Somewhere someone important wrote something about “certain unalienable rights”. Some may take that as our right to get up and dance to Gary Glitter’s “Rock and Roll, Parts One and Two” at sporting events. I take it as our ability, nay, our right to listen to music that moves us. I do, however, have a problem associating the above mentioned rights with any of the lyrics on The Beginning.
Having been a fan of the first three albums, I told myself the same sensibility and “talent” must be hidden somewhere deep inside of this flashy light/Tron suit wearing group.
After the worst halftime show in recent memory (quite possibly ever) the mass producing record label that shall not be named (you know who you are) vomited out the sixth studio release by the Black Eyed Peas onto the world.
Opening with more than just a sample of the Dirty Dancing epic – originally performed by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes – and following suit of Jermaine Jackson and Barry Manilow, we’re launched into a disturbing reminder of Patrick Swayze in tights. This mixture of a sporting event anthem/JumboTron-like hook is nothing new from these four. Yet I catch myself tapping my foot and singing “Dirty Bit…Dirty Bit…” But it’s ok; I have a doctor’s appointment to find out what’s wrong with me.
Traveling down this road of sadistic up-beat pop, “Someday” reaches out to you and begins to trick you into believing there is actually a turning point to this. And as quickly as you start to believe that, you’re reminded Fergie is still in the group. By the time I reach the “My Forbidden Lover” Chic sample on track six, “Fashion Beats,” I realize that much to my dismay, I’m tapping my foot and actually wanting to get up and move. Am I grooving to BEP or Chic?
Something must seriously be wrong with me. Perhaps I’ll just go to Urgent Care instead of waiting for the doctor.
There is an Easter Egg in this album. I encourage you to try to find it.
Did you find it?
I’ll tell you what it is its decent music.
Now that you’ve found the hidden gem within, it should not go unrecognized that the real talent here is the other 41 musicians and producers who really made this come to life. If you remove the spectacular writings of such lines as “Wait a minute, Uno Dos, it’s time to go, audios” there is actually a great infusion of sound that plays on for just over 54 minutes.
It’s very good to see the once Kids Incorporated star putting her poetic genius to work with such lyrics as “Boy I let you love me, let you love me long time”. The Disney Channel-like vocals accompanied by anthem trance will certainly introduce the next generations to rave-like music at a young age. For everyone else who is not 9 years old singing “Hugs and Kisses, X and Os”, think about what you’re listening to and stop insulting yourself.