Nelly Furtado

[Coffeecakes]

I too am holding the phone and wondering the same as heyalice, Chris Martin of Coldplay?

[keepittight]

I don't think she really qualifies as "selling out" since her debut CD was very eclectic, had a lot of obvious hip hop influence, and was a very "commercial" record. Baby Girl or Turn Off The Light aren't really that much different than the likes of Maneater and Promiscuous IMO.

Of course, I'm not so naive as to think she abandoned her commercially unsuccessful, folksy turnaround for Timbaland produced songs about fucking for The Art, but I don't think it's completely inorganic- if you ignore Folklore, as most of the world did, there's little disparity between Loose and her first album. And even Folklore wasn't exactly impenetrable: most of the album is just pop done intelligently and well with interesting influences.

That said I do think Folklore is a minor masterpiece, and I don't think Loose is better. It's a very strong pop record, though, and an inventive, quirky and fun one, too. And Say It Right is the best song she's done as yet IMO.

She's somewhat of a disappointment in interviews; way too giggly and very flaky seeming. I don't know whether it's nerves or she is just genuinely that much of a spaz. It's sort of endearing but equally annoying. Meh, at least she's more interesting than Beyonce.

And she's gorgeous. GORGEOUS.

[twodollars]

keepittight said:

And she's gorgeous. GORGEOUS.

Really? I just don't get it. She has great skin, but is fug IMO.

[keepittight]

It's the eyes. Striking eyes make up for a multitude sins IMO. I can see why you would think she's fug, though, she's certainly not a conventional, knockout beauty, more quirkily pretty. She also looks the best she's ever looked at the moment; the end parts of the Maneater video, where she's outside in the dusky light, is the hotness.

[Deleted]

I think she's fug too. I think the main part of that is her nose. But also that she kind of looks like this little dorky, rat-looking girl that went to my high school.

[Deleted]

I like Promiscuous for the beat and the music. The lyrics, not so much. I've heard people LOVE the Maneater song on this CD but to me, that song sucks and Promiscuous is way better. To each his/her own

Now, let's talk about what this new image is REALLY about.

Nelly is Portuguese and had a child out of wedlock. BIG RED FLAG. An absolute no no no no no. This album, her new image, the fact that she is trying so hard to be sexy and independent (and that it's coming off a bit unbelievable) is all rooted in her family I think. Personally, I think she's hitting back at them a bit with this. Which is fine. I'm just saying, that's what it comes off as to me.

ETA: Nelly and Chris Martin? When? Where? Is he the father of Nevis?

[OnyxRose]

I'm not a fan but Nelly first started out in hip-hop/R&B...it's just that her first commercial success was with the more folksy type songs. If people are going to say someone sold out, make sure that, you know, they actually did sell out and just not revert back to what they originally were doing.

[Deleted]

Good point, OnyxRose. Nelly sang on a hit rap tune by Vancouver group Swollen Members a couple of summers ago. I wasn't the slightest bit shocked to see her with Timbaland on this album. Also, her "I'm Like A Bird" image was when she was 22; now she's 28. She probably wants a more sophisticated image rather than the b-girl tank top queen she one was.

I caught her performance on The Today Show this morning. She sang "I'm Like A Bird" and "Turn Out The Lights". Yikes. What happened? Her record company can't be happy about that. Did anyone else catch it? Did I miss any part of it, like when she might have sung a song from the current CD?

[Hamatron]

Yeah-- I saw that too, and thought it was really strange. Maybe the current song was too raunchy for the 10 am set? Heh.

I don't really see her new look as more sophisticated-- I'm the same age as her and I am waaay over the 'promiscuous' club days-- I still go to clubs, but the stuff she sings about in the song is not my scene at all. If anything, her sound has become younger-- more top 40 station as opposed to the 'easy listening' station where her other hits seem to get more play.

I've always just been really underwhelmed with her musically. And I get annoyed because I can't seem to escape her singles. Ug.

[Deleted]

heyalice said:

(Meh.. she and Chris Martin used to date)

Hold the phone..WHAT? When? Is she the girl behind 'Green Eyes'?

A very long time ago, before she was famous and before Coldplay was established. She's definitely not the girl behind Green Eyes since Chris has said that it's about an American "friend" and Nelly is Canadian/Portuguese.

They're still good friends as well, Chris recorded his vocals (and cowrote I believe) on Nelly's song "All Good Things (come To An End)" that was supposed to be on Loose, until Coldplay's label came and had it yanked out. The song is still on her album, just without his vocals.