The Problem With... Jennifer Lopez's "Papi"
Current American Idol judge and People Magazine's "World Most Beautiful Woman" for 2011 Jennifer Lopez has had quite a year between having twins and announcing a split with her third husband Marc Anthony.
For the past couple years, though, J-Lo had tried to draw a line between her personal and professional life. As a result, she's been a bit more low-profile than other pop divas.
Now, however, she's back in the spotlight: This past May, J-Lo released her seventh album, Love?, which had a few good tracks, such her first single "On The Floor" and the electro-house ballad "Everybody's Girl," which appeared on the album's deluxe editon.
Now, however, she's back in the spotlight: This past May, J-Lo released her seventh album, Love?, which had a few good tracks, such her first single "On The Floor" and the electro-house ballad "Everybody's Girl," which appeared on the album's deluxe editon.
I'm still trying to figure out an answer the riddle she poses in the title of the album, though. It's as enigmatic as her 2002 album title This is Me... Then.
You're driving me crazy, J-Lo! And your latest single isn't helping matters.
Lopez's latest single, "Papi," mixes modern party rhythms with Latin and global percussion. It sounds good on its own, and a bit better than another pop diva's recent attempt at mixing in global beats. But what sours the track for me is the lyrical theme about marrying and pleasing a rich, successful husband. Check out this lyric: "My rock is shining bright / Even if he ain't by my side / He'll make sure that I glow."
Granted, J-Lo has changed a lot in the past decade. Nonetheless, the theme of "Papi" is directly inconsistent with her earlier tracks "Love Don't Cost a Thing" and "Jenny From the Block." These two tracks marked the artist's iffy attempts at humility and authenticity; and "Papi" and its theme clash as much with J-Lo's pending single status as they do with those earlier efforts.
As I said before, J-Lo has become skilled at controlling when to promote herself. Problem is, she doesn't know how to promote herself in a consistent way.
"Papi" is like a house with a good foundation. But it's got broken windows everywhere.
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