pop number where Dixon gives us her fiercest, almost
like Rihanna song. The lyrics of the song have a sexual edge and find the
singer telling us of how she is the baddest chick in the building and doesn’t
need love, just needs someone’s body. The message has a fierce quality that is
quite catchy, but with her layered vocals and the texture of her voice Dixon
doesn’t quite manage to pull off the song. The vocals are also sometimes
annoyingly distorted, and with the clattering piano and harsh dance beats the
sound of the track is vibrant but typically commercial, making this song feel
more like Dixon is trying to imitate other artists rather than give us a good
record.
3/5
Track 2- Radio
Second single Radio is a strong mid tempo pop ballad that
was co-written by singer Emeli Sande before she became hugely successful in her
own right. The song is all about Dixon turning up the radio to drown out the
painful emotions that she is feeling within this relationship, creating a song
that nicely turns sadness into an almost anthem like triumph. Dixon gives us a
strong vocal performance that nicely builds up within the chorus and which
retains this edge of fragility and fearlessness throughout the track. The heavy
bass and jagged beats of the production gives the song this propulsive sound
that is a bit similar to other musical works (i.e. Robyn’s ‘Dancing On My
Own’), but the result is nonetheless effective, making this an assured and
potent effort from the singer.
3.5/5
Track 3- Every little
Part of Me (featuring Jay Sean)
Things take more of sweeter turn with this track that
features British singer songwriter Jay Sean. The song ups the tempo from the
previous song, giving us a strong dance track that lyrically finds both singers
telling the other of how they have their heart and it is like they are a part
of them. The hook is irresistibly pure and simple, whilst Sean and Dixon give
us smooth and powerful vocal performances that blend together very nicely,
giving us an emotional track that does feel like a heartfelt duet. The buzzing
bass beats of the song combine with clattering synths for an infectious sound
that you can easily dance to, and so for me it is sad to think that this single
didn’t even reach the top 40 in the UK.
3.5/5
Track 4- Take Control
(with Roll Deep)
A collaboration between Dixon and grime group Roll Deep,
Take Control served as both The Entertainers second single and the third single
from the groups album Winner Stays On. The song is a typical pop and hip hop
based party tune that features a hands in the air chorus and party and girl
fuelled raps from the group. The lyrics may be very bland, but Dixons light
vocals give the song a melodic lift that breathes some life into the track, and
the punchy dance beats are still enough to keep you sort of wanting to move, so
whilst not the best track from either Roll Deep or Alesha Dixon, it is still a
solid effort.
3/5
Track 5- Drummer Boy
The records lead single, Drummer Boy is another fierce pop
number that has a sensual edge about the lyrics and finds the singer in a
feisty frame of mind. The lyrics of the song are simply focused on the singer
telling us of how she needs a better drummer boy, with catchy ‘way eh, oh woah’
hooks thrown in for good measure. The singer’s vocals are powerful and elevate
the vibrancy of the song, whilst the drum based production with the frenzied
beats and cool synths give the track a nice dance energy that is infectious.
Yet whilst all the right components are there, the song does suffer from
lyrical repetition, and once again it feels like we are listening to a song
written for another artist rather than listening to an Alesha Dixon original.
3.5/5
Track 6- The Entertainer
Title track The Entertainer is another fun pop and RnB
tinged number that shows a feisty side of the singer. The way the track opens
up plays with the Entertainer title as the song begins with this cool music box
rhythm that reminds you of a circus. The sound than transitions into this
snappy bass led number on which Dixon can sing about how she is the Entertainer
who can make you feel good and do what you want. The message is a bit ego
driven but nicely emphasises how the singer wants to make you feel good. The
problem is that her vocals are Auto Tuned and just come across as lifeless,
meaning that the song lacks the personality needed for us to believe she can
entertain.
