Customer Reviews

Body Talk Pt 1

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

She started out a teen pop star. She created tunes that everyone would dance to at their Middle School Dance. But, just like anyone, she had to grow up. But instead of doing it like today's pop stars, she did it gracefully. Transitioning from her debut album's sweet, pre-teen songs to deep and meaningful songs (in her second album "My Truth" Robyn sang about an abortion she had in her earlier teens). She gracefully transformed from sweet, poppy Robyn to Robyn, a woman whose songs can make you laugh and shed a tear all in 35 minutes. A woman who mixes sweet vocals with ridged, techno beats. Instead of screaming and dressing up like a slutty Big Bird (Miley Cyrus, no offense to fans of Miley) she started to show how wonderful she can really be (not that Robyn wasn't wonderful to begin with). Her comeback album "Robyn (2005-2008)" mixed cheerful, upbeat music with reluctant, amazing ballads. And now the dance hall queen is back to show us why she sits in that throne.

The albums opener "Don't F***ing Tell Me What To Do" is Robyn simply complaining about lives everyday, annoying, true problems. If it were anyone else I would say "shut up, stop complaining" but Robyn tells us about these troubles in such a simplistic and truthful way that it almost sounds like she's speaking for the rest of us, not just herself. Then comes "Fembot." Robyn talks about how women are treated like robots, which in many cases is true. She raps about how she is "fresh out the box," she's "the latest model" with "automatic booty applications." It's a fun, catchy, feministic proclamation that she does have feelings, she's not made out of metal. Next on Robyn's Body Talking Lineup is "Dancing On My Own." In this song Robyn describes a situation many of have been in. Watching the person we want with someone. She sings about the tough fact that no matter how hard she tries, this won't change. But she will press on, she'll dance alone, and in the end smile. Then comes "Cry When You Get Older." Amazon's review sees this song has a sister to sibling point of view. But in a way, I see it has a note to self. She's telling herself that this is not the end, somewhat of a follow up to "Dancing On My Own."

"Dancehall Queen" is a song that may also relate to "Dancing On My Own" or "Fembot" because in a way she is saying that "you did this to yourself. Leave me alone, its not my fault you broke my heart. Maybe you forgot, but this is my space, and you're not ruining it. Remember, I'm the queen of my own land, and my own heart. And you're not entering either." "None of Dem" is a song from the point of view of an outcast. Almost like a kid entering a new school, where no one understands you or you're personality. Where "none of dem get your style" or can dance at your standards. "Hang With Me" is a song that finally shows Robyn opening up her heart, but not too much, just enough to hang with her. Finally, "Jag Vet En Delig Rosa" is a song that reminds us where Robyn began, Sweden. She reminds us of her Swedish roots through her version of this Swedish version.

All in all, Robyn has made yet another musical masterpiece. Robyn has some news for us: she's still at the top of her game and won't be falling off anytime soon.

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**** 1/2

Robyn is the most exciting artist in the current pantheon of pop music ... it's too bad that most American's haven't heard of her, or if they have, only remember her from the couple of hits she had here as a teenager in the 90's. The sweet little girl who sang "Show Me Love" has grown into a pop powerhouse, who can deftly meld various genres into her own glitchy, catchy, edgy concoctions.

At a scant 8 tracks, "Body Talk part 1" still covers a lot of ground. "Don't F*ing Tell Me What To Do" is an unlikely choice for an opener, since it's a hard electronica track that doesn't feature any kind of a melody, really ... and yet it works as an introduction to an album by an enigmatic pop artist who plays by her own rules. "Fembot" comes closer to a conventional pop song, with its twitchy beats and cutesy vocals, but the album really hits its stride with "Dancing On My Own", which is the perfect 21st century pop song. With its throbbing industrial sounding beat and passionate vocals, Robyn takes on a familiar pop theme - the pain of seeing your ex with someone else - and reinvents it.

The album spends the rest of its five tracks packing in a lot of punch, with Robyn taking elements of techno, hip-hop, traditional pop standards, and reggae, and mashing into her own mini opus, which is supposedly only the first of three short albums she plans on releasing this year. With her penchant for borrowing from lots of genres and forgoing typical album formats, Robyn reminds me less of current female pop stars and more of pop oddity Prince in his heyday.

Swedish singer Robyn's "Body talk" EP is one of three she plans to unleash upon the public in 2010. It's also the follow up to her eponymous album which contained the European smash hit "With every heartbeat".

Opening is "Don't f***ing tell me what to do" in which she appears to be suffering from modern day ennui as she gripes about stuff (her boss, not drinking, her back) that's "killing me" against a minimal electro loop, insistent and catchy. "Dancing on my own" (and heir to "With every heartbeat") features shimmery synths with lyrics finding her jealously watching her boyfriend kissing another girl. Similar is "Cry when you get older".

The bass-heavy "Dancehall queen" is Dub, while the glitchy skeletal "None of dem" features Norwegian pair Röyksopp. "Hang with me" (on which she warns "Just don't fall recklessly, headlessly in love with me, 'Cause it's gonna be all heartbreak") is a stripped piano/string ballad and closing is the tender chiming "Jag vet en dejlig Rosa", a traditional Swedish lullaby with whiffs of Björk.

With just one dull song ("Fembot"), she does for the most part manage to show pleasant variety in the 8 tracks.

Found it to have a couple of good songs, but not as much fun as some of her earlier releases. Part 1 & 2 split is silly - should have just been released on one disc.

huge robyn "stan" (obsessed fan) here!!! lol this woman is amazing! a few songs that i dont care for but overall definitely worth buying and having as a permanent part of your collection.

If you are looking at the album STOP RIGHT THERE! the EPs are more worth your money! the album has 16 great songs but if you get the EPs you get 21 great songs for about the same price. Robyn definately should have just left the EPs and done a whole new album! this is just my point of view if you still want the album as part of acollectin go ahead!

I am a dance & fitness instructor. The songs on this cd is great for Pole fitness classes. I got dance & trance songs just for pole class. I love music and feel that I know good music. I love all genres and know that all the songs on here are really good songs. The lyrics are tight and make sense. Love Robyn's music from back in the dance. Love the reggae style song "Dancehall Queen". Dancing on my own,hang with me, criminal intent are some good songs just to name a few. I like indestructible (acoustic version). The remix is good too.

Robyn is really one of those artists who does not have to rely on theaterical antiques or over the top outlandish wear to make her point. The music "talks" clear and loud. Give this a spin especially if you love electronica at its best. Please don't forget to catch her live! She is so, so much better than most of artists of today. Honest, raw and such a beautiful album.

I bought this after reading a 3 page article in Entertainment Weekly about how marvelous Robyn is and how underappreciated she is in the US. OK, I'll bite. I bought this CD and was bored/unimpressed. Until "Hang With Me". I thought it was absolutely brilliant and was so moved I had to pull my car over to listen. I also appreciated the final song in Swedish as I prefer to hear artists sing in their own language.

I'd definitely buy more of the artist's work if I could hear a more acoustic/less pounding bass version. There is a real gift there.

Length:: 4:57 Mins