Pharrell Williams’ second studio album, “GIRL,” is filled with fun, catchy tracks aided by artists like Justin Timberlake, Daft Punk, Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys.
“GIRL” is the kind of album that makes you want to move. The album features soulful, danceable pop tracks that can (almost) make cleaning the apartment on Saturday morning fun. Several of Pharrell’s tracks are spiritual successors to the greats — providing tracks reminiscent of Prince and Michael Jackson’s best hits.
The album’s first track, “Marilyn Monroe, “ starts off with a classic cinematic string intro before going into Pharrell’s smooth vocals. The track is a great teaser of things to come in the album — strong percussion, funky beats and plenty of falsetto.
The next track, “Brand New, “ artfully displays Justin Timberlake’s talent. This song has more falsetto than a car full of tenors trying to hit the high note of Aha’s “Take On Me,” but somehow it still manages to work. The lyrics are also somewhat cheesy, but they match the overall upbeat tone of the track.
Pharrell’s Academy Award-nominated track from “Despicable Me 2”, “Happy,” is hands-down my favorite track on the album. Don’t trust anyone who claims they are strong enough to resist clapping along with Pharrell in this sunny, soulful song. “Happy” is a modern-day version of “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” and always leaves me with that same simple, unrestrained happiness that comes with singing those old nursery school songs.
“Come Get It Bae” features some strong percussion, funky guitar riffs and Miley Cyrus repeatedly shouting “Hey!” Surprisingly, that combination works. This track’s sound is reminiscent of Prince’s “Kiss,” scattered with enough motorcycle innuendos to rival Prince’s “Little Red Corvette” metaphors.
The next track, “Gust of Wind,” starts off with an infectious disco-esque string intro. In my experience, it’s almost impossible to go wrong with a disco string intro. This track features the robotic talents of Daft Punk, who add that little extra flair the song asks for. Next to “Happy,” this song is easily the best on the album. Again, the lyrics are less than inspiring, but they remain passable.
“I Know Who You Are” features the unrivaled vocal talent of Alicia Keys. The track has a laid back, island-inspired sound that showcases Keys’ voice (is even there any music that could make her voice sound bad?). Overall, the song is subdued with restrained energy that still allows both artists to shine vocally.
Overall, “GIRL” is a fun album that does exactly what pop music should do. The soulful, upbeat tracks on the album are aided by Pharrell’s smooth vocals and a heavy dose of falsetto. I enjoyed the album, but I consistently found myself wishing some of the songs ended sooner. None of the songs on the album are particularly bad, but they seemed to go on just a chorus-length too long. It’s better to leave the listener wanting more than wishing for less.
“GIRL” is a funky, enjoyable album. If you’re looking for something to listen to while you get ready for a night out or simply something to motivate you to get moving, “GIRL” will provide exactly what you need. If you’re looking for music with thought-provoking lyrics to feed your contemplative mood, look somewhere else.
