#NEWMUSIC: LIZZO – “SPECIAL” REVIEW

It’s hard to believe that SPECIAL is Lizzo‘s fourth Album, but the visionary Entertainer has been knocking on the door of superstardom for some time now. After a meteoric rise in 2019, Lizzo quietly has been reminding us she really hasn’t gotten anywhere. A role in “Hustlers“. A Guest Judge spot on “RuPaul’s Drag Race”. An Emmy Award-nominated Reality TV Series “Watch Out for the Big Grrrls”, and she threw-out a teaser of a single with Cardi B with “Rumors” while she was getting things right on this highly-anticipated follow-up to 2019’s Grammy-winning CUZ I LOVE YOU – her major label debut with Warner Music.

I wholeheartedly am Team Lizzo. Seeing her front-row at Danforth Music Hall and buying the Meet & Greet package is a splurge in life I still to this day do not regret. Definitely one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. I soaked it all in as she emanated a message of self-love and positivity to the packed house, leaving us wanting more.

It is extremely tough to follow-up on a big splash like CUZ I LOVE YOU. For one, the success of hit singles “Truth Hurts” and “Good as Hell” were accidental. The former became a hit two years after it was released, just as Lizzo was pushing singles off the 2019 Disc. “Good as Hell” was recorded in 2016 above that and certainly wasn’t looking like it would ever be a hit. But it did! This is some Kate Bush-level Voodoo.

Nonetheless, the world would fall in love with Lizzo. Does she disappoint on latest Disc, SPECIAL? In my honest opinion, Lizzo NEVER disappoints and I’m extremely partial. If you want an impartial Review, you can just leave now.

Lizzo matches that hyper-caffeinated energy she brought us on her last Disc and continues to say something about inclusion, self-love and even Cancel Culture. She pulls-out all the stops here and it doesn’t get any bigger in Music than having Producers like Ricky Reed, Benny Blanco, Mark Ronson and THE MAX MARTIN showing you a vote of confidence and they all make contributions here.

ABOUT DAMN TIME

It was an instant connection for us with single “About Damn Time” and the world agrees, not only becoming a hit in streams and on airwaves, peaking at #2 on the U.S. and Canadian Billboard Hot 100, but also virally on TikTok as fans took to their phones to replicate her crafty choreo seen in its Music Video. The Track celebrating the world’s return to what we know as normal, is so intricate – its groove undeniable and when we learned it took 30+ studio sessions to complete, we weren’t surprised, actually. The detail is astonishing and Lizzo‘s delivery is flawless. Artists have won Grammys for far less.

SPECIAL

This is the Album’s titular track for a reason as she gives us her most authentic self, starting-off by calling-out how the Internet tried cancelling her a couple times now, and how that made her feel. But this isn’t only about her. She’s telling herself and the world to remember to love themselves despite all the noise and scrutiny we face in our daily lives. This recipe worked for us the last time around and still works for us. A Max Martin jam.

I LOVE YOU BITCH

This is a highly-melodic, piano-driven reminder again to love yourself, especially after never thinking you could do it. We can already hear the arena echoing back their love when she performs this on-tour this Fall.

EVERYBODY’S GAY

This nod to Thriller-era Michael Jackson isn’t as overt or comical as its title suggests, but it is begging for us to get on the dancefloor. It’s masks-off at this Ball!

2 BE LOVED

With Lizzo now finding love in real life, she’s at her most vulnerable here – afraid and embarrassed to fall in love after having been disappointed by those Jeromes of the world. This Track proves that we can’t get sick of Hall & Oates’ “Maniac“, which continues to be the blueprint rhythmically to a new generation of dancefloor-ready anthems. Looking at you, Dua Lipa. And if that weren’t enough, we hear those nods to another Hall & Oates hit, “Making My Dreams” here and maybe a dash of Whitney Houston‘s “How Will I Know?“. Another Max Martin Banger.

BIRTHDAY GIRL

So much unapologetic fun! Keeping things festive and fun still even later into the Disc, continuing the theme of celebration going.

NAKED

We first heard this Slow Jam on Lizzo‘s Prime Video Reality Series “Watch Out for the Big Grrrls” , where the Contestants had to do a sensual dance to it on an outdoor stage and we’ve been obsessed since. She gets intimate, taking it down a notch and it is very much this Album’s “Lingerie“, as she walks us through embracing her own body. “I’m a big girl, can you take it?”, she asks. Of course we can! Bring it!

COLDPLAY

This is the Album’s Finale, sampling that titular labelmate’s signature track “Yellow“. Just gorgeous, lush, ending things off with an element of sophistication and understatedness after some boisterous fun over the Disc’s 35-minute runtime.

Warner Music Canada release Lizzo‘s SPECIAL in stores today. Stream/download it here.

#SPOTTED: THE CAST OF MIRVISH PRODUCTIONS’ “& JULIET”

Imagine a world where Juliet goes on to survive after Romeo. What lessons would she have learned in her life about controlling her own destiny? Standing up to her parents? Or throwing it all away for the one she thought she loved? Even William Shakespeare himself must face the Music (thankfully for us, a Soundtrack of Pop Icon Max Martin‘s Greatest Hits) in Mirvish Productions’ & JULIET, against values like equality and inclusion of today.

