A new track from R&B rebel Kelis has been unleashed upon an unsuspecting world. Anyone worried her four-month-old baby (or recent divorce from Nas) has watered down her milkshake can breathe easy—that’s not possible for someone this bossy.
The ever-savvy Kelis hasn’t lost her instinctual grasp of what modern club music needs: in today’s case, we could use some effervescent joy. To that end, “Acapella” is Donna Summer-styled retro-disco that nevertheless feels effortlessly fresh. Kelis’ voice recalls the Queen of Disco’s ethereal yearning for love on Bad Girls tracks like “Lucky” and “Our Love,” but with an added scoop of earthiness, and shades of Giorgio Moroder. Check the “we’ve been partying so long I think I see the sun rising” vibe:
This song isn’t unlike the recent efforts from Hercules and Love Affair, the New York-based musical collective who similarly mine the after-dark sounds of the ’70s. One can’t help but dream a collaboration might be in the works….
According to Kelis’ website, she’s nearly completed a new album, her first since 2006’s Kelis Was Here. Does “Acapella” bode well for dancefloors in 2010?
More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Jennifer Lopez: ‘Waiting for Tonight’ was awesome… but it might be time to stop singing
Jennifer Lopez on AMAs fall: ‘I meant to do that!’
Adam Lambert at the AMAs: Simulated fellatio, bikini-area snapping, and makeout sessions. But what about the vocals?
Rihanna’s AMAs comeback performance: How did she do?
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A shame she veered so far into the hip-hop world when she was married to Nas. I prefer my Kelis pre-”Milkshake” fame, with “Caught Out There” when the Neptunes were still up & coming. This track is definitely hot, but I seriously doubt thats the album version…it would be nice if she was willing to take a risk like that..but…even my inner clubkid says this is a remix. Wonder who the producer is either way though…
Kelis is one of the most slept on artists out here.Her last CD was damn near perfect and didn’t sell nearly enough copies.
But it DID get a Grammy nomination! There is a vast divide in this country between what is good and what is popular. Anyone who thinks Rihanna is the end all, be all of pop music should take a look into Kelis’ catalogue. As far as I’m concerned, Rihanna straight bit Kelis’ whole vibe, but this new track proves that you can’t deny the awesomeness that is Kelis. Please listen, people!
Dave Guetta produced this (When Love Takes Over, I Got A Feeling, Sexy B!tch).
David Guetta has finally arrived in the U.S.! If you are in NYC (HINT, HINT EW WRITERS who give the producer and dance music in general little to no love) check him out at Pacha this Friday night. Also, the Madonna “Celebration” Remix featuring Akon was also produced by Mr. Guetta. What a year for him! I hope he gets nominated for Producer of The Year, his “One Loe” album was one of the best collaborative efforts of the year, and if he did indeed produce this track, then perhaps IT IS the album version after all.
“One Love”, typo, sorry
I love this song. All of her albums are really good. I have them all and I love them all. I’ve also met her a couple of times and she is really a cool person. I was her waiter and she treated me like gold. Great tipper too.
I love the interesting world music beats that are used in her tracks. Straight up Middle Eastern in “Milkshake,” and this one is very Brazillian samba.
GF needs to abandon the U.S. and go overseas and work with those producers and get some reco over there. Not appreciated here.
This is the greatest single of 2009. I’ve convinced myself. Kelis is one of those artists that people won’t understand unless they hear her albums. If you are a casual observer of pop culture, Milkshake throws you way off. She’s one of the most creative artists out there and always has been. Hope this changes some opinions.
But it’s not a cappella at all.
My girl is back!!!!! I love this song. I can’t stop listening to it. The beat is dope and her vocals are so smooth. In your face Rihanna lol. So much for these so called “artist” the game is over. Kelis will win!
WHY R U BRINGING RIHANNA UP?? RIHANNA IS MUCH BETTER ..SORRY..I JUST THINK RIHANNA IS BETTER..KELIS IS A ONE HIT WONDER
Rihanna’s not better; she is merely pimiped more all over the pop music landscape. She’s a pretty puppet who lifted Kelis’ style and watered it down to make it palatable for the lowest common denomiator of consumers. Sorry, but quality trumps quantity on this one. PS: did you see Rihanna’s “performance” on the AMAs on Sunday? Remember that? Okay, NOW try and argue that Rihanna is anything more than a sub-par singer who needs costumes and antics to fill the void where her talent should be.
*pimped
I will give you this #1 Fan…we can’t blame Riahanna for copying Kelis’ style. We have to blame her record company and the stylist who obviously wished she worked for Kelis. I’m a stylist and I would never jack anyone style for someone else. But we understand and we feel for Rihanna. She’s just an industry puppet. The pull the strings and she moves. Simple as that. Poor girl. I bet she couldn’t even dress herself. Such a shame lol. HARLEM!!!!!!
If you honestly think Rihanna is better than Kelis than you have bad taste in EVERYTHING! Kelis is everything and more. Rihanna is just a generic, carbon copy version of Kelis.
That is too funny…”then you have bad taste in EVERYTHING” lol. Classic!
BTW, Kelis is no 1 hit wonder so you failed miserably!!
Do your research.
This bitch always brings a fierce single. Love it.