In a recent interview, Nelly Furtado was asked, “When you broke in 2000 with “I’m like a bird,” you were a funky boho chick, kind of an anti-Britney. Now you’re releasing your third album and have turned into a midriff-baring sex bomb. what happened?”
“I made the new album in Miami and felt really sexy there,” she said coyly before hammering the point. “Miami accepts booty!”
Introspectively, she explained it like this: “When I came into the business, I was really intimidated by all those girls who had been on the Mickey Mouse Club when they were kids. Britney, Christina. I’m just catching up, accepting my job more. My video Choreographer taught me how to move in all these different ways. I’m more at ease with my body than I have ever been. “
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Choreography and the routines that come with it make the body more limber. Maybe that’s why she titled her third album from Geffen Records “Loose.” Or maybe not.
Loose is a dance record with a sexier groove than its two predecessors and features a perfectly executed combination of hip-hop and ’80s throwback vibes through most of the tracks. Even obligatory ballads – “In God’s Hands” is the most notable – only temporarily slow down Ms. Furtado’s newfound carnality.
The album’s leadoff single, “Promiscuous,” is one of the fiercest songs of lust in recent memory. Featuring playful banter between her and producer Timbaland, Furtado teases him with all the skills of a high school girl who’s been around the block more than once. Will she or won’t she? And will he still respect her after he “gets it?” Furtado writes and delivers effectively coy lyrics, and Timbaland’s beats follow suit, recapturing his relevance in a big way.
It’s an earworm, to be sure!
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Other uptempo standouts include the infectious ‘Say It Right.’ Its hypnotic chorus is one of the brightest moments on the album and throwback to the ’80s.” And who doesn’t chant 1.2.3.4. right along with her near the song’s conclusion? The voracious single “Maneater” is, perhaps, her warning about the type of woman she portrays in “Promiscuous” without losing the sexy appeal.
Overall, Nelly Furtado’s ‘Loose’ is an excellent album that is sure to please fans of her previous work and those new to her music. From the production to the vocal performances, each song is a standout, and the album is a testament to Furtado’s talent and versatility. Highly recommended.
