Sunday, November 09, 2008

Return the Favor – Keri Hilson

Well, Timbaland has done it again. God, this guy is good to me.



This girl, Keri Hilson, is everywhere – and has been for almost two years. She’s like one of those actors you see in every other movie but never know her name. From cameos in other artists’ videos, to songwriting credits on tons of tracks, to collabs with all the hot male pop stars… she has certainly worked her way through the industry. She first caught by eyes and ears when she worked with Timbaland on his solo album, especially The Way I Are (possibly my favorite song on that record), so I’ve been looking forward to her solo debut for what seems like forever.

Forever is exactly right. Get this – her album, entitled In a Perfect World had an initial release date of 3rd quarter 2007, so my question is: what’s the hold up, girl? I’m really curious to find out what is going on at her label. She keeps building up good press and then…no record. Hardly good for business.

Anyway, Return the Favor is actually the second single from the album, the first being Energy, also produced by Timbaland, and also a terrific track. I think this one is better, though. First of all, the synth hook is SICK; it catches me immediately and sucks me in. So much so I don’t even mind the inane Hey-Hey-Hey’s that make up the bulk of the song. And far be it from me to critique Timbaland, since I apparently love everything he does, but why does he have to look so creepy in the video? He’s got a lecherous next door neighbor, illegally hooking up cameras in her bedroom window kind of vibe happening, which I could totally do without. Now that I think about it, that might have been the whole point, but it’s still creepy.

I’m pulling for Keri big time. I mean, I can never have enough pop divas, now can I? Also, she seems like a good blend of Rihanna and Nelly Furtado, and she writes her own material, which is a bonus.

3 comments:

Erin G said...

I like this! better than Energy, I think. Plus the name Return the Favor is good. Makes me think of... um, yeah, fun stuff. ;-)

I'm officially pulling for her, too.

Anonymous said...

I can't watch the video, because I'm outside of the US...whatever. -C

Ryan D. said...

Ooops, sorry -C, I'll try to remember to only post YouTube clips until you get back from across the pond. I like to use the vids from MTV and yahoo because there's less of a chance they will get removed for one reason or the other...

Anyway... noted.