2.5/5
Track 7- Colour
Opening with another music box rhythm that is a little bit
sweeter in tone than the previous track, Colour is an electronically powerful
pop number that finds the singer in a happy, loving emotional state. The song’s
lyrics focus on the singer telling this man of how great he is because he has
brought colour back into her life through his love and made her believe in
herself again. The songs message has a sweet and catchy quality that is
emphasised by the playful way the singer sings the songs title. The punchy
electro bass and simple rhythm of the track also acts as a nice base for the
singer to express her feelings. Yet after a while the singer’s statement starts
to become bland, and like the previous track, the use of Auto Tune means that
the song loses any sense of credibility.
2/5
Track 8- Tug of War
A techno RnB infused pop number, Tug of War finds the singer
in more of a turbulent state of love. The song’s lyrics finds the singer
expressing her conflicting emotions for this person and how she is in this
state where she can’t decide whether to leave him or stay. The metaphor is a
powerful war that is slightly clichéd but is helped by the change of the singer’s
vocals, with the higher range led chorus giving this funny sweetness to the
track that is cool. The singers rapping in the bridge gives the track a cool
urban twist, and with the shimmering synths and frenzied electro tone of the
production, this track is of finer substance for the singer.
3.5/5
Track 9- On Top
An intense electro pop based number, On Top finds the singer
in a very sensual frame of mind as she flirts and toys with this boy and asks
him to let her get on top. The song is heavily clichéd in terms of the
statements that the singer makes, and whilst she plays with the tone of her
voice to give the song a greater sense of sensuality, her voice just sounds
silly and is further spoiled by the use of Auto Tune. The forceful bass beats
and frenetic electro grooves of the production create this bland pop sound that
is not good to listen to, making this one of the more stupid tracks on this
record.
2/5
Track 10- La La La
La La La is the song that most reminds you of the Dixon of
old, as this is the track when she uses her rapping style to the best effect in
terms of the way that the hard hitting rap verses compliment and contrast
nicely with the sweet and light pop chorus. The singer gives us more of a
commanding vocal performance throughout the song, with the chorus having this
melodic lift that is quite catchy. The production of the track features a cool
mix of heavy bass with light synths that builds towards this fun pop sound that
is energising to listen to, with the whole song being about the singer bringing
her sound to the masses and if you are feeling her we should say La La La. The
lyrics are slightly cheesy and a bit worldwide commercial success heavy, but
otherwise this is a solid pop tune.
3.5/5
Track 11- Cool with
Me
Cool With Me is a sing along pop anthem that is designed to
show off the singers power and give us a nice and quite simple pop song to
close the record. The track finds the singer telling of how she is okay now
that she is cool with herself and has gone through life, a message that is cool
in terms of its concept but which is executed in a way that just feels like a
boring story. The singers vocals are better here than in other offerings thanks
to the lack of Auto Tune, but her voice is also a bit grainy and shows how she
is vocally weak. Producer Toby Gad creates a more organic musical sound based
in this snappy bass beats and orchestra driven notes that create a light but
still forceful sound, but it is not enough to make this a truly interesting
listen, and quickly it gets to the point where you just say okay Alesha we get
what you are saying.
2.5/5
Track 12- Radio
(Klaas Remix Edit) (featuring Wiley) (bonus track)
Track number 2 is given more of a dance and urban feel with
this remix that features grime artist Wiley (a member of Dixon collaborators
Roll Deep). The song features a bouncy, bass driven beat and dance sensibility
that is cool but sort of ruins the sincerity and heartfelt quality of the original
song, whilst Wiley’s rap verses don’t leave an impression on the listener. It
is not the worst remix in the world, but I can’t understand how this made the
record.
2.5/5
Final Review
The Entertainer is an album that unfortunately shows that it
is a good thing that the singer is sticking to preparing for and being a mother
for the future. Whilst there are the odd pop gems within the set, ultimately
these songs just feel like pop and slightly RnB tinged numbers that are bland
and try to aim to be commercially successful but therefore completely fail. The
singers vocals are distorted and lack a flair that would make this record
distinctive, the production is just simple and typical pop, and the lyrics are
heavily clichéd. The Entertainer Dixon is not, and she just needs to really
work on who she is as an artist before creating new music, as she can actually
create some fun and exciting music.
4/10
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