Toronto is extremely lucky to get to enjoy a run of this phenomenal new Musical, as it continues its extended run in London’s West End currently. Playing at Princess of Wales Theatre till August 14, 2022, & JULIET with its current Cast, will head straight to Broadway.

Emmy-winning Schitt’s Creek Writer David West Read pens the Play, which speaks to an audience of today, bringing pure, blissful joy. Telling its story of Juliet‘s liberation and a catalogue of songs which defined and continue to define an era, it is impossible not to walk away feeling uplifted.

& JULET is empowering, wild and full of heart. Not to mention some outstanding performances from the likes of Broadway veteran Betsy Wolfe (Waitress, The Last Five Years) as William Shakespeare‘s wife Anne Hathaway, Justin David Sullivan as the non-binary May, Melanie La Barrie as Juliet‘s confidante Nurse, and up-and-comer Lorna Courtney in the starring role of Juliet. West Read‘s smart writing, delicately yet at once brazenly approaches angles not pondered by Shakespeare when it comes to asking what his female characters wanted, that the world contained more than just white people and that same sex love existed.

So seamlessly and brilliantly is this Soundtrack interweaved into the story line. Case in point, Bon Jovi‘s “It’s My Life” contains a line “Like Frankie said, I did it my way” and a character, Frankie (Philippe Arroyo) randomly comes out and does the line. Pure genius.

The level of detail is astounding and visually, it is like a Pop Concert-meets-Shakespeare-meets-Moulin Rouge with a relentless energy throughout this two-and-a-half-hour runtime, plus intermission.

& JULIET is invigorating and the perfect lift in spirits we needed this Summer with a huge potential to crossover as Pop Culture phenomenon. More on tickets here.

Some Snaps with the Cast:

We were so lucky to meet Max Martin, in-town recently for the Musical. More here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#SPOTTED: MAX MARTIN IN TORONTO FOR “& JULIET”

You’ll probably not even recognize him, but you know and love him. Trust. Legendary Hitmaker Max Martin is in Toronto for Mirvish’s Production of & Juliet! After a successful run in London’s West End, Toronto is so lucky to get to see the Musical, which asks what would’ve happened if she didn’t end it all for Romeo?

Martin is responsible for the most iconic Pop Hits of our time. And not just one. Several!

…Baby One More Time
As Long As You Love Me
I Want it That Way
Bang Bang
Break Free
Blinding Lights
California Girls
DJ Got Us Fallin in Love
Dynamite
Hot N Cold
I Kissed a Girl
It’s Gonna Be Me
Lucky
Love Me Harder
Oops!… I Did it Again
Part of Me
Quit Playing Games (with my Heart)
Roar
Save Your Tears
Shake it Off
Show Me Love
Since U Been Gone
Style
Teenage Dream
That’s The Way It Is
U + Ur Hand
Who Knew
(You Drive Me) Crazy

You try picking a favourite from this partial list of hits he’s responsible for penning! I love all these songs and I’m sure you do too!

This was an incredible honour. I don’t think he’s used to being recognized as he is so humble, but as a lover of Pop, he is an Idol! Even more important than the stars he’s worked with!

About & Juliet

Set against a Soundtrack of megahits by Martin, & Juliet is from Emmy-winning Writer of Schitt’s Creek David West Read, with Choreography by Jennifer Weber, and Director Luke Sheppard.

& Juliet runs at Princess of Wales Theatre from June 22 – August 14, 2022.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#REVIEW: CARLY RAE JEPSEN – “KISS”

Don’t be fooled by the short-shorts and girly bangs, Carly Rae Jepsen is a Naughty Girl. Jepsen‘s debut major label Disc Kiss, however has never made being bad sound so good with its Seduce-your-Boyfriend Lyrics.  I mean, we’ve already heard what she has to offered in her Collaboration with Owl City in Good Time and we liked it and need I mention Billboard Magazine‘s 2012 Song of the Summer, Call Me Maybe?  Surely all involved with Project Jepsen are aware of the dangers of One-Hit Wonderdom and have safeguarded themselves here with twelve slick offerings, most even more polished than the Hit that placed the British Columbia Cutie on our radars.

I am v. fond of the Disc’s Title Track This Kiss, oddly reminiscent in chord structure to the Pop Excellence that is Katy Perry‘s Teenage Dream without sounding like it melodically.  I much prefer also the amped-up version of Curiosity heard here making the Canadian Radio Edit sound like a Demo,  featuring additional Production by Dallas Austin.  More than a Memory has that sweet melancholy which Robyn has so well mastered on her own Hits like Dancing on my Own and what would a contemporary Pop Disc be without a contribution from the Master himself, Max Martin? Tonight I’m Getting Over You‘s hard-hitting Chorus will get you up off your feet in no time.  Not keen on the Justin Bieber Duet Beautiful – never finding its best stride in terms of vocal chemistry – but one cannot fault her for using every resource possible to assert her standing as a Pop Superstar. Now is the time.

Welcome to the Big Time, Carly Rae Jepsen – you’ve earned it.  Universal Music Canada releases Kiss – in stores now.