Rebecca Black - Rebecca Black Was Here EP REVIEW
I was so tempted to put this review out on Friday, but that’d be too easy.
Ah, yes. 2011. The Harry Potter film franchise concluded, Adele was everywhere, and we lost Amy Winehouse and Nate Dogg. Oh, and a little group called Death Grips formed. A decade can be a very long time for anything to evolve, whether it comes to films or especially music. One of the most infectious songs of the early 2010s, for better or for worse, was Rebecca Black’s “Friday.” Now that’s stuck in your head, so I’ll try and get through it. There’s a reason why that song is so hated, mainly because it has the fundamental workings of a ‘perfect’ pop song. I know that’s a hot take, shut up, but either way, it seems like it had a pretty negative impact on Black’s personal life as she went mostly quiet when it came to her music. As a result of that, the music she did make really didn't hit that level of popularity. Then, all of a sudden, when I was sitting down to listen to/review Dorian Electra’s newest album My Agenda last year, I read “Edgelord (feat. Rebecca Black).” Wait, *that* Rebecca Black? Sure enough, it was her, and she fucking killed it. I was pretty much down for the new, hyperpop-fueled Rebecca Black. Now with her newest EP, Rebecca Black Was Here, she’s embracing this community that took her in and she’s completely reimagined herself. There’s a reason why she went viral again for dropping a hyperpop remix to “Friday” earlier this year. What the fuck is up with this brand new Rebecca Black? Let’s see what we have in store.
Now, this is only 6 tracks long, being an EP. It may not be that long, but if done well, it can establish an identity and can set them on a path destined for stardom. I’m pretty happy to say that, well, Black has an identity. She put out a single from this back in January, “GIRLFRIEND,” and while it wasn’t my favorite track off this project, it felt like a love letter to 80s/90s pop that I will always appreciate. This may be just me, but I think Black’s been hanging out with Charli XCX a lot. So much of this project reminds me of Charli’s work, especially her last two albums, which is a pretty great thing. I also think Black is a very good vocalist, and she tends to shine especially bright with the right production behind it, which is pretty constant here. There’s an overall concept to this project too, which deals with a fallout between Black and her girlfriend. It’s nothing too out there, but it’s always great to see a story be told through short songs that would really be there if you check. It’s a smart move.
It’s time we take Rebecca Black seriously. Rebecca Black Is Here is one of the most surprising projects I’ve heard this year. With a brand new sonic soundscape, she’s proving her worth among this new crowd of pop stars for three key reasons: She knows what she sounds good on, she knows her strengths and weaknesses, and possibly the most important one, she has an identity. It also helps that she has a pretty good ear for hooks. Rebecca Black is here.
9/10
Listen here
YouTube Music
Rebecca Black Was Here is self-released.
Ah, yes. 2011. The Harry Potter film franchise concluded, Adele was everywhere, and we lost Amy Winehouse and Nate Dogg. Oh, and a little group called Death Grips formed. A decade can be a very long time for anything to evolve, whether it comes to films or especially music. One of the most infectious songs of the early 2010s, for better or for worse, was Rebecca Black’s “Friday.” Now that’s stuck in your head, so I’ll try and get through it. There’s a reason why that song is so hated, mainly because it has the fundamental workings of a ‘perfect’ pop song. I know that’s a hot take, shut up, but either way, it seems like it had a pretty negative impact on Black’s personal life as she went mostly quiet when it came to her music. As a result of that, the music she did make really didn't hit that level of popularity. Then, all of a sudden, when I was sitting down to listen to/review Dorian Electra’s newest album My Agenda last year, I read “Edgelord (feat. Rebecca Black).” Wait, *that* Rebecca Black? Sure enough, it was her, and she fucking killed it. I was pretty much down for the new, hyperpop-fueled Rebecca Black. Now with her newest EP, Rebecca Black Was Here, she’s embracing this community that took her in and she’s completely reimagined herself. There’s a reason why she went viral again for dropping a hyperpop remix to “Friday” earlier this year. What the fuck is up with this brand new Rebecca Black? Let’s see what we have in store.
Now, this is only 6 tracks long, being an EP. It may not be that long, but if done well, it can establish an identity and can set them on a path destined for stardom. I’m pretty happy to say that, well, Black has an identity. She put out a single from this back in January, “GIRLFRIEND,” and while it wasn’t my favorite track off this project, it felt like a love letter to 80s/90s pop that I will always appreciate. This may be just me, but I think Black’s been hanging out with Charli XCX a lot. So much of this project reminds me of Charli’s work, especially her last two albums, which is a pretty great thing. I also think Black is a very good vocalist, and she tends to shine especially bright with the right production behind it, which is pretty constant here. There’s an overall concept to this project too, which deals with a fallout between Black and her girlfriend. It’s nothing too out there, but it’s always great to see a story be told through short songs that would really be there if you check. It’s a smart move.
It’s time we take Rebecca Black seriously. Rebecca Black Is Here is one of the most surprising projects I’ve heard this year. With a brand new sonic soundscape, she’s proving her worth among this new crowd of pop stars for three key reasons: She knows what she sounds good on, she knows her strengths and weaknesses, and possibly the most important one, she has an identity. It also helps that she has a pretty good ear for hooks. Rebecca Black is here.
9/10
Listen here
YouTube Music
Rebecca Black Was Here is self-released.
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