|
6. Best R & B/Urban Dance Track Déjà Vu - BEYONCE f/ JAY Z - Columbia Be Without You - MARY J BLIGE - Geffen Records Sexy Back - JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE - Jive Promiscuous – NELLY FURTADO FEAT. TIMBALAND – Geffen Crazy – GNARLS BAKLEY – Downtown/Lava/Atlantic WHO WON: Justin Timberlake “Sexy Back”
DIVA DIVO CHOICE: Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland “Promiscuous”
Yeah, we loved getting our “Sexy Back” with JT, just like the rest of you. But, while this whole category could be renamed as “most overplayed radio hit of the year,” Mr. Timberlake’s ode to narcissism was particularly long in the tooth by the time we finally got a break from it. “Promiscuous” was everywhere, too, but at least its Battle of the Sexes sensibility and back-and-forth verses recalled the best in old skool urban dance; it was “I Got a Man” for the 2000s. 7. Best Rap/Hip Hop Dance Track Check On It - BEYONCE f/ SLIM THUG - Sony Records Control Myself – LL COOL J FEAT. JENNIFER LOPEZ – Def Jam Ms New Booty – BUBBA SPARXXX – Virgin London Bridge – FERGIE – A&M Records Tell Me Part 1 – P. DIDDY FEAT. CHRISTINA AGUILERA – Bad Boy WHO WON: Fergie “London Bridge”
DIVA DIVO CHOICE: P. Diddy feat. Christina Aguilera “Tell Me”
“London Bridge” was one of the most inane songs of the year, with Fergie speak-singing in feigned “thug” drawl and referencing some kind of sexual act that left most listeners scratching their heads. “Tell Me,” features strong diva vocals from Aguilera, competent rap from Diddy, and a darker vibe. It’s strong and sexual where Fergie is merely trampy. Besides, when was the last time P. Diddy made anything worth listening to? Points for that feat, alone! 8. Best Progressive House/Trance Track Tracking Treasure Down - GABRIEL & DRESDEN – Organized NatureRecords Dance 4 Life - TIESTO f/ MAXI JAZZ – Ultra Records Alone Tonight – ABOVE & BEYOND – Ultra Records #1 – GOLDFRAPP - Mute WHO WON: Tiesto f. Maxi Jazz “Dance 4 Life”
DIVA DIVO CHOICE: Above & Beyond “Alone Tonight”
We appreciate the social conscious and important, AIDS awareness message behind “Dance 4 Life.” But that doesn’t make it the best song. “Alone Tonight” is a rushing symphony of trance elements. Emotional and intense, it mixes a delicate melody with a dense, frenetic BPM. However, we still haven’t answered the bigger question here: where’s the fifth nominee?? 9. Best Jungle/DnB Track I Wonder Why MARTIN White Label No Time To Love MARKY AND BUNDLE White Label More Fire KENNY KEN Mix & Blen Recordings/Planet Funk Recordings Deep TC f/ JAKES D Style Records Swamp Thing SUBFOCUS Ramm WHO WON: Martin “I Wonder Why” DIVA DIVO CHOICE: Martin “I Wonder Why” We’re in agreement with the masses on this one, though we’re reluctant to say that any of the nominees truly stand out. Which, to be frank, makes it really, really hard to write a review. The end. 10. Best Pop Dance Track Sexy Back - JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE - Jive Records Kiss The Sky - DANIELLE BOLLINGER - EsNtion Records Ain’t No Other Man – CHRISTAINA AGUILERA - RCA Déjà Vu - BEYONCE f/ JAY Z – Columbia SOS - RIHANNA – Island/Def Jam WHO WON: Justin Timberlake “Sexy Back”
DIVA DIVO CHOICE: Rihanna “SOS” Timberlake triumphs again! While it may have been a banner year for the former boy band star, we find Rihanna the deserving underdog of the category. It’s not unusual for current pop songs to sample older hits, but “SOS” was able to reuse, reinvent and revamp 80s hit “Tainted Love”… rather than simply regurgitate it. Not bad. And while we give major points to Christina’s “Ain’t No Other Man” for bringing a little old-time class (and brass) to the airwaves, it wasn’t strong enough on the dancefloor to prevail here. 11. Best Breaks/Electro Track Runaway - JAMIROQUAI - Epic Electro - OUTWORK f/ MR GEE – Ultra Records Yeah Yeah - BODYROX FEATURIN WHO WON: Fedde Le Grand “Put Your Hands Up For Detroit” DIVA DIVO CHOICE: Fedde Le Grand “Put Your Hands Up for Detroit” Hmm… it doesn’t seem entirely fair that the same song could win in multiple categories (that means you too, Justin!), but at least “Detroit” deserves this category. Jamiroquai’s “Runaway” is a close second, but we have to put our hands together for “Hands Up…”
Diva Divo • copyright 2007 • kurtmalecdesigns.com
|
